Vehicle Fitness Certificate for Cars, Bikes & Other Vehicles

In India, it is mandatory for all commercial vehicles to have a valid vehicle fitness certificate (FC). The Regional Transport Office (RTO) issues the FC after a thorough inspection process to ensure that the vehicle is fit to be driven on Indian roads. The certificate is crucial for compliance with legal requirements, ensuring road safety, preventing pollution, and avoiding unnecessary penalties. The article briefly explains various topics, such as how to apply for an FC online and offline and the necessary documents required for obtaining the certificate. It also highlights the importance of obtaining an FC, its validity period, and other related aspects.

What is a Fitness Certificate (FC) of a vehicle?

According to Indian legal requirements, it is mandatory for all motor vehicles to possess a valid vehicle fitness certificate. This is in addition to the registration certificate. The inspection process helps to identify technical faults, mechanical issues, emission issues, or any other problems related to the vehicle’s working condition. This process ensures that the vehicle is environmentally safe and technically and mechanically fit, thereby increasing on-road safety. Additionally, such inspections help to identify potential problems that could cause frequent breakdowns in the future. The fitness certificate issued by the RTO serves as an important tool to keep track of a vehicle’s condition, regardless of its type or capacity. By complying with the mandatory fitness certificate requirement, vehicle owners can ensure the safety of the environment, their own safety, and of others on the roads.

Importance of Having Vehicle Fitness Certificate

In India, possessing a Fitness Certificate (FC) for motor vehicles is crucial, and the following points highlight its importance.

• Firstly, having an FC is mandatory for all vehicles in India. Commercial vehicles must always have an active certificate. If a vehicle owner fails to present the FC during an inspection, he/she may have to pay penalties.
• Secondly, the FC is essential because it ensures that the vehicle is mechanically sound and safe to drive on Indian roads. The certificate is issued only after the vehicle has undergone a thorough inspection to assess its mechanical condition.
• Thirdly, vehicular pollution is a significant problem in India, and old vehicles are major contributors to this issue. An FC makes sure that old vehicles do not lead to environmental pollution. Older vehicles produce harmful emissions. Hence fitness certificates are not issued for such vehicles, thereby ensuring that they do not ply on roads.

Lastly, obtaining an FC saves vehicle owners from troubles such as non-compliance penalties imposed by the concerned authorities.

How to Apply for a Vehicle Fitness Certificate

Online

These are the steps to apply for a vehicle fitness certificate online:

• Go to the Parivahan portal’s authorised website.
• Select the "Vehicle-Related Services" option in the Online Services section and click on it.
• Choose the state of residence from the dropdown menu.
• Enter the vehicle registration number on the following page and click on "Proceed."
• Select "Apply for Fitness Certificate," read the instructions, acknowledge them, and click on "Proceed."
• Enter the vehicle chassis number and registered mobile number and click on "Generate OTP."
• View the vehicle details after entering the OTP and verify them. Fill in the vehicle insurance details and click on "Payment."
• Pay the applicable fees using digital payment modes.
• You will receive an application number; you can download an online receipt for future reference.

Visit the RTO with the vehicle and necessary documents and undergo vehicle inspection. The RTO may suggest repairs if there are any defects or technical faults. Based on the result of the inspection, the RTO will issue the FC.

Offline

To obtain a Fitness Certificate offline, you can download the necessary forms from the government’s online portal or obtain them from the RTO.

• After filling out the forms and attaching the required documents, submit them to the RTO and pay the fees.
• On the date assigned by the RTO, you must bring your vehicle for inspection.

You also can renew your certificate offline. To renew the certificate offline, download the forms from the government website or get them from the RTO, fill them out, submit the documents, and pay the applicable fees.

