I have lost my original RC book. What should I do?

RC Book or the Registration Certificate book of a vehicle is one of the most important documents that has been made compulsory by the Government of India to be carried while driving a vehicle. This book indicates that your vehicle is authentically registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO). This document stays valid for 15 years and needs to be renewed every five years. Nowadays, RC books are also available in the form of a Smart Card, making them easy to carry as well as long-lasting.

An RC book consists of all the vital and valuable information about your vehicle, such as

• Registration number
• Registration date
• Engine number
• Chassis number
• Colour of the vehicle
• Type of the vehicle
• Seating capacity
• Model number

What happens if your RC book gets damaged or misplaced?

There is absolutely no need to panic if this ever happens because you can easily apply for a duplicate RC book. The application process is simple and can be done both online as well as offline. It is very easy if you know exactly what to do and what documents you will need for the same. When you apply for the RC book online, the online procedure is limited only to the application stage, after which you will need to visit the RTO physically.

1. File an FIR at the police station where you lost your RC book. You will have to give the information about how exactly the RC book was lost or misplaced, in addition to all the details about the car, including the car owner's name, address, Chassis Number, Engine Number, and car details such as the model, colour and registration number, a self-signed copy of ID proof, a self-signed copy of the driving license and a self-signed copy of Address proof. The FIR can be lodged online or offline.
2. The police will issue a Challan regarding the lost RC book. Issuing of challan is free of cost.
3. Download Form 26 from the official RTO website and fill it out.
4. Get an affidavit made on stamp paper that enlists all the details of your vehicle (two-wheeler or four-wheeler). See to it that the reason for a duplicate RC application is also stated on it.
5. Submit Form 26 in triplicate (one copy should be duly attested along with the endorsement from the financier of Hypothecated), the above-mentioned affidavit, along with all the necessary documents (as enlisted below) to the superintendent at the RTO.
6. The officer/ superintendent will verify the documents and sign them.
7. Then, you will have to visit the ARTO (Assistant Regional Transport Office) for the purpose of ID proof verification and attestation.
8. Make the payment necessary for issuing the duplicate RC book. The amount needed is generally not more than Rs 500. Collect the receipt for this payment.
9. Next, you will have to go to the superintendent of the RTO with the receipt. He will verify and sign the same.
10. After all this procedure is done, you will get an acknowledgement slip from the counter. This slip will have the date when you are supposed to receive the duplicate RC book.

Now, let us take a look at the documents you need to keep ready for issuing a duplicate RC book.

1. Form 26 – this is the application form
2. Copy of RC card lost challan (from the police station)
3. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the bank if you have taken a loan
4. Copy of vehicle insurance
5. Emission test paper copy
6. Driving License copy
7. Age and address proofs
8. Passport-sized photographs
9. Car purchase papers

The duplicate RC book is generally delivered within seven days of registering the complaint. You can also check the status of your RC book online on the official website parivahan.gov.in/rcdlstatus. A word of caution! – Do not entertain agents who claim to help you obtain a duplicate RC book. The entire process itself costs around 500 Rupees, while these agents can charge service fees between 2000 – 3000 Rupees, especially if the consumer is ignorant. There is also the risk of getting a fake duplicate RC book.

It is also necessary to understand the difference between issuing a duplicate RC book and renewal of an RC book. A duplicate RC book is issued when the original one is lost or misplaced. An RC book needs to be renewed only after the expiry of the original RC book, that is, after 15 years. For the process of renewal of the RC book, Form 25 has to be downloaded from the RTO website instead of Form 26, and the procedure is slightly different.

In addition to a lost or misplaced RC book, there can be other indications for issuing a duplicate RC book, which include incorrect particulars on the original RC book, the difference in the information on Vahan Check and original registration certificate, illegible Chassis number, etc.

Thus, if you ever lose or misplace your RC book, once you know the exact procedure of obtaining a duplicate one, it is a simple, cheap, and hassle-free process.

Read more: Functions and registration process at RTO