Vehicle Registration Process: Documents & How to Apply
In India, every vehicle must be registered with the RTO before it can be driven on the road. The Registration Certificate (RC) is a document that shows who owns the vehicle and proves it is legally allowed to be used.
Key Highlights:
- Governing Act: The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 & Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
- Validity of RC: 15 Years for Private/Non-Transport vehicles (Renewable every 5 years thereafter). Transport/Commercial vehicle validity depends on its ongoing Fitness Certificate updates.
- Key Interventions: Allows eligible defence, government, and private sector employees with multi-state offices to avoid changing registration marks when shifting states.
Necessity of Vehicle Registration
Vehicle registration is required for many purposes, which are stated below:
- Proof of Ownership: The RC shows who legally owns the vehicle.
- Vehicle Sale or Transfer: An RC is required to sell, buy, or transfer ownership of a vehicle.
- Insurance Claims: A valid RC is needed to make or settle motor insurance claims.
Temporary and Permanent Registration Number
| Registration Type | Description |
| Temporary Registration | Issued by the vehicle dealer for up to 1 month to allow the vehicle to be transported from the showroom to the destination RTO. |
| Permanent Registration | Issued by the RTO through the Vahan portal. It provides the vehicle with its permanent registration number and links it to the owner's address and details. |
Vehicle Registration Fees
The following are the fees for registering a new vehicle depending on the type of vehicle purchased:
| Type of Vehicle | Registration Fee |
| Motorcycles / Two-Wheelers (Bikes) | ₹300 |
| Cars / Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) – Non-Transport | ₹600 |
| Cars / Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) – Transport | ₹1,000 |
| Three-Wheeler (Auto Rickshaw) – Non-Transport | ₹600 |
| Three-Wheeler (Auto Rickshaw) – Transport | ₹1,000 |
| Quadricycle – Non-Transport | ₹600 |
| Quadricycle – Transport | ₹1,000 |
| Medium Goods Motor Vehicle (Commercial) | ₹1,000 |
| Medium Passenger Motor Vehicle | ₹1,000 |
| Heavy Goods Motor Vehicle | ₹1,500 |
| Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle | ₹1,500 |
| Imported Motor Vehicle (Cars) | ₹5,000 |
| Imported Motorcycles (Bikes) | ₹2,500 |
| Other Vehicles (Not Listed Above) | ₹3,000 |
Who Needs to Complete the Vehicle Registration Process?
The table shows who needs to complete the vehicle registration process depending on different scenarios:
| Scenario | Who Handles It? |
| Buying a Brand-New Vehicle | The dealership registers the vehicle, updates its details in the Vahan system, and collects the road tax before handing it over to the owner. |
| Buying or Selling a Used Vehicle | Either the buyer or seller must actively initiate the Transfer of Ownership (TO) application online and complete the required formalities. |
| Vehicle RC Renewal (15+ Years) | The vehicle owner must apply for re-registration and renewal of the Registration Certificate (RC) once a private vehicle reaches its 15-year validity limit. |
Transfer of Vehicle Ownership
The buyer or the seller must complete the transfer formalities within the stipulated timeframe.
Documents Required
To transfer the ownership of the vehicle, the following documents are required:
- Original Registration Certificate (RC)
- Form 29
- Form 30
- Valid Vehicle Insurance Policy
Sarathi Parivahan - Valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC)
- Buyer’s Identity and Address Proof (like a Voter ID, Passport, or Driving License)
- Chassis Print
- Form 28 (NOC): Only required if the vehicle is moving to a different RTO zone or state.
Procedure for transferring the ownership of the vehicle:
To transfer the vehicle ownership, follow the steps:
Step 1: Visit the Parivahan Sewa Portal, navigate to ‘Online Services’ and click on ‘Vehicle Related Services’, and select the state where the vehicle is registered.
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