Vehicle Fitness Certificate for Cars a Complete Guide
Vehicle Fitness Certificate for Cars a Complete Guide
Is it important to have a fitness certificate for a car?
There are a few reasons why your car needs a fitness certificate, apart from avoiding any penalties from the traffic police department. Here are the main reasons to get a vehicle fitness certificate.
1. A fitness certificate ensures that your vehicle’s health is in good condition and that it is safe to drive it.
2. Getting the certificate makes sure that your vehicle is road safe and will help you avoid any accidents due to lack of proper care.
3. Vehicular pollution is one of the biggest issues that everyone is concerned about. With the introduction of new rules and regulations, there is an enhanced need for checking the pollution levels of your vehicle. By getting a fitness certificate, you can ensure that your vehicle complies with pollution standards.
Steps to apply for a car fitness certificate
If you are wondering how to apply for a vehicle fitness certificate, you can either do it online or offline. Here are the steps that you must follow for both processes.
Getting a fitness certificate online:
1. You must first visit the official Parivahan portal.
2. Provide the registration number of your vehicle.
3. Look for online services and select Vehicle-Related Services from the sub-menu.
4. You must provide your registered phone number and chassis number.
5. The website will send an OTP to your phone number.
6. Complete the payment on the next page and receive a receipt of the same with your application.
7. You must then carry all these documents and submit them to the RTO and on completion of the inspection, a fitness certificate will be issued.
Getting a fitness certificate offline:
1. You must visit the nearest RTO office.
2. Fill out Form 20 and submit it to the RTO office.
3. Submit the sales certificate of the car along with Form 21.
4. Deposit the necessary fees for the certificate.
5. An inspector will then examine your car and on completion, your car will be issued a fitness certificate that is valid for 15 years.
Documents needed for a fitness certificate
You will need to furnish a certain set of documents to get your hands on a vehicle fitness certificate for the car. The following is the list of documents.
1. Form 20, 21 and 22,
2. Proof of address,
3. Proof of identity,
4. Road tax receipt,
5. Car insurance copy,
6. Registration certificate of the car,
7. Pollution under control certificate,
8. Chassis number of the car,
9. Passport-size photograph of the car owner,
10. Receipt of the fee that you have submitted, and
11. Application form for fitness certificate of the vehicle.
RTO fees for a vehicle fitness certificate
Now that you know all the documents necessary for getting a vehicle fitness certificate, knowing the necessary fees is the next step. Here are different fees that are applicable to different segments of vehicles.
| Vehicle category | Applicable fees |
| Medium and heavy motor vehicle | Rs. 600 for manual transmission and Rs. 1,000 for automatic transmission |
| Light motor vehicles or three wheelers | Rs. 400 for manual transmission and Rs. 600 for automatic transmission |
| Two wheelers | Rs. 200 for manual transmission and Rs. 400 for automatic transmission |
| Renewal of fitness certificate | Rs. 200 |
It must be noted that the fees for getting a fitness certificate are usually included with the registration fees. And having a valid fitness certificate is mandated as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. The absence of a fitness certificate will result in a penalty of Rs. 100 for the first instance and up to Rs. 5,000 for consecutive offences.
Steps to renew fitness certificate online
The fitness certificate of a car is valid for a duration of 15 years. At the end of this, a car owner is required to renew the fitness certificate. And the new certificate will be valid for 5 years and must be renewed again. You can renew your vehicle fitness certificate online, by following these steps.
1. Access the official Parivahan website.
2. Select Vehicle-Related Services from the other Services option on the website.
3. Select the Fitness option.
4. Choose the state where you are residing.
5. Type in your vehicle’s registration number.
6. Choose the option Apply For Fitness Renewal.
7. Provide the chassis number of your car, along with your phone number.
8. Verify the account by entering a One Time Password.
9. Pay the necessary fees online and get a copy of the receipt.
10. Visit the designated RTO on the day assigned for the inspection of the car. Once the inspection is complete, a fitness certificate will be issued, that is valid for the next five years.
Getting a vehicle fitness certificate online is a hassle-free process and reduces the need to visit the RTO multiple times. You can enter all the necessary details online and visit the RTO once to get the vehicle inspected.
Apart from a valid fitness certificate, you will also need a valid car insurance policy to drive legally on public roads. The lack of insurance can hurt you financially. For starters, you will end up paying a hefty penalty for driving without valid insurance. And if your vehicle meets with an accident, the onus of paying for the repairs is entirely on you. A policy will ensure that you do not end up paying for such expenses out of your pocket. Insurance companies usually consider the IDV or insured declared value of your car to provide a quotation for car insurance.
Conclusion
Irrespective of the age of your car, a fitness certificate is mandatory. If you have bought a new car, the fitness certificate will be valid for 15 years. And after that, you can renew it in blocks of 5 years. A fitness certificate, PUC, and registration certificate of the vehicle along with comprehensive car insurance are some of the most important documents for a car owner.
Disclaimer : The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales
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