RTO Vehicle Info and Registration Details
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is necessary to register your vehicle with an RTO in India. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) details of a vehicle include the state, the RTO code, and the registered RTO.
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RTO Office by States
What is an RTO?
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) is a government agency that manages
transport-related operations in India. It takes care of everything from registering your vehicle and issuing
Driving Licenses (DL) to conducting vehicle inspections and collecting taxes. Currently, India has 1,464 RTO
offices. Every RTO office has a code, which is a unique combination of letters and numbers that indicates a
specific region or city.
Read on to know more about the RTO vehicle registration process, documents required for registration, types
of RC issued by the RTO, and various RTO forms that are required.
What is the Process to Register a Vehicle at an RTO?
Follow the steps given below to register your vehicle at an RTO:
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Submit your documents, such as registration form, address proof, identity proof, insurance, and Pollution Under Control certificate (PUC)
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After this, an inspecting officer at the nearest RTO will verify all your documents and vehicle to ensure that it meets the minimum safety and pollution compliance standards
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You have to pay the registration charges, road tax, and other fees either online or at the nearest RTO
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After successful verification, the nearest RTO will assign your vehicle a unique registration number
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In addition, you receive a Registration Certificate (RC) that includes the registration number, engine and chassis numbers, owner's name and address, PUC certificate, insurance validity, fuel type, and other details
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Within 30 days, get the registration mark on your vehicle's number plate and ensure that it is approved by the registration authority
Documents Required for RTO Vehicle Registration
The following documents are required to register your vehicle at an RTO:
- Form 20: Application for registration of a new vehicle
- Form 21: Sale Certificate
- Form 22: Roadworthiness Certificate
- Valid third-party insurance policy
- A Valid Pollution Under Control Certificate
- Address proof of the vehicle owner (Aadhaar card, Passport, etc.)
- PAN Card
- Temporary Registration (if available)
- Passport-size photographs
What are the different RTO Vehicle Registration Details?
Below are the various RTO vehicle registration details:
- Registration number
- PUC certificate validity
- Registration date
- Vehicle information
- Road Tax Details
- Vehicle make and model
- Engine number and chassis number
Different Types of RC Issued by an RTO
Depending on the stage of vehicle ownership and user convenience, an RTO issues different types of RCs. These include:
Temporary RC
When you purchase a new vehicle, the car dealer usually assigns it a temporary RC that is valid for up to one month. During this time, you should get a permanent RC for your vehicle. However, if there is a delay, you can apply for an extension up to two times, specifying the reason each time. These are the documents required for:
| Temporary RC | Extension of a Temporary RC |
|---|---|
| Form 20: Application | Form 21: Sale Certificate |
| Form 21: Sale Certificate | Form 22: Roadworthiness Certificate |
| Valid Insurance | PUC Certificate |
| Address Proof | Valid Insurance |
| PUC Certificate | Address Proof |
| PAN Card copy | Original Sales Certificate in case of an ex-army vehicle |
| Form 22 - Roadworthiness Certificate | - |
Permanent RC
You must apply for a permanent RC for your vehicle within seven days of purchase, excluding journey time. A permanent RC is valid for 15 years for a private vehicle and must be renewed every five years thereafter. These are the documents required for a permanent RC:
- Form 20: Application
- Form 21: SaleCertificate
- Form 22: Roadworthiness Certificate
- Valid insurance
- Address proof
- PUC certificate
- Copy of PAN card
- Original sale certificate from the concerned authorities, in case of an ex-army vehicle
- Municipal corporation parking fee (required in some states only)
- Passport-sized photographs
- Date of birth proof
- Custom's clearance certificate (for imported vehicle)
- Temporary RC, if any
Several states also issue Smart card RC (SCARD) in the form of tamper-proof cards with an embedded chip. They can be easily carried and scanned by the traffic police during verification. Alternatively, you can store and access your digital RCs in the DigiLocker or mParivahan apps and present them during verification.
Note: Each type of RC serves the same purpose. However, digital RCs and SCARDs reduce the need to carry a physical document.
What are the Different Types of RTO User Charges?
The various fees charged by an RTO office include:
- Registration
- Hypothecation
- High Security Registration Plate (HSRP)
- Duplicate RC
- Road tax (Private and Commercial Vehicles)
- DL
- RC renewal
- Vehicle fitness certificate
- Transfer of ownership
Note: These charges differ from state to state. For state-specific user fees, visit your state RTO page.
Different Types of Services offered by an RTO
An RTO offers the following services:
Vehicle Registration: An RTO issues a unique registration number to your vehicle when you get it registered with the nearest RTO. It also keeps a record of vehicle owner details and issues a new RC on sale, purchase, or transfer of ownership due to succession.
Driving License Issuance: RTOs issue learner's DL, permanent DL, and duplicate DL (in case you lose or damage yours), in addition to renewing your DL. They also conduct tests to judge your basic driving skills and knowledge of road safety rules and regulations.
Road Tax Collection: RTOs collect road tax, which is paid by the vehicle's owner during their vehicle registration. This road tax is used for the development and maintenance of road infrastructure.
