Independent guide by India Customer Care · Not the Parivahan government website · We never ask for your licence number, vehicle number, Aadhaar or OTP. Official services: parivahan.gov.in
Duplicate RC: Apply Online for a Lost or Damaged RC
If your vehicle's registration certificate (RC) is lost, stolen or damaged, apply for a duplicate on VAHAN (parivahan.gov.in → Vehicle Related Services → Duplicate RC). For a lost or stolen RC you need a police report first, and if the vehicle is on a loan the financier must sign Form 26. The central fee is half the registration fee, plus ₹200 for a smart card. Meanwhile, your RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan is valid.
- Form
- Form 26
- Where
- VAHAN online + RTO check
- Fee
- Half the registration fee + ₹200 card
- Meanwhile
- DigiLocker or mParivahan RC
- Difficulty
- Moderate
On this page
Which case is yours?
RC lost or stolen
- File a police complaint, FIR, NCR or lost report, and keep its number. VAHAN asks for the details when you choose Lost or Theft.
- If the vehicle itself was stolen, report the vehicle theft to the police and your insurer; that is a different process from a duplicate RC.
RC torn, damaged or unreadable
- Choose Torn as the reason. In Odisha, for example, no FIR is needed for a torn RC.
- Keep the damaged RC: you hand it in to the RTO.
Is the vehicle on a loan? This changes what you need on Form 26:
Loan still running (hypothecation)
The RC shows the bank's name. Get the financier to sign or endorse Form 26 before you apply. The RTO won't process the duplicate without it.
No loan, or loan repaid
No financier signature is needed. If the loan is repaid but the RC still shows hypothecation, ask whether your RTO will let you remove it (Form 35, with the bank's NOC) in the same application.
What documents do you need for a duplicate RC?
- Form 26, endorsed by the financier if the vehicle is on a loan.
- Police complaint, FIR or NCR (lost or stolen RC), or the damaged RC.
- Valid insurance and PUC certificate.
- Address proof, and a PAN card copy or Form 60.
- Commercial vehicles: challan clearance from the traffic police and enforcement wing, tax clearance, and in some states a valid fitness certificate.
- Some states ask for more, such as chassis number pencil prints (Puducherry) or a physical check of the vehicle (Assam, transport vehicles).
How much does a duplicate RC cost?
Under rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, as published by Rajasthan and Telangana, the duplicate fee is half of the registration fee, plus ₹200 for a smart-card RC:
| Vehicle | Duplicate RC fee | Smart card |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | ₹150 | ₹200 |
| Car (light motor vehicle, private) | ₹300 | ₹200 |
| Light motor vehicle, transport | ₹500 | ₹200 |
| Medium goods or passenger vehicle | ₹500 | ₹200 |
| Heavy goods or passenger vehicle | ₹750 | ₹200 |
States add service and postal charges, so the total you pay is higher. Puducherry, for example, publishes ₹500 for a motorcycle and ₹700 for a car. VAHAN shows the exact amount before you pay.
How do you apply for a duplicate RC on VAHAN?
YouVAHAN / RTOFee or waiting
- Police report (lost or stolen) and financier's signature on Form 26 (loan)
- On parivahan.gov.in open Vehicle Related Services, choose your state and enter the registration and chassis numbers
- VAHAN sends an OTP to the mobile number on the RC
- Choose Duplicate RC, the reason, and the police report details
- Pay the fee and download the receipt and Form 26
- Does your state offer the contactless (Aadhaar) route?No: visit the RTO with the originals
- The RTO approves and issues the duplicate RC
- Open VAHAN citizen services (or parivahan.gov.in → Online Services → Vehicle Related Services) and choose the state where the vehicle is registered.
- Enter the registration number and the last 5 characters of the chassis number, then the OTP sent to the RC's mobile number.
- Choose Duplicate RC and the reason: Lost, Theft, Torn or Other. For Lost or Theft, enter the police report details.
- Upload the documents if your state allows, then save the application.
- Pay the fee. Download the receipt and Form 26, and get Form 26 signed by the financier if needed.
- If your state offers the contactless route with Aadhaar, the documents are checked online. Otherwise book a slot and take the originals, Form 26, the receipt and any damaged RC to the RTO.
✔ You'll know it worked when the application status on VAHAN shows it approved, and the RTO issues the duplicate RC.
Open VAHAN (official) vahan.parivahan.gov.in
Puducherry and Assam publish 7 days (working days in Puducherry) for the duplicate; other states do not publish a time.
Can you drive while you wait for the duplicate RC?
Yes, with the digital RC. An RC shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally equal to the original. A photo or scan of the old RC is not.
What can go wrong, and how do you fix it?
| Your situation | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No OTP | The RC has an old mobile number | Update the mobile number on VAHAN first. |
| Service blocked | A pending challan | Pay or contest the challan, then try again. |
| Application stuck at the RTO | No financier signature on Form 26 | Get the bank's signature or letter, and submit it. |
| Rejected for a lost RC | Police report details missing | File a police report and enter its number. |
| Asked for an FIR for a torn RC | Wrong reason chosen | Choose Torn, and hand in the damaged RC. |
| Insurance or PUC expired | VAHAN checks validity | Renew them first. |
| Rejected after Aadhaar check with a family member's Aadhaar | Only the registered owner can authenticate | Apply again with the owner's Aadhaar; the fee is not refunded. |
| Name or address on the RC differs from Aadhaar | The contactless check fails | Use the route with an RTO visit. |
Frequently asked questions
Which form is used for a duplicate RC?
Form 26. VAHAN generates it when you apply online.
Is an FIR compulsory for a lost RC?
A police complaint, FIR or NCR is needed for a lost or stolen RC. For a torn RC, you usually hand in the damaged card instead.
What is the fee for a duplicate RC?
Half the registration fee (for example ₹300 for a car and ₹150 for a motorcycle), plus ₹200 for the smart card and state charges.
Can I apply for a duplicate RC online?
Yes, on VAHAN under Duplicate RC. Some states then check documents at the RTO.
My vehicle is on a loan. What extra do I need?
The financier must endorse Form 26.
Can I drive without the RC card?
Yes, if the RC is shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
Do I need to take the vehicle to the RTO?
Usually not, but some states check the vehicle or ask for chassis number prints, especially for transport vehicles.
Sources
- VAHAN – instructions and documents for each service: Form 26, police report, financier (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- VAHAN – citizen services: contactless route, Aadhaar rules (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Odisha – Duplicate RC: steps and reasons (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Rajasthan – registration fees (rule 81) and Telangana – rule 81 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Puducherry – Duplicate R.C. (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Assam Sewa Setu – duplicate RC for a transport vehicle (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Andhra Pradesh – duplicate RC (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways – SOP on e-challans (17 Dec 2018) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- PIB – DigiLocker and mParivahan documents valid (9 Aug 2018) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published.