Steps to Get a Vehicle Fitness Certificate

Posted on: Mar 17, 2023 | | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Steps to Get a Vehicle Fitness Certificate

Published on March 16, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

People who enjoy riding their bikes know the thrill and excitement that it brings to the table. However, if you want to continue enjoying the rides, you must ensure a few documents for your bike. These include the registration certificate of the bike, third party bike insurance, PUC, and fitness certificate. Here is everything that you need to know about a vehicle fitness certificate.

A vehicle fitness certificate is mandated by the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. And it signifies that the vehicle is fit in all ways to ply public roads. When you buy a new vehicle, it comes with a fitness certificate that is valid for a pre-determined number of years. Once the duration is complete, one must renew the fitness certificate.

Why is a vehicle certificate important in India?

Irrespective of whether you buy bike insurance online or offline, it is one of the most important documents for a bike. Similarly, the fitness certificate or FC is also an important piece of document.

Here are some reasons for it.

1. The Motor Vehicle Act makes it mandatory for all vehicles to have a fitness certificate.

2. The certificate ensures that a vehicle is a mechanical fit to ply on public roads as a thorough inspection takes place to ensure the same.

3. For commercial vehicles, it is even more important to have a fitness certificate. It will attract hefty penalties if a vehicle is driven without a fitness certificate.

4. The presence of a fitness certificate will ensure that you are compliant with all statutory requirements and do not attract any penalties.

5. Pollution from vehicles is a growing concern. While issuing a fitness certificate, the authorities check the emissions of the vehicle. And they have the authority to not issue a certificate if the vehicle produces a lot of emissions.

Documents needed for a fitness certificate

You will need to furnish the following documents if you want to renew your bike’s fitness certificate online.

1. Form 21 or the sales certificate

2. Form 20

3. Pollution under control certificate

4. Two wheeler insurance

5. Temporary registration details, if any, exist

6. Form 22 or the roadworthy certificate from the manufacturer stating that the bike is roadworthy.

7. Specified fees for fitness certificate

How to apply online for a fitness certificate?

You can get a fitness certificate online with the help of the following steps.

1. Visit the official Parivahan website.

2. Enter the vehicle registration details of your bike.

3. Select online services.

4. Select Application for Fitness Certificate from the list.

5. Enter your mobile number and chassis number.

6. Click on the Generate OTP option.

7. Enter the OTP once you receive it on your registered mobile number.

8. Select the show details options.

9. Fill out all the required information on the website, including bike insurance details.

10. Once you see the prescribed fee, click on the payment option.

11. On completing the payment, the process will be complete.

You can also download your vehicle fitness certificate in the DigiLocker and keep it handy.

What is the validity of a fitness certificate?

A vehicle fitness certificate that is issued by the RTO has validity. And it depends on the type of vehicle that is in question. For example, the validity is different for a commercial vehicle and a private vehicle.

1. The vehicle fitness certificate for private vehicles is valid for 15 years when you buy a new vehicle. On completion, you can renew the certificate once every five years.

2. Fitness certificate for commercial vehicles is valid for a duration of 2 years since its purchase. Post that, it needs to be renewed every year.

Documents you need for renewing the fitness certificate of the bike

People who want to renew the fitness certificate of their bikes will need the following documents.

1. Form 25 duly filled out

2. Proof of road tax clearance

3. Registration certificate for the bike

4. Prescribed fee for the renewal

You can use the above document set to get a fitness certificate for bike after 15 years since that is the default validity of a certificate issued at purchase.

What is a duplicate fitness certificate?

As is the case with all other documents, you can apply for a duplicate fitness certificate. This comes in handy if you lose the original, it is stolen, or mutilated. Once you apply for a duplicate vehicle fitness certificate, the RTO will verify the previous records. On the completion of the verification process, a new fitness certificate will be issued.

Documents you need for a duplicate fitness certificate

You will need the following documents to apply for a duplicate fitness certificate.

1. Tax clearance report from the account branch of the RTO.

2. An application that mentions the date of issue or expiry of the fitness certificate.

3. A policy report for the lost fitness certificate.

4. Photocopy of the fitness certificate if you have one.

5. The prescribed fees for a duplicate fitness certificate.

6. Clearance from the traffic police department that there aren’t any pending challans.

Always ensure that you have at least third party bike insurance before applying for a duplicate or renewal of a fitness certificate.

FAQs

1. What should I do if an online fitness certificate is rejected during an inspection?

To issue a vehicle fitness certificate, an officer from the designated RTO will visually inspect your vehicle. The officer can use some devices and drive the vehicle for a short distance to determine if the vehicle is fit or not. If it is not, you can find out the reasons behind the rejection. Once you repair the vehicle and fix the issues mentioned, you can again ask for an inspection.

2. What is the validity of a fitness certificate for a commercial vehicle?

The validity of the fitness certificate for commercial vehicles depends on the age of the vehicle. For vehicles that are older than 8 years, the certificate is issued for a year. However, for vehicles that aren’t 8 years old, the fitness certificate is valid for a two-year duration.

3. Can I apply for a fitness certificate if my bike is older than 15 years?

Yes, you can apply for a fitness certificate if the bike is older than 15 years. You can either visit the RTO or apply online on the Parivahan website.

4. Where can I find the engine and chassis number of my bike?

The registration certificate of your bike will contain details such as the engine number and chassis number. These are also embossed on the vehicle. However, the location of the number varies based on the manufacturer and model.

5. Can I pay the fees for getting a fitness certificate online?

Yes, you can pay the fees online.

Conclusion

You can easily apply for a fitness certificate online via the parivahan website. It is pertinent that you renew your fitness certificate if your existing certificate has expired. Similarly, you can buy bike insurance online. Buying bike insurance online is affordable and quick and allows you to have the policy documents in your mailbox within a few minutes.

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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