Vehicle NOC for another state, re-registration and RC address change
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026
Moving house with a vehicle involves up to three separate RC services. If you take the vehicle out of the area of the registering authority that registered it, or sell it to someone there, you apply for a no objection certificate (NOC) in Form 28. If the vehicle then stays in another state for more than 12 months, you apply there for a new registration mark in Form 27. And whenever your address changes, the address on the RC has to be updated in Form 33.
Start on the Vahan citizen services portal.
When you need a no objection certificate
Parivahan’s NOC page says that if an owner wants to remove or sell the vehicle outside the jurisdiction of the registering authority, whether within the same state or outside it, the owner applies for a clearance certificate to the authority where the vehicle is registered. This is the NOC under section 48 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Typical situations:
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Moving to another state | NOC, then Form 27 there |
| Selling to a buyer in another state | NOC for the buyer’s transfer |
| New RTO area, same state | Form 33; NOC if asked |
| Holding a BH series number | No new mark needed |
Because the NOC is tied to the registering authority’s area, a move between RTO areas in the same state can also call for one. Your state’s Vahan screen shows what is needed.
Applying for an NOC on Vahan (Form 28)
The Parivahan FAQ gives these steps:
- Open the Vahan citizen services portal.
- Enter the registration number and click Proceed.
- Choose Online Services and select NOC.
- Enter the registration number and the last five characters of the chassis number, then validate.
- Generate the OTP, which goes to the mobile number registered on the vehicle, and submit it.
- Enter the service details, including the authority the NOC is addressed to.
- Update the insurance details.
- Check the fee panel, pay, and keep the receipt.
- The application goes to the RTO for processing.
S.O. 4353(E) of 16 September 2022 includes the NOC among the services that can be done online with voluntary Aadhaar authentication.
Documents for an NOC
According to Parivahan’s page:
- application in Form 28;
- certified copy of the registration certificate;
- certified copy of the insurance certificate;
- evidence that motor vehicle tax has been paid up to date;
- pollution under control certificate;
- in some states, a chassis and engine pencil print and signature identification of the owner.
If the vehicle has a loan, the financier’s consent is needed; see hypothecation.
Extra checks for transport vehicles
For a goods or passenger transport vehicle, Parivahan’s page asks for additional evidence that:
- the vehicle is not covered by any permit, or the permit has been surrendered;
- no money agreed to be paid by the permit holder is pending recovery;
- tax on passengers and goods has been paid up to the date of the application.
It also refers to challan, tax and fitness clearance. Clear pending challans on the official eChallan portal before you apply.
After the NOC: new registration mark in another state (Form 27)
Under section 47 of the Act, a vehicle registered in one state may be kept in another state for up to 12 months. If it stays longer, the owner applies to the registering authority where the vehicle now is for a new registration mark in Form 27, within that 12-month period, and presents the RC. Parivahan’s reassignment page lists:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Form 27 | Application |
| RC | Original certificate |
| NOC | From the old state |
| Insurance | Valid policy |
| PUC | Valid certificate |
| Address proof | New address |
Some states also ask for Form 28, Form 20, fitness and challan clearance for commercial vehicles, a parking fee, emission norms certificate, pencil print and other items. You also pay the new state’s road tax according to its rules. Whether you can claim back unused tax paid in the old state depends on that state’s tax law, so ask its transport department.
The central fee for assigning a new registration mark is the serial 4 registration fee for your vehicle type, from ₹300 for a motorcycle to ₹1,500 for a heavy vehicle, plus the ₹200 smart card fee.
Change of address in the RC (Form 33)
If you move, even within the same city, the address on your RC needs updating. Parivahan’s change of address page says to apply in Form 33 within 14 days of the change, to the registering authority. Documents include:
- Form 33 and the registration certificate;
- proof of the new address;
- valid insurance and PUC certificates;
- an NOC from the financier if the vehicle is hypothecated;
- in some states, the smart card fee, PAN or Form 60, pencil print and signature identification.
