If you stay in India and have recently purchased a motor vehicle for yourself, you must know how the vehicle registration process works in India. The Indian Motor Vehicles Act was passed in the year 1914 when India was under British Rule. To keep up with the accelerated transformations around the world, the Central Government passed the Motor Vehicle Act of 1989, replacing the erstwhile Act. And recently, some significant amendments have been made to this Act to bring about digital amends and reduce the difficulties faced by Indian drivers.
Let’s understand all the compliances a motor vehicle buyer needs to understand.
Who has the authority to register a Motor Vehicle?
Every state has its own Regional Transport Office (“RTO”) that undertakes the responsibility of maintaining a record of all the vehicles that run on Indian roads. So, after you purchase a new two-wheeler, you need to get the vehicle registered with the RTO of your state. There are two ways to get your two-wheeler registered – either through the dealer that sold you the motor vehicle or you can get it done yourself. If you choose to get the registration process completed yourself, then it would help if you followed the following steps:
Steps to get a two-wheeler registered with the RTO
After getting possession of your new commodity, you will have to take it to the RTO. You will be required to fill Form 20, which should be available at their office, along with other mandatory details ( we will get to all the documents you need in a bit). A Superintendent would check for the accuracy of the documents, post which you would be asked to pay Registration Fees and other applicable taxes. The Inspector of Motor Vehicles will also inspect your vehicle, and if all the details are found satisfactory, the officers will enter it in their records.
You need not worry about the two-wheeler registration process – you can always choose that your dealer or an agent gets it done for you. A two-wheeler loan is also readily available, adding to your convenience. It would help compare two-wheeler loan interest rates prevailing in the market and proceed with the best-suited one.
What are the documents required for a two-wheeler’s registration at the RTO?
You must be aware of all the documents that you need to take to the RTO. Typically you will need four forms.
1) Form 20 – This is the application form for a new vehicle.
2) Form 21 – This is the certificate of sale that your dealer gives you.
3) Form 22 – This is a certificate that verifies that your car is ‘roadworthy’ and is provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
4) Form 34 – If you have purchased your vehicle against a two-wheeler loan, then you will have to fill Form 34 as it contains all the hypothecation details.
In addition to the above forms, you will need your vehicle insurance certificate and temporary registration certificate provided by your dealer. You will have to produce the purchase invoice, a passport size photograph, valid address proof, and a PAN copy.
The fee for registering your two-wheeler with the RTO is Rs.300.
Can you track your application online?
Yes, after making an application, you can visit the VAHAN web portal to check your application status.
Summing up
The vehicle registration process has become extremely smooth and convenient. If you take a two-wheeler loan, you can use your lender’s two-wheeler loan EMI calculator to stay updated. After the purchase, please don’t delay your RTO registration as it could have consequences.
