The Andhra Pradesh Transport Department has decided to transition from expensive chip-based smart cards to a more efficient QR-code system for Driving Licences and Vehicle Registration Certificates. This move is designed to address the long-standing backlog in card issuance and reduce the financial burden on both the state treasury and the citizens. The new QR-code cards are estimated to cost approximately ₹72 per unit, nearly 37% cheaper than the ₹115 required for the older chip-based cards.
One of the primary reasons for this technical shift is the ease of verification. Chip-based cards require specialized electronic readers to access data, which adds another layer of infrastructure costs for the police and transport authorities. In contrast, QR codes can be easily scanned and are directly linked to the Central Government’s Vahan Portal, ensuring real-time access to a vehicle or driver’s history. This integration is expected to make roadside inspections faster and more transparent.
According to the new policy, the department will prioritize issuing these QR-code cards to those who have paid the fees starting from October 1, 2024. For those who were caught in the card shortage between 2023 and mid-2024—a period during which fees were waived but cards were not issued—re-application may be necessary to obtain the new physical cards. Previously, motorists were charged ₹235 (including postal fees) for cards that often failed to arrive at their doorsteps; the current administration aims to rectify this delivery gap with the more affordable QR-code format.
