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Moving your vehicle to another state
Taking your car or bike to a new state? You need an NOC from your old state, a new registration in the new state, and you pay road tax again. You can often get part of the old tax back. Buying a used vehicle from another state? The same rules apply. Answer a few quick questions to see what it will cost you.
In short
- Get an NOC from your old state
- Re-register in the new state within 12 months
- Pay road tax there (less for older vehicles)
- Claim part of your old tax back
Moving your own vehicle: step by step
- Get an NOC from your current RTOBefore you move, or soon after. Apply online on the Vahan site or at the RTO where your vehicle is registered. You get Form 28, a letter saying the old state has no objection. Clear any pending challans and loan first.Usually 7 to 15 days
- Move the vehicleKeep the RC, NOC, insurance and PUC in the vehicle. You can drive it in the new state for up to 12 months before you must re-register.Up to 12 months
- Apply for new registration in the new stateGo to the RTO near your new home (many states let you start online on Vahan). Submit the documents, pay the road tax and registration fee, and bring the vehicle for a quick inspection.Usually 1 to 3 weeks
- Get your new number plate and RCYou get a new registration number for the new state. Fit the new high security number plate (HSRP) and collect the new smart card RC.1 to 2 weeks
- Claim your road tax refund from the old stateMany states give back part of the road tax you paid. Apply to the old RTO with the new RC, NOC and old tax receipt. Some states have a time limit, so do this soon.Varies by state
- Update your insuranceTell your insurer the new registration number and address, so a claim is not rejected later.Same day
Buying a used vehicle from another state
You pay road tax in your own state, just as if you had moved the vehicle yourself. The refund from the old state goes to the seller, because the seller paid that tax. Do the change of owner and the new registration together at your RTO.
- Check the vehicle before you payOn the Vahan site, check the registration details, any unpaid challans, and whether a bank loan is still shown on the RC. Match the chassis and engine numbers with the RC.Before you pay
- Ask the seller to get an NOC in your state's nameThe seller applies at their RTO for an NOC (Form 28) that names the RTO in your state. If there was a loan, the seller also needs the bank's loan closure letter (Form 35).Usually 7 to 15 days
- Collect the papers from the sellerOriginal RC, NOC, signed Forms 29 and 30, the seller's ID and address proof, insurance, PUC and a sale letter or receipt with the price.At the time of sale
- Move the insurance to your nameAsk the insurer to transfer the policy to you. Do this within 14 days of buying.Within 14 days
- Register it in your name in your stateAt your local RTO, apply for the new registration and the change of owner together. Pay your state's road tax (based on the vehicle's age) and the fees, and bring the vehicle for inspection.Apply within 30 days of buying
- Get your number plate and RCYou get a number from your state and a new RC in your name. Fit the new high security number plate (HSRP).1 to 2 weeks
Papers to collect from the seller
Documents to keep ready
Tick what you have. The shared list shows each one as ready or pending.
Words you will hear
- RTO
- Regional Transport Office. The government office that registers vehicles.
- NOC
- No Objection Certificate. A letter from your old RTO saying you can take the vehicle to another state.
- Road tax
- A one-time tax each state charges when a vehicle is registered there. It pays for the vehicle's life in that state.
- Re-registration
- Getting a new number from the new state. Required if the vehicle stays there more than 12 months.
- HSRP
- High Security Registration Plate. The new tamper-proof number plate.
- BH series
- A national number plate for people who move often for work. No re-registration needed when you move.
How each state charges
Road tax for a vehicle coming from another state, and whether you get a refund when you leave. "How sure" tells you how well we could confirm the state's rules.
| State | Road tax when you bring a vehicle in | Refund when you leave | How sure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | You pay Delhi's one-time tax on the vehicle's original cost, reduced by one tenth for every full year since first registration; vehicles over 10 years old pay nothing but need an endorsement. | Yes. Delhi refunds the unused part of the one-time tax when you move out, but the exact refund scale was not confirmed from an official source. | Fair |
| Maharashtra | You pay a share of the Maharashtra one-time tax that a new vehicle of the same price would pay, and the share gets smaller the older your vehicle is. | Yes. Section 9(6) lets you claim back part of the one-time tax when you move the vehicle to another state, but the refund formula by age could not be confirmed from the official text. | Fair |
| West Bengal | Two-wheelers brought from another state pay West Bengal's one-time tax at a lower amount the older the vehicle is; for cars the method was not confirmed. | Partly. Two-wheelers get a refund that shrinks with age and ends after 13 years; the refund rule for cars was not confirmed. | Rough |
| Tamil Nadu | You pay Tamil Nadu life tax as a percentage of the vehicle's original purchase price, using a slightly lower rate the older the vehicle is. | Partly. Tamil Nadu law has a refund clause, but no published scale for refunding life tax when you move out, and owners report it is hard to get. | Good |
| Karnataka | You pay a share of the Karnataka lifetime tax a new vehicle of the same price would pay, from 93% for a vehicle up to 2 years old down to 25% for one over 15 years old, plus cess. | Yes. When you move out, Karnataka refunds a share of the lifetime tax you paid, from 93% in the first year down to 25% at 15 years and nothing after that. | Fair |
| Telangana | Telangana charges a fixed percentage of the vehicle's original price that depends on its price band and age, for example a 5 to 6 year old car of ₹10 to 20 lakh pays 15% of its price instead of 18% new. | Yes. Guides say you can claim back part of the Telangana life tax after re-registering in another state, but the official refund rate by age could not be confirmed. | Fair |
| Gujarat | Gujarat's schedule says a vehicle brought from another state pays 100 percent of the normal lump sum tax, but whether any reduction for age is given was not confirmed. | Yes. Gujarat law gives a refund of lump sum tax when the vehicle moves to another state, but the refund scale is set by rules that were not found. | Fair |
Apply on vahan.parivahan.gov.in, the official vehicle portal for all these states.
Move often for work? Look at the BH series.
A BH (Bharat) number plate works in every state, so you never re-register. It is for government and defence staff, and private sector employees whose company has offices in 4 or more states. Ask your dealer or RTO when buying a new vehicle.
Common questions
Do I have to re-register my vehicle when I move to another state?
Yes, if the vehicle will stay in the new state for more than 12 months. Until then you can use it on your old number, with the RC, insurance and PUC in the vehicle.
I am buying a used car registered in another state. What do I pay?
You pay road tax in your own state based on the car's original price and age, plus the ₹600 registration fee, ₹300 change of owner fee and ₹200 smart card. The seller can claim the refund of the old state's tax. Use the calculator and choose Buying a used vehicle.
Do I pay road tax twice?
You pay road tax again in the new state, reduced for the age of the vehicle in most states. You can usually claim back part of the tax you paid in the old state, so the real cost is the difference.
How much does it cost to transfer a car to another state?
Mostly the new state's road tax, which depends on the car's price, age and fuel, plus a ₹600 registration fee and ₹200 for the smart card RC. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate.
What is the BH series and can I use it?
BH (Bharat) series is a number plate valid across India, so you do not re-register when you move. It is open to central and state government staff, defence personnel, and private sector employees whose company has offices in 4 or more states. Road tax is paid every 2 years instead of once.
Rates are from each state's Motor Vehicles Taxation Act and transport department where available, and from reliable guides where official pages could not be reached. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Always confirm the final amount with the RTO.
Selling or buying a used vehicle? See RC transfer (change of owner) · New vehicle registration · All personal documents