Kerala charges Rs 600 to register a new private car and up to 22 per cent of the invoice to tax it. The fee is the number buyers remember. The tax decides the bill.
That tax is worked out on the purchase value in your invoice, which includes GST and cess, not on the ex-showroom price. The sections below cover who files vehicle registration in Kerala, your papers, the six steps to an RC, the full bill and the cases that need extra care.
The Law Behind Vehicle Registration in Kerala
Read this part before you take the keys. Under Section 41 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, when a new car is registered in the state where it was sold, the application "shall be made by the dealer". In plain words, the dealer files and you make sure it was filed.
Until it is registered, the car cannot use a public road. The fine for registering late is only Rs 100 to Rs 300. Late tax costs far more. On Rs 1,30,000 of tax, paying two months late adds Rs 26,000.
Who Files, Who Approves and What You Check
Three parties share the work.
The dealer: The dealer issues a temporary number at purchase and files the application on VAHAN.
The RTO: The office whose jurisdiction covers the car approves it and issues the RC. Kerala has 18 RTOs and 68 sub-RTOs, each with a KL code.
You: You sign Form 20, provide the documents and confirm the filing went in on time.
Four clocks run on vehicle registration in Kerala, and each one costs money if it lapses.
| Deadline | What is due | Who acts | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days from delivery | Registration application | Dealer | Rs 100 to Rs 300 fine |
| 14 days from purchase | One-time tax | Owner | 10 to 50 per cent extra tax |
| 1 month from issue | Temporary number ends | Owner | Car cannot use public roads |
| Two extensions at most | More time on the temporary number | Owner | Penalty on the second |
Rules for a private car, checked on November 3, 2026. The seven days exclude journey time. A temporary registration in Kerala needs a reason for each extension, and the fine and the extra tax are separate charges.
Documents Kerala Asks For
Form 20 travels with four papers, and one of them proves where you live.
Form 21: This is the dealer's sale certificate.
Form 22: This is the roadworthiness certificate.
Insurance: A valid policy must be in place.
Address proof: One Rule 4 document works, such as the electoral roll, a passport, an Life Insurance policy or a pay slip, or an affidavit if you have none.
Add your PAN card or Form 60, and a PUC certificate where required. Kerala MVD now runs its services on Aadhaar authentication, so link your Aadhaar-registered mobile number to Parivahan. Aadhaar handles the login. A Rule 4 document handles the address.
Six Steps From Showroom to RC
What happens between the showroom and the RC? The car moves from a temporary number to a permanent one in six steps.
Take the temporary number at delivery: A temporary registration in Kerala costs Rs 100 plus a Rs 60 service charge and lasts up to one month.
Sign Form 20: Check that the name and address match your address proof.
Confirm the filing within seven days: The dealer files vehicle registration in Kerala on VAHAN. Ask for the application number.
Pay the tax and cess: Kerala motor vehicle tax is due within 14 days of purchase, with a one-time road safety cess of Rs 200.
Check the plates: New cars in Kerala have come with high security registration plates (HSRP) fitted since April 1, 2019.
Track the RC and save it: Anyone looking up RC status Kerala can use "Know Your Application Status" on VAHAN. An RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally on par with the original.
What Vehicle Registration in Kerala Will Cost You
The fixed charges on a new private car add up to Rs 1,070, and the tax is where the real money goes.
| Item | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Rs 600 plus Rs 110 service | Every new private car |
| Temporary registration | Rs 100 plus Rs 60 service | Cars given a temporary number |
| Road safety cess | Rs 200, one-time | Every new car |
| Hypothecation | Rs 1,500 plus Rs 85 service | Cars on a loan |
| One-time tax | 10, 13, 15, 17, 22 per cent | Invoice up to Rs 5, 10, 15, 20 lakh, then above |
| HSRP Kerala, new car | Pre-fitted | Cars registered since April 1, 2019 |
Kerala MVD figures, with the tax schedule updated April 1, 2025, checked on November 3, 2026. The cess comes from the Kerala Road Safety Authority Act, so it may appear as a separate line. Electric cars have their own rates.
Kerala motor vehicle tax is one payment that covers 15 years. On a Rs 10 lakh invoice, 13 per cent is Rs 1,30,000. With the fixed charges, the total is Rs 1,31,070, or Rs 1,32,655 on a loan. Check your figure on VAHAN's "Know Your MV Tax" page. The RTO's demand is final.
What Is Changing in 2026
Since March 1, 2025, Kerala MVD services have been Aadhaar-based, and 60 more moved over on September 21, 2026. A September 2026 report says buyers will soon enter their Aadhaar number on VAHAN, and the office will be picked by post office code. That is a reported plan, not a published rule.
When Your Case Is Different
Four cases need extra care.
You have just moved house
Register where the car is kept. Kerala MVD lists its offices but no locality map, so let the dealer or VAHAN match your address, and confirm with that RTO.
You bought the car outside Kerala
A new car brought in for permanent use owes Kerala tax within 14 days. A car registered elsewhere and kept in Kerala for over 12 months needs a new KL mark, usually with a Form 28 NOC. Confirm the timing with the RTO.
The car is on a loan
The lender's claim goes on the RC through a Rs 1,500 hypothecation endorsement, plus Rs 85.
HSRP Kerala charges and your invoice
A new car arrives with plates fitted, so do not budget a separate plate charge. The Rs 1,000 figure reported in October 2025 is the state-fixed rate for older cars, and it is reported, not official.
Before You Drive Out of the Showroom
Note Application Number, because the quickest RC status Kerala check on VAHAN uses it.
Save the temporary number's end date in your calendar.
Ask which invoice value the tax calculation used.
A Final Word
Before you leave the showroom, ask for the application number and the tax figure. The dealer files vehicle registration in Kerala, but the seven-day, 14-day and one-month clocks still run on your car. The fees are small. The tax, charged on the full invoice, is the line to check.
FAQs
How long do I have for vehicle registration in Kerala?
Seven days from delivery, excluding journey time, to apply. Tax is due within 14 days of purchase, and a temporary number lasts up to one month.
How is Kerala motor vehicle tax worked out on a new car?
As a share of the invoice value including GST, from 10 per cent up to Rs 5 lakh to 22 per cent above Rs 20 lakh. A Rs 10 lakh invoice pays Rs 1,30,000.
What if my temporary registration in Kerala runs out?
You can extend it up to two times, with a penalty on the second extension. Do not drive once it lapses, because an unregistered car cannot use public roads.
Do I pay separately for HSRP Kerala plates on a new car?
Usually not. New cars in Kerala have come with HSRP fitted since April 1, 2019, so check your invoice before paying extra.
Can I do an RC status Kerala check online?
Yes. Use "Know Your Application Status" on VAHAN with your application or registration number. A DigiLocker or mParivahan RC is legally on par with the paper one.
