Electric vehicles are rapidly growing in India right now. At the same time, EV buyers are confused about RTO Rules. It is always hard to follow the RTO directions in India because of the constantly changing rules. However, the government of India has now made all of the guidelines more user-friendly, promoting EVs over conventional vehicles (petrol, diesel). We have listed some essential guidelines regarding RTO rules below.
RTO Rules for Electric Vehicles in India 2022
Regarding vehicles, we must follow many RTO rules, like the registration plate, driver’s license, road tax payment, etc. The government is making many decisions, mainly related to electric vehicles. Our central and state governments always discuss how to encourage electric vehicles, releasing new proper methods to prompt EVs in India and releasing subsidies to make electric vehicles affordable for buyers.
Electric Bike Safety Requirements
- A maximum speed of 25km/h.
- One or more EV motors with a power output of less than 280W.
- The above vehicles comes in the non-motor category, so transportation rules are not applicable to these e-bikes.
Required Documents for Car Registration in India
Address Proof (Only one of the following)
- UID Adhaar Card
- Electric Bill
- Water Bill
- Bank Statement
- Telephone Bill
- LIC Policy
- Indian Passport
- Voter ID/Election Card
Identity Proof(Only one of the following)
- Election Card or Voter ID
- UID Adhaar Card
- Driving License
- Pan Card
- Indian Passport
required Any one of the document mentioned above and should be approved by ARAI(Automotive Research Association of India) for registration.
Electric Vehicle registration fees and tax in India
In terms of fees or taxes, electric vehicle owners have good news because, according to Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH), EV owners don’t need to pay any fees for their registration. Also, they don’t need to pay for insurance or renewal for their electric vehicle. Road tax is also absolutely free for EV owners. This shows us that the government is promoting electric vehicles in the country. And this system will absolutely help EV owners to save money.
| Vehicle Type | Registration Fees |
|---|---|
| Three-Wheelers/Quadricycles/Light Vehicles | Rs 300 |
| Medium Passenger Vehicles | Rs 1,000 |
| Heavy Passenger Vehicles | Rs 1,500 |
| Imported Vehicles | Rs 5,000 |
EV cars registration & road taxation by state
Delhi
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal recently announced that EV owners don’t need to pay any registration fees. Last year, in August 2021, the Delhi government announced that if you buy a new electric vehicle, you have to purchase a battery separately. So that customers will get Rs. 150,000 as a reward, this only applies to four-wheelers.
The same RTO rules apply to two-wheeler buyers; people who want to buy a two-wheeler will get Rs. 30,000 as a reward and with the same benefit as a four-wheeler. The Delhi government is supporting EVs at a level that no other state is, and electric vehicle prices in Delhi are meager when compared to other states.
2-Wheelers:
| 2% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 4% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 6% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 8% of the Vehicle’s Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to Rs.25,000 | Rs.25,000 and Upto Rs.40,000 | More than Rs.40,000 and Upto Rs.60,000 | More than Rs.60,000 |
4-Wheelers:
| 4% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 7% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 10% of the Vehicle’s Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Up to Rs.6 lakh | More than Rs.6 Lakh but less than Rs.10 lakh | More than Rs.10 lakh |
Karnataka
The RTO rules for road tax in Karnataka are based on the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. In Karnataka, the total vehicle tax is 4% to 10%, and registration fees are Rs 3000.
For 2-Wheelers:
| Age of the Vehicle | Less than Rs.50,000 | Rs.50,000 but less than Rs.1 Lakh | More than Rs.1 Lakh | Electric Vehicles (2-Wheelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Vehicles | 10% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 12% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 18% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 4% of the Vehicle’s Cost |
| Under 5 Years | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| More than 15 Years | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
For 4-Wheelers:
| Age of the Vehicle | Less than Rs.5 Lakh | More than Rs.5 Lakh but less than Rs.10 Lakh | More than Rs.10 Lakh but less than Rs.20 Lakh | More than Rs.20 Lakhs | Electric Vehicle (4-Wheelers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | 13% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 14% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 17% of the Vehicle’s Cost | 18% of the Vehicle’s Cost | None |
| More than 4 Years but less than 5 Years | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| More than 15 Years | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
Maharashtra
As per Maharashtra state guidelines, the road tax is defended on the Maharashtra motor vehicle taxation act 1958.
Tamil Nadu
The rules for road tax in Tamil Nadu are based on the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1974.
Is a driving license compulsory to drive electric vehicles in India?
Yes, according to EV RTO rules, a driving license is mandatory if you own an electric vehicle. Without a driving license, you can’t drive or ride your EVs on public roads or anywhere. It is against the government and illegal. These RTO rules apply to all four-wheelers and two-wheelers.
As per RTO rules you can ride an electric vehicle without a license if your vehicle has a 25km/h top speed and an output of 250 W. In this case, no type of driving license is required to go on public roads. Aside from this, all EVs require a driver’s license. The RTO has released new rules that every electric vehicle should have number plates.
Is a number plate necessary for electric vehicles?
According to the Vehicle Regulation Center Rules (1989), the number plate is mandatory for all registered vehicles after 1st April 2019 to have an HSRP(high-security license plate). The number plate is mainly used to have transparent and precise vehicle documentation and to prevent theft activity. A government officeholder can only register for a number plate for their vehicle.
As stated in the RTO rules guide number plate is also divided as per vehicle version like(PVT ICE, Commercial ICE, rental ICE, PVT EVs, and commercial EVs). They are listed below.
- The private ICE vehicle number plate should have a white background and black letters.
- Commercial ICE vehicles’ number plates should have a yellow background with black letters.
- Rental ICE vehicles’ background should be black with yellow letters.
- Private electric vehicles have a green number plate and white lettering.
- And the final commercial electric vehicle license plate must look like a green background with yellow letters.
