RTO New Vehicle Registration Process

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It is mandatory to register your vehicle to ply on Indian roads. The process is undertaken by the RTO, which regulates all motor vehicles in the country. Once purchased, you are required to register the vehicle in your name.

To do so, you need to visit your nearest RTO, fill in form 20, and submit it along with the required documents. Once all the information is verified and the fee is paid at the counter, the vehicle will be successfully registered, and a smart card will be delivered to your address. The registration process can also be effectively performed online by login on to the Vahan website.

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:

Temporary

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.

Permanent

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.

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.

Can I get motor insurance before registering my vehicle?

Yes. In fact, to register your vehicle, you need a motor insurance plan.

After how many years do I need to renew my RC?

You have to apply for RC renewal after 15 years. Post this period, it has to be renewed every 5 years.

What are the RTO charges for new bike registration?

The registration fee for a two-wheeler vehicle is ₹300.

What is the validity of new vehicle registration?

Once you register your vehicle with the RTO, the validity of the registration lasts for 15 years.

Can I renew my vehicle registration online?

Yes. You can renew your vehicle registration online.

For how many years a non-transport vehicle is registered?

The validity of vehicle registration for a non-transport vehicle extends up to 15 years. It should be renewed every 5 years.

Is registration and road tax the same?

No, the registration and road tax are two completely different things. Registration indicates registering your vehicle in the records of the state. And road tax means the revenue that you have to pay every month or annually for driving your vehicle on the roads of the state.

How can I register my vehicle after my temporary number has expired?

Once your temporary number expires, you must provide an undertaking if there is a delay of one month. If there is a delay of more than one month, get an NCRB/MOB report from the police station.

Why is permanent registration needed?

To use your vehicle on public roads, you will need a permanent registration. You can use temporary registration in the form of an RC for a certain period of time after purchasing the vehicle.