This article presents a new approach for fault classification in a twoterminal overhead transmission line using a support vector machine classifier. Wavelet transform is used for the decomposition of measured signals and for extraction of the most significant features (feature extraction), which facilitates training of the SVM, particularly in terms of getting better classification performance (high accuracy). After extracting useful features from the measured signals, a decision of fault or nofault on any phase or multiple phases of a transmission line is carried out using three SVM classifiers. The ground detection task is carried out by a proposed ground index. Two kernel functions-polynomial and Gaussian radial basis function (RBF)-have been used, and performances of classifiers have been evaluated based on fault classification accuracy. In order to determine the optimal parametric settings of an SVM classifier (such as the type of kernel function, its associated parameter, and the regularization parameter C ), five-fold cross-validation has been applied to the training set. It is observed that an SVM with an RBF kernel provides better fault classification accuracy than that of an SVM with polynomial kernel. One of the key points of this article is the development of an automatic fault data generation model using PSCAD and its application for training and testing of SVMs. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, extensive simulations have been carried out for different fault conditions with wide variations in the operating conditions and source impedances. It has been found that the proposed scheme is very fast and accurate, and it proved to be a robust classifier for digital distance protection.