Fuel Ban in Delhi: How to Check if Your Car or Bike Can Still Get Petrol?

Starting November 1, 2025, only commercial vehicles that comply with BS6 norms or run on CNG or electric power will be allowed to enter Delhi. This initiative aims to reduce air pollution from older, higher-emission vehicles and is part of a broader strategy to enhance public transport and promote cleaner alternatives. Additionally, the government plans to deploy a significant number of electric buses and install numerous EV charging stations to support this transition.

The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Rules, effective January 2025, will require vehicle manufacturers to meet annual targets for scrapping old vehicles. This means that transport vehicles older than 15 years and non-transport vehicles older than 20 years must be scrapped. Vehicle owners can benefit from tax rebates when they scrap old vehicles and purchase new, cleaner alternatives, thus encouraging the transition to more environmentally friendly options.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi to combat severe air pollution. Under GRAP 3 and GRAP 4, older vehicles such as BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel cars are banned from plying on the roads when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches hazardous levels. This plan aims to quickly reduce pollution levels through strict enforcement and vehicle restrictions during periods of poor air quality.

The Delhi government plans to implement a new policy to monitor pollution levels from vehicles coming from outside the city. This includes installing surveillance cameras to identify high-emission vehicles and ensuring compliance with pollution standards. The government is also working on enhancing public transport to reduce reliance on personal vehicles, thus contributing to lower pollution levels.

The Delhi government offers a tax rebate for individuals who scrap their old vehicles and purchase new ones. Buyers of non-commercial petrol or CNG vehicles can receive a 20% tax rebate, while commercial petrol and CNG vehicle buyers get a 15% rebate. Diesel vehicle buyers are eligible for a 10% rebate. To avail of these benefits, vehicle owners must scrap their vehicles at registered facilities and present a Certificate of Deposit when registering the new vehicle.