RC transfer of ownership: sale, death of owner and auction

When a vehicle changes hands, the registration certificate has to change too. Until the new owner’s name is recorded on Vahan, the seller remains the registered owner in the official record, with everything that follows from that: traffic challans, tax notices and liability questions. Transfer of ownership is the service that records the new owner. It applies to a sale, to the death of the owner and to a purchase at a government auction, and each has its own form and deadline.

Start on the Vahan citizen services portal.

Three kinds of transfer

The deadlines come from Parivahan’s transfer of ownership page, which follows section 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules 55 to 57 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Transfer after a sale

The seller’s notice: Form 29

When you sell a vehicle, you, as the transferor, report the sale in Form 29 to the registering authorities for the areas where you and the buyer live or have their business. Form 29 is the notice that you no longer own the vehicle. Keep a copy and the acknowledgement; it is your proof of the date you handed over ownership.

The buyer’s application: Form 30

The buyer, as the transferee, applies in Form 30:

• within 14 days of the transfer if the vehicle is registered in the same state, with the documents listed as Document A;
• within 45 days if the vehicle is registered in another state, with Document A and Document B.

Both seller and buyer sign the forms. Parivahan’s forms list has Form 29 and Form 30, and the form finder shows which one you need.

Documents: Document A and Document B

Document A is the core set: the registration certificate, the certificate of insurance and the pollution under control certificate. Parivahan marks other items as required in some states, such as the seller’s and buyer’s PAN or Form 60, a chassis and engine pencil print, the buyer’s proof of address and date of birth, a purchaser’s undertaking, photographs and a tax clearance certificate.

Document B applies when the vehicle was registered in another state. It is one of:

• a no objection certificate from the original registering authority;
• that authority’s order refusing the NOC; or
• if neither has arrived, a declaration by the seller that no such communication was received, with the receipt or postal acknowledgement showing the NOC was applied for.

See the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for applying in Form 28.

Step by step on Vahan

The Parivahan FAQ sets out the online steps:

1. Open the Vahan citizen services portal.
2. Enter the vehicle registration number and click Proceed.
3. Choose Basic Services.
4. Enter the last five characters of the chassis number and validate.
5. Generate the OTP, which goes to the mobile number registered on the vehicle, and submit it.
6. Select Transfer of Ownership.
7. Enter the service details for the new owner.
8. Update the insurance details.
9. Check the fee panel and pay.
10. Upload documents and book an appointment if your state requires them.
11. Keep the receipt. The application then goes to the RTO for processing.

Because the OTP goes to the mobile number on the RC, the seller’s cooperation is needed for the online steps. If that number is out of date, update it first on Vahan’s mobile update page.

S.O. 4353(E) of 16 September 2022 lists the transfer of ownership notice and application among the services that can be done online with voluntary Aadhaar authentication.

Transfer after the owner’s death

When the registered owner dies, ownership passes to the legal heir or other successor. According to Parivahan’s page:

• the person who inherits the vehicle may use it for three months as if it had been transferred, provided they inform the registering authority within 30 days of the death that the owner has died and that they intend to use the vehicle;
• they apply in Form 31 to the registering authority within three months.

Documents include Form 31, the RC, insurance, the death certificate, the PUC certificate and, in some states, proof of succession, a declaration by all legal heirs, the successor’s PAN or Form 60, and address and date-of-birth proof. If other legal heirs exist, getting their written declaration early avoids delays.

Vehicles bought at a government auction

If you buy a vehicle at a public auction held by or for the Central or a State Government, apply in Form 32 within 30 days of taking possession. You need:

• the RC and insurance certificate;
• the certificate or order confirming the sale in your favour, signed by the person authorised to conduct the auction;
• a certified copy of the government order authorising the auction;
• the PUC certificate and, in some states, PAN or Form 60, proof of address and a pencil print.

Fees

Under Rule 81, serial 6, the central fee for transfer of ownership is half of the registration fee for the vehicle type. With the ₹200 smart card fee, the central totals are:

If the no objection certificate is submitted late, Rule 81 adds a delay fee of ₹300 per month or part of a month for a motorcycle and ₹500 per month for other vehicles. Fees exclude GST, and states may add their own charges. Some states also charge road tax or a tax difference when a vehicle arrives from another state. Work out the central amount with the fee calculator.

Selling through a registered dealer

Since G.S.R. 901(E) of 22 December 2022, dealers of registered (used) vehicles can get an authorisation certificate from the registering authority. The PIB release on the rules says an authorised dealer:

• the rules set out how the registered owner and the dealer intimate the delivery of a vehicle to the dealer;
• the dealer can apply for RC renewal, fitness renewal, a duplicate RC, an NOC or transfer of ownership for vehicles in its possession.

