RTO (Regional Transport Office)

About RTO or Regional Transport Office

Regional Transport Office or the RTO is a dedicated department tasked with overseeing all the issues related to transportation in India. RTOs have been set up across the country under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. The primary task of the RTO is to preserve the database of all the Indian vehicles. Along with handling the database, RTOs also issue driving licences and pollution fitness certificates, collect road tax, check motor insurance and regulate transportation rules. Every state and union territory has its own RTO, which enforce the rules enshrined in the motor vehicles law and ensure safety on the roads.

Functions of RTO

India has a large and complex road network which supports an ever-expanding number of vehicles. With millions of vehicles plying on Indian roads, RTO offices have gained immense importance.

• The basic function of RTOs is to implement and enforce various rules enshrined in the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. Other functions are:

• All new vehicles in the country have to undergo RTO registration

• The RTO office has to maintain the database of all the vehicles in India

• RTOs issue driving licence to vehicle users

• Routine inspection of vehicles

• Issuance of vehicle fitness certificates

• Collection of the road tax

• RTO offices regulate and manage commercial permits given to trucks, taxis and autos

• Implementation of the changes brought in the motor vehicle act

• Issuance of pollution certificate after checking emission

• Ensure a comprehensive growth of road transport through the implementation of various rules

RTO State Codes of India

RTO Code of Union Territories

RTO online and offline facilities

Rising internet penetration has led to the digitisation of an increasing number of public services. One does not need to stand in never-ending queues to submit an application or get a document issued. A number of functions at RTO offices have been digitised and do not require the physical presence of the applicant. However, one will have to reach out to a nearby RTO to get certain things done. Here are a few RTO online activities.

• Opting for a fresh driving licence or renewing an old one
• Seeking an appointment to visit an RTO office
• Getting a duplicate of an existing driving licence

The activities listed above can be completed online, but RTOs still have to ask applicants to be available physically for other services. You will have to drop in an RTO office for the following activities:

• Registration of a new car
•  Appearing the test for a learner’s licence or for a new licence
• Settlement of any dispute following an accident

Issuance of Driving Licence

A driving licence is an essential document needed when you want to drive in India. The RTO is responsible for issuing the learning/permanent driving licence. A few other responsibilities that fall under the licence category for RTO includes –

• Testing and issuance of learning licence
• Renewal of the permanent driving licence
• Issuance of the international driving licence permit
• Issuance of the licence for motor driving schools in the country
• Issuance of the licence for driving instructors
• Issuance of a conductor’s licence

Types of Driving Licence Issued in RTO

The following are the types of driving licence the RTO issues –

• Motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 50cc
• Two-wheelers without gear
• Two-wheelers with gear
• Licence for light motor vehicles such as cars, jeeps, three-wheelers, etc.
• Licence for medium and heavy commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, trailers, etc.

Vehicle registration at RTO

A brand new vehicle has to be compulsorily registered with the concerned RTO office according to the Motor Vehicle Act. When you buy a car, the RTO registration is taken care of by the dealer. The total price displayed by vehicle dealers generally includes RTO registration charges. The dealership completed the registration process without the vehicle owner having to visit the RTO office. However, if you do not want to involve the dealer, you can get the vehicle registered yourself. A few documents are required while applying for a vehicle registration at an RTO.

• At least 3 photographs (passport size)
• Vehicle registration application form, also known as Form 20
• Sales certificate provided by the dealer of the vehicle, also known as Form 21
• One has to submit an identity proof, which includes PAN card, Voter ID, Aadhar card, Passport and driving licence.
• One has to submit residence proof, which includes ration card, Aadhar, rental agreement, and account statement, utility bill and Voter ID.
• Loan hypothecation details, also known as Form 34
• PUC certificate, also known as Pollution Under Control certificate, which is issued to certify that the vehicle’s emission is below the prescribed limit
•  The insurance certificate provided by the dealership
• Sales invoice provided by the vehicle dealership
• Temporary registration number
• In case the state you bought the vehicle from is different from the state you want to get it registered in, you will have to produce sales tax clearance certificate
• NOC from the RTO

These documents will have to be submitted in an RTO office while registering a new vehicle. After the submission, the documents as well as the vehicle will be inspected by an RTO official. As soon as the verification gets over, the RTO office issues the driving licence. The entire process may take around seven days.

Types of Vehicle Registration in RTO

The RTO offers two types of vehicle registrations –

1. Temporary vehicle registration
2. Permanent vehicle registration

Temporary Vehicle Registration

The vehicle dealers issue the temporary vehicle registration when you buy a new motor vehicle. With this permit, you can use the new vehicle for the first seven days from the date of vehicle delivery and has an extension of up to one month. After this, you (the vehicle owner) should purchase a permanent vehicle registration permit.

