Vehicle Registration Certificate: Know Everything About it

Author: Jeo George•Published on: 12/23/2025•5 Minutes
Overview:To own a vehicle and use it on public roads, you will need its registration certificate (RC) as the primary document. An identity card for your car, authorised by the regional transport office under government guidelines, contains several pieces of information. The registration certificate, thus, becomes a legal document, without which you are not authorised to use your vehicle on the Indian roads. This guide covers the information your vehicle’s RC contains and explains the issuance process in India.
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Key highlights:


  • A vehicle registration certificate is primarily of two types: A physical smart card RC or a digital RC.
  • Vehicle RC is issued by the regional transport office (RTO) under the guidelines of the government.
  • It takes up to one month for the RC to be issued.

Details Mentioned on a Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC)


A document issued by the regional transport office, the Registration Certificate serves as proof of identity for a vehicle and its ownership, allowing it to be used on public roads. To comply with that, it has the following details mentioned in it:


For Vehicle


  • Car maker and model: Describing the name of the car and its manufacturer.

  • Colour: Mentioning the authorised colour as per the name of the shade offered by the carmaker.

  • Chassis number: Mentioning the chassis number of the vehicle, which is often stamped somewhere on the chassis.

  • Engine number: Mentioning the engine number of the vehicle, stamped usually along with the chassis number, or on a separate place in the engine bay.

  • Registration number: The number authorised by the regional transport office, which is unique to it.

  • Fuel type: Mentioning the fuel type of the vehicle – petrol/diesel/electric/CNG.

  • Manufacturing year: Mentioning the year in which the carmaker manufactured the vehicle.

  • Seating capacity: Mentioning the maximum number of people the car can accommodate legally.

  • Cubic capacity: A numerical figure denoting the size and volume of the engine of the vehicle.

  • Date of registration: Mentioning the date on which the RTO issued the registration number.

  • Validity of registration: Mentioning the date till which the registration certificate is valid, which is usually 15 years from the date of registration

For Owner


  • Name of Owner: The person who has purchased the vehicle through their legal documents.

  • Address: The valid address of the owner, as mentioned in the legal documents (such as an Aadhar card or a voter ID).

  • HPN: The hypothecation detail, if the car has been purchased through a financial institution/bank loan, or on cash.

  • Number of owners: The serial number of the ownership of a vehicle.

Types of Vehicle RC in India


Currently, the registration certificate for a vehicle comes in two forms: a traditional smart card or a digital RC.


  • The traditional smart card RC is a rectangular piece made of plastic, on which all the details of the vehicle and owner, as mentioned above, are imprinted.
  • On the other hand, the digital RC of a vehicle is a virtual document mentioning the exact details of the car and the owner. It can be stored in authorised government applications like mParivahan and DigiLocker.

When purchasing a new vehicle, a TRC (temporary registration certificate) is issued, typically valid for a month until the permanent RC is obtained from the RTO. During this period, the vehicle is permitted to be driven on the road with the TRC, even though it does not have a permanent RC.


How to Apply for a Vehicle Registration Certificate


The following is a step-by-step procedure that you have to follow to issue a vehicle registration certificate for your vehicle:


  • Step 1: Visit the nearest regional transport office (RTO) where the vehicle will be registered.
  • Step 2: Complete the application form for registration, known as Form 20.
  • Step 3: Submit the required official documents along with the form, which include sales certificate from the dealership (Form 21), roadworthiness certificate issued by the carmaker (Form 22), insurance certificate, pollution under control (PUC) certificate, invoice of the vehicle, owner's identity and address proof (Voter ID or Aadhar Card) and passport-sized photographs of the owner.
  • Step 4: A physical inspection of the vehicle at the RTO is done, where the officials inspect and cross-check the vehicle's engine and chassis numbers.
  • Step 5: Pay the required registration fee for the vehicle at the RTO.

After following all these steps, a unique registration number is issued for your vehicle, and an RC is issued. Usually, all these steps are carried out by a representative of the authorised dealership from which you have purchased your vehicle, eliminating the need for your physical presence and time for all these processes.   


FAQs


1. What is a vehicle registration certificate?

The registration certificate, often abbreviated as RC, is an official document authorised and issued by a regional transport office under government guidelines. It contains key details of the vehicle and its owner.


2. How long is RC valid in India?

For private passenger vehicles owned in India, a vehicle registration certificate is valid for 15 years from the date of first registration. After the end of this 15-year tenure, the RC must be renewed every 5 years, until the vehicle is considered roadworthy, depending on the fitness certificate issued by the RTO.


3. How much time does RC take to deliver?

The time required for the issuance of an RC varies by state, typically taking up to one month from the date of vehicle purchase.