RTO Tamil Nadu (TN)

Regional Transport Office of Tamil Nadu (தமிழ்நாடு வட்டாரப் போக்குவரத்து அலுவலகம் RTO) is a government body established to carry out all the functions and responsibilities related to transport as per the Motor Vehicle Act in the state of Tamil Nadu. TN RTO carries out tasks like providing registration numbers, issuing licences, giving permits, maintaining traffic rules and regulations, etc. It works under the Department of Transport of Tamil Nadu. With a population of over 7.6 crore and one of the largest road networks in India spanning nearly 2.27 lakh km, including 12 national highways, the role of the RTO Tamil Nadu in managing vehicle registrations and traffic becomes highly significant in the state.

RTO Tamil Nadu works under the Transport Department of Tamil Nadu and has the responsibilities of the following:

1. Tamil Nadu Vehicle Registration and Documentation

• Issuance of a new vehicle registration certificate (RC)
• Renewing Registration Certificates (RC)
• Assigning permanent and temporary registration numbers
• Issuing duplicate RC
• Approving vehicle ownership transfer
• Trade Certificates for Vehicle Dealers.
• Updating change of address in the RC
• Tamil Nadu RTO also oversees entry and removal of Hypothecation in RC.

2. Driving Licence and Permits

• Issuance of Learner’s Licence (LL) and Permanent Driving Licence (DL)
• Renewing Driving licences
• Issuing International Driving Permits (IDP)
• Issuing commercial and transport vehicle permits
• Conducting driving tests for new applicants
• Issuance of Duplicate Driving Licences.
• Bus Conductor’s Licence Issuance.

3. Road Tax Collection

• Collecting road tax and other vehicle-related fees
• Enforcing vehicle taxation laws in Tamil Nadu

4. Vehicle Fitness & Pollution Control

• Conducting fitness tests
• Issuing Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificates
• Inspecting vehicles to make sure they meet up with the emission regulations

5. Enforcing Traffic Laws

• Issue Challans
• Enforcing speed limits, helmet, and seatbelt rules
• Ensuring proper implementation of road safety measures
• Conducting awareness campaigns on traffic rules and road safety
• Conduct Checkpoints at Highways

6. Providing No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Vehicles

• Issuing NOC for vehicle transfer to another state
• Cancelling NOC if a vehicle is not re-registered in another state
• Provide grounds for auctions for fancy/reserved number plates.
• Allotment of fancy and reserved number plates.

7. Providing Assistance During Accidents and Natural Calamities

• Provide vehicle information to the police when requested
• Identify accident prone zones
• Assisting by providing vehicles during calamities

Contact Details of Tamil Nadu Transport

• Transport Minister of Tamil Nadu: Thiru S.S. Sivasankar
• Email ID: minister_transport@tn.gov.in
• Phone: 044-25678843
• The Tamil Nadu Secretariat's address: Government of Tamil Nadu, Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, Fort St. George, Chennai-600009
• Phone: 044-25665566

Every vehicle that runs on the public roads of Tamil Nadu needs to be registered in an RTO. Tamil Nadu RTO issues permanent registration for new and existing vehicles as per the MVA. When a new vehicle is purchased, a temporary registration will be issued by the dealership. Before the temporary registration expires (a maximum of 30 days), the vehicle needs to be registered in the RTO. The process of getting a registration certificate in Tamil Nadu is simple:

Apply by filling form 20:

This form can be obtained from your closest RTO or online through Parivahan Seva Portal.

Submit the required Documents:

Submit all the required documents mentioned before, and prepare these documents before applying for permanent RC to avoid any delay in getting your RC.

Pay the Registration Fees and Taxes:

Pay the prescribed Registration Fees and Road Tax at the RTO or online via Parivahan Seva Website.

Inspection of your vehicle:

Your vehicle needs to be physically inspected by an RTO Officer for verification of Engine Number, Chassis Number and Road Worthiness before it gets approval for RC.

Issuance of Fancy / Reserved Number Plate:

If you have applied for a fancy or reserved registration number, the TN RTO will allot it at this stage after the applicable fees are paid. This step is optional and can be requested during the RC application.

Issuance of Permanent RC:

Once all documents are verified, the vehicle is inspected, and all the prescribed fees and taxes are paid, RTO will issue a Permanent Registration Certificate for your vehicle. RC will be in a smart card form or a digital copy. You can check the status of your RC application online through Parivahan Website.

