All About Car Fitness Certificate
A car fitness certificate (FC) ensures that a motor vehicle is fit to be driven on roads.Read more
What is a Car Fitness Certificate (FC)?
A vehicle fitness certificate is issued by the RTO for your car. It verifies whether a vehicle is fit to be driven on Indian roads. To get a car fitness certificate, the RTO will conduct an inspection to check if your car has any mechanical or electrical issues.
Moreover, this certificate helps monitor a car's working condition and emission levels. If the car meets the fitness requirements per the RTO, it is granted a car fitness certificate.
This certificate is issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of the city where your car was registered. It is a mandatory certificate in addition to a car's registration certificate and car insurance policy for transport vehicles and for private cars after 15 years from the date of registration.
Why is a Car Fitness Certificate Important?
It is important to have a fitness certificate for your car, as it certifies that the inspected vehicle is fit to legally ply on Indian roads. Apart from being a mandatory requirement, here is why a valid FC is important for a four-wheeler:
- A car fitness certificate highlights that your car is safe to be on Indian roads and also verifies that the emissions comply with government norms.
- Additionally, it is also the responsibility of a car owner to get his/her car's fitness checked in order to avoid any road accident arising out of an unfit car.
- For commercial vehicles, it is mandatory to own a valid fitness certificate every year. If you fail to do so or have an expired certificate, your car insurance proposal and claim may be rejected by the car insurance company, especially if the accident is caused due to the vehicle being mechanically unfit.
Car Fitness Certificate Validity
The fitness certificate for a car has the following validity:
| Type of Car |
Initial Validity |
Renewal after Initial Validity |
| Private Cars |
15 years |
Every 5 years |
| Commercial Cars |
2 years |
Every year |
How to Apply for a Car Fitness Certificate?
You can apply for a fitness certificate for your car either online or offline. Check out both the ways mentioned below.
How to Apply for a Car Fitness Certificate Offline?
Here is how you can apply for a car fitness certificate offline:
- Visit the nearest RTO office
- Duly fill and submit the application form to the concerned authority along with any other required documents.
- Pay the applicable fees
- Your car will be inspected, and a fitness certificate will be issued.
How to Apply for a Car Fitness Certificate Online?
A car owner can also apply for a fitness certificate online from the Parivahan portal website. Here is a step-by-step process to do so:
- Visit the official Parivahan portal website
- Select 'Vehicle-Related Services' from the Online Services dropdown
- Enter your vehicle registration number
- Select the 'Application for Fitness Certificate' option
- Provide your vehicle's Chassis Number and registered mobile number
- Enter the OTP received and the rest of the details
- Make payment and collect the digital receipt.
- Once you have received the receipt, submit it along with other documents to the RTO.
- After inspection, your car will be issued a vehicle fitness certificate.
Documents Required to Apply for a Car Fitness Certificate
In order to obtain a fitness certificate for your four-wheeler, you will need the following documents:
- Road Tax Payment Receipt
- Car insurance policy document
- Original RC
- PUC Certificate
- Prescribed fees
You can also download these documents from the Parivahan portal or get them from the nearest RTO office.
Car Fitness Certificate Fees
Check out the prescribed fee to apply for a fitness certificate for cars, bikes and commercial vehicles:
| Type of Vehicle |
Prescribed Fees |
| Three-wheelers or Cars |
Manual: Rs. 400, Automated: Rs. 600 |
| Bike |
Manual: Rs. 200, Automated: Rs. 400 |
| Heavy or Medium Motor Vehicles |
Manual: Rs. 600, Automated: Rs. 1,000 |
For private vehicles, the fees for obtaining an FC are charged along with registration fees.
How to Download a Car Fitness Certificate?
Here is the procedure you can follow to download a car fitness certificate online:
- Visit Parivahan's official website and choose 'Vehicle Related Services' under 'Online Services.'
- Select your state and enter your car's registration number.
- Proceed further and select 'Print Fitness Certificate' under 'Download Document.'
- Input the vehicle registration number & application number, and select 'Verify Details.'
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download your vehicle fitness certificate.
How to Get a Duplicate Vehicle Fitness Certificate?
You can use the duplicate fitness certificate download option to obtain a copy of your fitness certificate for your vehicle:
- Go to the Parivahan portal, and from the 'Online Services' drop-down menu, click 'Vehicle Related Services.'
- Select your state, enter your vehicle number, and click on 'Duplicate Fitness Certificate.'
- Now, provide your vehicle's registration and chassis numbers, and click 'Verify Details.'
- Fill the online form and make the payment online to download or print the application.
- Upon successful payment, your duplicate FC will be dispatched to your mailing address.
How to Check Car Fitness Certificate Status Online?
Here are the steps to check a car fitness certificate online:
- Visit the Parivahan portal and log in to your user account or register for a new one (if applicable)
- Enter your application number or vehicle registration number
- Enter the captcha and click on submit
- Now, you can view your vehicle fitness certificate details, registration, and car insurance details.
How to Renew a Car Fitness Certificate Online?
A vehicle owner can do vehicle fitness renewal online after 15 years by following these steps:
- Visit the official Parivahan Sewa website
- From the 'Vehicle-Related Services', select the 'Other Services' option
- Click on the 'Fitness' option
- Select the state name from the dropdown
- Enter the registration number and click on 'Proceed'
- Select the 'Apply for Fitness Renewal' option
- Enter the chassis number of your car and the registered mobile number
- Enter the One-time Password and verify
- Pay the applicable fees online
- Download the payment receipt
- Visit the RTO office with your car on the date designated for inspection. After the test clearance, your car fitness certificate will be renewed for the next 5 years.
How Much is the Fine for an Expired Vehicle Fitness Certificate?
Carrying an expired fitness certificate or driving without one is illegal as per the Indian Motor Laws. If caught, you will have to pay the following fines:
- Driving with an expired fitness certificate can lead to hefty traffic fines, which may range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000.
- For repeated offences, the fine may increase from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000.
- Moreover, in cases of repeated offences, your vehicle may be impounded by the authorities.
Wrapping Up!
To sum up, getting a fitness certificate for private cars older than 15 years is mandatory and essential in India. In case you are caught without a valid FC, you may have to pay heavy traffic fines. Thus, to avoid any traffic rule violations and save yourself from fines, you can apply for a car fitness certificate online on the Parivahan portal or offline via your nearest RTO.
