Apply for a Duplicate RC Online (Lost or Damaged Certificate)
If your RC card is lost, stolen, or damaged, a reprint won’t do, you need an officially reissued card. Here’s the full process to apply for a duplicate RC on the Vahan portal using Form 26, and exactly what documents you’ll need.
Quick answer
On the Vahan portal, select your state and RTO, open RC Related Services → Application for Duplicate RC, verify your vehicle with your registration and chassis number, then fill Form 26, upload your documents (including a police complaint if the RC was lost), pay the fee, and submit. The reissued card usually arrives in about 2–4 weeks.
When you actually need a duplicate RC
A duplicate RC is an officially reissued card, different from simply printing a copy of what’s on record.
RC lost or stolen
The physical card is gone. You’ll need a police complaint / FIR before applying.
RC torn or damaged
The card is defaced, mutilated, or unreadable. No FIR needed, just surrender the damaged card.
Details worn off
An old card where the print has faded and details can’t be read clearly.
Card never received
Registration was done but the smart card never reached you by post.
Just need a copy, not a reissue? If your card is fine and you only want a printout or digital copy, you don’t need a duplicate, see our guide to downloading and printing your RC instead.
Documents you’ll need
Keep these ready before you start, the exact set can vary slightly by state and by whether the RC was lost or just damaged.
Police complaint / FIR copy — if the RC was lost or stolen
Notarised affidavit — stating the RC is genuinely lost
The damaged RC — to surrender, if torn/defaced
Insurance certificate — valid policy
PUC certificate — valid Pollution Under Control (check yours)
ID & address proof — Aadhaar, PAN, etc.
Chassis pencil print — an imprint of the chassis number
Passport photo — as your RTO requires
Hypothecation clearance — if one is recorded on the vehicle
Tax / challan clearance — for transport (commercial) vehicles
Lost RC? The police complaint / FIR and the notarised affidavit are the two extra documents that a plain damaged-card case doesn’t need, sort these first, as they take the longest.
Step-by-step: apply for a duplicate RC
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Open Vahan and select your state and RTO
Go to the official Vahan service portal at vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice and select the state and RTO where your vehicle is registered.
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Go to “RC Related Services”
From the left-hand menu, open RC Related Services. This is where duplicate RC, ownership transfer, and change of address live, not under Download Documents, which is only for printing an existing RC.
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Click “Application for Duplicate RC”
Among the RC Related Services tiles, choose Application for Duplicate RC.
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Verify your vehicle details
On the Online Application (Duplicate Certificate RC) page, enter your Vehicle Registration No. and Chassis Number (last 5 characters), then click Verify Details.
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Select the reason and fill Form 26
Choose why you’re applying (lost, stolen, torn, or defaced) and complete the Form 26 application details shown.
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Upload your documents
Attach the required documents, the police complaint / FIR and notarised affidavit for a lost RC, plus insurance, PUC, ID/address proof and the chassis pencil print.
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Pay the fee
Pay the applicable fee online through the portal’s payment gateway, then confirm the payment is reflected against your application.
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Submit and note your application number
Submit the application and save the acknowledgement / application number, you’ll use it to track the status until your new card is issued.
Fees and how long it takes
The central duplicate-RC fee is small and set by vehicle type; states may add their own charges on top.
| Vehicle type | Duplicate RC fee (central base) |
|---|---|
| Two-wheeler / motorcycle | ₹150 |
| Light Motor Vehicle (car) | ₹300 |
| Imported motorcycle | ₹1,000 |
| Imported motor vehicle | ₹2,500 |
A reissued smart card usually takes about 2–4 weeks to arrive by post after approval. In the meantime, a virtual RC on DigiLocker or mParivahan is legally valid to carry, so you’re not left without proof.
After you submit: tracking your duplicate RC
Use the application number you saved to follow it on the Vahan portal. It’ll move through these stages.
Application received
Your Form 26 and payment are logged and queued for review at the RTO.
Documents under verification
The RTO checks your uploads. A missing FIR, affidavit or lapsed insurance usually shows up here.
Approved & card printed
Once cleared, the duplicate RC is approved and the new smart card is generated.
Dispatched by post
The card is sent to your registered address, this is the stage that takes the bulk of the 2–4 weeks.
Can you drive while it’s being reissued?
You don’t have to stop driving for the weeks it takes the new card to arrive, as long as you can produce a valid RC.
A digital RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan carries the same legal weight as the physical card under the Motor Vehicles Act. So the moment your RC is on record (which it already is, you’re only replacing the card), fetch it into one of those apps and you’re covered on the road.
- Do this first: if your card is lost, open DigiLocker or mParivahan and pull your RC in, don’t wait for the new card to arrive.
- Show the app, not a screenshot: only the live document in DigiLocker/mParivahan counts, a screenshot of it doesn’t.
- Driving with no producible RC (physical or digital) is a finable offence, so carry one of these at all times.
Not sure how to pull your RC into these apps? Our download RC guide walks through DigiLocker and mParivahan step by step.
Mistakes that hold up a duplicate RC
- Applying for a lost RC without the police complaint / FIR, it’s mandatory and the application stalls without it
- Skipping the notarised affidavit for a lost RC
- Choosing Download Documents (print) when you actually need RC Related Services (reissue)
- Letting insurance or PUC lapse, both usually need to be valid to process the application
- Selecting the wrong RTO, it must be the one your vehicle is registered under
Common questions
Do I really need an FIR for a lost RC?
Yes, for a lost or stolen RC, a police complaint / FIR copy is required, along with a notarised affidavit confirming the loss. For a torn or damaged card (not lost), you surrender the old card instead and don’t need an FIR.
Can’t I just print my RC instead?
A printout is only a copy of what’s on record, it doesn’t replace a lost physical card. If the card is lost, stolen or damaged, you need a duplicate RC. If the card is fine and you just want a copy, see our download RC guide.
How long does a duplicate RC take?
Usually about 2–4 weeks for the new smart card to arrive by post after approval. A DigiLocker or mParivahan virtual RC covers you in the meantime.
What does a duplicate RC cost?
The central base fee is small, around ₹150 for a two-wheeler and ₹300 for a car, with higher rates for imported vehicles. States may add their own charges, so confirm the final amount on Vahan before paying.
Can I track my duplicate RC application?
Yes, use the application / acknowledgement number you saved at submission to check its status on the Vahan portal, under the application status option.
Ready to apply for a duplicate RC?
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