While obtaining a driver's license is a prerequisite to driving a motor vehicle on Indian roads, obtaining a registration certificate is equally important. A vehicle registration certificate, often known as an RC, is a government-issued document that certifies that your car has been registered with the Indian government. It's a piece of paper that proves your vehicle's registration.

In India, obtaining a registration certificate is required by the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988, which requires every vehicle owner to have a valid RC to drive a motor vehicle on Indian highways. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, no one can operate a car on Indian roads without a valid registration certificate.

A registration certificate is valid for 15 years from the date of issue and can be renewed for another 5 years. A temporary registration certificate is only valid for one month after it is issued and cannot be renewed. The rules of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 must be followed while registering a car in any state or Union territory.

Read more: Everything you want to know about RTO

Vehicle Registration Types

Below are two types of vehicle registration

• Temporary Car Registration: When a vehicle is purchased, the owner is given a temporary vehicle registration number. This number can be used for the first seven days after purchase and can be prolonged for another month, after which it must be replaced with a permanent registration number.
• Permanent Vehicle Registration: After submitting the appropriate paperwork and completing the registration procedure, the vehicle owner receives a Permanent Vehicle Registration number. In India, all vehicles must have a permanent registration number to lawfully drive on the roadways.

Applying for a Registration Certificate

There are two ways to apply for a registration certificate

1. Visiting the RTO with your vehicle(whether new or old) and submitting the below documents directly at the counter.
   • Submit Form 20 duly filled.
   • Copy of the invoice
   • Two copies of chassis imprint
   • Sale document
   • Duly filled form 22
   • Copy of vehicle insurance
   • Form 34(duly signed by owner and financier, when the vehicle is financed)
   • Address proof & id proof
   • Passport size photographs

Once the documents are submitted, a payment of 600 INR(four-wheeler) and 300 INR(Two-wheeler) must be submitted.

2. The motor dealer can also apply for a Registration Certificate on your behalf. A valid trade certificate from the state RTO is required for these car dealers. Login credentials are assigned to these automobile dealers, so they have easy access to the required website.

   The request for RC is processed once complete information is fed, and documents are submitted. The state RTO will print and distribute the original RC document in some time. This process saves you a lot of time.

   
   

Information Available on Registration Certificate

• Registration number
• Chassis number & Engine number
• Type of vehicle body
• Month & year of manufacture
• Seating capacity
• Cubic capacity
• Fuel Type
• Unladen weight
• Colour of the vehicle
• Registration date
• Registration expiry date
• Vehicle class
• Signature of owner

Registration Charges

Renewal of Registration Certificate

Renewal of vehicle registration certificate can be done for an extended period of 5 years after the initial period of 15 years is over. Ensure that application of renewal is applied in the concerned RTO office at least 60 days before the expiry of the current registration certificate.

Below is the list of documents required for the renewal of the vehicle registration certificate - Duly filled form 25 - Registration certificate - Fitness certificate - PUC certificate - Proof of payment of road tax - Insurance certificate - Chassis & engine number imprint - Pan card - Address proof - Signature identification of the owner

Registration Certificate Renewal Fees

Applying for a Duplicate Registration certificate

In the event of theft of a Registration certificate, one can apply for a duplicate registration certificate by following the below process and submitting the required set of documents.

• If an RC is lost, misplaced,or torn one has to apply for a duplicate RC.The thing that needs to be done is to file an FIR in the nearest police station.
• Apply for a duplicate car registration certificate using form 26.
• In case the vehicle has been bought on loan, the signature of the financier is a must.
• Submit a complete set of documents together with an application for issuance of a duplicate RC.

Documents to be submitted to apply for a duplicate registration certificate

• Duly filled Form 26(Application for issuing a duplicate RC)
• Copy of the FIR in case RC was lost
• Original RC in case it is damaged
• Tax payment details
• Copy of the insurance
• No Objection certificate from the financier
• Valid Pollution under control certificate.

Road Tax

Road tax is required so that the government can make and maintain the roads, add safety features on the route, and finally plant trees in the surrounding area to reduce the effect of harmful gases that our engines produce. The road tax is paid once for private or non-commercial vehicles, and it is paid monthly, bi-annually, or annually for commercial and passenger vehicles. Below are the figures from the state of Delhi