The document question has a two-item answer, but the edge cases, licence classes, DigiLocker, international visitors, what shops may keep, are where people get surprised at the counter. Here's all of it, 2026-current.
The two documents
- Valid driving licence, matching the vehicle class (table below), original with you: physical card or DigiLocker/mParivahan.
- One photo ID, Aadhaar or your college ID. Students: the college card also marks you as exactly the customer campus-belt shops price for.
Licence class → vehicle (the part people get wrong)
| Your DL says (COV column) | You may rent | You may NOT rent |
|---|---|---|
| MCWOG / AWG (gearless) | Access 125, Ntorq, Avenis, Burgman | Gixxer, Bullet 350 |
| MCWG (with gear) | Everything on the fleet | — |
| Learner's (L) | Nothing, solo | All solo rentals, it's not a full licence |
Riding a geared bike on a gearless licence is legally riding unlicensed, at a checkpoint AND in any accident claim. Check the card before you book the Bullet.
What the shop does with your documents
Standard and fine: verifying originals, keeping a photocopy or photo for the rental's duration. Not fine: holding your original Aadhaar as security, the recorded booking advance is what secures a Rentie booking, not your identity (the deposit story).
Special cases
- International visitors: valid home-country licence for the class + an International Driving Permit (recommended) + passport as photo ID.
- DigiLocker/mParivahan: legally valid nationwide; physical card = fewer conversations.
- Under 18: no, rental fleets are 110cc+, which needs the full licence classes available at 18.
- Expired licence: also no; renew first, it's online now.
The refusal list (fair warning)
Legitimate shops, every verified Rentie partner, will refuse: learner's licences riding solo, expired DLs, photos-of-photos without any original or DigiLocker, someone else's licence, and under-18s regardless of enthusiasm. A shop that WON'T refuse these is telling you what else it won't check. The canonical policy lives at Documents Required; bring two documents and it's a two-minute pickup.