Popularly known as God’s Own Country, Kerala is a beautiful place surrounded by lush green plantations, coconut trees, stunning lakes, enchanting backwaters and unique experiences. Kerala is also renowned for its first-class infrastructure, especially regarding roads. 

If you are a new driver in Kerala and want to get your vehicle registered, here are some of the Kerala road tax features you need to know.

Let us take a look at the details!

Road Tax is a mandatory tax the state imposes on every individual purchasing a vehicle and using public roads. Every state has different rules and regulations for road tax, which vary depending on the engine capacity, weight, and type. It can be periodic or one-time pay and is used for road tax development, improvement and maintenance.

The penalty is fixed at Rs.100 for first-time offenders. For a second time offence, the amount is fixed at Rs.200.

The Kerala road tax depends on the following factors:

1. Type of Your Vehicle

One of the primary components impacting road tax is your vehicle type. It will vary significantly depending on whether the car is registered in another state, is a two-wheeler, three-wheeler or a four-wheeler:

• Two-wheelers usually have lower road tax in comparison to larger vehicles.

• Taxes for four-wheelers are calculated and charged more based on weight and engine size.

• Cars registered from other states and three-wheelers have distinct tax rates per their category.

2. Purpose of Usage: Personal or Commercial

The calculation of road tax also depends on the purpose of usage, whether it is for personal or commercial use:

• Personal vehicles like family cars and bikes have lower tax rates than commercial vehicles.

• Commercial vehicles, such as buses, taxis, and trucks, attract higher road taxes due to the increased wear and tear they cause on the roads.

3. Engine Capacity

The engine capacity of the vehicle is another major factor while calculating road tax:

• Two-wheelers under 125 cc are charged lower taxes.

• Four-wheelers with large engine capacities attract higher taxes as they are considered to contribute to road usage and environmental impact.

4. Type of the Model of Your Vehicle

The model type of your vehicle majorly impacts the tax amount. High-end models and luxury vehicles have higher market value and maintenance costs to public infrastructure and are charged more heavily than standard models.

5. Fuel Type

The fuel type of your vehicle also influences the tax amount. Vehicles powered by petro, electricity, diesel, or hybrid engines are taxed differently:

• Diesel vehicles have higher tax transportation due to environmental concerns. 

• Electric vehicles (EVs) may receive reductions or tax exemptions as the government encourages eco-friendly vehicles.

6. Ex-Showroom Price of Your Vehicle

The ex-showroom price, which is the price of the vehicle before taxes and insurance, is a major deciding factor in road tax. As higher-priced vehicles have relatively higher road tax, premium two-wheelers and luxury cars have more outstanding road tax than economy models. 

7. Seating Capacity

The seating capacity of a vehicle affects the calculation of road tax, especially for commercial vehicles. Vehicles with higher seating capacity, like multi-passenger vans and buses, lead to a higher road tax as they contribute to more road usage and are essentially used for commercial purposes.

You can follow the given steps to make your road tax payment online in Kerala to avoid crowded and frustrating queues: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Kerala Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and click on the ‘Vehicles’ tab.