Documents Required for Getting a Permanent Registration Certificate (RC) in Tamil Nadu

The following documents are required to be presented before the Tamil Nadu RTO, in order to get a Registration Certificate in Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu, the permanent RC of a non-transport vehicle is valid for 15 years from the date of issuance. After this period a vehicle needs to renew its RC every 5 years.. This process should be completed within 60 days of the expiry of the original RC. The process of renewal of RC in Tamil Nadu is:

• Apply for renewal by filling Form 25
• Submit all the required documents
• Pay vehicle taxes if any applicable, and the renewal fee
• Take the vehicle for inspection by an RTO Officer

Once the vehicle passes in inspection by the RTO Officer, your RC will be processed for renewal.

Documents Required for Renewal of Registration Certificate (RC) in Tamil Nadu

These documents are required for renewal of RC in Tamil Nadu:

• Application in Form-25
• Original Registration Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• Tax Information
• Physical Vehicle for inspection

If a vehicle is permanently shifting from another state into Tamil Nadu, it needs to be registered through Tamil Nadu RTO. This process requires the vehicle to have a NOC from the previous RTO which can be obtained by filling form 28. The process is simple:

Get NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the previous RTO

Fill and submit 4 copies of form 28 (As per Section 48) to the previous RTO for NOC. If the vehicle is under a loan or lease agreement, an NOC from the financier is mandatory. For transport vehicles, a tax clearance certificate is necessary. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) is valid for 6 months.

Apply for Re-Registering RC in TN

Then apply for re-registering the registration certificate in Tamil Nadu.

Pay Road Tax in Tamil Nadu if applicable

If your vehicle is 15 years or older, you will need to pay road tax again as per RTO rules, and you can apply for a refund of road tax from the previous RTO. A service charge of ₹50 is applicable for all vehicle classes.

Vehicle Inspection

A RTO officer will inspect your vehicle before approving your transfer of RC.

Issuance of New RC

After all the required criteria are met, TN RTO will provide you with a new RC registered with TN state, with a TN registered number plate.

It is important to transfer the ownership of a vehicle on the registration certificate in Tamil Nadu if you wish to sell your vehicle or the vehicle is being transferred into someone else’s possession. In case the transfer of ownership is not made, all the offences made by the new owner will create legal trouble for the previous owner, as the car is still in his name. There are 3 types of Transfer in Registration Certificate in Tamil Nadu:

Sale of the vehicle:

The vehicle is being sold to another individual or group.

Inheritance of vehicle:

The vehicle is being inherited due to the death of the owner.

Auction of vehicle:

The vehicle is bought from an auction by the TN government or other bodies.

Documents Required for Transfer of Ownership of Registration Certificate in Tamil Nadu

Below listed are the documents required for transferring ownership of registration certificate in Tamil Nadu.

• Form 29 (Transfer of Possession)
• Form 30 (2 copies in case of Hypothecation)
• Original RC
• Insurance Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• New owner’s address proof
• Sales Agreement (If applicable)
• Pan Card or Form 60 and 61 (In case of sale of vehicle)
• Death Certificate of the owner (If applicable)
• Form 31 (Incase of death)
• Form 32 (Incase of auction)
• Form 35 (Bank NOC if the vehicle was financed)
• Application in Form-GCPA (Police clearance)
• Tax Certificate
• NOC (From other Legal Heirs if applicable)

After submission of all the documents and payment of fees and service charge, the RC of the vehicle will be transferred to the new owner.

If a registration certificate is reported to be stolen, lost, or destroyed, a duplicate registration certificate can be issued only by the owner of the RC. Following is the procedure to apply for a duplicate registration certificate in Tamil Nadu:

• File an FIR at the police station in case the RC is Stolen or Lost
• Get a police report certificate or Lost Document Report (LDR) from the TN police website
• Fill and Submit Form 26 for a duplicate certificate
• Submit the required documents
• Pay the fees applicable as per your vehicle and the service charge

A duplicate RC will be issued after verification of the documents.

Documents Required for a Duplicate Registration Certificate (RC) in Tamil Nadu

Below listed are the documents required for getting a duplicate registration certificate.

