Vehicle Registration in India

 Need of Driving Licence Registration Certificate(RC)

(Section 39 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988)

“No person should drive any motor vehicle or permit the vehicle to be driven in a public place unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with this Act and the certificate of registration of vehicle has not been suspended or cancelled.”

The Government of India has made it mandatory to carry a copy of the RC card/book while you are driving.

 A Registration Certificate copy or RC is a document that proves your vehicle is registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) authorities. Nowadays, you can avail your Registration Certificate copy in the form of a Smart card.

 

 The smart card will have the following information on it:

·         Registration Number

·         Registration Date

·         Engine Number

·         Chassis Number

·         Colour of the vehicle

·         Type of the vehicle

·         Seating Capacity

·         Model Number

 

Applying for Registration Certificate

Follow the steps mentioned below to apply for a Registration Certificate:

• Visit the RTO nearby.
• The officer at RTO will inspect your vehicle.
• You will have to submit a completed Form 20 at the RTO along with other required documents.
• The RTO officer will take an imprint of the vehicle chassis number.
• Pay the fee for registration.

Documents required to obtain a RC

You will need the below mentioned documents to get your vehicle registered:

• Form 20 (Filled up application form).
• Form 21 (Sales certificate issued by vehicle dealer).
• Form 34.(Details of Hire Purchase / Financed the Vehicle)
• Form 22. (contains a detailed account of emissions from the vehicle)
• Form 22A(Certificate of Compliance with Pollution Standards, Safety Standards of Components and Road Worthiness (for Vehicles where body is Fabricat)
• PAN card.
• Passport size photographs.
• Vehicle invoice.
• Address proof.

How to Renew vehicle RC?

A Registration Certificate is valid for 15 years from the date of issuance. After expiry, you can apply for RC renewal and get it renewed every 5 years for as long as vehicle is deemed fit by the RTO.

Follow the steps mentioned below for RC renewal:

•       Fill the required details in Form 25.
•       Submit a completed Form 25 at the RTO where you had got your vehicle initially registered.
•       Pay the fee.

Documents required for RC renewal:

• Form 25 for application.
• Vehicle’s Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
• Vehicle Fitness certificate
• Certificate of registration
• Documents proving the timely payment of the road tax.
• Vehicle’s insurance certificate
• A copy of PAN card or Form 60 & 61* (as applicable).
• Chassis & Engine Pencil Print.
• Vehicle owner’s signature identification.
  

*Form 60 

It is required to be filed in cases where a person enters into any of the transactions mentioned above but does not have a PAN card. 

*Form 61 

It is required to be furnished in case a person who has agricultural income and is not in receipt of any other income chargeable to income tax.

How to Apply for Duplicate RC in case of lost?

Firstly, you need register a complaint with the police at the nearest police station. You must provide all the details about how and where exactly you lost your RC card. You must also mention the registration number of your vehicle, model, your name and address, chassis number of the vehicle, engine number, etc.

·         A challan will be issued to you that says ‘RC Card Lost’.

·         Download Form 26 and fill it up. You will easily find this form on the official website of RTO.

·         If you purchased the car or bike on loan, you will have to get the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the bank that gave you the money.

·         A triplicate copy of Form 26 should carry the endorsement of vehicle registering authority.

·         You must carry a photocopy of your vehicle insurance, emission test paper and driving license.

·         Submit all of these documents to the vehicle registering authority.

·         Pay the required amount for your duplicate smart card.

 

Documents Required for a Duplicate RC

·         Form 26 for application.

·         Police certificate.

·         Vehicle’s PUC certificate.

·         Vehicle’s insurance certificate.

·         Address proof.

·         Challan clearance from traffic police & Enforcement wing Transport Department in case of commercial vehicles.

·         Tax clearance certificate from Accounts Department in case of commercial vehicles.

·         A valid copy of PAN Card or Form 60 & Form 61(as applicable)

·         Chassis & Engine Pencil Print.

·         Signature Identification of owner.

·         Affidavit stating that RC is lost and has not been impounded.

 

 

Temporary Registration of Vehicle

·         If the owner has bought the vehicle recently, then he or she has to obtain a temporary registration number from the dealership from which the vehicle was bought. The temporary registration number is only valid until the vehicle gets a permanent registration number. The maximum period for which the temporary registration number is valid is a month. The vehicle has to be registered within this period by the Regional transport Office (RTO) in the concerned area of the owner.

 

Process for Temporary Registration of the Vehicle

The steps to follow to obtain the temporary registration for a vehicle are as follows:

·       Step 1: You have to fill up Form 20.

·      Step 2: The form has to be submitted to the authority under whose jurisdiction the registration of the vehicle falls.

·    Step 3: The form can also be submitted to the dealer who deals in the sale of new motor vehicles provided he or she is registered by the Transport Commissioner.

·    Step 4: Charges will be levied by the registering authority for temporary registration of the vehicle which have to paid as per the Central Motor Vehicles Rule, 1989.

·   Step 5: The relevant documents need to be submitted to the registering authority for temporary registration of the vehicle.

 

The documents to be submitted are:

1.    The application for the temporary registration of the vehicle or Form 20.

2.    The Sales Certificate of the vehicle which provides all the required details of the purchase of the vehicle needs to be submitted. It can be submitted via Form 21.

3.    The Road Worthiness Certificate of the vehicle which states that the vehicle has cleared all tests required for it to be operational on the road. It can be submitted via Form 22.

