RTO Registration: How to Register a Vehicle Online & Offline

Introduction

Registering your vehicle with the RTO is mandatory. Once registered with the RTO, your vehicle details become a part of huge database. Any time you face certain issues with your vehicle, the RTO office provides a wide range of services.

When should one register with the RTO?

Anyone buying a car should immediately register with the RTO. One can get a temporary registration immediately after buying a car. A permanent registration can be taken within a month after buying a vehicle. Also buy car insurance as it protects you from the claim arising out of the accidents involving third parties.

What is a temporary RTO number?

The RTO officer gives a new vehicle a temporary RTO number. It looks the same as a permanent number but has the alphabets “TR” or the word “TEMP” written in bold.

How to get the temporary RTO number?

There are two ways to get a temporary number:

• The dealership which issues the car also provides you the temporary RTO number. This is usually obtained within a few hours after the purchase of a vehicle.
• You will need to fill the RTO form. Along with that you need to attach the following documents.

- Copy of Address Proof
- Copy of insurance certificate
- Copy of sales certificate Form 21
- Pollution under control certificate.
- Temporary registration form C.R.Tem.
- Copy of roadworthiness certificate (22 and 22A)

• There is another way to get a temporary RTO number. It is through the online method. You can use vahan portal (https://vahan.nic.in/nrservices/) to register the RTO number.

Information services registration services temporary registration etc.

• Once registered, you can also check the status of your vehicle via the portal in which you have to log to parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice/vahan/ui/state validation/homepage.xhtml.

How to get the permanent RTO number?

• The owner has to fill and submit the application form or Form 20 to the registering authority
• In case, the owner of the vehicle has obtained a temporary registration number of the vehicle, the permanent registration number must be obtained before the temporary registration number expires (usually one month).
• If the procedure of permanent registration of the vehicle requires hypothecation, then the owner has to produce the necessary documents
• Next step involves the owner selecting the permanent registration number for the motor vehicle.
• The owner has to decide the usage of HSRP/smart card that is required.
• Next, the owner of the vehicle that is to be registered has to pay the fees applicable as per Rule 81 of Central Motor Vehicles Rule, 1989. The fees levied by the registering authority will depend on the type and series of permanent registration number selected and the usage of HSRP/smart card by the owner.

How to get the permanent RTO number via the online method?

• You can use vahan portal https://vahan.nic.in/nrservices/ to register the RTO number.

Information services registration servicespermanent registration etc.

• Once registered, you can also check the status of vehicle via the portal to which you have to log in to parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice/vahan/ui/state validation/homepage.xhtml.

Other services provided by Vahan: There are multiple other uses of Vahan portal as well. It can be used to get a renewal permit, fitness certificate, transfer of ownership of vehicles, etc.

Benefits once you have registered with Vahan portal: You can also check the details of your registered vehicle via an SMS or online. If you are in any mishap, all you have to do is send an SMS to Vahan in the following format VAHAN{SPACE}VEHICLE NUMBER to 77382 99899 and check the details. You will receive the following information immediately:

• Owner name
• RTO office where the vehicle was registered
• Fitness certificate expiry date
• Ownership serial number (If it is the first owner, second owner, or third owner)

You can visit Vahan official website and enter the vehicle number and click on the submit button to get all the information about the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions:

Is there a registration fee?
There is a registration fee for every new vehicle registration. Each vehicle and registration type carry a different RTO fee.

RTO Fees and Charges. Cars with price limit in between Rs. 6 lakhs to 10 Lakhs in Exshowroom – Diesel Cars – 8.75% and Petrol Cars – 7%. Cars with price more than Rs.10 Lakhs in Exshowroom – Diesel Cars – 12.5% and Petrol Cars – 10%.

Additional charges in the form of MCD Parking are also there i.e. for cars which are priced upto four lacs have to pay Rs.2,000/- and amount of Rs.4,000/- is applicable for cars of above four lacs as parking charges.

RTO fees and charges differ from state to state and even between different cities. However, there are some generic rules that are applied to cars. Diesel cars with a price limit between Rs 6 lakhs and Rs 10 lakhs are charged 8.75% and petrol cars with price more than Rs 10 lakhs are charged 10% of their total cost.

The state of Karnataka has the highest RTO charges as the state government has levied a life time road tax on all vehicles that are registered outside the state. Opposite to that is the north east where charges are the lowest.

The Municipal corporation of Delhi has also levied an additional parking charge. A car costing upto 4 lakhs will pay Rs 2000 and an amount of Rs 4000 is applicable for cars of above four lakhs as parking charges number plate.

What are the different types of RTO forms available?

There are different types of RTO forms available for different vehicles and different registration types. One has to be careful about which RTO form one downloads. Each one serves a different purpose.

• Form 20- Application for registration of a motor vehicle
• Form 21- Sale certificate
• Form 23- Certificate of registration
• Form 24- Registration of motor vehicle
• Form 29- Notice of transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle
• Form 38 A- Report of inspection
• Form 50- Bill of lading
• Form 51- Certificate of insurance
• Form 54- Accident information report
• Form 57- Certificate for foreign insurance

Where is the RTO office in my hometown?

The list of regional transport offices is available on the vahan portal. They are also available on Wikipedia. Search for your specific location and you will find the list of RTO offices in your respective city.

What are the timings of the RTO office?

The timings are from 10 AM to 5:30 PM or 5 PM depending on your office. RTO offices are closed every 2^nd and 4^th Saturday.

Who regulates the RTO?

The motor vehicles department that has been established under section 213(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The motor vehicles department is responsible for the affairs of the state and district level RTO. A transport commissioner heads the department.

The RTO comes under the motor vehicles department. This department, headed by a transport commissioner is responsible for all that happens within and with RTO. All state and district RTO offices report to the motor vehicle department.

Why are RTO charges different in different states?

The RTO charges depend on the ex-showroom prices. Showroom prices take into account, the cost of logistics or transportation from the manufacturing location or the port from where the car comes to the mainland. Hence, in this case these charges are transferred in the form of RTO registration fees and Road tax to the consumer.

The RTO fees are also impacted by the local registration fees which defers widely across states, cities etc.

Are RTO fees tax deductible?

Fines paid to the RTO under compensatory nature are allowable expenditures under the RTO act. Earlier, any amount paid to the RTO was held as non-allowable expenditure. However, a recent court ruling has said that, as long as the expenditure is compensatory in nature, it can be allowed to be stated as expenditure under the income tax act.