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
New Vehicle Registration in India: Forms, Fees and Process
When you buy a new vehicle from an authorised dealer, the dealer registers it for you on VAHAN using Form 20 (application), Form 21 (sale certificate) and Form 22 (roadworthiness certificate), plus Form 34 if it is on a loan. Since April 2021 the law says a dealer-sold vehicle doesn't have to be taken to the RTO. The central registration fee is ₹600 for a car and ₹300 for a motorcycle, plus ₹200 for a smart-card RC; road tax is set by your state. The dealer must fit the number plate before handing the vehicle over.
- Who applies
- The dealer, on VAHAN
- Car fee
- ₹600 + ₹200 card
- Motorcycle fee
- ₹300 + ₹200 card
- RC valid for
- 15 years
- Forms
- 20, 21, 22 (34 if on loan)
On this page
How is a new vehicle registered?
YouDealer / RTODecision
- Choose the vehicle, and sign Form 34 with the lender if it is on a loan
- Get insurance; the dealer usually arranges a policy or cover note
- Do you want a special number?No: you get the next number in the series
- Book or bid for it on VAHAN's fancy number portal
- The dealer applies on VAHAN and collects the fee and road tax
- The RTO approves and allots the registration number
- The plate is fitted, the vehicle is delivered and the RC is sent to you
- Since the 2019 amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, the dealer makes the application when the vehicle is registered in the dealer's state (section 41(1)).
- From 1 April 2021, a vehicle sold by an authorised dealer does not have to be produced before the registering authority (section 44). Some state pages, such as Chhattisgarh's, still describe an inspection at the RTO, so practice varies.
- The vehicle must not be delivered until its registration mark is displayed (section 41(6)). The dealer fits the high security number plate.
- The smart-card RC reaches you by post or courier, or as your state directs. You can also see it in DigiLocker.
Which forms and documents are needed?
| Document | What it is | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| Form 20 | Application for registration | You sign; the dealer files it |
| Form 21 | Sale certificate | Dealer |
| Form 22 (or 22A) | Roadworthiness certificate (22A from a body builder) | Manufacturer or body builder |
| Form 34 | Hypothecation, if the vehicle is on a loan | You and the lender |
| Insurance | Policy or cover note | Insurer, usually through the dealer |
| Address proof | Proof of your address | You |
| PAN or Form 60 | Tax identity | You |
| Invoice | Dealer's invoice | Dealer |
If the vehicle is on a loan, the lender's name appears on the RC. After you repay the loan, remove the hypothecation.
How much does registration cost?
The central registration fee under rule 81 for a private (non-transport) vehicle, as published by state transport departments:
| Vehicle | Fee |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | ₹300 |
| Three-wheeler or quadricycle | ₹600 |
| Light motor vehicle (car) | ₹600 |
| Medium goods or passenger vehicle | ₹1,000 |
| Heavy goods or passenger vehicle | ₹1,500 |
| Imported motorcycle | ₹2,500 |
| Imported motor vehicle | ₹5,000 |
| Smart-card RC (extra) | ₹200 |
- Road tax is set by each state, usually as a one-time tax on a private vehicle, often a percentage of its price. It is much larger than the registration fee. Check your state transport department's site.
- If you scrapped an old vehicle at a registered scrapping facility, its Certificate of Deposit gets you up to 25% off road tax on a new private vehicle (15% for a transport vehicle). The fee for the new vehicle's registration certificate is also waived.
- Some states list a higher fee for a transport vehicle; Rajasthan, for example, charges ₹1,000 for a transport LMV.
- Ask the dealer for the VAHAN fee and tax receipt. Any "handling" or "registration charges" above it are not government fees.
What if I buy in another state, or the vehicle needs a body?
Bought outside your home state
The dealer gets a temporary registration. Under rule 53B, as amended in 2023, a temporary registration for a vehicle to be registered in another state is valid for 45 days. Register it in your state within that time.
Chassis that needs a body
A chassis sold without a body (for example, a goods vehicle) gets a temporary registration while the body is built. The body builder gives Form 22A. We could not confirm the current general validity period for this case; ask your RTO.
Vehicle being adapted for a person with a disability
A fully built vehicle being converted into an adapted vehicle can get a temporary registration valid for 45 days (rule 53B, from 2023).
Can I choose my registration number?
Yes, in states that run the VAHAN fancy number e-auction. Prices and rules are set by each state. Bihar's published manual, for example:
- a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000;
- base prices for private vehicles from ₹15,000 (a "choice number", first come, first served) to ₹1,00,000 for the most sought-after numbers;
- the winning bidder pays within 7 days, then registers the vehicle within 90 days (30 days for a choice number), or the number lapses.
Some states let dealers offer a pick from the next few numbers; Punjab allows the current number or one of the next 25. Employees who move between states can opt for the BH series instead.
What if something goes wrong?
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| The dealer wants to hand over the vehicle without a number | The law doesn't allow delivery before the registration mark is displayed. Insist on registration and the plate first. |
| The dealer says the RTO must inspect the vehicle | Dealer-sold vehicles don't need to be produced under section 44, but some states still inspect. Ask your RTO. |
| The bill has extra "registration charges" | Compare it with the VAHAN fee and tax receipt; the government fee is the rule 81 amount plus your state's tax. |
| I lost my fancy number booking | In Bihar, the number lapses if you don't pay within 7 days or register in time, and the fee is lost. Book again. |
| The smart-card RC hasn't arrived | Check the RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan, and ask the RTO about dispatch. If it is lost, see duplicate RC. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to go to the RTO to register a new car?
Usually not. Since April 2021, a vehicle sold by an authorised dealer doesn't have to be produced at the RTO, and the dealer applies on VAHAN. Some states still describe an inspection.
What is the registration fee for a new car?
₹600 under rule 81, plus ₹200 for a smart-card RC. Road tax is separate and set by your state.
And for a motorcycle?
₹300, plus ₹200 for the smart card and your state's road tax.
How long is the registration valid?
15 years for a private vehicle. After that it must be renewed.
How long is a temporary registration valid?
45 days when the vehicle will be registered in a different state from the dealer's, or is being adapted for a person with a disability. Other periods depend on the case.
Who fits the number plate?
The dealer fits the high security registration plate before delivery.
Sources
- India Code – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: sections 41, 43 and 44 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Punjab Transport – dealer point registration (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Chhattisgarh Transport – registration of a new vehicle (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Rajasthan Transport – registration fees (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Andhra Pradesh Transport – temporary registration (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- G.S.R. 720(E), 5 Oct 2021 – road tax concession with a Certificate of Deposit (PIB, accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Government of Bihar – fancy number e-auction manual (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Uttarakhand – fees structure (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Government of Himachal Pradesh – rule 81 fee table (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- India in Business (Government of India) – registration fee waiver with a Certificate of Deposit (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- MoRTH – proposed rule 53B amendment, G.S.R. 90(E), 9 Feb 2023: 45-day temporary registration (PIB, accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published. 25 Oct 2026: sources limited to government websites.