Register a New Vehicle in India: Temporary & Permanent RC
When you buy a brand-new vehicle, most of the registration is done by the dealer through the Vahan portal. Here’s exactly what documents you provide, how temporary and permanent registration differ, and what you’re responsible for.
Quick answer
For a new vehicle bought from a dealer, the dealer files the registration on the Vahan portal using Form 20 and your documents. You get a temporary registration (valid 30 days) at delivery, and the RTO assigns your permanent registration number within a couple of working days. You mainly provide KYC documents, sign the forms, and pay the fees and road tax through the dealer.
Documents needed for a new registration
Some of these come from the dealer or manufacturer, the rest you provide. For a new vehicle, the dealer collects and uploads them all.
Form 20 — Application for registration
Form 21 — Sale certificate (from dealer)
Form 22 — Roadworthiness certificate (from manufacturer)
Form 34 — Only in cases of hypothecation
Invoice — The dealer’s tax invoice for the vehicle
Insurance — Valid motor insurance certificate
PUC — Pollution Under Control certificate
ID proof — Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID or DL
Address proof — Aadhaar, utility bill, rent agreement, etc.
PAN card / Form 60 — Needed when buying any vehicle other than a two-wheeler
Passport photos — As required by your RTO
Temporary registration — Carried forward into permanent registration
Forms 20, 21 and 22 do the heavy lifting. Form 20 is the application itself, Form 21 proves the dealer sold you the vehicle, and Form 22 certifies the manufacturer built it to road-safety and emission standards. You’ll usually just sign Form 20, the dealer supplies 21 and 22.
Temporary vs. permanent registration
Every new vehicle passes through both. The temporary registration is a bridge that lets you legally drive the vehicle while the permanent number is being assigned.
| Temporary registration (TR) | Permanent registration (RC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | The dealer, at the time of delivery | The RTO, through the Vahan portal |
| Validity | Up to 30 days (one month) | 15 years for a private vehicle, then renewable in 5-year blocks |
| Number format | A temporary series (often marked “TR” / “TC”) | Your permanent number plate, e.g. UP32 XX 1234 |
| Purpose | Drive legally until the permanent RC is assigned | The vehicle’s lifetime registration, stays with it even on resale |
| What you must do | Ensure permanent registration is completed before it expires | Fit the HSRP plate, keep insurance/PUC valid, renew before expiry |
The permanent number stays with the vehicle for its whole life, it doesn’t change when you sell it. Only ownership is transferred to the new buyer.
What the dealer handles vs. what you do
For a brand-new vehicle, you almost never visit the RTO yourself, the registration is filed digitally from the dealer’s Vahan login. Here’s the split.
The dealer handles
Filling and uploading Form 20, issuing Form 21 (sale certificate), attaching Form 22, entering vehicle details on the Vahan portal, collecting the fee and road tax, and getting the temporary registration.
You provide & check
Your ID and address proof, PAN or Form 60 (for any vehicle other than a two-wheeler), insurance details, hypothecation papers if applicable, your signature on Form 20, and payment for fees and road tax.
The RTO does
Scrutinises the uploaded application, assigns the permanent registration number (usually within about 2 working days), and dispatches the RC smart card by post.
You confirm afterwards
That your name, address and vehicle details on the RC are correct, and that the HSRP number plate is fitted. Any error here is easier to fix early than later.
Buying privately or importing? If the vehicle isn’t coming through a regular dealer, the registration duty falls on you, you (or your agent) file Form 20 with the RTO directly. This guide focuses on the far more common case of a new vehicle bought from an authorised dealer.
How the process actually runs
Start to finish, here’s what happens after you book a new vehicle.
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You complete your KYC and payment with the dealer
Hand over your ID proof, address proof, PAN or Form 60 (for any vehicle other than a two-wheeler), and insurance details. You’ll sign Form 20 and pay the registration fee plus road tax, usually bundled into your on-road price.
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The dealer issues temporary registration
At or near delivery, the dealer gives you a temporary registration valid for up to 30 days. This lets you drive the vehicle legally while the permanent number is processed.
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The dealer files everything on the Vahan portal
Form 20, Form 21 (sale certificate), Form 22 (roadworthiness), your documents and the fee details are uploaded to Vahan from the dealer’s login, no physical RTO visit for a standard new vehicle.
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The RTO assigns your permanent number
After scrutiny, the RTO allots the permanent registration number, typically within about 2 working days of a clean upload. A virtual RC becomes available on the mParivahan app almost immediately and is legally valid to carry.
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The HSRP number plate is fitted
The High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) is fitted at the dealership or an authorised centre. The permanent number is what goes on this plate. See our HSRP guide.
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The RC smart card arrives by post
The physical RC card is dispatched to your registered address. It can take a few weeks depending on printing backlogs, until then, the virtual RC on mParivahan is your valid proof.
Once the permanent number is assigned, you can look up your RC status and details anytime on the Vahan portal, see our RC status guide.
