What is Vehicle Registration?
Vehicle registration is a legal obligation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, with the purpose of finding a link between the vehicle and the vehicle owner/user. This link comes in handy for taxation or crime detection purposes. To get your new vehicle registered, you need to visit your nearest Regional Transport Office (RTO) on priority. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the RTO new vehicle registration process, its fee, and more.
RTO Vehicle Registration Procedure
When you first buy your vehicle at a dealership, it is already registered at the RTO by the dealer. However, you will have to register the vehicle under your name after the purchase. Vehicle registration status is categorised as:
This new vehicle registration number refers to the number allotted to you by the dealer, which is applicable only for a short duration. During this period, you need to apply for a permanent vehicle number at the RTO.
Your vehicle is registered permanently under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways once you submit an application at the nearest RTO. This number cannot be changed and requires re-registration when moving from one state to another. You can register your vehicle on the Parivahan portal via the new registration option.
How to Apply for a Vehicle Registration Certificate at the RTO
Here is how you can register your car or bike at the RTO nearest to you:
Step 1: Go to an RTO office near you with your new vehicle and fill your details in Form 20, which will be made available at the office
Step 2: After you provide the application along with the necessary documents, the RTO superintendent will inspect it
Step 3: Meanwhile, pay the fee for the registration and applicable tax at the counter
Step 4: The Inspector of Motor Vehicle (IMV) will check your car or bike
Step 5: Vehicle data is verified by the RTO Superintendent
Step 6: Vehicle registration is approved by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO)
Step 7: A smart card will be issued by the RTO office and delivered to your address as specified in the application
Types of Forms for Vehicle Registration
There are various forms on the VAHAN website, so to avoid confusion and make your new car registration process simple, you need to understand what each of these forms implies. Let us take a look:
Form number |
Applicability |
20 |
New vehicle registration |
21 |
Sale certificate |
23 |
Registration certificate |
24 |
Motor vehicle registration |
29 |
Vehicle ownership transfer notice |
38A |
Report of inspection |
50 |
Lading bill |
51 |
Certificate of insurance |
54 |
Report of accident information |
Temporary RTO Registration Number
The temporary RTO number is the number issued by the shop owner at the time of vehicle purchase. The validity of this temporary vehicle registration status is one month, during which you need to apply for a permanent number for your car or bike.
Once you complete your new car registration process, you will receive a permanent registration number from the RTO, which is also visible on the nameplate of your vehicle. This unique number establishes you as the owner of the vehicle and also makes it easier to identify your vehicle on the road by viewing its chassis and engine.
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Documents Needed for New Vehicle Registration
To upgrade your vehicle status from temporary to permanent, here are a few documents that you would need:
Form 20 or application for new vehicle registration
Form 21 or sales certificate, PUC Certificate, temporary registration certificate, and the purchase invoice with the manufacturer’s invoice received from the dealer
Form 22 or certificate of roadworthiness given by vehicle manufacturer
Insurance Certificate or valid insurance policy document
Address proof such as Voter ID, Aadhaar, etc.
Form 34 if you have taken a bank loan to buy the vehicle
PAN card copy or a filled Form 60 in the absence of the form
Your passport-size photograph
Proof of date of birth such as driving licence, passport, etc.
A print of the chassis and engine number of your car or bike
RTO Vehicle Registration Fees
The below table illustrates the RTO charges for bikes and cars:
Vehicle type |
Fees |
Motorcycle or two-wheeler |
₹300 |
Car, light motor vehicle, four-wheeler, three-wheeler, or quadricycle |
₹600 (Non-transport) ₹1,000 (Transport) |
Medium goods/passenger motor vehicle |
₹1,000 |
Heavy goods/passenger motor vehicle |
₹1,500 |
Imported motor vehicles (cars) |
₹5,000 |
Imported motorcycles (bikes) |
₹2,500 |
Smart card issuance |
₹200 |
Duplicate registration certificate |
50% of the registration charges of new vehicles |
Endorsement of hypothecation or lease or hire purchase agreement |
₹500 (motorcycles) ₹1,500 (cars, four-wheelers, or light motor vehicles ₹3,000 (medium or heavy motor vehicles) |
Status of New Vehicle Registration
Once you have completed the vehicle registration process at the RTO, you can check your application status easily on the Vahan portal. Go to the ‘application status’ section and fill in your application number. Then, click on the ‘View Report’ button to see the current status.
How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration
You should try to renew your vehicle registration within 60 days from the prescribed due date by submitting Form 25. The detailed process is as under:
Step 1: On the VAHAN website, select the ‘vehicle-related services’ option available on the ‘Online Services’ drop-down menu
Step 2: Now, key in your vehicle registration number and press ‘Proceed’
Step 3: Choose ‘Renewal of registration’ on the new page and fill in the last 5 digits of your vehicle’s ‘Chassis Number’
Step 4: Click on the ‘Validate registration number’ option and enter your mobile number
Step 5: A One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter it
Step 6: Now click on ‘Show details’ and check information on owner name, tax deducted, etc.
Step 7: Once you have verified these, proceed to ‘Payment’ to pay the renewal fee and update your vehicle status
Step 8: Take a printout of your fee receipt and visit the RTO office with the necessary documents to renew your vehicle's RC
To Conclude
Now that you know everything about the RTO online registration procedure, you should also start researching motor insurance plans for your two-wheeler or four-wheeler. A good motor insurance policy offers financial protection to both you and your vehicle against a host of unexpected expenses. With Bajaj Markets, you can enjoy benefits like swift claim approval, roadside assistance, online claim settlement, and much more.
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