Kolar, the city renowned for its gold mines, is the administrative hub of the Kolar district in Karnataka. The Urban Development Department of Karnataka has planned and implemented this town's civic utilities. 

If you are a resident of Kolar, you have two alternate options to get your RTO-related services done. The two Regional Transport Offices are KA-07 and KA-08, respectively, both of which dispense a vast range of services.

Below is the link to access the various services provided by different RTO offices in Karnataka.

Kolar RTO Website: https://transport.karnataka.gov.in/english

The RTO offices in Kolar can execute the following services for you:

• Conduct driving tests and give permanent DLs to the deserving candidates

• Provide NOC to vehicle owners desiring to change the address on their RC books to some other state

• Organise motor fitness test to check whether the vehicle is fit to get a PUC certificate

• Execute all the processes related to new vehicle registration

• Update address in driving licence and RC book

Both the RTO offices in Kolar can issue four types of driving licences to the local people. Here are the types:

• International Driving Permit

• Commercial Driving Licence

• Permanent Driving Licence

• Learner’s Licence

Kolar residents can request the RTO to issue two types of vehicle registration certificates:

• Permanent registration

• Temporary registration

A specific type of number plate is issued when your car, motorbike, or scooter is duly registered.

The various number plates are decided based on the vehicle's purpose. For instance, commercial truck drivers must drive vehicles with a yellow number plate. On the other hand, when you drive a brand-new car that is yet to be permanently registered, that vehicle must be equipped with a red number plate. Similarly, these are some number plate types that are used for lawfully driving a vehicle in Kolar:

• White number plate

• Green number plate

• Blue number plate

• Black number plate

• Number plate with an upward arrow

• Red number plate with the emblem of India

Vehicle registration certificate issuance involves a collection of fees, the particulars of which are fixed by the respective state government. Here is a list of specific charges that you must pay to get your vehicle registered in Kolar, Karnataka:

• For Two-wheelers: ₹6,000 for securing a standard registration number. In case you desire to have a fancy number, then you need to pay ₹25,000

• For Four-wheelers: ₹25,000 for getting the vehicle permanently registered. Again, if you want to acquire a fancy number, then you must pay ₹75,000

• For smart card issuance: ₹200

These charges remain the same irrespective of which of the two RTO offices you visit in Kolar to get the vehicle registration certificate. 

Regardless of the purpose of vehicle usage, i.e., whether it is a personal or commercial vehicle, Karnataka road tax is levied as per the following chart:

• 13% - 17% of the four-wheeler’s cost if you are paying the road tax after registration

• 10% - 12% of the two-wheeler’s cost if the road tax is being paid just after registration

• 25% - 45% of the total cost for used vehicles

You should be aware of the latest traffic fines before even considering driving in Kolar. The penalties for the following violations have increased by 10 times or more to ensure that drivers prioritise safety first while driving/ riding:

• Jumping a red light: ₹1,000 - ₹5,000 with licence seizure or 6 – 12 months of imprisonment

• Racing: ₹5,000 with 3 months of imprisonment for a first-time offence, for consequent times ₹10,000 and 1 year of imprisonment

• Riding/ Driving Without a Valid Licence: ₹5,000 with community service

• Driving Despite Licence Disqualification: ₹10,000

• Honking in a Silent Zone: ₹2,000 - ₹4,000

• Driving Commercial Vehicles Without a Permit: ₹10,000 with 6 months of imprisonment

All these are updated traffic regulations as per the Motor Vehicles Amendment that came into the picture on 1st September 2019. As Karnataka is among the many states which have abided by these rules, you should follow a few precautionary measures to avoid these steep fines. 

Yes, in Kolar and in other places all over Karnataka, it is mandatory to have motor insurance to drive/ ride lawfully. The first time you are caught violating this rule, the policeman can charge you ₹2,000 on the spot, but if there is any second such instance, you will be asked to pay ₹4,000 as penalty or serve 3 months of confinement.

As per some latest reports, traffic flow came to a standstill in Krishnagiri, a village at a 2-hour distance from Kolar. This happened as a large crowd of protestors mobbed the Bengaluru-Hosur Road as they were denied by the police authorities to hold Jallikattu. Karnataka police have thereby taken steps to neutralise such events to ensure further these things do not affect traffic conditions within the state.

If you are a Kolar resident, consider opting for faceless services for the following requirements to avoid the tedious offline procedure.

• Issuing a new learner’s licence or re-issuing a duplicate one

• Securing a conductor’s licence

• Getting a temporary registration number 

• Issuing a duplicate permit for a commercial vehicle

• Surrendering a permit

• Getting the B Register Extract