RC Book

RC stands for Registration Certificate. Vehicles in India must register with the Regional Transport Office. Unregistered vehicles are not permitted on the roads. This is in accordance with the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.

After registration, the transport authority provides you with a Registration Certificate (RC Book). This document contains details about the vehicle and its owner. It includes,

• Registration number of the vehicle

• Name and address of the owner of the vehicle

• Vehicle’s make and model

• Chassis number

• Engine number of the vehicle

• Class of vehicle

• Body type of vehicle

• Colour of the vehicle

• Unladen weight and wheelbase of the vehicle

• Cubic capacity, seating capacity, and the type of fuel used by the vehicle

• Registration date and the RC expiry date

To make carrying the certificate easy for vehicle owners, an RC smart card is issued by RTO. These cards are compact, easily fitting in the wallets. They contain a smart chip, just like a credit card, that holds all of the relevant information about the vehicle and its owner.

Usually, when you buy a new vehicle, your dealer would take care of the registration process. Also, you can initiate the vehicle registration process and get the RC yourself.

Check out the following process of applying for the RC book or RC Smart Card:

1. Head to the Regional Transport Office that’s nearest to you along with your vehicle

2. An RTO official in charge of vehicle inspection will thoroughly inspect your vehicle

3. Fill and submit Form 20, which is an application for obtaining an RC book

4. The RTO official will take an imprint of your vehicle’s chassis number

5. Submit all of the other supporting documents required for vehicle registration

6. And finally, pay the fees at the counter and obtain the receipt for the same

7. The Registration Certificate of your vehicle will be sent to your address after a few days

8. You can also download the RC book through DigiLocker smartphone application

The fee structure for getting a RC varies depending on the type of vehicle you own. Check out the table below for more information:

You should have the required documents handy for a quick registration process. Here is the list of documents you will require at the time of vehicle registration:

1. Form 20, duly filled with all information

2. Sales certificate, in Form 21, issued by the dealer of your vehicle

3. Certificate of roadworthiness, in Form 22 and Form 22A, issued by the vehicle manufacturer

4. A copy of your PAN card

5. Your passport size photographs

6. The invoice copy issued by the dealer and manufacturer of the vehicle

7. A copy of your vehicle’s insurance policy

8. A copy of your proof of address

9. Form 34, duly signed by the financier and the owner of the vehicle

As seen above, RTOs throughout the country have started to issue RC cards with a built-in smart chip.

However, if you already have an RC book, you can choose to convert the same to an RC smart card. The process that you would have to follow is listed below:

1. Firstly, write a letter to the Superintendent of Traffic Police of your city detailing the need to get your RC book converted to an RC smart card

2. Carry a copy of your vehicle’s insurance plan and its pollution certificate

3. Pay the necessary charges for conversion

4. Submit your original RC book along with the above mentioned documents at the RTO that’s nearest to you

5. A new RC card will be mailed to the registered address within just a few days

You might need to verify the RC details of your vehicle to prove the vehicle is registered under your name. In that case, all that you would have to do is follow the process outlined below.

Steps to Check RC Details Online:

1. Visit the VAHAN website

2. Click on the ‘Know Your Vehicle Details’ option

3. If you have an account already, log into it. Otherwise, register for a new account

4. Enter your vehicle’s registration number, the captcha code, and click on ‘Vahan Search’

5. The details of your vehicle will be displayed on the webpage

Steps to Check RC Details through SMS

1. Type VAHAN <space> the registration number of your vehicle

2. Send the above as an SMS to this number - 7738299899

3. You will receive the details of the vehicle as an SMS from the above number

With this, you must now be aware of what is an RC book and how to apply for one. It is one of the most important documents that every vehicle owner should have on them at all times.

If you’re planning to buy a new vehicle and register, remember to first buy an insurance plan for the vehicle. You will not be permitted to apply for an RC for your vehicle without a valid insurance plan.

Bajaj Markets can help you get an insurance plan for your vehicle in no time. Visit the website, browse through the various vehicle insurance plans available, and choose the one that fits your needs. It is as simple as that.