RTO Kolkata

Kolkata: Old and New merged, yet so much to attract people to its charm. It remains West Bengal's capital and one of the major metropolitan cities of India, with traffic increasing rapidly every day.

Therefore, Kolkata's Regional Transport Offices (RTO) provide various transport services, including registering vehicles, issuing driving licenses, collecting road tax, and more. Such offices serve the Motor Vehicles Act and provide vital services to Kolkata's citizens.

This guide will provide details about RTOs in Kolkata, including their services, office locations, procedures, and more. 

To manage the city’s transportation and vehicular requirements, the RTOs in Kolkata offer the following services:

1. Registration of Vehicles

Whether you are purchasing a new or a used vehicle, registering it is a must. In this regard, the RTOs in Kolkata offer the following services:

• New Vehicle Registration:

All vehicles, personal and commercial, must be registered with the local Regional Transport Office. After vehicle owners complete this process, they receive a Registration Certificate (RC). It is valid for 15 years for personal motor vehicles and 2 years for commercial vehicles.    

Required Documents: Sale invoice or sale receipt, owner’s identity and address proof, PUC certificate, and vehicle insurance papers.   

• Renewal of Registration:

Vehicle owners must renew their registration certificates (RC) when their initial registration expires. This is a legal mandate for driving their vehicles on public roads.   

• Transfer of Ownership:

When someone buys or sells a vehicle, Transfer of Ownership enables the parties to legally transfer the automobile from the old owner to the new one. The RTO performs this service by modifying the owner’s name on the Registration Certificate. 

• Temporary and Permanent Registration:   

When you buy a new vehicle, the dealer usually provides temporary registration valid for one month. This allows you to legally drive your bike or car on public roads while you apply for permanent registration. 

2. Driving Licence (DL)

The RTOs in Kolkata provide various types of services related to driving licences. Find them listed below:

• Issuing Learner’s Licence:

The learner’s licence is the first driving licence you will acquire after passing the traffic rules and signals test. It remains valid for six months. 

• Issuing Permanent Driving Licence:

After 30 days of receiving your learner’s licence, you can apply for a permanent driving licence. You must clear the practical test at your local RTO to get it. 

• Renewal of Driving Licence:

A valid driving licence is necessary for driving your vehicle on public roads. A permanent driving licence remains valid for 20 years from its issue date or until the holder turns 50, whichever is earlier. 

• Issuing Duplicate Driving Licence:

If your DL is stolen, damaged, or lost, you can apply for a duplicate driving licence at the RTOs in Kolkata.    

• Issuing International Driving Permits (IDPs):

If you wish to drive a vehicle in other countries, you must apply for an international driving permit. These permits usually have a validity of one year from the issue date. 

• Licence Endorsements and Upgrades:

If you need to add other vehicle classes, like upgrading from a personal to a commercial motor vehicle licence, the RTOs in Kolkata handle such endorsements.

3. Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC)

You need a Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) to drive a vehicle on public roads legally. This certificate indicates that your vehicle meets the legal emission standards of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 

The RTOs in Kolkata provide the following services in this regard:

• Issuance of PUC:

After a vehicle passes the emission test, it receives a PUC certificate, which has a validity range of 6 months to 1 year (depending on the age of the bike/car).   

• PUC Verification:

The RTO conducts certifications to ensure that all vehicles operating on public roads have valid PUC certificates.

4. Vehicle Permits

Regional Transport Offices in Kolkata are also responsible for issuing licences for commercial vehicles. These include the following:

• Commercial Vehicle Permits:

You must acquire a commercial vehicle permit to operate legally on public roads, taxis, buses, trucks, etc.. The permit can be for local, state, or interstate use. 

• Temporary and National Permits:

Owners who want to operate their commercial vehicles for a particular duration or purpose need a temporary permit. They must get a national license to use their vehicles for the transportation market or inter-state operations.  

5. Fitness Certificate for Vehicles

All vehicles must have a vehicle fitness certificate (FC) to prove their roadworthiness. In this regard, the RTOs in Kolkata provide the following services:

• Issuance of Fitness Certificate:

A fitness certificate indicates that the vehicle abides by the safety and environmental friendliness norms prescribed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.  

• Renewal of Fitness Certificate:

Timely renewing the fitness certificate is a must to avoid penalties and legal hassles. The FC is valid for 15 years for new private vehicles, after which it needs to be renewed every 5 years. For commercial vehicles aged up to 8 years, the FC has a 2-year validity, after which it is renewable yearly. 

