Vehicle Registration Process In India

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Riding any vehicle without a proper registration under transport department is an offence. The vehicle has to be registered in the respective jurisdiction at the RTO as per Section 39 of Motor Vehicle Act 1988. Every two-wheeler or any type of vehicle should have 2 name plates with registration number written in the format prescribed by the RTO. One name plate should be installed in the front and the other at the back of the vehicle. If one of these number plates with registration details are missing then the vehicle will be fined for the same.

The registration number on a two-wheeler or any other vehicle always starts with the initials of the state, then the code of the RTO, then the next two letters that represent a series in alphabetical order and the last four digits represent the registration number of the vehicle. There are few custom made numbers which will cost higher, and few classic numbers or fancy numbers will be auctioned by the RTO according to the popularity and demand for that registration number. The same registration number can re-allocated to another vehicle with the change in the alphabetical series.

It is always important for any vehicle owner to carry the registration certificate and two wheeler insurance or motor insurance (as applicable) documents at all times for safety purpose. The RC is valid for 15 years once you register a newly bought vehicle and later it has to be renewed once in every 5 years. Once you register the vehicle, the RTO officer will give you a temporary RC, which is valid for a month. So make sure that you get the original RC within a month or immediately after a month of registration.

If you have not submitted enough valid documents or if there is any discrepancy in the documents, if the emission test is expired, suspicious documents, does not meet the standard norms, etc. then the authorities have the right to reject the registration application or the renewal of the same. Any two-wheeler or any other vehicle with proper registration can be driven across the country. But if you have shifted to another state, then you can ride the for a maximum of 12 months, post which it has to be re-registered at the local Regional Transport Office of that region. This holds true for all Union Territories as well.

Vehicle Registration Process:

Once you have purchased the vehicle from the dealer, here is what you have to do:

• Get the vehicle inspected by a RTO officer for cubic capacity, vehicle category, cost, etc.
• Fill details in Form 20 and Form 21 application along with sales certificate provided by the dealer at the time of purchase.
• Make sure that you have brought a two-wheeler insurance or any other motor insurance that provides complete protection to your vehicle. Attach a copy of the same.
• A valid address proof of your current or permanent residence.
• A duly filled and signed application of Form 34, if you have bought the vehicle on hypothecation
• A complete pencil print of the Chassis Number
• Proof of Identity like AADHAAR, PAN card, Voter ID, etc.
• You will also have to submit a custom clearance certificate if the vehicle is imported.
• Form 22 is required if it’s a transport vehicle.
• Applicable vehicle registration fee.
• If you are getting a fancy number, then the registration fee would be as applicable.
• Road tax as applicable in that state.

All these files have to be submitted to the Registering and License Authority (RLA) and you will receive a registration fee slip. This slip has to be provided on the day of receiving the registration certificate on any subsequent day. The vehicle number will be allotted by the RLA.

Procedure For Re-registering The Vehicle:

Every vehicle has to be re-registered after 15 years of purchase of the vehicle. The original RC will be valid only for 15 years after which it has to be registered once in every 5 years. The vehicle will be inspected by the concerned authority and it should meet the emission level standards. Here are some documents which are needed for re-registration:

• Duly filled Form 20 application
• Address proof either permanent or of current residence
• NOC from the original RTO in Form 28
• A valid motor insurance as applicable
• Token tax and re-registration fee
• NOC from the financier if the vehicle is purchased on loan

Documents Required For Duplicate Vehicle Registration Certificate:

A duplicate RC is issued only when the owner has lost or misplaced the original document. Here are the documents required for the same:

• Copy of FIR or NCR
• Self-attested copy of the vehicle insurance
• Self-attested copy of Pollution Under Control Certificate
• Copy of residential address
• Tax clearance certificate
• Form 26 duly filled
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60

Re-registration Procedure For Private Vehicles:

• From 25 application duly filled and signed by the owner
• Road tax receipt paid until the re-registration date
• Motor Insurance document copy self-attested by the owner
• Original RC of the vehicle
• Self-attested copy of Pollution Under Control Certificate
• If there are any dues in tax, it has to be paid before re-registering and a copy of the same should be submitted to the authority.
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60

The vehicle will be first inspected by an authority to check if it’s drivable on the road and has met the standards in terms of pollution and sound of the engine. If it satisfies all the norms then the procedure will be completed.

Documents Required For RC Ownership Transfer:

A letter has to be submitted to the concerned authority at the RTO where the vehicle was initially registered. The letter should mention the reason of transfer of the RC i.e. death, second-hand purchase, shifting to another state, Etc.

• Original Registration Certificate
• Form 29 duly filled by the owner along with one duplicate self-attested copy
• Self-attested motor insurance copy as applicable
• Form 30 duly filled and signed by you
• Address proof of the owner to whom the vehicle now belongs to
• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60 or 61 as applicable
• Transfer fee as applicable

Transfer of RC in case of death of the vehicle owner:

In this case, the vehicle should be re-registered by the legal heirs of the deceased owner. Here is what you need:

• Original Registration Certificate
• Death Certificate of the vehicle owner for proof
• A succession Certificate issued by a lawyer or any competent authority
• From 30 & 31 duly filled by the legal heir
• NOC by the financier if the vehicle was purchased on loan
• Self-attested motor insurance copy as applicable
• Address proof of the owner to whom the vehicle has to be transferred
• Form 20 i.e. verification of the vehicle done by the inspection authority
• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60 and 61 as applicable
• Applicable transfer fee

If It Is A Commercial Vehicle, The Below Mentioned Documents Must Be Submitted:

• Vehicle fitness certificate
• Tax paid receipts and the clearance certificate from the concerned authority
• A clearance challan form the Traffic and Enforcement Department
• Permit surrender Document
• Original Registration Certificate
• Death Certificate of the vehicle owner for proof
• A succession Certificate issued by a lawyer or any competent authority
• From 30 & 31 duly filled by the legal heir
• NOC by the financier if the vehicle was purchased on loan
• Self-attested motor insurance copy as applicable
• Address proof of the owner to whom the vehicle has to be transferred
• Form 20 i.e. verification of the vehicle done by the inspection authority
• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60 and 61 as applicable
• Applicable transfer fee

Documents Required For Change Of Address In RC:

• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60 and 61 as applicable
• Applicable transfer fee
• Form 33 duly filled
• Original Registration Certificate
• Self-attested motor insurance copy as applicable
• New address proof of residence
• NOC if the vehicle has been purchased on loan

Documents Required To Issue NOC For Other State:

If the owner of the vehicle wants to re-register his/her vehicle in another state as he has shifted his residence, then NOC from the current RTO is required. Here is all you have to submit:

• Form 28 application filled by the owner
• Attested Registration Certificate copy
• Paid road tax receipts
• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• A valid motor insurance as applicable

Endorsement Of Cancellation Of Loans On RC:

Hypothecations i.e. if the vehicle has been purchased on loan and that loan has been fully paid with no balance, then this should be endorsed in the Registration Certificate document with following papers:

• 2 copies of Form 35 for the endorsement of Hypothecation
• Attested valid copy of motor insurance as applicable
• A clearance certificate from the financier regarding the loan completion
• Copy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Attested copy of PAN or Form 60 and 61 as applicable
• Applicable transfer fee
• NOC from the financier for any future transactions regarding the vehicle.