• Application in Form 26
• Police certificate or LDR
• Tax Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• NOC from Financier. (in the case of HP)
• PUC Certificate

In case the vehicle is purchased using financial assistance from a bank or other institutions, the owner of the vehicle can apply for endorsement of hire purchase agreement (hypothecation) in Tamil Nadu on the registration certificate. The documents required to endorse hire purchase agreements in the RC are:

• Application in Form 34 (2 copies)
• Registration Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• Tax Certificate
• Fee of ₹500 for two-wheelers and ₹800 for four wheelers
• Service charge of ₹25

After verification of documents and collection of the fees, endorsement of hire purchase agreement in the RC will be done.

When the debt is completely paid off by the owner of the vehicle to the financier, they can terminate the hypothecation in Tamil Nadu from the Registration Certificate by submitting the following documents:

• Application in Form 35
• Registration certificate
• Insurance certificate
• Pollution under control certificate
• NOC from the financier
• Tax certificate
• Service charge of ₹25

This table represents vehicle RC registration charges in Tamil Nadu:

In order to check RC Status Online in Tamil Nadu - Visit Tamil Nadu transport official website and under “Online Services” you can find “Vehicle Related Services”, click it then select “Application Status”. It will redirect you to Parivahan website, where you can enter your vehicle’s registration number, state and RTO and obtain your RC Status. Here is the step by step guide for checking RC status in Tamil Nadu:

Go to the → Parivahan Vahan website

Navigate to "Online Services" and then Click on "Vehicle-Related Services."

Under the drop down menu - select Tamil Nadu

Fill out your vehicle and state details - vehicle registration number and RTO

On the homepage, click on “Status” → “Know your Application Status”.

Enter your application number (given at the time of RC application/transfer/renewal) and the captcha code and then click “Submit” to view your RC status (pending, approved, printed, or dispatched).

Note: Alternatively, you can check using the mParivahan mobile app by entering your vehicle registration number. Go to your nearest RTO (in TN), with your RC details (Car registration Number) and valid ID Proof. RTO will provide you with your RC Status if, for some reason, you are not able to get it online.

You can get vehicle owner details online through the parivahan website in Tamil Nadu. It is important to know that the owner's address and phone number are not shared for privacy reasons. Use this information for legitimate reasons only (Like checking details while buying a used vehicle).

• Visit the Parivahan Vehicle Details page
• Click on "Know Your Vehicle Details"
• Enter your Vehicle Registration Number
• Enter the Captcha Code
• Details like Owners Name, Vehicle Class, Insurance, Registration Date, etc are shown

Tamil Nadu road tax online is collected based on the cost price of the vehicle for two-wheelers:

Tamil Nadu road tax online is collected based on the cost price of the vehicle for four-wheelers

For transport vehicles, the tax is calculated on the number of seats or the total GVW of the vehicle.

Having a HSRP number plate is mandatory for two and four wheeler vehicles in Tamil Nadu. Vehicles registered before April 2019, also have to apply for a HSRP plate before April 30 2025. To apply for a high security number plate (HSRP) in TN, follow these steps:

• Visit the official HSRP website for booking of the plate
• Select the vehicle type (Private or Commercial)
• Enter your vehicle details
• Choose the fitment location
• Book an appointment slot
• Pay the fees after rechecking all the details
• Visit the fitment location to fit your HSRP to your vehicle

Having a third party insurance for your vehicle is mandatory in Tamil Nadu. Purchasing vehicle insurance in TN online is a simple process:

• Visit Insurance Website: Visit Coverfox and select the type of motor insurance you wish to buy.
• Enter Vehicle Details: Enter all the necessary vehicle details and documents like registration number. Vehicle type and class, owner’s Aadhar card, etc. as per the insurance company requirements.
• Choose the type of Insurance: You can select either a third party insurance (Mandatory) or a more comprehensive insurance that covers third party insurance and own vehicle damages.
• Add-ons: Select the necessary add-ons to further safeguard your vehicle. These add-on covers include Zero-Depreciation cover, Engine Protection Cover, Road-side Assistance, etc.
• Pay the fees: After choosing the right type of insurance for you, pay the fees online and get your insurance policy.
• Download and Print: Keep a soft and hard copy of the insurance policy with you. Make sure you add your insurance details to your RC.

• The state mandate to have a third party insurance for all vehicles on the road
• Major cities like Chennai have higher premiums due to high population density and accident prone zone
• Tamil Nadu is prone to natural disasters like floods and hurricanes, which may lead to increase in insurance premiums
• The state also requires PUC certificates as a mandatory document for the vehicle. PUC helps in getting claims in insurance
• The RTO provides accident related information to the police and the insurance company for claims.