Buying a vehicle is a dream come true for many. If you are planning on buying a new vehicle, please note that you will be required to register it with your local RTO. RTO stands for “Regional Transport Officeâ€.
Vehicle Registration
Regional Transport Office is a government organisation that is responsible to keep a track of all the vehicles on Indian roads. For this purpose, every vehicle in India should be registered in the nearby RTO. Every vehicle that is registered will be given a vehicle registration card. Apart from vehicle registration or vahan registration, RTO is responsible for issuing driving licences, inspect vehicle insurance, and keep a tab of pollution created by vehicles.
The RTO assigns a permanent registration number to your vehicle that you will not be allowed to change under any circumstances. As soon as you buy the vehicle, the dealer will assign a temporary registration number which is usually valid for a month. Within one month, you should get a permanent registration number for your vehicle.
Necessity for registration certificate
Vehicle registration is needed for many purposes. Firstly, it proves the ownership of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle is the name of the person on whom the vehicle is registered as per the RTO records. It is required if you decide to sell the vehicle. Without a valid registration certificate, you do not have the legal rights to sell the vehicle or transfer the ownership of the vehicle. Also, in case of an accident, you will be able to track the driver or the owner of the vehicle through the vehicle registration details. This helps people in identifying the people involved in an accident and settle claims peacefully. Transport Ministry of India keeps a track of the number of vehicles in the country and registering every vehicle helps them get the statistics right.
Apart from the above reasons, registering a vehicle is a not a choice but a legal requirement in our country. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes vehicle registration mandatory in our country. Registration of vehicle falls under this Act. According to the Act, a person cannot drive a vehicle that is not registered and the registration number should be displayed on the vehicle at all times.
Where to apply for vehicle registration ?
To get your new vehicle registered, you will have to submit a duly filled form with the prescribed fees to the District Transport Office in your area. The application should be submitted within 7 days from the date you purchased the vehicle.
Documents required for vehicle registration process
- Duly filled Form Number 20 which is the application for registration of a motor vehicle.
- Sale certificate
- Valid insurance certificate
- Two copies of your recent passport size photographs
- Physical production of vehicle
- Temporary Registration assigned by the dealer if available
- Invoice from the dealer
- Customs’ Clearance Certificate if the vehicle is imported
- Copy of your PAN if the cost of the vehicle exceeds Rs.4 lakh
- Proof of residence
- Identity proof
- Citizenship proof
Please carry all the original documents when you visit the District Transport Office.
Procedure
Please visit the District Transport Office with all the above documents. Once you have submitted all the documents and it has been verified, you will be asked to get your vehicle to the District Transport Office premises for a general inspection.
An Inspecting Officer will verify the vehicle physically and will verify all the details mentioned in the documents. Upon successful verification, the Registering Authority will issue a vehicle registration number and a receipt. Till the registration card is delivered to the owner, the receipt can be used as a proof of registration.
Plate approval
As the owner of the vehicle you will have to get the registration mark on the number plate of your vehicle and get it approved by the Registering Authority within 30 days.
Validity
If you own a private vehicle, the registration is valid for a period of 15 years from the date it was issued. If you own a transport vehicle, the registration is valid till the date the Fitness Certificate of the vehicle expires.
Renewal
Once the registration certificate has expired, the owner must apply for a renewal within 30 days from the expiry date.
information credit : bankbazzar