Documents Required to Apply for Vehicle Fitness Certificate

Certain documents are necessary to obtain a new vehicle’s fitness certificate. These include:

• A Letter of Intent from the State Transport Authority for commercial passenger vehicles
• temporary registration, if any
• a valid insurance certificate
• a valid pollution certificate
• the prescribed fees
• a Roadworthy Certificate in Form 22
• Sales Certification Form 21
• Form 20

When renewing the fitness certificate of a vehicle, the necessary documents include

• a duplicate fitness certificate if required
• a prescribed fee
• road tax clearance proof
• registration certificate
• Form 25

A duplicate fitness certificate gets issued if the original certificate is lost, stolen or damaged. To obtain a duplicate certificate, the requisite fees, an application on plain paper stating the date of issue/expiry of the certificate of fitness (CoF), a challan clearance from the transport department and traffic police, a photocopy of the fitness certificate if available, a tax clearance report from the account branch, and a police report is required.

Fitness Certificate for a car/4-wheeler

• Obtaining a valid car fitness certificate is not only a legal requirement but also important for ensuring road safety and keeping vehicle emissions under control.
• Any vehicle, especially an 8-seater car, must have a fitness certificate, and not having one can result in heavy traffic fines and vehicle seizure.
• After inspection, the FC will be issued accordingly. It is important to remember that you must renew the fitness certificate for a car after 15 years.
• The application process for the FC can be done both online and offline.
• To apply offline, you need to visit the nearest RTO office, submit Forms 20 and 21, provide your car’s sales certificate and road tax payment receipt, and pay the prescribed fees.
• To apply online, you need to visit the Parivahan portal website, enter your car details and make the payment.

Fitness certificate for a bike/2-wheeler

• A fitness certificate for a bike is essential due to the increasing levels of pollution caused by vehicles on the roads.
• Obtaining a fitness certificate for a bike can be done both offline and online.
• For the offline method, visit the Regional Transport Office and fill out the necessary forms, submit them along with the required documents, and pay the fee for the inspection.
• For the online method, visit the Parivahan Sewa Portal, provide the vehicle’s registration number, and complete the application process by providing details of the bike, insurance coverage, and other requisite information.
• Documents required for a fitness certificate include insurance certificates, road tax receipts, a valid PUC certificate, the original RC, and identity proof such as your Aadhaar Card and address proof like an electricity bill.
• You do not have to pay a fee for a fitness certificate for a new two-wheeler; you must renew the fitness certificate for a bike after 15 years.

Fitness Certificate for Commercial Vehicles

• In India, it is mandatory for commercial vehicles to obtain a fitness certificate issued by the manufacturer and the state authorities after inspecting their condition, pollution certificate, tax, insurance documents, and other details.
• Fitness certificates are compulsory annually, particularly for public vehicles like buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws.
• This certificate is necessary for maintaining vehicle health, controlling pollution, and avoiding penalties.
• To obtain a fitness certificate, applicants must approach the RTO office in their area.
• Applicants must submit the completed application form for the certificate of compliance with pollution and safety standards of roadworthiness, tax receipt, certificates showing original registration, insurance, PUC and permit, pencil imprint of the motor vehicle chassis, and address proof.
• Applicants should also bring their vehicle for inspection.

RTO Fitness Certificate (FC) Charges

How to download your Fitness Certificate

• For vehicle fitness certificate download, start by visiting the official website of Parivahan at parivahan.gov.in
• Then, navigate to the ‘Online Services’ option in the top menu, and click on the ‘Vehicle Related Services’ option.
• On the new page that opens up, select your state and RTO from the dropdown list, and click on the ‘Proceed’ button.
• Next, click on the ‘Download Document’ option on the main menu and select the ‘Print Fitness Certificate’ option.
• Please input your relevant details on the freshly loaded webpage and click on the ‘Verify Details’ button.
• After entering that, click on the ‘Submit’ button; you will be able to view your Fitness Certificate on the screen.
• To download a Duplicate Fitness Certificate for your vehicle online, log in to the Vahan e-services Ministry of Road Transport and Highways website.
• Click on the 'Submit' button, then select 'Online Services' and choose 'Duplicate Fitness Certificate.'
• Enter the required details to generate OTP
• Enter it and click on 'Submit.'
• Click on 'Duplicate FC' and fill out the required information before clicking on 'Submit.'
• Click on 'Insurance Details' under 'Service Details,' fill it out, and click on 'Submit.'
• Then click on 'DMS (Upload Docs)' to upload any necessary documents.
• Once you've completed these steps, click the 'x' button at the top of the page. Select 'Appointment' under 'Service Details' and choose a date for which a slot is available. Click on 'Book Now.'

