A fitness certificate for vehicles is an official document issued by the government which certifies that a particular vehicle is fit to be driven on the roads. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, makes it mandatory for vehicles, private and commercial, to have a fitness certificate (FC). If you are looking into buying a new car in the near future, you should be familiar with the process of applying for a fitness certificate. Let’s learn more about fitness certificates and how to apply for them.
The government has set different rates of fees for different vehicles when it comes to fitness certificates. Let’s take a look at the fitness certificate fees for different types of vehicles:
Vehicle Type |
Fitness Certificate Fees |
Heavy or Medium Motor Vehicle |
New Registration ₹1,000 (Medium) New Registration ₹1,500 (Heavy) |
Three-Wheeler or Light Motor Vehicle |
New Registration ₹600 Renewal of Registration ₹5,000 |
Two-Wheeler Vehicle |
New Registration ₹300 Renewal of Registration ₹1,000 |
The validity of the fitness certificate depends on the exact age of your vehicle. If your vehicle is less than 8 years old, the fitness certificate would be valid for a period of 2 years. However, if your vehicle is more than 8 years old, the fitness certificate would only be valid for a period of 1 year. When your vehicle’s fitness certificate expires, you should immediately get it renewed to steer clear of any legal complications.
You will need to keep the following set of documents ready when applying for a fitness certificate:
Form 20
Form 38
Receipt of paid road tax
Insurance policy papers
RC of the vehicle
Address proof
ID proof
Passport size photographs
You can follow the steps given below to get a duplicate fitness certificate, in case you lose or misplace the original one:
Step 1: Visit the official Parivahan website and log in with your credentials.
Step 2: Under ‘Online Services’, click on ‘Duplicate of Fitness Certificate’.
Step 3: Enter your chassis number, then enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
Step 4: Fill in other important information, then click on ‘Select Appointment Date’ and book an appointment.
Step 5: Pay the online fee for a duplicate fitness certificate and download the receipt.
Step 6: Go to the RTO on the appointment date for verification. After verification, your duplicate fitness certificate will be provided.
You should keep the following documents ready when applying for a fitness certificate:
Photocopy of original fitness certificate
Application letter with the date of issue/date of expiry of fitness certificate
Tax clearance report from branch account
Challan clearance from traffic police
Duplicate fitness certificate fees
The cost for a fitness certificate varies based on the type of vehicle you possess. The range of cost varies between ₹200 to ₹1,000.
Yes, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, makes it mandatory for all vehicle owners to have a fitness certificate.
Yes, you can download your vehicle’s fitness certificate by logging into the Parivahan site and going to the ‘Fitness Certificate’ section under ‘Online Services’.
For vehicles less than 8 years of age, the fitness certificate needs to be renewed every 2 years. For cars older than 8 years, the certificate needs to be renewed every year.
Carry your valid driving licence and insurance policy documents when driving. If you do not have insurance, you can get a motor insurance policy on Bajaj Markets.
Your car is permitted to undergo up to two retests if it fails the fitness test. Failure in those will prevent the acquisition of a registration certificate. Thus, it will be unable to operate on public roads.