RTO New Vehicle (Car/Bike) Registration Process Explained!

After buying a new vehicle, the first thing is to insure the vehicle with car/bike insurance and RTO registration. Yes, The Motor Vehicles Act states that every motor vehicle needs to be registered at the respective RTO (Regional Transport Office) to comply with the rules and regulations. So, how do you register your new car/bike in India? Read on as we provide a deep insight into new vehicle registration.

Whether you have bought a new or second-hand vehicle, it is important to get its registration done as soon as possible. Vehicle registration is the process of officially recording a motor vehicle with the relevant governmental authority, the Regional Transport Office (RTO). This process involves assigning a unique registration number, issuing a license plate, and ensuring that the vehicle complies with legal, safety, and environmental standards. Vehicle registration helps track ownership, ensures proper taxation, and promotes road safety by confirming that vehicles are insured and meet local regulations. It is required before a vehicle can be legally driven.

In India, vehicle owners can either go for Temporary or Permanent Registration. Temporary RTO registration is issued for newly purchased vehicles before permanent registration is processed. It allows the vehicle owner to legally use the vehicle for a short period, typically up to 30 days, and can be extended for an additional 30 days. This registration is usually provided by the dealership where the vehicle was purchased, enabling the vehicle to be driven while the paperwork for permanent registration is completed. 

On the other hand, Permanent registration serves as a legal proof of ownership and is issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) once all documentation and formalities are completed. Permanent registration is valid as long as the vehicle is in use, with periodic renewals for fitness checks and road tax. Typically, once registered, the RC is valid for 15 years. In essence, temporary registration facilitates immediate use, while permanent registration serves as proof of long-term ownership.

Getting the registration number for a new vehicle is not a complex process. If you are aware of the required forms and documents, it’s a relatively simple process. A new bike registration process is similar to that of a car. Following are the ways to do RTO registration.

Through the new vehicle (car/bike) dealer: When you buy a new vehicle from the dealer, the showroom will deliver the vehicle only after the registration. That means the dealer will take care of the registration process. All you have to do is provide the required details and documents. However, the dealer may levy a service charge for the same. 

By yourself: Registering the new vehicle by yourself comes in handy when you wish to register the vehicle in another city or state. This method involves you visiting the RTO and submitting the application and documents, paying the fees and taxes and producing the vehicle for inspection. With all the documents and forms in place, it’s a relatively straightforward process.

Here are the steps for RC registration of a vehicle at the RTO.

Following are the details present in a vehicle registration certificate (RC):

Wondering if vahan registration can be done online or not? If so, then you must understand that it is not possible to apply for a new vehicle registration online. This is because there is no provision for online vehicle registration via the Parivahan portal. However, you can only apply for the renewal of vehicle registration online. Since the new vehicle registration process involves a physical vehicle examination, one cannot complete the registration process online.

Every motor vehicle must display the registration number on the HSRP (High-Security Registration Plate) to comply with The Motor Vehicles Act. You can apply for a new number plate online by following the steps mentioned below.

Note that the steps mentioned in this section may not work for all states. Some states may not have a dedicated website for new number plate online purchases. In that case, you can visit the respective RTO or go to an authorised dealer to get an HSRP number plate for your vehicle.

Also, read: Check Vehicle Owner details by Number Plate!

A new car or bike registration becomes simple if you are aware of the required application forms. You can also download the vehicle registration form online via the Parivahan website. Here are the forms you must possess to register a vehicle in India.

Apart from the forms mentioned in this section, you must also provide the following documents for RTO new vehicle registration.

The following table denotes the fees related to RTO vehicle registration services in India.

Once you have applied for the RTO registration, you can check the RC status online. The following steps explain the process of checking RC application status online.

The Registration Certificate (RC) is one of the essential documents to drive a vehicle in India. You must carry the RC at all times when you drive the vehicle. If you lose/damage the original copy of the certificate of registration, you can apply for a duplicate copy. 

Here are the steps to apply for duplicate RC online.

You can also visit the RTO and apply for duplicate RC offline. Fill out the application form, submit the documents and pay the fees to get the duplicate copy of the RC.

You can download the duplicate copy of the RC via the DigiLocker app or website. Follow the steps mentioned below for duplicate RC download.

You can refer to the following table for duplicate RC fees.

Here’s the list of documents required to obtain the duplicate copy of RC.

The vehicle RC comes with a limited validity of only a few years. Post that period; you need to renew the Registration Certificate. You can submit the registration renewal application not more than 60 days before the due date. It is a relatively simple process, thanks to the Parivahan portal. You can follow the steps mentioned below to apply for RC renewal online.

After the clearance of vehicle inspection and document verification, the RTO will issue the renewed RC.

Here are the RC renewal charges for different vehicle classes.

Here are the documents you need to have to apply for the renewal of RC.

Note that the list of documents may vary from one state to another.

You can refer to the points mentioned below to learn about the new rules for vehicle registration number plates in India.

BH registration for new vehicles makes the transfer of vehicle registration across the country hassle-free. Introduced in 2021, BH stands for Bharat, and the new registration series is available for government employees and private sector employees with offices in four or more states/Union Territories.

The BH number plate system eliminates the hassle of applying for new registration when you move from one state to another. Under BH series registration, one needs to pay MV (Motor Vehicle) tax for 2 years or in multiples of 2 (4, 6, 8, etc.). The vehicle owner can pay the road tax every 2 years till 14 years. Post that, the road tax should be paid every year.

BH number plate format: 22 BH 1234 AA

Here 22 stands for the year of registration, BH stands for Bharat, and the following numbers and alphabets are computer-generated vehicle numbers.