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RC Renewal After 15 Years: Fees, Fitness Test and Process
A private vehicle's registration certificate (RC) is valid for 15 years. To keep using the vehicle after that, apply for renewal in Form 25, up to 60 days before the RC expires, and have the vehicle pass a fitness inspection. The central renewal fee for a car aged 15 to 20 years is ₹5,000 (₹1,000 for a motorcycle), plus the fitness test fee and ₹200 for a smart card. For a vehicle older than 20 years, check the fee on VAHAN. Late renewal costs ₹500 a month (₹300 for a motorcycle).
- RC valid
- 15 years from issue
- Form
- 25
- Car, 15–20 years
- ₹5,000
- Late fee
- ₹500 a month (bike ₹300)
On this page
When does my RC need renewing?
Under section 41(7) of the Motor Vehicles Act, a private (non-transport) vehicle's registration is valid for 15 years from the date of issue. The "valid up to" date is printed on your RC and shown on VAHAN and mParivahan. Andhra Pradesh's transport department, for example, says to apply in Form 25 not more than 60 days before that date.
Andhra Pradesh's transport department says a renewed private vehicle's registration is valid for 5 years from the date of approval, after which you renew again. Transport vehicles follow separate fitness certificate rules, and government vehicles can't be renewed at all after 15 years (see below).
How do I renew my RC?
YouRTODecision
- Check the "valid up to" date on your RC
- Clear road tax and any challans; keep PUC and insurance valid
- Apply in Form 25 on VAHAN or at the RTO and pay the fees
- Take the vehicle for its fitness inspection
- Did it pass?No: repair it and book a re-inspection
- The RC is renewed and a new smart card is issued
- On VAHAN citizen services, choose your state and RTO and look for the renewal of registration service, or apply at the RTO that registered the vehicle.
- Keep these ready: Form 25, the original RC, a valid PUC certificate, proof that road tax is paid, and your insurance.
- Pay the renewal fee, the fitness test fee, any late fee, the smart card fee and any state green tax.
- Take the vehicle for inspection on your slot date, at the RTO or an automated testing station (ATS), as your state directs.
- Once it passes, the RC is renewed. If the vehicle is on a loan, remove the hypothecation first if the loan is closed.
How much does RC renewal cost?
| Vehicle | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | ₹1,000 |
| Car (light motor vehicle) | ₹5,000 |
| Imported motorcycle | ₹10,000 |
| Imported car | ₹40,000 |
- These fees apply from 1 April 2022 (G.S.R. 714(E)); before that a car paid ₹600. For a vehicle older than 20 years, or another type of vehicle, check the fee on VAHAN.
- Late fee: ₹300 for a motorcycle and ₹500 for other private vehicles, for each month or part of a month after expiry.
- Smart-card RC: ₹200.
- Fitness test fee: extra; check the amount on VAHAN.
- Green tax: some states charge it on old vehicles. Maharashtra's Motor Vehicles Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for example, sets ₹2,000 to ₹7,000 for every 5 years after the first 15, depending on the vehicle, fuel and emission norm.
RC renewal fee estimator
Enter your RC dates
For private (non-transport) vehicles. The estimator runs only in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere. You don't need your registration number.
What about Delhi-NCR, moving state or scrapping?
Delhi-NCR
- A Supreme Court order of 29 October 2018 directs that diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old shall not ply in the NCR.
- The court has modified how this is enforced since then, so check the Delhi Transport Department's current position before you apply.
- The alternatives are to re-register the vehicle in a state outside the NCR with an NOC, or to scrap it.
The vehicle is in another state
If you keep a vehicle in another state for more than 12 months, you must apply there for a new registration mark (section 47), with an NOC from the original RTO in Form 28 and the lender's NOC if it is on a loan. See ownership transfer for the NOC.
Scrapping instead of renewing
If you scrap the vehicle at a registered scrapping facility, you get a Certificate of Deposit. It gives up to 25% off road tax on a new private vehicle (15% for a transport vehicle), from 1 April 2022.
Government and PSU vehicles
Under notification G.S.R. 29(E) of 16 January 2023, the registration of a vehicle owned by the central or a state government, a local body, a state transport undertaking, a public sector undertaking or an autonomous body can't be renewed after 15 years. Special-purpose vehicles, such as armoured vehicles used for defence, law and order and internal security, are excluded.
What if something goes wrong?
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| A late fee was added | You applied after the "valid up to" date. It is ₹300 or ₹500 per month; next time apply in the 60 days before. |
| The fee is much higher than I expected | Check the vehicle's age: the 15-to-20-year fee doesn't apply to a vehicle over 20 years, and the fitness test fee and any state green tax are added. VAHAN shows the breakdown. |
| The application is blocked | Clear pending road tax, challans or other dues first. |
| The vehicle failed the fitness test | Repair the defects and book a re-inspection; the re-test fee depends on the state. |
| I can't find a fitness slot or an ATS nearby | Ask your RTO which testing centre is authorised for your area. |
| The RC still shows my old lender | Remove the hypothecation before or with the renewal. |
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for RC renewal?
Up to 60 days before the "valid up to" date on your RC.
How much does it cost to renew a car's RC?
₹5,000 if the car is 15 to 20 years old, plus the fitness test fee, ₹200 for the smart card and any state green tax. For an older car, VAHAN shows the fee.
And a motorcycle?
₹1,000 at 15 to 20 years, plus the same extras. For an older motorcycle, VAHAN shows the fee.
What is the late fee?
₹300 a month for a motorcycle and ₹500 a month for other private vehicles, counting part of a month as a full month.
How long is the renewed RC valid?
5 years from the date of approval, according to Andhra Pradesh's transport department.
Is a fitness test needed?
Yes, the vehicle is inspected before renewal. Whether it is done at the RTO or an automated testing station depends on your state.
Can I renew a 15-year-old petrol car in Delhi?
Age limits apply in Delhi-NCR, and the legal position has changed several times. Check with the Delhi Transport Department; many owners re-register outside the NCR or scrap the car.
Sources
- India Code – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: sections 41 and 47 (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Andhra Pradesh Transport – renewal of registration certificate (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Chhattisgarh Transport – renewal of RC (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Rajasthan Transport – registration fees (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- G.S.R. 720(E), 5 Oct 2021 – road tax concession for scrapped vehicles (PIB, accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- India in Business (Government of India) – renewal fees from 1 April 2022, G.S.R. 714(E) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Lok Sabha – Unstarred Question 237, 8 Dec 2022: G.S.R. 714(E) fee revision (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Uttarakhand – fees structure (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Lok Sabha – Unstarred Question 1824, 1 Aug 2024: government vehicles, G.S.R. 29(E) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Maharashtra Legislature – L.A. Bill No. XXIII of 2026, Motor Vehicles Tax (Amendment) (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Lok Sabha – Unstarred Question 1330, 9 Feb 2023: old vehicles in Delhi-NCR (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Andhra Pradesh Transport – FAQs: renewal period (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published. 25 Oct 2026: sources limited to government websites.