New Delhi: The government is likely to make changes in the process of transferring vehicles from one state to another. A proposal under review suggests removing the need for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the vehicle’s original Regional Transport Office (RTO). The recommendation was made by a high-level committee formed by NITI Aayog to review non-financial regulatory reforms.
Officials said the proposal is currently being examined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. If implemented, the move could reduce paperwork and simplify the process for people who relocate to another state and want to transfer their vehicle registration.
Inter-state vehicle transfer process may become easier
At present, anyone who wants to move their vehicle registration to another state must first obtain a NOC from the RTO where the vehicle was originally registered. It confirms that the vehicle has no pending road tax payments, traffic challans or other dues.
NOC is the only way that can allow owners to apply for re-registration in the new state. The process also requires submitting several documents, including the vehicle’s registration certificate, fitness certificate and proof of tax payments.
Now, the committee has suggested that vehicle data is already stored in the national VAHAN database, which can be accessed by transport departments across India. So they can directly check if there are any pending dues or issues with a vehicle, removing the need for a separate NOC from the original RTO.
Panel suggests moving to fitness-based vehicle rules
The committee has also proposed changes to rules related to vehicle age limits, particularly for commercial vehicles. The current vehicle norms restrict vehicles from operating after a certain number of years based on their first registration date.
Instead of a strict age limit, the panel has suggested focusing on vehicle fitness. Under this approach, vehicles that pass regular and strict fitness tests are allowed to be on the road, even if they become older. The committee said this model is already followed in several international markets and could help ensure safety without forcing vehicles off the road only because of age.