Permits: RTOs issue permits for commercial vehicles. A permit authorises a vehicle to operate for commercial purposes, such as carrying passengers or cargo. Private vehicles do not need a permit.
What are the Important RTO Forms in India?
Below are some of the important RTO application forms that you can use to access certain RTO services:
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Form 2 | New DL, Renewal of DL, or change of name or address |
| Form 3 | Learner's license |
| Form 4A | International driving permit |
| Form 20 | Registration of a new vehicle |
| Form 20B | Extension of the temporary registration period |
| Form 21 | Sale certificate |
| Form 22 | Roadworthiness certificate |
| Form 22A | Compliance with safety and pollution standards |
| Form 23B | Temporary registration certificate |
| Form 25 | Renewal of RC |
| Form 26 | Issue of duplicate RC |
| Form 27A | Assignment of a new registration mark in the BH series |
| Form 30 | RTO application for transfer of ownership |
| Form 38 | Certificate of fitness (for commercial vehicles only) |
| Form 50 | Bill of lading |
| Form 51 | Certificate of insurance |
| Form 57 | Certificate for foreign insurance |
RTO Codes for Different States and Union Territories
Every state and union territory in India has a unique RTO code that helps identify vehicles. RTO codes consist of a state or UT code and a numeric value indicating a particular region of that state or UT. The table below lists all India RTO codes for every state and UT.
RTO Codes for States
| State | RTO Code | Website Link |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | UP | https://uptransport.upsdc.gov.in/ |
| Maharashtra | MH | https://transport.maharashtra.gov.in/1035/Home |
| West Bengal | WB | https://transport.wb.gov.in/ |
| Punjab | PB | https://www.punjabtransport.org/ |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP | http://mis.mptransport.org/MPLogin/eSewa/VehicleSearch.aspx |
| Haryana | HR | https://haryanatransport.gov.in/ |
| Bihar | BR | https://state.bihar.gov.in/transport/ |
| Karnataka | KA | https://transport.karnataka.gov.in/en |
| Assam | AS | https://astc.assam.gov.in/ |
| Rajasthan | RJ | https://transport.rajasthan.gov.in/content/transportportal/en.html |
| Tamil Nadu | TN | https://www.tn.gov.in/dept_profile.php?dep_id=MzM= |
| Chhattisgarh | CG | https://cgtransport.gov.in/ |
| Himachal Pradesh | HP | https://himachal.nic.in/transport |
| Telangana | TS | https://transport.telangana.gov.in/ |
| Gujarat | GJ | https://cot.gujarat.gov.in/ |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP | https://www.aptransport.org/ |
| Kerala | KL | https://www.mvd.kerala.gov.in/ |
| Odisha | OD | https://odishatransport.gov.in/ |
| Jharkhand | JH | https://www.jharkhand.gov.in/transport |
| Arunachal Pradesh | AR | https://cmeseva.arunachal.gov.in/all_services.php?category=Transport |
| Meghalaya | ML | https://megtransport.gov.in/ |
| Tripura | TR | https://transport.tripura.gov.in/ |
| Mizoram | MZ | https://transport.mizoram.gov.in/ |
| Sikkim | SK | https://transportdepartment.sikkim.gov.in/ |
| Manipur | MN | https://manipurtransport.gov.in/ |
| Nagaland | NL | https://nst.nagaland.gov.in/ |
RTO Codes for Union Territories
| Union Territory | RTO Code | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Jammu & Kashmir | JK | https://transport.jk.gov.in/ |
| Ladakh | LA | https://ladakh.gov.in/transport-department/ |
| Chandigarh | CH | https://chdtransport.gov.in/ |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | DN/DD | https://ddd.gov.in/service/transport-services/ |
| Lakshadweep | LD | https://lakshadweep.gov.in/how-to-reach/ |
| Puducherry | PY | https://transport.py.gov.in/ |
| Delhi | DL | https://transport.delhi.gov.in/ |
| Andaman and Nicobar | AN | https://ants.andamannicobar.gov.in/ |
FAQs on RTO
What is an RTO State Code?
An RTO state code is a unique code assigned to a vehicle that represents the state in which it is registered.
Can I Check RTO Vehicle Registration Details?
Yes, you can visit the Parivahan Sewa portal and go to 'Vehicle Related Services'. Select your 'State Name'. Then, enter your registration number and RTO and click on 'Proceed' to get the complete RTO vehicle information.
How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership Online?
To transfer vehicle ownership through the Parivahan website, click on 'Vehicle Related Services' under the 'Online Services' tab and choose your nearest RTO. Click 'Transfer of Ownership' under the 'RC Related Services' tab. You can choose from ownership transfer by buying, selling, or succession, according to your requirement. Enter your details and submit.
How Many RTOs Are There in India?
According to the Parivahan website, there are currently 1469 RTOs in India across all states and union territories.
How to Calculate RTO Road Tax?
The amount of road tax varies by state and is calculated based on the vehicle's ex-showroom price, vehicle type, and fuel type.
Can I Check RTO Vehicle Registration Details Online?
Yes, you can check vehicle registration details online via the PB Wheels website or the Parivahan portal using your vehicle registration number.