Permanent Vehicle Registration

Any new vehicle purchased should have a valid vehicle registration certificate issued by the RTO. It can be obtained by submitting the necessary documents related to you (the vehicle owner) and the motor vehicle.

Fees for registering a vehicle

If you are familiar with the pricing structure of vehicles, you must have heard of two terms—the ex-showroom price and the on-road price. The ex-showroom price is the company’s price of the vehicle, while the on-road price is the showroom price with added charges. Before you start driving the vehicle, you have to bear certain additional costs such as road tax and registration charges. Here are the various charges levied during the registration of the vehicle.

Road Tax:

The government levies a one-time road tax on vehicle owners to develop and maintain the network of roads in India. The dealership generally charges the road tax while selling the vehicle and submits to the RTO. In case the road tax has already been paid by you, collect the requisite document and submit it in the RTO office along with other documents.

Registration fee:

The fee levied by RTOs to verify the documents and complete the registration process is known as the registration fee. The registration charges depend on the type of vehicle.

Hypothecation charges:

Most people avail a car loan to buy a vehicle. The RTO office levies an additional charge to process the hypothecation documents.

Vehicle Registration Forms – How to Download

The following is the list of vehicle registration forms and various other forms that you get at the RTO.

• Form 20: Registration of a motor vehicle application form.
• Form 21: To obtain sale certificate
• Form 23: To obtain the certificate of registration
• Form 24: To register the motor vehicle
• Form 29: Notice of transport of ownership of a motor vehicle
• Form 38A: To get a report of an inspection
• Form 50: To obtain the bill of lading
• Form 51: To obtain the certificate of insurance
• Form 54: To get the accident information report
• Form 57: To get the certificate for foreign insurance

One can download most of these forms from the Parivahan website. Here’s how you can do that –

1. Visit the Parivahan website www.parivahan.gov.in
2. Select ‘Information Services’ option from the menu.
3. Choose ‘Download Forms’.
4. Choose the type of form you need to download it.

How to Check the Vehicle Registration Details Online?

To check the vehicle registration details online, follow the steps below –

1. Visit the RTO website – www.parivahan.gov.in
2. Select the ‘Online Services’ option from the menu
3. Choose ‘Know Your Vehicle Details’
4. You will be redirected to another page.
5. After the new webpage load, enter your vehicle number and search for the vehicle.
6. All the details related to your vehicle registration will be displayed on the screen.

How to get a duplicate registration certificate

The registration certificate issued by the RTO must be kept securely, but sometimes people lose it. However, if the registration document gets lost or stolen, one can easily get a copy from the RTO. Follow the simple steps given below to get a copy of the registration certificate.

• File a police complaint as soon as you lose the registration document
• Go to the RTO office with the police complaint
• Submit the application for the duplicate copy, also known as Form 26, and attach the photocopy of the police complaint with it
• After the verification of the documents, the RTO issues a copy of the registration certificate

How to get a Unique Personalised Vehicle Registration Number?

You need to register online on the Parivahan website to get a personalised vehicle number. Ideally, each state government official is allotted a few computer-generated numbers between 1 and 9999. To get a personalised number for your vehicle, you have to bid on a given date and pay a specific price for it.

Follow these steps to get yourself a unique vehicle registration number –

1. Login to your account on the Parivahan website to choose and pay for the personalised number.
2. You have to bid on your unique number. This is because multiple people can be looking for the same number as you.
3. The results of the bidding are announced online. If another bidder is selected, the remaining amount is refunded.
4. It is advised to download the letter of allotment for future reference.

Transfer of ownership of a registered vehicle

Buying a pre-used vehicle is as common as buying a new one. India has a large second-hand vehicle market, but when you trade in pre-owned vehicles, you have to get the ownership transferred to the new owner. The RTO office facilitates ownership transfer of vehicles. One has to follow a few simple steps to get the ownership transferred:

• Fill and submit Form 29 and Form 30 which are used for ownership transfer
• Submit the vehicle registration, vehicle insurance and PUC certificates
• Submit an affidavit stating the vehicle sale
• The RTO office asks for the buyer’s address and identity proof
• After the submission of the documents listed above, the RTO will verify and issue the transfer certificate.

Conclusion

The network of RTOs across the country plays an important role in supporting the transportation and automobile sectors of India. RTO is one of the first places to visit after purchasing a vehicle.

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