Vehicle Fitness Test Fees Revised: MoRTH Announces New Fee Structure for 10, 15 and 20 Year-Old Vehicles

Owners of vehicles older than 20 years may face significantly increased registration renewal fees. The proposed draft suggests that renewing a two-wheeler's registration will cost Rs 2,000, while car owners could pay Rs 10,000. For commercial vehicles, the fees will also increase, with medium and heavy commercial vehicles facing charges of Rs 12,000 and Rs 18,000, respectively, for renewal.

The Vehicle Scrapping Policy, or Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program, aims to phase out older, polluting vehicles by establishing a network of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs). The policy encourages the scrapping of old vehicles through incentives such as tax concessions and discounts on new vehicle purchases, thereby promoting cleaner and safer transportation options and improving air quality.

The proposed changes suggest a significant increase in fitness test fees for commercial vehicles over 20 years old. For example, heavy goods or passenger vehicles could face fees between Rs 7,000 and Rs 25,000, reflecting the government's focus on ensuring that older vehicles meet safety and environmental standards.

The ELV Rules, effective from January 2025, introduce mandatory scrapping for transport vehicles older than 15 years and non-transport vehicles older than 20 years. These rules are based on extended producer responsibility (EPR), requiring manufacturers to meet annual scrapping targets, thereby promoting responsible disposal and recycling of vehicles to reduce pollution.

The new toll fee rules allow for free travel for the first 20 kilometers on national highways for vehicles equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) On-Board Unit. This initiative aims to streamline toll collection, reduce costs for short-distance travelers, and promote the use of technology for efficient tolling.