The 5^th largest Indian state, Gujarat is home to incredible diversity due to its strategic location.Being a highly populated state, the state sees an increasing number of people in need of services related to driving licences, vehicle registration, etc.

There are presently 38 functional regional transport offices in different cities in Gujarat assisting vehicle owners of the state with such services and more.

What Is the Website for Gujarat RTO?

If you are willing to gather the necessary information regarding driving licences in Gujarat, you can visit the official portal of Gujarat RTO. Please click on the link below and you will be directed to the official page:

Gujarat RTO Website: http://rtogujarat.gov.in

This website provides you with Gujarat RTO vehicle information and vehicle owners can also search regarding their vehicle registration details. Additionally, they provide information about other services that the RTO offices provide.

The RTO offices in Gujarat conduct the following functions:

• Register new motor vehicles
• Collect Motor Vehicle Tax
• Ensure bike ownership transfer
• Issue learner’s/duplicate licence
• Provide international driving licence
• Furnish and renew driving licence
• Furnish and renew vehicle RCs
• Issue duplicate vehicle registration certificate
• Alter details in the driving licence
• Provide Fitness Certificate for commercial vehicles
• Ensure vehicle registration transfer
• Issue NOC for a vehicle for transferring to another state
• Transfer Vehicle Ownership
• Issue transport permits - temporary and special
• Finance/ Hypothecate agreement
• Re-assign new registration mark
• Issue motor vehicle permit
• Issue international driving permit

The following are the types of driving licence issued by Gujarat RTO:

1. Learners’ Licence

2. Permanent Licence

3. Commercial Driving Licence

4. International Driving Permit

In Gujarat, the registration certificate of a non-transport vehicle is valid for about 15 years. After this period, one must register the vehicle after every 5 years. Ensure to collect the vehicle’s fitness certificate which is valid for about 2 years from the registration date.

The 2 types of vehicle registration in Gujarat include:

1. Permanent Registration

2. Temporary Registration

Gujarat RTO issues 8 different vehicle registration plates and asks vehicle owners to install the same in the front and rear sections of their vehicles. Ensure that the number plate has clear visibility. It is mandatory to get a valid number plate so that vehicle owners can drive on Indian streets legally.

Below is a list of various types of number plates that Gujarat RTO issues:

• Number plate has an upward arrow
• Red number plate having the emblem of India
• Red number plate
• Green number plate
• Yellow number plate
• Blue number plate
• Black number plate
• White number plate

Note: The international code for India is IND.

Gujarat RTO issues the following types of vehicle registration certificates respectively:

• Permanent Registration Certificate
• Temporary Registration Certificate
• Vehicle Ownership Transfer
• Registration Certificate Renewal

Additionally, Gujarat RTO also issues duplicate registration certificates to the ones who have lost their original RC.

Paying a registration charge is mandatory in India and so is it in Gujarat. The vehicle registration charges in Gujarat include:

• Registration Fee for All Vehicles: ₹600
• Hypothecation Charges: ₹1500 (In case vehicle owners purchase a vehicle on a loan)
• Number Plate Charges: ₹230 to ₹400 (similar to HSRP)
• FasTag Charges: ₹600 FasTag fees payable on a purchase of your vehicle
• Parking Fee/State Development Fees:

1. ₹2000: MCD parking fees for cars under ₹4 lakhs

2. ₹4000: MCD parking fees for cars above ₹4 lakhs. However, it is applicable in some states only.

• Temporary Registration Charges: ₹1200 to ₹1500 (temporary registration for up to 1 month)
• Road Tax Charges:

1. For company purchases: 12%

2. For individual purchases: 6%

3. Road Tax for Completely Knocked Down or CKD imported cars: Two times the rate for Completely Built Up or CBU cars

4. Additional 5% VAT Duty when purchasing SUVs and luxury cars under a company name

5. Additional Municipality Tax

The government of Gujarat charges road tax from individuals to raise funds for the maintenance of the roads and ensure the security of the commuters. However, Gujarat road tax is figured separately for commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Here are the details of road tax charges in Gujarat:

Two-Wheelers (depending on the age of vehicle):

• New or Less Than 8 Years Old: 6% of vehicular cost
• Vehicles Older Than 8 Years: 15% of vehicular cost
• Vehicles Older Than 15 Years: 1% of vehicular cost or ₹100 (whichever is more)

Four-Wheelers:

All the new four-wheelers that you buy in Gujarat require you to pay a road tax of 6% of the vehicle cost. However, the tax for the below vehicles is evaluated at the same rate in Gujarat:

• State tax for taxi
• Road tax for car
• Road tax for tempo traveller

Commercial Vehicles:

The road tax for commercial vehicle tax is calculated at the rate of 6%.

Road Tax for Non-State Travellers:

The road tax for other state vehicles can be paid at their official website.

If a vehicle owner fails to pay road tax for more than 3 months, then the government charges a penalty of 18% of the total road tax an individual owes to the government. Eventually, Gujarat has the easiest way of calculating road tax rates as applicants only need to pay a simple flat rate.