On Vahan, choose the change of address service and follow the same OTP steps as for the NOC. The Vahan menu lists it as “Change Of Address”.
Moving state with a vehicle: a checklist
- Before you leave: update the mobile number on the vehicle record so OTPs reach you, pay any tax due, and clear challans.
- Apply for the NOC in Form 28 on Vahan, addressed to the authority in your new state.
- Tell your insurer about the new address.
- On arrival: keep the RC, NOC, insurance and PUC in the vehicle. You can use it on the old registration while you settle in, within the 12-month limit in section 47.
- Apply for the new mark in Form 27 within 12 months, and pay the new state’s road tax.
- Fit the new plates once the new number is assigned, and check that Vahan, DigiLocker and mParivahan show the new details.
- Update your driving licence address on Sarathi as well; see licence address change.
Common problems
- NOC addressed to the wrong authority. Check the name of the registering authority for your new address before applying.
- Unpaid tax or challans. These can hold up the NOC, especially for transport vehicles.
- Loan on the vehicle. Without the financier’s NOC, the application cannot go ahead.
Fees and delay fees
Central fees come from Rule 81 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and exclude GST. States may add charges.
| Service | Central fee |
|---|---|
| Change of residence (RC) | Half of registration fee |
| Late NOC, motorcycle | ₹300 per month |
| Late NOC, other vehicles | ₹500 per month |
| New mark, motorcycle | ₹300 |
| New mark, car | ₹600 |
| Smart card | ₹200 |
For a car, the change of residence fee is ₹300 and for a motorcycle ₹150, with ₹200 more for a card. The delay fee applies, under Rule 81 serials 6 and 7, when the NOC is submitted late, for each month or part of a month. Rule 81 has no separate line for issuing the NOC itself, so check the fee panel on Vahan for any charge in your state. Use the fee calculator for the central amounts.
BH series as an alternative
If you qualify, a Bharat (BH) series registration avoids the NOC and re-registration cycle. Under G.S.R. 594(E) of 26 August 2021, a BH-registered vehicle does not need a new registration mark when the owner moves state. It is voluntary and open to defence personnel, Central and State Government and public sector employees, and private-sector employees whose organisations have offices in four or more states or union territories. Tax is paid for two years or in multiples of two. See vehicle registration for details and Form 27A.
Proposed change
The draft G.S.R. 902(E) of 16 October 2026 proposes to replace the change of residence fee in Rule 81 with no fee. It is a draft for public comment, and the current fee applies until final rules are notified.
Frequently asked questions
Is an NOC needed to drive my car in another state?
Not for travel. Section 47 lets you keep a vehicle in another state for up to 12 months. If it stays longer, get an NOC and apply for a new registration mark.
How long is a vehicle NOC valid?
Parivahan’s pages do not set one national validity period. Apply for the new mark promptly, and check the date printed on your NOC and the rules of the state issuing it.
Can I cancel an NOC if I don’t move?
Ask the RTO that issued it how to withdraw it. Do this before applying for other services on the vehicle in the old state.
Do I need an NOC to sell my vehicle to someone in another state?
Yes, the buyer’s transfer application needs Document B: the NOC, a refusal order, or your declaration with proof that you applied for one. See RC transfer.
Can I apply for the NOC after I have moved?
Yes. The NOC is applied for online on Vahan to the authority where the vehicle is registered, so you can do it from your new home as long as the OTP reaches the mobile number on the vehicle record.
Do I need to change my RC address if I move within the same city?
Yes. Parivahan’s page says to apply in Form 33 within 14 days of the change of address. The central fee is half the registration fee for your vehicle type.
Who pays road tax when I move?
You pay road tax in the new state under its rules. Any refund of unused tax in the old state depends on that state’s law.
Can the NOC be issued if there is a loan?
The financier must consent. Apply with the financier’s NOC, or close the loan and remove the hypothecation first.
Related: RC transfer, hypothecation, forms and fees.