Karnataka Transport Department has been operating under the provision of the Motor Vehicles Act of India. The department is primarily responsible for caring out the rules and regulations on the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and collection of road taxes.
Karnataka Regional Transport Office or RTO Karnataka is an integral part of Karnataka Transport Department, which operates under the supervision of transport commissioner.
The major responsibility areas of RTO Karnataka include:
There are 67 RTO/ARTO offices in Karnataka, actively functioning in the state out of 70. The below table contains Karnataka RTO numbers along with address and codes:
RTO Name | RTO Code | RTO Name | RTO Code |
RTO Bengaluru (Central) | KA-01 | RTO Raichur | KA-36 |
RTO Bengaluru (West) | KA-02 | RTO Koppal | KA-37 |
RTO Bengaluru (East) | KA-03 | RTO Bidar | KA-38 |
RTO Bengaluru (North) | KA-04 | ARTO Bhalki | KA-39 |
RTO Bengaluru (South) | KA-05 | RTO Chickballapura | KA-40 |
RTO Tumakuru | KA-06 | RTO Jnanabharathi | KA-41 |
RTO Kolar | KA-07 | RTO Ramanagar | KA-42 |
ARTO, K G F | KA-08 | ARTO Devanahalli | KA-43 |
RTO Mysuru (West) | KA-09 | ARTO Tiptur | KA-44 |
RTO Chamarajanagar | KA-10 | ARTO Hunsur | KA-45 |
RTO Mandya | KA-11 | ARTO Sakaleshpura | KA-46 |
RTO Madikeri | KA-12 | ARTO Honnavar | KA-47 |
RTO Hassan | KA-13 | ARTO Jamkhandi | KA-48 |
ARTO Sagar | KA-15 | ARTO Gokak | KA-49 |
RTO Chitradurga | KA-16 | RTO Yelahanka | KA-50 |
RTO Shivamogga | KA-17 | RTO Electronic City | KA-51 |
RTO Davanagere | KA-17 | RTO Nelamangala | KA-52 |
RTO Chikkamagaluru | KA-18 | RTO Krishnarajapuram | KA-53 |
RTO Mangaluru | KA-19 | ARTO Nagamangala | KA-54 |
RTO Udupi | KA-20 | RTO Mysuru (East) | KA-55 |
RTO Puttur | KA-21 | ARTO Basavakalyana | KA-56 |
RTO Belagavi | KA-22 | RTO, A/R & STU, Bengaluru | KA-57 |
RTO Chikkodi | KA-23 | RTO Banashankari, Bengaluru | KA-58 |
ARTO Bailahongal | KA-24 | RTO, Chandapura, Bengaluru | KA-59 |
RTO Dharwad | KA-25 | RTO, R.T.Nagar, Bengaluru | KA-60 |
RTO Gadag | KA-26 | RTO, Marathalli, Bengaluru | KA-61 |
RTO Haveri | KA-27 | RTO, Surathkal, DakshinaKannada (Dist) | KA-62 |
RTO Vijayapura | KA-28 | R.T.O Dharwad (East) | KA-63 |
RTO Bagalkote | KA-29 | ARTO Madhugiri, Tumakuru (Dist.) | KA-64 |
RTO Karwar | KA-30 | ARTO Dandeli Uttara, Kannada (Dist) | KA-65 |
RTO Sirsi | KA-31 | ARTO Tarikere Chikkamagaluru | KA-66 |
RTO Kalaburgi | KA-32 | ARTO,Chintamani, Chikkaballapur | KA-67 |
RTO Yadagiri | KA-33 | ARTO Ranibennur Haveri | KA-68 |
RTO Bellari | KA-34 | ARTO, Ramadurga Belagavi | KA-69 |
RTO Hosapete | KA-35 | ARTO Bantwala Dakshina Kannada | KA-70 |
The M.V Act, 1988 strictly prohibits anyone from driving a vehicle on the roads of Karnataka or elsewhere in India without registering it with the concerned RTOs. Therefore, it is pertinent for the every vehicle owner in Karnataka to register his/her car or bike with RTO Karnataka. The registration process is of two types-
Permanent Registration: As per the law of Motor Vehicles Act, every vehicle plying on the roads has to register with regional transport offices. This process is called Permanent Registration. Under this, a vehicle gets registered for 15 years and the owner is given with RTO Karnataka registration numbers. Whenever the tenure ends, it is renewed for the further years. The local RTOs requires certain documents to update Karnataka RTO Vehicle Information, that need to be furnished on time.
