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RTO Office: All about Regional Transport Offices in India

Team AckoJun 6, 2024

You might have come across the term RTO with respect to buying a new vehicle or performing tasks related to a Driving Licence. But do you know what these Regional Transport Offices exactly do? This article has the answer. Read ahead to know all about RTO functions, code, and other details.

Contents

What is RTO?
RTO Code List: State-wise list of RTO codes and their RTO websites
RTO code of Union Territories (UT)
Functions of RTO
RTO fees and charges
RTO Forms
How to download RTO form
Get RTO Vehicle Information mobile app
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is RTO?

The full form of RTO is Regional Transport Office. It is also known as Regional Transport Authority (RTA). It is a government-owned organisation that maintains the driver and vehicle database across the country. RTO also provides various driver and vehicle-related services to the citizens, and functions under the guidelines of The Motor Vehicles Act.

RTO Code List: State-wise list of RTO codes and their RTO websites

Each Indian state has a different RTO code, and the same can be seen on the vehicle registration number plates. It helps to easily identify the Regional Transport Office at which the vehicle was registered.

The following table denotes the list of RTO codes and their respective RTO official websites.

State	Code	Official website
Andhra Pradesh	AP	https://www.aptransport.org/
Assam	AS	https://transport.assam.gov.in/
Chhattisgarh	CG	https://cgtransport.gov.in/
Gujarat	GJ	http://rtogujarat.gov.in/
Himachal Pradesh	HP	https://himachal.nic.in/transport
Jharkhand	JH	http://jhtransport.gov.in/
Kerala	KL	https://mvd.kerala.gov.in/
Maharashtra	MH	https://transport.maharashtra.gov.in
Meghalaya	ML	http://megtransport.gov.in/
Haryana	HR	https://haryanatransport.gov.in/
Karnataka	KA	https://transport.karnataka.gov.in/
Madhya Pradesh	MP	https://transport.mp.gov.in/
Manipur	MN	https://manipur.mygov.in/group/department-transport/
Mizoram	MZ	https://transport.mizoram.gov.in/
Odisha	OD	http://odishatransport.gov.in/
Punjab	PB	https://olps.punjabtransport.org/
Sikkim	SK	https://www.sntd.in/
Tripura	TR	https://transport.tripura.gov.in/
Uttarakhand	UK	https://transport.uk.gov.in/
Telangana	TS	https://transport.telangana.gov.in/
Arunachal Pradesh	AR	http://arunachalipr.gov.in/?page_id=343
Bihar	BR	https://state.bihar.gov.in/transport/CitizenHome.html
Goa	GA	https://goatransport.gov.in
Rajasthan	RJ	https://transport.rajasthan.gov.in/content/transportportal/en.html#
Tamil Nadu	TN	https://tnsta.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh	UP	http://uptransport.upsdc.gov.in/en-us/
West Bengal	WB	https://transport.wb.gov.in/
Nagaland	NL	https://mvd.nagaland.gov.in/

RTO code of Union Territories (UT)

Similar to states, each Union Territory has a different RTO code. You can refer to the following table for the codes of Indian Union Territories and their respective websites.

Union Territory	Code	Official Website
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	AN	http://db.and.nic.in/mvd/
Lakshadweep	LD	https://lakshadweep.gov.in/department-of-road-transport/
Chandigarh	CH	http://chdtransport.gov.in/
National Capital Territory of Delhi	DL	https://transport.delhi.gov.in/home/transport-department
Dadra and Nagar Haveli	DN	http://dnh.nic.in/Departments/Transport.aspx
Puducherry	PY	https://transport.py.gov.in/
Daman and Diu	DD	https://daman.nic.in/rtodaman/default.asp
Leh-Ladakh	LA	https://leh.nic.in/e-gov/online-services/
Jammu and Kashmir	JK	https://jaktrans.nic.in/

Functions of RTO

RTO functions under the guidelines of The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and offers vehicle and driver-related services. Apart from Driving Licence and vehicle registration services, the Regional Transport Office is also responsible for providing a plethora of services. The functions of the RTO pertain to the following points.

Driving Licence
Vehicle registration
Vehicle inspection
Collection of tax
Permits
Vehicle-related documents
Pollution control measures
Road safety measures
Vehicle owner details by number plate

Here are more details of the various RTO functions.

Driving Licence

An RTO is not just responsible for the issuance of the Driving Licence (DL). There are several other DL-related functions that are performed by the office, some of which are listed below.

Conducting Learner’s Licence (LL) and Driving Licence tests.
Issuance of LL and DL.
Renewal of Learner’s and Driving Licence.
Issuance of International Driving Licence.
Issuance/renewal of licence for driving instructors and motor driving schools.
Issuance of conductor’s licence.
Correction of details in LL/DL.
Issuance of the duplicate copy of Learner’s/Driving Licence.

Latest Update on Driving License in India

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India (MoRTH) has recently made the process of applying for a driving license much easier. It has eliminated the mandatory requirement to go to a Regional Transport Office (RTO) to take a driving license test. As per the latest announcement by MoRTH, you can now take a driving license test at any government-approved private training centre as well as RTOs. This new development has been taken into effect starting from 1st June 2024.

Vehicle registration

One of the most important functions of the RTO is the registration of vehicles. In this section, we list various vehicle registration-related functions of the RTO.

Registration/re-registration of vehicles.
Issuance and renewal of Registration Certificate (RC).
Addition or removal of hypothecation in RC.
Vehicle ownership transfer.
Issuance of duplicate Registration Certificate.
Correction of details in RC.

Vehicle inspection

The RTO is also responsible for inspecting vehicles to determine their mechanical fitness during registration renewal. It also examines the vehicle emission to ensure that the vehicle complies with the pollution norms.