On Parivahan’s forms list, Form 29C is the intimation to the registering authority that a vehicle has been delivered to an authorised dealer of registered vehicles, and Form 29D is the intimation that the owner has taken the vehicle back from the dealer.

If you sell through a dealer, ask whether it holds the authorisation certificate and keep a copy of the Form 29C intimation. It records the date the vehicle left your hands.

Loan on the vehicle? Clear the hypothecation first

If the RC shows a hypothecation (loan) entry, the financier’s interest has to be dealt with before or during the transfer. Usually the seller repays the loan, gets the bank’s NOC and Form 35, and applies to remove the entry. If the buyer takes over the loan, the financier has to agree. See Removing hypothecation.

Insurance after a transfer

The insurance policy has to move to the new owner as well. From 15 August 2026, under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, section 157(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act gives the buyer 30 days, instead of 14, from the transfer to apply to the insurer to record the change in the certificate of insurance and the policy. Do it promptly so that claims are not disputed.

Before you buy a used vehicle

A careful check before paying saves a stalled transfer later:

1. Match the numbers. Compare the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle with those on the RC.
2. Look at the owner’s name. The person selling should be the registered owner, or should have documents showing their right to sell, such as succession papers.
3. Check the loan entry. If the RC shows hypothecation, ask for the financier’s NOC or agree how the loan will be cleared.
4. Confirm the RC is current. A private vehicle older than 15 years needs a renewed RC; a transport vehicle needs a valid fitness certificate.
5. Check insurance and PUC. Both are part of Document A and must be valid.
6. Check challans. Pending challans can hold up services on the vehicle.

If the other party does not complete the transfer

If you are the seller and the buyer has not applied, keep your Form 29 acknowledgement, the sale agreement and the delivery note with the date and time of handover. Contact the RTO where the vehicle is registered and ask how to record that you have parted with the vehicle.

If you are the buyer and the seller will not sign or share the OTP, you cannot complete the online steps on your own. Keep the sale documents and payment proof, and ask the RTO what it needs from you.

In both cases, act early. The time limits are short, and the delay fee for a late NOC grows every month.

Common reasons transfers are held up

• the mobile number on the RC is old, so the OTP cannot be received;
• the insurance policy is still in the seller’s name;
• the loan entry has not been removed;
• the vehicle came from another state and Document B is missing;
• signatures on the forms do not match the records;
• tax for the vehicle is unpaid in the state where it is now kept.

Practical tips for sellers and buyers

• Write a sale agreement with the date and time of handover, the odometer reading and both parties’ details.
• Check the RC details against the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle.
• Check for pending challans on the official eChallan portal before money changes hands.
• Do not hand over signed blank forms. Fill in the buyer’s details before signing.
• Follow up until the RC shows the new owner. The seller can track the application on Vahan with the receipt.

Frequently asked questions

Who applies for transfer of ownership, the buyer or the seller?

Both are involved. The seller reports the sale in Form 29, and the buyer applies in Form 30 within 14 days (same state) or 45 days (another state).

What is the RC transfer fee for a car?

The central fee for a light motor vehicle is ₹300, half the ₹600 registration fee, plus ₹200 for the smart card. GST and state charges are extra.

Can I transfer a vehicle registered in another state?

Yes. Apply within 45 days with Document A and Document B, which is an NOC, a refusal order, or the seller’s declaration with proof of the NOC application.

How do I transfer a vehicle after my father’s death?

Inform the registering authority within 30 days of the death, then apply in Form 31 within three months with the death certificate and proof of succession. You may use the vehicle for three months meanwhile.

The seller’s mobile number is on the RC and they cannot be reached. What now?

The online OTP goes to the registered mobile number. Ask your RTO how to proceed. Updating the mobile number on the vehicle record needs the registered owner’s details, so try to reach the seller first.

Does the registration number change on transfer?

Not within the same state. If the vehicle moves permanently to another state, a new registration mark is assigned; see the No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Can a dealer transfer the vehicle for me?

A used-vehicle dealer holding an authorisation certificate can apply for transfer of ownership for vehicles in its possession. Delivery of the vehicle to the dealer is intimated in Form 29C.

Do I need to transfer the insurance too?

Yes. From 15 August 2026 the buyer has 30 days from the transfer to apply to the insurer to record the change.

How long does the transfer take?

It depends on the RTO. Track the application on Vahan using the receipt or application number.

Related: vehicle registration, NOC, hypothecation, forms and fees.