Registration fees (central base rates)
These are the central registration-fee figures under the CMVR. Road tax is separate and set by each state as a percentage of the vehicle’s price, so it varies widely.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration, two-wheeler | ₹300 |
| Registration, car / LMV (non-transport) | ₹600 |
| RC smart card | ₹200 |
| Hypothecation endorsement (if applicable) | ₹1,500 |
| HSRP number plate | About ₹400 (two-wheeler), ₹1,100 (car) |
The big variable is road tax, a state-set percentage of the vehicle’s ex-showroom price that can range from roughly 2.5% to 18% depending on the state and vehicle. This is usually the largest single line on your registration cost, far more than the fees above.
The BH (Bharat) series, worth knowing if you relocate
A separate option that saves you from re-registering when you move between states.
The Bharat series (BH) is a special registration for people who move states often for work. A BH-series vehicle doesn’t need re-registration when you shift to another state, the number stays valid nationwide.
- Who’s eligible: central and state government employees, defence personnel, PSU staff, and private-sector employees whose employer has offices in 4 or more states/UTs.
- How road tax works: paid in 2-year blocks instead of the usual one-time upfront lump sum for 15 years.
- What you need: official employer certification of eligibility (for private-sector employees, proof of the multi-state office presence).
If you don’t move states for work, standard state registration is simpler and usually cheaper, BH is specifically for the frequently-transferred.
What your registration number actually means
Every plate follows the same code. Take UP32 AB 1234 as an example, here’s what each part tells you.
UP — State code
The two letters for the state or union territory the vehicle is registered in (UP for Uttar Pradesh, MH for Maharashtra, and so on).
32 — RTO code
The number of the specific RTO (district office) that registered the vehicle. Each RTO within a state has its own code. Look one up with our RTO code finder.
AB — Series
The letter series for that RTO. When one series runs out of numbers, the RTO moves to the next set of letters.
1234 — Unique number
The vehicle’s own number within that series, up to four digits. This is the part you can choose (see below).
A BH-series number looks different, it starts with the year of registration instead of a state code, for example 22 BH 1234 AA, because it isn’t tied to any one state.
Want a specific number? The choice-number system
You don’t have to accept whatever number comes next in the series. The last part of the plate can be reserved through the official Vahan choice-number system.
You register on the Parivahan/Vahan portal, browse the available numbers for your RTO, and reserve the one you want. How you get it depends on how sought-after the number is:
- High-demand numbers (like 0001, 0007, 1111, 9999) go through an e-auction, bidding usually runs for about three days, and the highest bidder wins.
- Ordinary choice numbers are allotted first-come-first-served at the fixed reserve price, no bidding.
| Number type | How it’s allotted | Reserve price |
|---|---|---|
| Single digit (e.g. 0001) | E-auction | Highest |
| Popular numbers (e.g. 1111, 7777) | E-auction | High |
| Semi-fancy (e.g. 0100, 5555) | E-auction | Moderate |
| Other custom numbers | First-come-first-served | Lowest |
The actual reserve prices are set by each state and differ for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, so check the exact figures on your state’s Vahan portal before you bid. Premium single-digit numbers can run into lakhs; ordinary choice numbers are far cheaper. Our fancy number guide walks through the official portal.
Mistakes that cause problems later
- Letting the temporary registration lapse before permanent registration is done, driving on an expired TR is an offence
- Not checking that your name, address and vehicle details on the RC exactly match your ID, mismatches are painful to correct after issue
- Skipping PAN / Form 60 when buying a car or other non-two-wheeler, this can hold up the registration
- Assuming the road tax is fixed, it’s state-set and often the biggest cost, so confirm the on-road breakup with your dealer
- Forgetting the HSRP plate must be fitted, a vehicle without it isn’t fully compliant
Common questions
Do I have to visit the RTO to register a new vehicle?
Usually no. For a new vehicle bought from an authorised dealer, the dealer files everything on the Vahan portal and the RTO assigns the number remotely. You visit the RTO only in special cases (private import, disputes, or an RTO that still requires physical inspection).
How long is temporary registration valid?
Up to 30 days (one month). Permanent registration must be completed within that window, don’t drive on a lapsed temporary registration.
Can I drive before the permanent RC card arrives?
Yes. Once the permanent number is assigned, the virtual RC on the mParivahan app is legally valid, so you can drive even before the physical smart card reaches you by post.
Does the registration number change when I sell the vehicle?
No. The permanent number stays with the vehicle for its lifetime. On a sale, only the ownership on the RC is transferred to the buyer, the number itself doesn’t change (unless the vehicle moves to another state and is re-registered there).
What’s the difference between registration fee and road tax?
The registration fee is a small fixed central charge (₹300 for a two-wheeler, ₹600 for a car, plus the smart-card fee). Road tax is a separate, much larger state charge based on the vehicle’s price, it’s what makes on-road prices differ so much between states.
How do I check my registration status after it’s filed?
Once the permanent number is assigned, you can look it up on the Vahan portal using the vehicle’s details. See our RC status guide for the exact steps.
Check your vehicle on Vahan
This takes you straight to the official Vahan portal. myrtobuddy.com is not affiliated with it.