Temporary Registration: Under this, the vehicle owner is given with a temporary vehicle registration number by the dealer at the time of purchasing. However, the vehicle has to be registered with RTO Karnataka within 30 days from issuing a temporary RC, by applying for a permanent registration number.
Without registering a vehicle with RTO Karnataka, one can’t drive it on the roads. Vehicle registration process in Karnataka is simple. One can go for online registration as well by logging on the official website and filling up the relevant form. Apart from the application form, one also has to submit the below documents:
The permanent registration card can be availed by filling up an application form made in Form CMV 20 to the RTO Karnataka. The owner has to initiate the process within 7 days from the delivery of the vehicle. Following documents are required to avail a permanent RC:
Upon submission of the aforementioned documents, Karnataka RTO allots a registration number to the owner. The number is generated electronically based on the ongoing series at Karnataka RTO. The RTO also allots fancy numbers to those who wish to opt for it. However, it comes with a cost and can only be obtained via an auction. The highest bidder wins the show. Once the vehicle is registered with RTO Karnataka, a registration certificate will be sent via speed post to the registered address of the owner. Moreover, the Karnataka RTO registration numbers list can be, now-a-days, accessed online. The RCs are allotted as Smart Card.
As we already know that, the temporary registration certificate is allotted for a limited period by the dealer until the vehicle is registered with the concerned RTO. The below documents need to be submitted to avail a temporary RC:
Vehicle registration card is valid for the tenure of 15 years. After that, the owner needs to renew it ASAP to avoid penalties. An application form, known as ‘CMV 25’ needs to be submitted to renew the card with an applicable fee as per the Rule 81 of the M.V. Act 1988. The application process should be done within 60 days of its expiry. The same needs to be submitted with the RTO Karnataka.
To renew RTO Karnataka vehicle details, the following documents are required:
In case the owner wants to sell his/her vehicle or to transfer it legally, the same can be initiated by filling out Form 29 and 30 to transfer the ownership. Form 31 is required to be submitted to RTO Karnataka if the ownership is transferred owing to inheritance. Form 32 is required in case the car/bike is transferred via an auction. Apart from these, the following documents are required for transferring ownership:
In case the vehicle is transferred to a legal successor if the registered owner dies, the below documents are required to complete the process:
If there is any change in the address of the owner, the same needs to be duly updated in the Registration Certificate of the vehicle as well. This can be done through an application made in Form 33, following a documentation process with RTO Karnataka. To change an address, the following documents are needed:
In case the original RC is lost or worn out, the vehicle owner can apply for a duplicate RC. The application form, known as Form 26 has to be filled and submitted along with the below documents to avail a duplicate RC from RTO Karnataka:
It is necessary to renew the registration of a private vehicle with RTO Karnataka after completion of 15 years. A renewal application should be made in form CMV 25 not more than 60 days of its expiry. The documents required to renew the registration card of a private vehicle include:
It is necessary to renew the registration of a private vehicle with RTO Karnataka after completion of 15 years. A renewal application should be made in form CMV 25 not more than 60 days of its expiry. The documents required to renew the registration card of a private vehicle include:
Fees Applicable for Renewal of Registration
In order to renew the registration with RTO Karnataka, one has to pay the below fees:
Note: Rs. 25 is charged for late renewal of registration subject to a maximum of Rs. 100.
Applicable Green Tax in Karnataka
The final stage is to produce the vehicle for inspection. Upon a thorough inspection and if the vehicle is found at per the requirements of Motor Vehicles Act and provisions, the registration certificate (RC) will be renewed for a subsequent period of 5 years.
The 7th largest state in India, Karnataka is also famous as ‘Silicon Valley’ and home to geographical diversity with coastal regions. The growing urbanisation has accelerated affluence to Karnataka and the state has well-constructed road infrastructure. However, the rapid rate of industrial development and economic prosperity has made it a little difficult to maintain effective traffic management. Given that, if you are a car or bike owner in any of the cities in Karnataka, make sure you have insured it.
It is mandatory to insure a vehicle before plying on the roads of Karnataka, as per the law. At least having third party motor insurance is a must. Moreover, for a complete protection, you can opt for a comprehensive plan that covers the insured vehicles against accidental damages and damages caused by man-made and natural disasters. Nevertheless, it is always recommended to compare various plans. Don’t pick a random plan and regret later. With online comparison, it has become very convenient to compare different plans based on the facilities and coverage offered. Insure your vehicle today and ride safe!