Step by Step Process of different RTO Functions in India

If you have or currently do own a vehicle, it is only obvious that you have come in contact with the RTO nearest to you. RTO or Regional Transport Office is a government agency that deals in the registration of vehicles as well as issuing driver's licenses to owners. Along with those functions, the RTO is responsible for maintaining a database of every vehicle and its drivers. The Regional Transport Office also has a lot more duties and responsibilities that we will take a closer look at.

Firstly, the RTO assigns a code to every vehicle from all 28 States and 9 Union Territories.

RTO State Codes of India

1. Andhra Pradesh - AP

2. Arunachal Pradesh - AR

3. Assam - AS

4. Bihar - BR

5. Chattisgarh - CG

6. Goa - GA

7. Gujrat - GJ

8. Haryana - HR

9. Himachal Pradesh - HP

10. Jharkhand - JH

11. Karnataka - KA

12. Kerala - KL

13. Madhya Pradesh - MP

14. Maharashtra - MH

15. Manipur - MN

16. Meghalaya - ML

17. Mizoram - MZ

18. Nagaland - NL

19. Odisha - OD

20. Punjab - PB

21. Rajasthan - RJ

22. Sikkim - SK

23. Tamil Nadu - TN

24. Tripura - TP

25. Uttar Pradesh - UP

26. Uttarakhand - UK

27. West Bengal - WB

28. Telangana - TS

RTO Union Territories Codes in India

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - AN

2. Chandigarh - CH

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli - DD

4. Lakshadweep - LD

5. National Capital Territory of Delhi - DL

6. Puducherry - PY

7. Jammu and Kashmir - JK

8. Leh-Ladakh - LA

Functions of the RTO

The RTO has a number of duties or jobs that laid down by the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 and are strictly followed by the office. Any vehicle or driver is required to follow the rules in the event of applying for a driving license.

Issuing Driving Licenses

While a driving license is the most important license issued by the RTO, they also do the following:

• Test drivers and issue a learner’s license.

• Renew any expired driving license.

• Issue international driving licenses.

• Issue licenses to motor driving schools.

• Issue licenses to driving instructors.

• Issue a conductor’s license.

Registering a Vehicle

A driving license will be useless until you have a vehicle that is registered by the RTO. Some of the other jobs they do under this category include:

• Issuing a Registration Certificate for a vehicle.

• Renew Registration Certificate for a vehicle.

• Transferring the ownership listed on a Registration Certificate.

• Making entries into the R.C. Book.

• Recording any changes in the Registration Certificate.

• Issuing a NOC or No Objection Certificate.

• Issuing a fitness certificate.

• Prepare permits for transport and tourist vehicles.

Collecting Revenue for the Government

If you own a vehicle, you would know that there are some taxes that are levied on those vehicles and those charges are collected by the RTO. They can also collect:

• Road Tax or MV Tax or Motor Vehicle Tax on vehicles.

• IMV Fees.

• Cases of Departmental Action.

Inspect Vehicles at Check Posts

The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 also permits the RTO to carry out timely inspections on the road to ensure that all the vehicles are following the rules and regulations.

Environmental Upgrading

We are moving towards a cleaner environment and the RTO helps in a big way to keep cleaner vehicles on the road. They are responsible to convert vehicles into CNG or LPG as well as open testing centers to check the PUC of a vehicle.

Measures for Better Road Safety

With over 400 accidents recorded on a daily basis, India is one of the most dangerous countries to drive in. The RTO, however, is taking great strides in making the roads safer for drivers every day.

For all these above-mentioned functions, there are detailed processes that are to be carried out by the RTO as well. Listed here are the step-by-step processes for the major RTO functions.

To Get a Driving License

In order to obtain a driving license, you have to have to:

• Provide address and age proof.

• Provide Form No. 2 and 4 for learner’s and driver’s license respectively.

• Provide Form No. 1(A) for Medical Certificate.

• Apply for a learner’s license exam and qualify.

• Apply for a permanent driving license once the learner’s license has been obtained.

• Set a date on which you can take the practical test.

To Register a Vehicle

After you buy a vehicle, you have to register it so that the RTO can keep a track of the vehicle in the country. The registration number which is assigned by the RTO cannot be changed so here is what you need to do:

• Submit a completely filled Form 20 at the District Transport Office within 7 days after the purchase of the vehicle.

• Provide the Sale Certificate.

• Attach an Insurance Certificate that is valid.

• Submit passport sized photographs.

• Produce the vehicle that is being registered.

• Submit the temporary registration, if provided by the dealer.

• Submit the Invoice received from the dealer.

• A PAN Card copy if the vehicle exceeds Rs 4 lakhs.

• Submit Identity and Address proof.

After 30 days, a registration mark will be required on the number plate which needs to be approved by the registering authority. Also, in the case of renewals, the owner must apply 30 days before the registration’s date of expiration.

Transferring the Registration Certificate

In the case of moving from one state to another, the owner of the vehicle must deregister their vehicles from the original state. To do this you will have to:

• Submit Form 28 to the original state RTO and apply for a NOC.

• For those who wish to sell the vehicle in the new state, Form 29 is required from the RTO.

• Once the vehicle is in the new state, the NOC must be handed into the RTO there.

• Pay any road tax that is applicable to the vehicle in the new state.

• Get a new registration number for the vehicle from the RTO.

If you follow all these RTO Form lists, you will not have a problem getting your car out of one state and into the other.

Transferring Vehicle Ownership

When you have sold your vehicle, it is a must for you to apply for an RC within 14 days after the sale took place. To apply for the RC, you will need:

• The RC of the vehicle.

• Form No. 29, which is a notice for ownership transfer, along with passport-sized photos of the buyer and seller.

• Form No. 30, which is a transfer of ownership, along with passport-sized photos of the buyer and seller.

• Form No. 28, which is a No Objection Certificate, for those vehicles leaving the original and being transferred to another state.

• Proof of residence.

• NCRB Report or the National Crime Records Bureau certificate for those vehicles involved in unlawful activity.

• Copy of the vehicle’s insurance.

• Copy of the vehicle’s PUC certificate.

• Transfer fee.

There you have it, a step-by-step process of what the RTO is about and what are their basic and detailed functions.