4.    A valid Insurance Certificate which states all the details about the insurance of the vehicle.

5.    A document which can be accepted as address proof of the owner of the vehicle.

6.    The Pollution Under Control  (PUC) Certificate is to be also provided.

7.    A copy of the PAN card of the owner of the vehicle and Form 60 or Form 61, whichever is applicable

 

Modifications in RC

Follow the steps mentioned below to change details mention on RC:

·      Step 1: Visit

     https://vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice/vahan/ui/statevalidation/homepage.xhtml

·         Step 2: Enter your "Vehicle Registration Number"

·         Step 3: Select "Proceed"

·         Step 4: Select the "Basic Services" Option

·         Step 5: Enter your Last 5 Digit of chassis No and Click on "Validate Regn_no/Chassis_no"

·         Step 6: Generate OTP, Enter correct OTP and Submit

·         Step 7: Select "Change Of Address"

·         Step 8: Enter "Service Details"

·         Step 9: Update "Insurance Details"

·         Step 10: Pay fee as it Shows

·         Step 11: Upload Doc and take Appointment

 

Transfer of RC to a new Owner

·         Certificate of Registration in original

·         Form 29 duly filled up in duplicate

·         Form 30 duly filled up in duplicate

·         Attested copy of valid vehicle insurance policy

·         Attested copy of address proof of purchaser of vehicle.

·         Attested copy of valid Pollution under Control Certificate

·         Prescribed fee for registration

·         Attested copy of PAN Card or Form 60 & 61(as applicable)

Form 29 – Notice of Transport of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle

Form 30 – Application for Intimation and Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle

Suspension of Vehicle Registration

(Section 53 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 )

·         A suspension of the vehicle in simple terms means that a person has no right to drive the vehicle in public till the time registration is restored. Section 53 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 provides ways in which a person’s registration can be suspended.

·         The section lays down the following ways in which the registration can be suspended:

1. In case if the condition of the vehicle is such as to constitute a danger to the public.
2. If it fails to comply with the requirements or rules of this Act.
3. If the vehicle has been used for hire and reward without a valid permit.
4. As mentioned above if any person drives any vehicle which is mechanically defective or is in such a condition that would raise safety concerns in the public, then in such a case the registration will be suspended. Secondly, if the vehicle fails to comply with the rules which are given in the Act, then the registration will be suspended.

Procedure for RC Cancellation

(Section 54 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988)

Cancellation of RC is a legal process where vehicle is officially considered in no longer in existence or registered to anyone. RC deregistration is done by State RTO and rules and fee vary from state to state.

• Car is Scrapped with a car scrap dealer. Car chassis is also scrapped and chassis number is taken out by cutting metal. This is to be submitted with RTO as a proof of car being scrapped.
• An affidavit is made by owner that car is being scrapped.
• If car RC is lost, then NC (Non Cognizable) report copy might also be required, this depends on RTO.
• All car documents like insurance, RC are submitted to RTO where car was registered.
• RTO deregisters the car, generally no certificate is issued, same can be obtained using an RTI.

 

Certificate of Fitness

(Section 56 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988)

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 mentions that every vehicle should have a valid vehicle fitness certificate (FC) to ensure if it is fit for the roads. The registration of both commercial and private cars becomes easier when the Government issues an FC.

• Since pollution is becoming a significant issue with every passing day, monitoring the amount of smoke a vehicle releases is necessary to prevent that. One of the key purposes of a fitness certificate for vehicles is checking and monitoring pollution arising due to motor vehicle emissions.
• A fitness certificate is necessary to maintain excellent health of your vehicle.
• Lastly, to avoid road accidents that might take place due to the improper condition of your vehicle.Since it is pretty clear why a vehicle fitness certificate is necessary for both private and commercial vehicles.

 

Online Procedure for Fitness Certificate of a Vehicle

Now, here is what you need to do to complete the entire process from the comfort of your home.

·         Step 1:
Visit the official Parivahan Sewa portal and enter your vehicle’s registration number.

·         Step 2:
Select ‘Application for Fitness Certificate’ under the ‘Online Services’ option on the menu bar.

·         Step 3:
After that, provide both your Chassis number and registered mobile number. Next, you will receive a one-time password.

·         Step 4:
Now, enter the OTP and other necessary information like insurance details, fee information for the application, etc.

·         Step 5:
Make payment in the next step and collect the digital receipt along with the application letter. Once you apply for a vehicle fitness certificate online, you will have to submit these documents at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to acquire your FC.

Documents Required to Obtain a Vehicle FC

Make sure to keep the following documents handy when applying for a vehicle fitness certificate online.

• Form 20
• Form 22
• Form 21
• Receipt of road tax paid
• Insurance certificate
• Original registration certificate of the vehicle
• Valid Pollution Under Control certificate
• A pencil imprint of the motor vehicle chassis
• Temporary registration, if any
• Address proof
• Certificate of permit
• Valid ID proof 
• Passport-size photographs

Important Section in Motor Vehicle Act,1988 for Vehicle Registration

39	Necessity for registration
40	Registration, where to be made
41	Registration, how to be made
43	Temporary registration
45	Refusal of registration or renewal of the certificate of registration
46	Effectiveness in India of registration
50	Transfer of ownership
53	Suspension of registration
54	Cancellation of registration suspended under section 53
55	Cancellation of registration
56	Certificate of fitness of transport vehicles