Steps to Renew Fitness Certificate Online

• For online renewal, you need to visit the official portal, enter the name of your state, and provide the vehicle’s registration number and chassis number. After generating the OTP, you will have to initiate a fee transfer online and, finally, complete the process by visiting the nearest RTO with the necessary documents.
• You must submit the required documents, such as registration certificates, valid insurance policy papers, and pollution under control certificate, to renew your vehicle's fitness certificate. The validity period of the fitness certificate varies based on the type of vehicle, and renewal is necessary a few days before expiry to avoid any inconvenience.

For offline renewal, you need to visit your nearest RTO and fill out an application form for the renewal of a fitness certificate. Attach the necessary documents, pay the fee at the RTO, and wait for the vehicle inspection to receive your renewed fitness certificate.

How to Check Fitness Certificate Status Online?

The Parivahan Sewa portal offers various services related to vehicle fitness certificates, including checking the validity and downloading them online for cars and commercial vehicles.

• To check the fitness certificate of your vehicle online, create a new account on the official portal.
• Upon clicking, a webpage titled "new user registration" will open, which will require you to provide your phone number and email address.
• Next, you will need to enter your name and select a password before saving your account details.
• Finally, you can log in to your account and check your vehicle registration status by entering your vehicle number and filling out the captcha code.
• You will now see the details about your vehicle on the screen.

Conclusion

An FC for a vehicle is a legal requirement for all commercial vehicles in India, in addition to the registration certificate. The RTO issues the FC after the vehicle has undergone a thorough inspection process to identify any faults and issues related to the vehicle’s working condition. This process ensures that the vehicle is fit, thereby increasing overall safety. Moreover, such inspections help to identify potential problems that could cause bigger issues in the future. Possessing an FC is not only a legal obligation but also crucial for ensuring safety on roads, protecting the environment, and avoiding unnecessary penalties. Also, it is important to note that having a third-party car insurance since it is mandatory in India as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

FAQs on Vehicle Fitness Certificate

You must have an FC for both old and new vehicles in India as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1989. Getting an FC ensures that your vehicle is road-worthy in India. A new private vehicle can get an FC for 15 years. After that, it will get extended for another 5 years at a time after due inspection at the RTO. But there might be a few questions regarding an FC. Below are some common queries and their answers about fitness certificates related to vehicles in India. You might find these helpful and know how to go about getting an FC.

How do I get my RTO fitness certificate?

Visit the Parivahan Sewa official website and select the online services option. Then select vehicle-related services and choose the state you reside in. Create an account by providing your vehicle's registration number and selecting the fitness certificate application. To obtain an OTP, enter your mobile number and chassis number. Verify the details and select a payment gateway to pay online. Note the application number and visit the nearby RTO to schedule a vehicle inspection at a suitable date, time, and location.

If the inspection detects any faults, get your vehicle repaired as per the recommendations. It's imperative to have insurance coverage for your vehicle, and the cost of the online vehicle fitness certificate may vary depending on your vehicle's type.

Can I pay my car fitness online?

First, go to the VAHAN portal and click on 'Vehicle Related Services' under 'Online Services'. Then select your state, choose 'Application for Fitness Certificate', and provide the vehicle's registration and chassis numbers. After that, enter your registered mobile number and generate an OTP to verify the details on the screen. Click on 'Payment' to complete the online payment for the renewal fee. However, note that the submission of documents and the inspection process will take place offline. Therefore, you need to visit your nearest RTO with the necessary documents to complete the renewal process for your four-wheeler. It's important to keep in mind that you cannot complete the entire renewal process through the portal alone.

Is fitness certificate of vehicle mandatory?

An FC is mandatory for all vehicles in India. But from this year, vehicles must obtain a fitness certificate from automated testing stations, according to a new rule set by the central government. This means that you can obtain a valid fitness certificate only through a recognised automated system. As per the notification released by the Transport Ministry, Heavy Goods Vehicles/Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicles must obtain verification from 1 April 2023, while Medium Goods Vehicles/Medium Passenger Motor Vehicles and Light Motor vehicles (Transport) must obtain verification from 1 June 2024.