Chennai Road Tax: Complete Guide on Calculation, Rates & Online Payment

TeamAckoJul 25, 2024

The wondrous state of Tamil Nadu is home to many attractions like the ancient temple town of Madurai, the breezy and calm shores of the Mahabalipuram, the mist-covered hill town of Kodaikanal etc. If you own and drive a vehicle in Chennai in the state, you must pay the mandatory road tax levied as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The sections below will help you learn more about paying the required road tax to ensure a hassle-free experience while travelling through the state.
 

Chennai Road Tax

The State Government levies the mandatory road tax on all vehicle owners in Chennai as per the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1974. The road taxes you pay in Chennai are collected by the RTOs, and are then utilised by the Public Works Department to maintain and develop roads in the state. 

Chennai Road Tax Calculation

The amount of Chennai road tax payable, depends on the type of vehicle you own and your vehicle's engine capacity (CC). The rates also differ for petrol-powered and diesel-powered vehicles.

The following factors can affect the calculation of road tax in Chennai:

1. The type of vehicle that you own.

2. The purpose for which the vehicle will be used.

3. The age of the vehicle.

4. The displacement or engine capacity of the vehicle.

5. The registered seating capacity of the vehicle.

6. The fuel type of the vehicle

Road Tax in Chennai for Two-Wheelers

The road tax for new two-wheelers in Chennai is 8% of the total cost of the vehicle and charged by the RTO at the time of registration. Further, you can have a glance at the table below to understand the calculation of the road tax in Chennai for older vehicles. 

The Age of the Vehicle	Taxation Rate on Vehicle Price
0-1 year	7.75%
1-2 years	7.5%
2-3 years	7.25%
3-4 years	7%
4-5 years	6.75%
5-6 years	6.5%
6-7 years	6.25%
7-8 years	6%
8-9 years	5.75%
9-10 years	5.5%
10-11 years	5.25%
11-12 years	5%

Road Tax in Chennai for Three-Wheelers

Road tax for three-wheelers in Chennai is levied based on the following table:

Vehicle Type	Road Tax
Three-wheeler	4% of the vehicle's value

For example, if the value of your three-wheeler is Rs. 1,00,000, then the road tax payable would be Rs. 4,000.

Road Tax in Chennai for Four-Wheelers

The State Government of Chennai, levies road tax on four-wheeler vehicle owners based on factors such as, the vehicle's age and the cost of the vehicle wherever applicable. You can find detailed information on the same below:

Age as of the month  of registration	Vehicles priced up to Rs. 10 lakh (% of car cost)	Vehicles priced more than Rs. 10 lakh (% of car cost)
0 (new motor vehicle)	10%	15%
0-1 year	8.75%	13.75%
1-2 years	8.5%	13.5%
2-3 years	8.25%	13.25%
3-4 years	8%	13%
4-5 years	7.75%	12.75%
5-6 years	7.5%	12.5%
6-7 years	7.25%	12.25%
7-8 years	7%	12%
8-9 years	6.75%	11.75%
9-10 years	6.5%	11.5%
10-11 years	6.25%	11.25%
11-12 years	6%	11%

Commercial Vehicles Road Tax in Chennai

If you own a commercial vehicle in Chennai, the road tax levied will be based on the payload. The following table details the road tax rates for the same:

Laden Payload classification	Taxation every three months (Rs.)
Maximum weight: 3,000 kg	600
Weighing between 3,000 and 5,500 kg	950
Weighing between 5,500 and 9,000 kg	1,500
Weighing between 9,000 and 12,000 kg	1,900
Weighing between 12,000 and 13,000 kg	2,100
Weighing between 13,000 and 15,000 kg	2,500
More than 15000 kg	2,300 (Plus Rs. 50 for each 250 kg beyond 15,000 kg).

Road Tax for Other State Vehicles in Chennai

If you permanently transfer your vehicle from another state to Chennai, then you must re-register it at the local RTO and pay the applicable road tax at the time. The amount of tax you pay will depend on the type and size of your vehicle. 

To pay road tax for a vehicle registered in another state, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Registration certificate of the vehicle

• Insurance certificate of the vehicle

• Valid ID proof of the owner/driver

• Address proof of the owner/driver

Once you have submitted the required documents, you can make payment online or at any RTO office in Tamil Nadu. 

How to Pay Chennai Road Tax Online?

You can pay the Chennai road tax online through the official Parivahan website. The steps to follow for online payment are as follows:

• Step1: Access the Parivahan website.

• Step2: Click on "Online Services" and select the "Vehicles Related Services" option.

• Step3: Choose the state of Chennai from the dropdown list and then select your local RTO.

• Step4: On the next page, enter the vehicle's registration number and all the required information. 

• Step5: Once your details have been verified, you can pay your Chennai road tax online, and download a copy of the receipt. 

If you plan on paying the road tax offline, you can follow the steps given below.

• Gather the required documents mentioned below. 

• Visit the nearest RTO or the one where you registered your vehicle.

• Submit the necessary documents and pay the road tax.

• After you pay, you will receive a receipt confirming the payment.

If you decide to pay the road tax at the local RTO, you will have to carry the following documents with you:

• The Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle

• The certificate of Insurance of the vehicle

• A copy of the vehicle's invoice

• Documents to serve as proof of address (Passport, Utility Bills, Voter ID card, etc.)

• Form number KMVT14 (Applicable only if you are re-registering a vehicle from a different state)

• No Objection Certificate (Applicable only if you are re-registering a vehicle from a different state)

Penalty for Non-payment of Road Tax in Chennai

Vehicle owners in Chennai who do not pay road taxes are subject to a fine. The fine will be proportional to the amount of road tax that is still outstanding.

If taxes are underpaid for more than 4 weeks beyond the day they were due, 100% of the overall penalty may be imposed in Chennai in accordance with the law. If you are discovered driving without paying the road tax, you risk having your car seized due to the violation.

List of Different Motor Insurance Plans in Chennai

According to the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, having insurance coverage for your automobile is a legal necessity. Failure to comply may result in fines as well as liability issues. The table below details a few insurance policies offered by ACKO, which you must consider:

Car Insurance	Bike Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance	Comprehensive Bike Insurance
Third-Party Car Insurance	Third-Party Bike Insurance
Commercial Car Insurance

Conclusion 

You must thus pay the compulsory road tax to the State Government as mandated by the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1974. Paying your road tax in Chennai on time will prevent undue penalties from being levied on you.

You must ensure to also purchase or renew an insurance policy as per the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. A motor insurance will protect you from potential financial liability, should the need arise! You can refer to the ACKO website or app, for more information on motor insurance policies and beneficial add-ons.

Frequently Asked Questions on Chennai Road Tax