A Vehicle Fitness Certificate is considered very important for a vehicle. According to The Motor Vehicles Act, of 1989, registration of the vehicle is considered valid only if the motor vehicle has an accurate and effective vehicle fitness certificate. This certificate is mandatory for all cars in India. For new private vehicles, this certificate is valid for 15 years and after 15 years re-registration is compulsory. Whereas for commercial vehicles, the Vehicle Fitness Certificate is valid only for 5 years and renewal must be done every 2 years.
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) issues fitness certificates to each commercial vehicle and the inspection of vehicles in all aspects that are related to safety, emission of harmful byproducts, mechanical issues, and more. Other than the Vehicle Fitness Certificate, there is TAC Approval Certification too. This is also a kind of vehicle certification but in another way. So, TAC Approval For Automobile is a certificate of conformity that shows that automotive products meet sets of standards and it is mandatory for all new vehicles and vehicle components that are manufactured or imported in India.
Importance of Vehicle Fitness Certification
Vehicle Fitness Certification ensures the safety of the vehicle and it showcases that the vehicle matches the safety standards. Not only this, the certification also signifies that the vehicle meets the emission standards and that they are not contributing to air pollution. Vehicle Fitness Certification is required to renew your vehicle insurance policy and it is illegal too if you drive a vehicle without a valid vehicle fitness certification.
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) issues vehicle fitness certificates but TAC approval in India is obtained from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) which signifies that the vehicle component meets the regulatory, technical, and safety requirements of India. Its certification process is different from the Vehicle Fitness Certification process.
How Much Does a Vehicle Fitness Certificate Cost in India?
The cost of a vehicle fitness certificate varies depending on the type of vehicle, vehicle’s age(older or newer vehicle), and state. The vehicle fitness certificate cost for a Motorcycle if it is Manual then charges are ₹200 and for an Automated motorcycle fitness certificate cost is ₹ 400. Whereas for Manual Medium or Heavy motor vehicles cost is ₹600 and for automated cost is 1,000. If we discuss the three-wheeled or lightweight motor vehicle which is Manual then the charges are ₹ 400 and for automated ₹ 600.
On the other hand renewal of the certificate includes a charge of ₹200 and the renewal letter of authority cost ₹15,000. For more details about the fees and charges related to vehicle Fitness Certificate, you can visit the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India website.
According to the Motor Vehicle Act 1989, if you don’t have a vehicle fitness certificate for the 1st time then the penalty would be ₹ 100. And this penalty amount rises to about ₹ 5000 under specific conditions.
What is the process to apply for a Vehicle Fitness Certificate?
First, you have to visit the official site of Vahan Citizen Services and after registration select Fitness Certificate service then you need to enter the Chassis Number of your vehicle from your registered mobile number. After this fill the OTP and fill in all the details related to the vehicle. Then, after fee submission, you will receive the receipt and application letter from the respective RTO. After the approval of the date, time, and location of the vehicle fitness test by the RTO Examiner.
It is important that motor vehicles fulfill safety and other requirements described in the Motor Vehicle Act, of 1989 which are basically needed for certification otherwise certificates might be rejected by RTO authorities. If your vehicle has been repaired, you will have to submit an application for the refurbishment of the vehicle fitness certificate again. If the vehicle is reviewed and approved within 14 days then there will be no restoration charges. But, if the motor vehicle is brought for review later in that condition fresh vehicle fitness certificate fee will be charged.
In addition, you must have the documents needed to apply for a Vehicle Fitness Certificate. These documents are – Application Form number 22, The Original Registration Certificate, Receipt for Tax duly paid, Receipt for Tax duly paid, Pollution Control Certificate, Insurance Certificate, Aadhaar Card, Certificate of Permit, Professional Tax Certificate, Voters Identity Card, PAN card, Payslips, Life Insurance Policy document, Birth certificate, Passport-sized photograph, School matriculation certificate.
Motor Vehicles which are used for a Transport Group have a validity of the certificate for 1 year and for Motor Vehicles which are used for Non-Transport Class then the validity of the certificate is for 5 years.
For the renewal of the Vehicle Fitness Certificate, the process is a bit different. Firstly, the RTO officer obtains your filled application form and then obtains the obligatory payment in VAHAN. After this, the Motor Vehicles Department will do an assessment of your vehicle and submit a report according to it on the VAHAN website. Later on, the RTO officer will do an inspection and then approve it with the required charges. After this, the RTO official will print the renewed vehicle fitness certificate which will be sent.
Steps to Download Vehicle Fitness Certificate
Firstly visit the VAHAN website and then enter the vehicle registration number. After this choose the Duplicate Fitness Certificate option. Then, Enter the chassis number, vehicle registration number, and registered phone number, and after the generation of OTP enter the OTP and click on the show details option. Then fill in all details and accept the terms and conditions. Later on, a duplicate fitness certificate will be sent by post to you.
The vehicle fitness certificate is a necessary process that helps to improve road safety as well as customer safety, protect consumers, decrease pollution, and ensure that vehicles on the road are in good condition.