How to Obtain a Temporary Registration Number for Your Car?
Buying a new car is a wonderful feeling. When you purchase a new vehicle in India,Read more
What is a Temporary Car Registration Number?
A temporary car registration number is a unique number used to identify a brand new car which is yet to be registered permanently by the Regional Transport Office (RTO). As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every car plying on public roads must have a permanent high security number plate issued by an RTO. Since it may take a while to be issued, it is mandatory to obtain a temporary registration number for a new car to take it home from the showroom.
The temporary registration number of a car is usually valid for a period of one month. During this period, you are required to apply for the permanent registration number of your car with the concerned RTO. As soon as the RTO issues the permanent registration number for your car, your temporary car registration number is not valid. However, you can apply for the extension of your car's temporary registration number if the permanent registration number of your car is not issued within a month.
Steps to Apply for a Temporary Car Registration Number
In case your car dealer or showroom has not applied for a temporary registration number for your new car on your behalf, you must do it yourself. Currently, you cannot apply for a temporary car registration number online on the Transport Ministry's Vahan web portal. Take a look at the procedure to apply for a temporary car registration number in India below:
- Download the registration form to apply for a temporary car registration number
- Fill up all the required details in the application form
- Collect all the documents required mentioned below:
- Form 20 or the application form
- Form 21 or the sale certificate of the car
- Form 22 or Road Worthiness certificate for the car
- Car insurance policy
- Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
- Address proof of the car owner, such as Aadhaar Card, electricity bill, ration card, etc.
- Copy of PAN Card or Form 60 and Form 61 in case the PAN Card is not available
- Visit the RTO holding jurisdiction over your residential area and submit the form as well as the required documents
- Pay the charges to obtain the temporary car registration number
- The RTO will issue a temporary registration number for your new car
How to Download the Application Form for Temporary Car Registration Online?
To download Form 20 or the application form, follow the steps given below:
- Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa by the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways
- Go to the 'Informational Services' tab on the menu bar
- Select the 'Downloadable Forms' option from the drop-down menu and click on 'Vehicle Registration'
- A page with the option to download several forms will appear
- Click on Form 20 and other required forms (Form 21 and Form 22) to download them
Temporary Registration Number Fee
Every car owner needs to pay a fee to obtain the temporary registration number for his/ her new car. However, these charges may differ from one state to another. The following table shows the charges to apply for a temporary car registration number in a few states. You must contact the RTO of your state to know the exact charges to obtain the temporary registration number of your car:
| Name of the State |
Temporary Car Registration Fee |
| Andhra Pradesh |
Rs 300 |
| Kerala |
Rs 100 + Rs 50 (service charge) |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Rs 50 |
| Punjab |
Rs 50 |
| Rajasthan |
Rs 200 |
| Tamil Nadu |
Rs 40 + Rs 100 (service charge) |
How to Extend a Temporary Car Registration Number?
The temporary registration number for a car is valid for one month. You must apply for the permanent registration number of your car before it expires. If you do not receive the permanent registration number for your car by the expiry of its temporary registration, you will have to apply for an extension of the latter with the RTO.
At the time of applying for the extension of your car's temporary registration number, you will have to specify the reason for requesting an extension to the RTO. You will also have to specify the time period up to which your temporary registration number must be extended. Just as you paid a fee to obtain your car's temporary registration number for the first time, you will have to pay the applicable charges during the extension.
Remember that you can apply to extend your car's temporary registration number a maximum of 2 times. While applying for the extension of your car's temporary registration number for the second time, you will be required to pay a penalty according to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Documents Required to Extend a Temporary Car Registration Number
At the time of applying for the extension of your car's temporary registration number, you must submit the following documents to the concerned RTO:
- Form 21 or a sales certificate of your car. You will be required to provide the original sales certificate of your car in case it is an ex-army vehicle
- Form 22 or Road Worthiness certificate for the car
- Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
- Motor insurance certificate for the car
- Address proof of the car owner, such as Aadhaar Card, electricity bill, ration card, etc.
In a Nutshell
Every car in India must be registered by an RTO as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The RTO issues a permanent registration number to every car for identification purposes. However, the permanent registration number is not issued instantly which is why a person needs to first apply for a temporary registration number for his/ her car. You can download the application form online and submit it with the required documents, such as the comprehensive motor insurance certificate, to your RTO covering your area. Make sure to obtain a temporary registration number before driving your car out of the showroom or dealer's premises. Apart from a valid number plate, a driving license and a car insurance policy is mandatory to drive in India.
