TN RTO
The transport department of Tamil Nadu ensures that the enforcement of the regulations and rules of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 is being carried out smoothly in the state of Tamil Nadu. By promoting rules and regulations of road transport, Tamil Nadu RTO ensures on road safety.
Functioning of Tamil Nadu RTO
Apart from ensuring on road safety, the other functions of Tamil Nadu RTO are:
- To provide the driving license to the owners of the vehicle and the drivers.
- To provide learner’s license.
- To issue registration certificate to transport vehicles.
- To issue registration certificate to non-transport vehicles.
- To provide the conductor's license.
- To issue fitness certificate to the vehicles.
- To initiate a vehicle's ownership transfer.
- To change an address on the registration certificate of the vehicle.
- To issue fancy registration numbers to those who want that.
- To issue an online permit for the vehicles.
- Renewal of fitness certificate of the commercial vehicles.
List of RTO Tamil Nadu
| RTO Name | RTO Code | RTO Name | RTO Code |
| RTO Chennai Central | TN01 | RTO Ooty | TN43 |
| RTO Chennai North West | TN02 | RTO Tiruchirapalli | TN45 |
| RTO Chennai North East | TN03 | RTO Perambalur | TN46 |
| RTO Chennai East | TN04 | RTO Karur | TN47 |
| RTO Chennai North | TN05 | RTO Srirangam (Trichy) | TN48 |
| RTO Chennai South East | TN06 | RTO Thanjavur | TN49 |
| RTO Chennai South | TN07 | RTO Thiruvarur | TN50 |
| RTO Chennai West | TN09 | RTO Nagapattinam | TN51 |
| RTO Chennai South West | TN10 | RTO Sankari | TN52 |
| RTO Chennai Suburban | TN18 | RTO Salem (East) | TN54 |
| RTO Chengalpattu | TN19 | RTO Pudukottai | TN55 |
| RTO Thiruvallur | TN20 | RTO Perundurai | TN56 |
| RTO Kanchipuram | TN21 | RTO Dindigul | TN57 |
| RTO Meenambakkam | TN22 | RTO Madurai (South) | TN58 |
| RTO Vellore | TN23 | RTO Madurai (North) | TN59 |
| RTO Krishnagiri | TN24 | RTO Theni | TN60 |
| RTO Thiruvannamalai | TN25 | RTO Ariyalur | TN61 |
| RTO Namakkal | TN28 | RTO Sivagangai | TN63 |
| RTO Dharmapuri | TN29 | RTO Madurai (Central) | TN64 |
| RTO Salem West | TN30 | RTO Ramanathapuram | TN65 |
| RTO Cuddalore | TN31 | RTO Coimbatore (Central) | TN66 |
| RTO Villupuram | TN32 | RTO Virudhunagar | TN67 |
| RTO Erode | TN33 | RTO Kumbakonam | TN68 |
| RTO Thiruchengode | TN34 | RTO Tuticorin | TN69 |
| RTO Gobichettipalayam | TN36 | RTO Hosur | TN70 |
| RTO Coimbatore (South) | TN37 | RTO Tirunelveli | TN72 |
| RTO Coimbatore (North) | TN38 | RTO Ranipet | TN73 |
| RTO Thiruppur (North) | TN39 | RTO Nagercoil | TN74 |
| RTO Mettupalayam | TN40 | RTO Marthandam | TN75 |
| RTO Pollachi | TN41 | RTO Tenkasi | TN76 |
| RTO Thiruppur (South) | TN42 |
Type of Vehicle Registration in Tamil Nadu
There are two types of vehicle registration processes available in the state of Tamil Nadu:
- Temporary Registration: The temporary registration is a registration that one gets at the time of purchase of the vehicle. This type of registration is done by the dealer only and hence it is provided for a limited period of time and the owner of the vehicle is needed to get the permanent license within this timeframe.
- Permanent Registration: In India, it is illegal to drive any vehicle on roads without registration. For the vehicles of Tamil Nadu, the RTO Tamil Nadu is responsible for allotting registration numbers to vehicles. For the same, the owner of the vehicle is required to duly fill the appropriate application form. The RTO Tamil Nadu provides the registration number to the vehicle upon after receiving the documents and form.
Permanent Registration of the Vehicle in Tamil Nadu
The dealers may apply for the registration number on behalf of the vehicle’s owner. Or if the vehicle has temporary registration, then the owner can apply for registration by providing the following details:
Documents Required Registering a Vehicle in Tamil Nadu:
The dealers may apply for the registration number on behalf of the vehicle’s owner. Or if the vehicle has temporary registration, then the owner can apply for registration by providing the following details:
Documents Required Registering a Vehicle in Tamil Nadu:
The following documents are required for registering a vehicle in Tamil Nadu:
- Application in Form 20
- Road Worthiness and Pollution Under Control Certificate in Form 22 from the manufacturer.
- Sales certificate in Form 21
- If the body is fabricated, then Pollution Under Control Certificate and Road Worthiness Certificate in Form 22A.
- PAN Card or GIR or Form 60/61 of the I.T. Department.
- Insurance certificate of the vehicle.
