Introduction

RTO (Regional Transport Office) was formed in 1988 when the Motor Vehicles Department was established under section 213 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act. RTO is a government body overseeing all transport-related operations across the country. RTO exists in every state and Union territory and is responsible for carrying out numerous functions and responsibilities by Motor Vehicle Act 1988. Find the nearest RTO office for all automobile-related queries like registration, obtaining a driver's license, international permits, automobile tax-related issues, and more.

Functions of Regional Transport Office (RTO)

Under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, RTO is responsible for taking care of the following functions related to automobiles:

• Vehicle Registration: If you have purchased a new car or want to transfer ownership, look for the RTO office near you to complete the registration process. RTO provides a unique registration number and records the same in its database. RTO also grants permission and certificates for transferring vehicles from one jurisdiction to another.
• Obtaining a driver's license: The RTO office near you will issue your driver's license, making you eligible to drive a vehicle in India. However, bikes, cars, and heavy commercial vehicles like buses or tracks have different driving license tests and requirements. A driving test is conducted before providing the DL on applying for a DL at the nearest RTO office.
• Motor tax collection: A tax levied on purchasing a vehicle varies depending on the size of the car. RTO is responsible for collecting the motor vehicle tax. Look for an RTO office near you to pay any road tax, either online or in person.
• Collection of penalties: The violation of road safety rules like going beyond the speed limit or crossing the red light often deploys fines and penalties. RTO is responsible for collecting the penalties due against the challan issued.

Apart from these significant functions, here are some more functions served by your nearest RTO office:

• Maintaining a complete database of the registered vehicles
• Maintaining a record of the motor vehicle insurance
• Inspection of vehicles after an accident
• Checking for car emissions and issuing no pollution certificates
• Issuing international driving permits
• Issuing badges for driving taxis and auto-rickshaws

Responsibility of the Regional Transport Office (RTO)

All the RTO offices in different states or UTs follow the same responsibilities. Locate the nearest RTO office for all automobile-related registration and documentation. Here are some of the duties performed by your closest RTO office:

• Making sure that automobiles abide by the rules of the Motor Vehicle Act.
• Collecting tax, charging penalties or fees for violation of the road safety rule, and managing the penalty amount
• Keeping a record of all the vehicles in the database while ensuring strong coordination in the vehicle's movement.
• Management of the permits to maintain the network of inter-state heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

How to Register Your Automobile with the RTO?

Look for the RTO office near you for the registration of your vehicle. Every automobile requires a unique identifier for the record, making registration a crucial process. Every individual or commercial transport service owning a car must undergo vehicle registration.

Here are the documents necessary for the registration of your vehicle:

• Form 20: Application form for vehicle registration
• Form 21: vehicle sales certificate
• Form 22: Certificate for roadworthiness
• Age and address proofs for the documentation
• Passport sized photographs
• PUC certificate
• Vehicle insurance
• Sales Tax certificate (in case of vehicle brought in one state and requirement registration in another state)
• NOC (No objection Certificate) for vehicle registration in one state whereas brought in another
• Temporary registration number
• Vehicle Invoice
• Form 34: loan hypothecation
• Design approval: in case of registration of semi-trailer and trailer vehicles

Look for the RTO office near you for the registration of the vehicle. As an automobile owner, you must visit the RTO with all the above documents.

Charges applicable for registering a vehicle

There are standard charges applied for the registration of all vehicles.

• Registration fee - Rs 600
• Hypothecation charges - Rs 1500 (if the loan is applied to the vehicle)
• Number plate - Rs 259, 400
• State development charges/parking fee. It varies from state to state. Know about the price in your state or UT.
• Temporary registration Rs 1200 to Rs 1500
• Fast-Tag- Rs 500 to 600
• Road tax- Varies depending on the state/UT and vehicle type

Ownership Transfer Registration of Vehicle

If you are buying a second-hand car or selling your car, transfer of ownership is important. Here are the documents required for vehicle ownership transfer:

• Form 29 and 30 are the application for the transfer of vehicle ownership
• NOC if the vehicle is registered in another state
• NOC is to be obtained financer if the vehicle purchase through finance
• PUC certificate
• Vehicle insurance certificate
• Registration certificate of vehicle
• Affidavit for sales/purchase of the vehicle
• Application fees and road taxes
• Age/address proof documents with passport-sized photographs

Conclusion

RTO is governed by Motor Vehicles Act and is present in every state/UT for managing several vehicle-related aspects. The RTO handles various functions, including vehicle registration, motor tax, obtaining DL and conducting the driving test, maintaining vehicle database, car emission checkups, etc.

Nevertheless, it is not always possible to visit the RTO for queries. We have the perfect solution for you: Park+. Track all your vehicle-related information, such as challans and FASTag, on the Park+ App. Moreover, you can also find parking spots near you and book a lot online beforehand!