Regional Certificate

If you are the owner of a vehicle, you must be aware of the importance of the RC card/book. The Government of India has made it mandatory to carry a copy of the RC card/book when you are driving on the Indian roads. A Registration Certificate copy or RC is a document that proves your vehicle is registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) authorities. Nowadays, you can avail of your Registration Certificate copy in the form of a Smart card. 

Let us understand more about this smart card in detail.

Why do you need an RC?

A registration certificate is required to prove that you are the owner of the vehicle. It is a government-issued certificate that explains various information about the vehicle. Key information depicted on an RC include:

• Vehicle registration number and date
• Name and address of the vehicle owner
• Maker’s class and vehicle class
• Month and year of vehicle manufacture
• Fuel used
• Chassis number and the engine number
• Type of vehicle body
• Cubic capacity
• Seating capacity
• Wheelbase
• Colour of the vehicle
• Unladen weight
• Date of registration and expiry date
• Signature of the owner

How to get the RC Book or RC Smart Card?

Every vehicle owner is required to register their vehicle at the nearest RTO office. As a part of the registration procedure, your vehicle is inspected by an inspecting authority at the RTO or zonal office. Alternatively, you can also get your vehicle registered through the motor vehicle dealers who have the authority to register the vehicle.

Documents required to obtain Registration Certificate of your vehicle

The below mentioned is a list of documents which you need to obtain RC for your vehicle:

• Application form CMV20
• Sale Certificate of the vehicle
• Active insurance certificate
• Valid address proof
• Temporary registration issued by the dealer
• Registration fee
• A copy of your PAN Card

What is the procedure to convert an RC book to RC Smart Card?

• To convert your RC book to RC smart card, you need to follow the below procedure:
• Firstly, you need to write a letter to the superintendent of traffic police in your city stating your wish to get your RC book converted into a smart card.
• After that take, a copy of your vehicle insurance certificate and vehicle emission certificate.
• Pay the prescribed fees.
• Submit the RC book and the above-mentioned documents at your nearest RTO office.

You will receive your RC smart card at the registered address within a week.

How can you check the Registration Certificate status online?

After getting your registration certificate delivered at your registered address within 7 working days. After that, if you want to check the status of your RC, then you can go to the official link of parivahan.gov.in/rcdl status and enter your registration number and the status will be displayed on the screen.

How long is the Registration Certificate effective?

For all non-transport vehicles such as a two-wheeler and four-wheeler, the registration certificate is valid for 15 years from the date of its first registration and is renewed after every 5 years thereafter. For transport vehicles, for goods and passengers, the registration certificate is valid till the validity of the certificate of fitness. Usually, for Transport Vehicles, Certificate of Fitness is effective for 2 Years initially, and thereafter this certificate of fitness to be renewed annually.