The government imposes road tax to maintain the vast road network in Bihar. Road tax is a mandatory tax charged by the government for smooth traffic management on public roads and their frequent maintenance. 

Vehicle owners in Bihar need to understand the rules and regulations surrounding road tax so they can responsibly and conveniently drive on public roads and avoid delaying the payment of their road tax.

Let us delve deeper into the details of road tax in Bihar and understand the structure of tax charges applicable in the state.

Abiding by the state law, road tax is charged upon vehicle owners by the state authorities and collected when buying and registering a new vehicle. Upon noncompliance with the regulations of state tax rules, one can face penalties and legal actions against themselves. 

Road tax collected from the general public is used to maintain public roads that are damaged due to constant wear and tear. Heavy vehicles cause more damage to the public roads and thus attract hefty road tax charges.

Any vehicle entering the state of Bihar is exempt from paying road tax for 12 months. Following this period, the owner must register the vehicle in Bihar and start paying road tax. The road tax rates for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and commercial vehicles will be the same as the above-mentioned regulated tax rates.  

The road tax in Bihar depends on the parameters listed below:

1. Type of Your Vehicle

The road tax of vehicles in Bihar is primarily determined by their type. Whether the vehicle is a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or any other category type, the road tax is calculated. 

Compared to other types of vehicles, two-wheelers are taxed low, and four-wheelers, such as cars, SUVs, etc., are charged higher tax rates. 

Three-wheeler registered vehicles have varied road tax rates depending on their period of usage and seating capacity.

2. Use of the Vehicle

When calculating a vehicle's road tax, the vehicle's usage is also taken into consideration. The road tax depends on whether the vehicle is used for private or commercial purposes. 

Personal or private vehicles are charged a lower road tax rate, while commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, taxis, and others attract higher tax rates as they are more likely to damage public roads.

3. Engine Type

The vehicle's engine type is also a determining factor when calculating road tax in Bihar. Two-wheeler vehicles with low-capacity engines, around 125 cc, attract lower taxes. 

On the other hand, high-capacity engine vehicles like SUVs, trucks, luxury sedans, etc., attract higher tax rates as their high-capacity engines adversely affect the environment.

4. Model Type of the Vehicle

Models of different vehicle types also impact the road tax cost in Bihar, as luxury vehicles are heavily taxed while other models with low maintenance costs are taxed moderately.

5. Fuel Type

Vehicles are powered by different kinds of fuels, such as petrol, diesel, electricity, or hybrid engines. The type of fuel used to power the engine determines the vehicle's road tax category.

Diesel vehicles attract a higher road tax as they cause environmental pollution, while electric vehicles (EVs) are moderately taxed or exempted in some cases due to their eco-friendly approach.

6. Ex-showroom Price of Your Vehicle

The exclusive showroom price of a vehicle is an essential factor in determining the road tax rate of the vehicle. This price is exclusive of the insurance and tax charges. The higher your vehicle’s ex-showroom price is, the higher the road tax you will pay. This is the primary reason high road taxes are charged for premium cars and bikes.

7. Seating Limit

The seating capacity of commercial vehicles also impacts the road taxes imposed on that category of vehicle. Higher seating limits attract high road tax rates, as such vehicles are more likely to damage public roads.

To pay your road tax conveniently and without any hassles online, by being in the comfort of your home, you can follow the steps given below: 

Step 1: Go to the official website of e-Vahan, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and select the tax payment option.