Uttar Pradesh (UP) RTO

Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest and most populous states in India. Uttar Pradesh has a vast network of roads and vehicles, making the RTO one of the essential bodies of Uttar Pradesh government. The RTO Uttar Pradesh was established under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. The RTO UP has taken the role of issuing driver’s licences, registration certificates, collecting of road tax, enforcing the Motor Vehicle Acts, granting and renewing permits, and much more. The Transport Commissioner projected that by the end of fiscal year 2025–26, total on-road vehicles could cross 5.35 crore. UP also leads the country in the number of registered electric vehicles, with an estimated 4.14 lakh EVs—the highest among all states, surpassing even Delhi and Maharashtra.

The UP RTO carries out their services digitally through the Transport Department Website. This article will cover functions of RTO UP, Fees and Taxes, Processes for registrations, transfers of the vehicle and much more.

Tehri Kothi M.G. Road Lucknow – 226001 Uttar Pradesh, India
Transport Helpline: 1800 1800 151
Driving License Tracking Helpline: 1800 572 3363
Fax: 0522-2629235

UP RTO has many regulatory and enforcement responsibilities. It operates under Motor Vehicle Act 1988. These functions and responsibilities include:

1). Uttar Pradesh Vehicle Registration Services

• Issuance of a new vehicle registration certificate (RC) in UP.
• Renewing Registration Certificates (RC).
• Assigning permanent and temporary registration numbers.
• Issuing duplicate RC.
• Approving vehicle ownership transfer.
• Updating change of address in the RC.

2). Driving License and Permits

• Issuance of Learner’s License (LL) and Permanent Driving License (DL).
• Renewing Driving Licenses.
• Issuing International Driving Permits (IDP).
• Issuing commercial and transport vehicle permits.
• Conducting driving tests for new applicants.

3). Road Tax Collection

• Collecting road tax and other vehicle-related fees.
• Enforcing vehicle taxation laws in Uttar Pradesh.

4). Vehicle Fitness & Pollution Control

• Conducting fitness tests.
• Issuing Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificates.
• Inspecting vehicles to make sure they meet 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.

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.

7). Digital Transformation

• UP RTO leverages the Parivahan portal (for vehicle services like registration, tax payment, and permits) and the Sarathi portal (for driving licence applications, tests, and renewals) to make processes faster, transparent, and citizen-friendly.

In order to get your permanent RC for your vehicle in UP, follow these steps:

1. Apply by filling form 20

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

2. Book an appointment for vehicle inspection

Through the Parivahan Sewa portal, before visiting the RTO for permanent RC issuance, book an appointment for vehicle inspection.

3. Submit the required Documents

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

4. Inspection of your vehicle

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

5. Pay the Registration Fees and Taxes

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

6. Issuance of Permanent RC

Once all documents are verified, the vehicle is inspected, and all the prescribed fees and taxes are paid, the 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 the Parivahan Website.

NOTE:

• Apply for a permanent registration certificate before the temporary certificate expires.
• Confirm your registration number type beforehand. (Fancy numbers add to the fees for RC).
• In case the vehicle is involved in hypothecation, refer to Hypothecation in this article.
• Confirm usage of smart cards or HSRP.
• Fees of registration and road tax depends on choice of registration number, smart card, HSRP and type of vehicle.

Documents Required for Getting a Permanent Registration Certificate through RTO Uttar Pradesh

Before applying to get a permanent registration certificate in UP, make sure you have the following documents ready to submit:

• Application for Vehicle Registration in Form 20
• Sales certificate in Form 21
• Roadworthiness certificate
• Pollution under control certificate
• Valid insurance certificate
• Proof of address (Ration card, Electricity bill etc.)
• Design approval copy of STA in case of Trailer or Semi-Trailer
• Original sales certificate from the concerned authorities in Form 21 in the case of an ex-army vehicle
• Customs clearance certificate along with the licence, and bond in case of an imported vehicle
• Temporary registration, if any
• Form 34 (in case of Hypothecation endorsement)
• Proof of Citizenship
• At least 3 Passport Size Photographs

Registration Certificate in UP has a duration 15 years after which it needs to be renewed. The renewal process should be completed within 60 days of expiry of original RC. The process for renewal of RC in UP is as follows:

• Apply for renewal by filling form 25
• Submit all the necessary documents mentioned before
• Pay vehicle taxes if any applicable, and the renewal fee
• Take the vehicle for inspection by a RTO Officer

After inspection and payment of all the fees, the RC will be renewed for another 5 years.

Documents Required for Renewal of Registration Certificate in Uttar Pradesh

The following documents are necessary for renewal of RC in UP:

• Form 25
• Registration Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• Address Proof
• Fee Receipt
• The physical vehicle (For Inspection)

As per Motor Vehicles Act rules, you must re-register your vehicle within 12 months of relocation to another state, failing which you may face fines, seizure of the vehicle, or additional taxes/penalties. If you are relocating to UP from another state, it is advisable to re-register your vehicle in the state of UP to comply with local road tax and rules. This is only necessary if you plan to use the vehicle permanently in UP and not for temporary periods. To transfer your vehicle registration from another state to UP, follow these steps:

Get NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Previous RTO

• Fill and submit for 28 in the previous RTO for NOC.
• If the vehicle was on loan, obtain NOC from the bank as well.
• In case NOC is not available, apply for the cancellation of RC in the previous state.