Collection of tax

The RTO is responsible for the collection of various taxes and fines. The following list will give you more insight into the same.

Collection of road tax or MV (Motor Vehicle) tax.
Collection of fees for various services.
Collection of penalties/fines.

Permits

The RTO provides permits for transport/commercial vehicles. It includes contract carriage, local, state, national, tourist and goods carriage permits. All transport and commercial vehicles need to obtain a permit from the respective RTO office.

Vehicle-related documents

An RTO also provides various vehicle-related documents such as NOC (No Objection Certificate), Trade Certificate (TC) and Fitness Certificate (FC).

Pollution control measures

Keeping vehicular pollution in check is one of the key responsibilities of the RTO. To execute that, it carries out the following functions.

Testing of vehicles for the issuance of a PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate.

CNG/LPG kit installation.

Road safety measures

The RTO is not only responsible for offering vehicle and driver-related services but also for improving road safety and spreading awareness about road safety. Here are the various functions related to road safety.

Taking appropriate measures to curb road accidents.
Improving roads to make them safer for motorists and pedestrians.
Conducting campaigns to spread awareness about road safety.

Vehicle owner details by number plate

The RTO provides the vehicle owner details by number plate through the Parivahan website. You can enter the vehicle registration number to find out details like owner name, vehicle type, FC validity, etc.

RTO fees and charges

The following table denotes the RTO fees for various services. Note that the charges may be subject to change and can vary from one state to another.

Service	Fees (in Rs.)
Issuance of Learner’s Licence (LL)	150
Test/repeat test for the issuance of Driving Licence (DL)	300
Issuance/renewal of DL	200
Issuance of International Driving Licence	1000
Renewal of DL after grace period	300 (1,000 for delay of each year)
Addition of vehicle class in DL	500
Registration of two-wheeler (motorcycle)	300
Registration of Light Motor Vehicle	Non-transport: 600; Transport: 1,000
Registration of medium passenger vehicle	1000
Registration of heavy passenger vehicle	1500
Registration of imported four-wheeler	5000
Registration of imported two-wheeler	2500
Issuance/renewal of Fitness Certificate	200

RTO Forms

There are different forms required to avail of various RTO services. The following table lists the important RTO application forms along with their purpose and download links.

RTO Form	Purpose	Download/How to get
Form 2	Application for Learner’s/Driving Licence and renewal of DL	Download Form 2
Form 4A	Application for International Driving Licence	Download Form 4A
Form 20	Application for vehicle registration	Download Form 20
Form 21	Sale certificate	Download Form 21
Form 23A	Certificate of registration	You can get it from the RTO
Form 25	Application for renewal of Registration Certificate	Download Form 25
Form 26	Application for duplicate Registration Certificate	Download Form 26
Form 28	Application for NOC (No Objection Certificate)	Download Form 28
Form 29	Notice of vehicle ownership transfer	Download Form 29
Form 34	Application for Addition of hypothecation/lease/hire-purchase in RC	Download Form 34
Form 38	Certificate of fitness	Can be obtained from the RTO.
Form 51	Certificate of insurance	Can be obtained from the insurer.
Form 59	Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate	Can be obtained from the PUC testing centre.

How to download RTO form

Downloading RTO application forms is straightforward, quick and simple, thanks to the Parivahan portal. Here are the steps to download forms related to RTO.

Step 1: Log on to the Parivahan portal’s official website.

Step 2: Select “Informational Services” from the top menu.

Step 3: Next, click on “Downloadable Forms” > “All Forms” from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: On the next page, you can view and download all the forms related to RTO.

Get RTO Vehicle Information mobile app

mParivahan is the official RTO vehicle information app designed and developed by the National Informatics Centre. It is available for Android (Play Store) and iOS (AppStore) smartphones. Here are some of the key features of the mParivahan app.

You can view vehicle registration details by entering the registration number.
You can avail of various RTO services such as applying for duplicate RC, NOC, HP endorsement, etc.
The app also allows you to report traffic violations and accidents.
You can search for the nearest PUC centre, RTO, fuel pump and hospital.
You can view the virtual documents like the Driving Licence and Registration Certificate.
One can also pay the traffic challan through the app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers related to RTO.

What is the role of RTO in India?

The primary role of the Regional Transport Office in India is to maintain the driver and vehicle database, and provide vehicle and driver-related services to the citizens. Besides that, RTO is also responsible for implementing traffic rules and regulations and improving road safety.

How can I find a Regional Transport Office near me?

You can search for the nearest RTO through the mParivahan app.

Can I apply for a retest if I do not clear the driving test for the first time?

Yes, you can apply for a retest if you fail to clear the driving test in the first go.

Will the driving test involve a test of parking skills?

Yes, the driving test to obtain a Driving Licence involves a test of parking skills. The official can ask you to demonstrate parallel parking in a designated space. Hence, you have to be prepared for the same.

Can I drive my vehicle in another state without an RC transfer?

Generally, if you are moving to a new state for an extended period (over a year), you need to re-register the vehicle at the new state’s RTO. You can contact the nearest Regional Transport Office or visit the Parivahan website for more information.

How long is the temporary registration number valid?

The temporary registration number is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. You need to obtain a permanent registration number within that period. However, you can also extend the validity of temporary registration by contacting the RTO.

Is RC smart card and RC book the same?

Yes, both are the same. RC smart card is the new card form of Registration Certificate, whereas the RC book is in the form of a book.

Can I pay RTO challan online?

You can pay the challan online through the Parivahan website or the mParivahan app.

Disclaimer: The information mentioned on this page is compiled from different websites and government sources. The information may be updated from time to time. Hence, please refer to the respective government websites and verify before making any RTO-related decisions.

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