Individuals can check the details of their vehicle and also the owner from the official Parivahan website. To ensure a hassle-free procedure, use Digit’s website and app to find vehicle owner details by registration number. Enter the registration number of the vehicle and get all details you require.

To reduce accidents, injuries and sudden mishaps on the road while travelling, adhering to traffic rules is a must. Below is a list of the most important traffic rules in India individuals must keep in mind while driving on the roads:

1. Ensure the essential components of your vehicle, the tyres, horns, backlights and headlights are working properly and are in good condition before you drive.

2. The braking system is the most important safety feature in a car. So, ensure your car’s braking system is working properly.

3. Confirm that your vehicle’s headlights and backlights are highlighting the number plates.

4. Avoid using horns near hospitals, schools or any other restricted and silent zones as it can cause disturbance unnecessarily.

5. Be extremely careful to use signals when you are turning, allowing another vehicle to pass or slowing down your vehicle on the road.

6. A driving licence is of utmost necessity when you are on the road. Therefore, ensure to carry your driving licence.

Additionally, there are some more necessary details you must keep in mind while driving:

• Using drugs or driving under intoxication is illegal, so avoid it.
• Drive a vehicle only when it is roadworthy and you have checked its components that are working properly.
• Ensure your vehicle is insured, which is another significant factor.
• Check the registration number on your car and ensure it is in the correct format and is displayed properly.
• Using mobile phones while driving can divert your attention and cause accidents, so avoid this too.

The Central government amended the Motor Vehicles Act, of 1988 and revealed the hike in traffic fines in Gujarat. These hikes range from anywhere between 25% and 90% depending upon the severity of the offence and repetition. Here are some of the penalties you have to pay if you do not follow traffic rules:

• Riding Without Helmet: ₹500
• Driving Without Seatbelt: ₹500
• Overloading Two-wheeler: ₹100
• Driving on Wrong Side: ₹1500 (three-wheelers), ₹3000 (LMVs), ₹5000 (heavy vehicles)
• Riding Without Licence: ₹2000 (two-wheeler vehicles), ₹3000 (three or four-wheelers)
• Breaking Pollution Norms: ₹1000 (two-wheeler LMVs and three-wheelers), ₹3000 (other vehicles)
• Drunk Driving: ₹10000 and/or 6 months prison, ₹15000 and/or 2 years jail for continuous violations
• Using Mobile Phone While Driving: ₹500 (first-time offenders) & ₹1000 (repeat offenders)

As per the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, it is mandatory to have motor insurance for all vehicle owners before they drive on Indian streets. In case they are caught driving without a valid insurance policy, individuals have to pay hefty fines and/or undergo imprisonment.

However, the fines include:

• Two/Three-Wheeler LMV: ₹1000
• Other Vehicles: ₹3000

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory to get a valid motor vehicle insurance policy. A comprehensive car insurance policy includes third-party liability and adds the expenses incurred by a policyholder in case of theft or accident of the vehicle. Here are the benefits of availing of a car insurance policy:

• An insurance policy provides you with the repair bills for the damage that happened to your vehicle due to the accident.
• It assures compensation to the survivors of the deceased or injured.
• Policyholders receive necessary damage costs apart from the ones that happened during the accident.
• It assists in avoiding lawsuits that include legal charges as the vehicle owners are liable for the damage.

As per recent news, a severe accident in Ahmedabad caused a traffic jam near Rajpath club causing woes to the commuters. Additionally, another news confirmed that recently the Sabarmati Riverfront traffic jams pushed revellers on the back foot causing much discomfort.

Last year's news confirms, Ahmedabad in Gujarat topped the list of road accidents with an increase of 40%. Ahmedabad witnessed 102 cases being reported within a span of a few days.

Moreover, several places in Gujarat witness traffic jams every year due to Navratri in Gujarat which also adds to the discomfort and causes difficulty while travelling.

The State Government of Gujarat came up with an important initiative using Aadhaar-based e-KYC. It is a faceless, contactless service that promises to enhance and boost transparency and initiate smooth functioning RTO services.

Since it is a paperless service, it highlights the reduction of wastage of paper and saves ample time for individuals who can avail the following services at their convenience, without having to visit the RTO office:

• Extract Driving Licence
• Issue of Conductor’s Licence        
• Grant Duplicate Learner's Licence             
• Renew your Driving Licence          
• Change Name in Driving Licence
• Alter Address in Driving Licence                 
• Change Address in Learner's Licence                                    
• Issue of International Driving Permit                      
• Change Name in Conductor’s Licence                    
• Change Address in Conductor’s Licence
• Alter Name in Learner's Licence                               
• Issue of Duplicate Conductor's Licence   
• Renew Conductor’s Licence

A wonderful initiative taken by the state government of Gujarat has made a draft on road safety and traffic lessons that will be introduced in the government school curriculums from the next academic year. This will be a crucial aspect of social studies and will be a part of supplementary lessons educating students from a tender age.

Last year's news confirms that the traffic police in Gujarat created awareness regarding traffic rules and road rules for drivers. The police said that individuals must abide by the laws and regulations as composed by the Motor Vehicles Act.