Apply for Re-Registering RC in UP

Documents required for re-registering:

• Form 29 and 30 for the transfer of possession
• Original RC
• NOC From the previous RTO and bank if applicable
• PUC certificate
• Address Proof
• Form 33 if a change in address
• Insurance Certificate
• Receipt for road tax (If applicable)

Pay Road Tax in UP if applicable

• If your vehicle is 15 years or older, you will need to pay road tax again as per UP RTO rules.
• You can apply for a refund of road tax from the previous RTO.

Vehicle Inspection

• An RTO office will inspect your vehicle before approving your transfer of RC.

Issuance of New RC

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

Transfer of RC of the vehicle is essential if you plan to buy or sell a vehicle in UP. The RC must be legally transferred to the new owner's name. There are 3 types of RC transfer that are done by the RTO in UP:

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 a vehicle:

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

The Process for applying for the transfer of RC in UP through Parivahan is:

1. Visit the Parivahan Sewa portal → parivahan.gov.in/parivahan.
2. Go to “Online Services” → “Vehicle Related Services” and select Uttar Pradesh as the state.
3. Log in using your vehicle details (Registration Number, Chassis Number, OTP, etc.).
4. Choose the “Transfer of Ownership” service and fill in the details of the buyer and seller.
5. Upload required documents: RC, insurance, PUC certificate, buyer’s ID/address proof, and Form 28/29/30 as applicable.
6. Pay the applicable transfer fees online and book an appointment (if vehicle inspection is required).
7. Visit the concerned RTO with originals for verification.
8. After approval, the new RC will be issued in the buyer’s name (delivered by post or downloadable via Digilocker/Parivahan).

The process typically takes 7–15 days after submission and verification.

The documents required for transfer of RC depend on these 3 types of transfers and are as follows:

• Form 29 and Form 30 (Transfer of Possession)
• Original RC
• Insurance Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• Buyer’s address proof
• Sales Agreement (If applicable)
• 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)

After submitting all the necessary documents, transfer fees have to be paid either at the RTO office or online at Parivahan website. The transfer fees are half of the registration fee of the vehicle. After the fees are paid, it takes approximately 7-30 days for the RTO to complete the transfer of ownership. To check the status of the application, you can visit Parivahan Portal.

If a registration certificate is reported to be stolen, lost, or destroyed, a duplicate registration certificate can be issued. The following is the procedure to apply for a duplicate registration certificate in UP:

• File a FIR in the police station that has the jurisdiction where the certificate may have been lost, stolen or destroyed. Obtain a copy of the FIR.

• Inform via letter or an application to the previously registered RTO of the missing registration certificate before officially applying for a duplicate.

• Apply for Form 28 for a duplicate registration certificate in the RTO (Previously registered RC RTO).

• After submission of the necessary documents, pay the necessary duplication fees according to Rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989.

The documents required for the duplication of RC in UP are as follows:

• Application in Form 26
• Police certificate
• Pollution under control certificate
• Valid insurance certificate
• Proof of address
• Challan clearance from the traffic police & Enforcement wing Transport Department in commercial vehicles
• Tax clearance from the Accounts Department for commercial vehicles
• Signature Identification of the Owner
• Affidavit stating RC is lost and not being impounded

If you purchase a vehicle on a loan or through a hire purchase, the financier has to be legally added in the RC as a hypothecation entry. The vehicle is under the lender’s name until the debt is cleared. The following are the documents required to endorse a hire purchase agreement in RC through UP RTO:

• An application for making an entry of hire purchase,
• Lease agreement of hypothecation entry in the RC (Form 34)
• Original Registration Certificate
• PUC Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• Fee receipt of 100 rupees. (Hypothecation Fee)

When the loan on your vehicle is paid off completely, termination of that hire purchase agreement is required. Documents required for this process are:

• Application in Form 35
• Registration Certificate
• Allotment letter for the vehicle
• Insurance certificate
• Proof of address
• Pollution under control certificate
• RC Book
• NOC from the financier

In case the purchaser fails to complete payments of the agreement, the vehicle will remain registered to the financers, and if the payments are complete, it will be registered to the purchaser.

To Check RC Status Online in UP - Visit UP 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 Uttar Pradesh:

Go to the → Parivahan Vahan website

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

Under the drop down menu - select Uttar Pradesh

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 UP), 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 UP. 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 Owner's Name, Vehicle Class, Insurance, Registration Date, etc, are shown.

Road tax in UP is formulated on factors like the cost of the vehicle for private vehicles and seating capacity, weight, and duration of travel for commercial vehicles and is collected by RTO Uttar Pradesh. The following table represents road tax in UP for private and commercial vehicles.

1). New Private Vehicles (At the Time of Registration)

2). For Commercial Vehicle:

Commercial vehicles are taxed based on their seat capacity or weight of the vehicle/Unladen weight

Based on Seat Capacity

Based on weight / unladen weight

Having an HSRP is mandatory for two and four-wheeler vehicles in UP. To apply for a high-security number plate (HSRP) in UP, 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 UP. Purchasing car insurance or bike insurance in UP online is a simple process:

• Visit the Insurance Website

Go to an authorised motor insurance provider’s website to buy vehicle car or bike insurance. You can compare insurance policies through Coverfox.

• Enter Vehicle Details

Enter all the necessary vehicle details and documents, like the 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, Roadside 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.

• Driving without valid insurance can lead to legal troubles and hefty fines.
• Insurance should be registered in the UP RTO portal.
• Ensure insurance is updated to the RC.
• Ensure you have a valid PUC, because it plays a major role in UP with claim settlements.
• Insurance premiums may vary from city to city in UP.
• Areas with heavy traffic or accident-prone areas have a higher rate of premium in UP.