- Address proof, for which any of the below mentioned can be selected:
- LIC Policy
- Ration Card
- Electoral Roll
- 3 copies of passport size photograph.
- For a non-transport vehicle, lifetime tax.
- For transport vehicle, unladen weight certificate.
- For a temporarily registered vehicle, temporary registration certificate.
- For transport vehicle, permit sanction proceedings.
The application for the same must be applied under the name of the regional transport officer or motor vehicle inspector grade I and the vehicle must be produced for inspection.
Temporary Registration of the Vehicle in Tamil Nadu
The owner of the vehicle can apply for the temporary registration of the vehicle to any prescribed authority or registering authority. The temporary registration is valid only for 30 days and cannot be renewed.
The dealers of the vehicle can apply for the temporary registration of the vehicle on the behalf of the owner.
Documents Required for Registering the Vehicle Temporarily:
- Application in Form 20.
- Sales certificate of the vehicle in Form 21.
- Road Worthiness and Pollution Under Control certificate in Form 22 from the manufacturer.
- If the vehicle is fabricated, then Road Worthiness and Pollution Under Control Certificates in Form 22A.
- GIR or Pan Card or Form 60/61 of I.T. Department.
- Insurance Certificate of the vehicle
- Address proof (Any of the following):
- Ration Card
- LIC Policy
- Electoral Roll
Address Change in Registration Certificate in Tamil Nadu
The owner of the vehicle can apply for address change in the registration certificate if required. For the same, the owner has to provide the below-mentioned documents to the regional transport officer or motor vehicle inspector grade 1.
Documents Required
- Intimation of an address change in Form 33 in Duplicate (in triplicate if it is covered by HP)
- Insurance Certificate
- Registration Certificate
- Address Proof (any of the following):
- LIC policy
- Ration card
- Electoral roll
- Pay slip issued by the Local body or Government office.
- School certificate
- Birth certificate
- Valid Tax
- No objection certificate from the financer, if the vehicle is being financed by some financial authority.
- Valid pollution under control certificate.
How to Process Duplicate Registration Certificate in Tamil Nadu
The owner of the vehicle can apply for a duplicate registration certificate in Tamil Nadu by writing an application to the Regional Transport Officer or Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade 1. The following documents must be provided for the same:
- Application in Form 26
- Valid Tax of Token
- Police Certificate
- No Objection Certificate from the Financer
- Details of the tax paid in the last 4 quarters
- Insurance Certificate
- Valid Pollution Under Control Certificate
Renewal of the Registration in Tamil Nadu
For non-transport vehicles, the owner must apply for the renewal of the Registration Certificate after completion of 15 years of the original registration. In this case, the registration must be renewed before 60 days of the expiry of the vehicle. The owner must present the following documents to the regional transport officer or motor vehicle inspector grade 1:
- Application form number 25
- Valid tax
- Registration certificate
- Valid insurance certificate
- Emission certificate
Transfer of the Ownership of the Vehicle in Tamil Nadu
The process of issuing duplicate RC involves:
The owner of the vehicle must apply with the following documents for the same:
- An application for ownership transfer in Form 29 (in Duplicate).
- Application in form number 30, if the application is HP.
- GIR or Pan for Form 60/61 of the I.T. department (other than the 2 wheelers)
- Insurance certificate
- Registration certificate
- Address proof (any of the below mentioned):
- LIC policy
- Ration card
- Electoral roll
- Pay slip issued by local body or government office
- Passport size photographs
- Birth certificate
- School certificate
- Valid tax
- No objection certificate is given by the financer if the vehicle is being financed by some financial institution.
Transfer of Ownership of the Vehicle from Other State
The owner of the vehicle can apply for the transfer of the ownership of the vehicle from other state and for the same; the owner must provide the following documents:
- Application in Form 20
- Application for new registration mark in Form 27
- Notice of transfer of ownership in Form 29
- Application grant of the No Objection Certificate in Form 28
- Intimation of an address change in Form 33
- Application for transfer of ownership and intimation in Form 30 (Form 60/61 expect two-wheeler for T.O. only)
- Police certificate
- Registration certificate
- Insurance certificate
- Address proof (any of the following):
- Ration Card
- Electoral Roll
- LIC Policy
- Passport size photographs
- Evidence for the payment of the entry tax
- Valid pollution under control certificate
- Valid tax
Is it mandatory to register a vehicle in Tamil Nadu?
Because it is mandatory in all over India to register a vehicle before plying on the roads, as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Violation may lead to penalties as well.
How to drive a vehicle registered in a state other than Tamil Nadu?
A vehicle that is not registered in Tamil Nadu, can be used up to a maximum period of 12months. After that, the vehicle needs to be re-registered with RTO Tamil Nadu.
How to apply for a VIP two-wheeler number in the state of Tamil Nadu?
A proper application is required in order to avail VIP numbers. As fancy numbers are in demand, it is allotted only through an auction.
What is the eligibility age for obtaining a driving license in Tamil Nadu?
The minimum eligibility is 16 years for learners DL. However, one can avail the permanent DL after the age of 18 years.