6. Road Tax Collection

You must pay road tax when registering your vehicle for the first time and applying for a renewal. In this regard, road tax is usually of two types:

• Annual Road Tax:

Commercial vehicle owners pay their road tax yearly. The rate usually depends on the size and type of the automobile. 

• Lifetime Road Tax:  

Owners of private motor vehicles must pay a lifetime road tax when applying for permanent registration. The rate will vary depending on the car/bike’s cost and category. 

7. No Objection Certificates (NOC)

NOCs are issued by the RTO for the change of automobiles from one state or jurisdiction to another from the same RTO.

• Transfer of Vehicle from One State to Another State:

A NOC is issued when the vehicle is permanently shifted from one state to another without interference from the originating RTO.

• Inter-RTO Transfer:

NOC is also issued when vehicles are shifting within the same state but to a different RTO-regulated region.

8. Implementation of Road Safety Standards and Traffic Rules

The RTOs in Kolkata also focus on enforcing road safety standards and traffic rules. For this reason, they carry on the following activities:

• Road Safety Awareness Programs:

 In addition to its other activities, the Regional Transport Office and other government departments organise general awareness programmes on traffic law and road safety. The programmes aim to familiarise people with traffic rules and regulations and enable them to behave best regarding road safety. 

• Enforcement of Traffic Laws:

RTOs in Kolkata can enforce traffic regulations and fine the driver for speeding, drunk driving, etc.

9. Hypothecation Services

The lender's name is usually registered in the vehicle's registration certificate if you have purchased a vehicle through an auto loan. The hypothecation services provided by RTOs in Kolkata cover the following:

• Adding Hypothecation:

The financier's name is also mentioned on the registration certificate as part of its hypothecation process for the automobiles purchased under an automobile loan.  

• Revocation of Hypothecation: 

The financier's name can be removed from the registration certificate by the owner of the vehicle after the loan's re-payment for deleting the financier's name.

One needs to pass the driving test and get a DL to drive a vehicle on Indian roads legally. The RTOs in Kolkata issue the following types of driving licences: 

• Learner's licence (LL)
• Permanent Driving Licence
• Commercial Driving Licence 
• International Licence

Every time you buy a new vehicle, you must register it at the Regional Transport Office nearest your location. This document proves your vehicle ownership and issues the number plate for it.

Vehicle registration in Kolkata through RTO Offices is done mainly for the following purposes:

1. Temporary Registration

The dealer usually provides temporary registration if you are purchasing a new car. This will enable you to legally use the automobile on public roads with the prior application for permanent registration until it is completed. 

Key Points:

• Validity: A temporary registration is valid for one month from the issue date. 
• Purpose: It allows you to use your vehicle before completing permanent registration.
• Issuing Authority: The automobile dealership usually provides this authority, and the local RTO also offers it. 

Suppose you do not submit the permanent registration application within 30 days. In that case, you can request an extension from the RTOs in Kolkata, though it's available only for a definite time and under a specific time. 

2. Permanent Registration

All owners apply for permanent registration of vehicles. This helps an owner obtain an RC and a number plate for his vehicle.

Key Points:

• Application Timeline: You must apply for permanent registration within the 30-day temporary registration validity period. 
• Registration Certificate (RC): When you complete permanent vehicle registration, the RTO provides an RC, which you must carry while driving on public roads. 
• Validity: Private and commercial vehicles have a permanent registration validity of 15 years and 2 years, respectively.  

RTOs in Kolkata offer various types of number plates based on the vehicle registration category. They are:

• White number plate
• Yellow number plate
• Blue number plate
• Green number plate
• Black number plate 
• Red number plate
• Red number plate with the emblem of India
• Number plate with an upward-pointing arrow

When registering your vehicle, you are liable to pay a certain fee. The applicable vehicle registration charges in RTOs in Kolkata are as follows:

• Two-Wheelers: ₹60
• Imported Bikes: ₹200
• Four-Wheelers and LMVs: ₹200 for non-transport and ₹300 for light commercial vehicles
• Imported Cars: ₹800
• MGV/MPV: ₹400
• HPV/HGV: ₹600
• Other Vehicles: ₹300

Two-Wheeler Road Tax in Kolkata

The road tax for two-wheelers in Kolkata varies based on the engine capacity and vehicle age. 

• For new two-wheelers or those up to one year old, the tax is ₹1,560 for vehicles up to 80 cc and ₹3,125 for those above 80 cc. 
• The rates for vehicles between 1 and 2 years old are ₹1,460 for up to 80 cc and ₹2,925 for those above 80 cc.
• As the vehicle ages, the tax decreases incrementally. For example, for two-wheelers between 2 and 3 years old, the tax is ₹1,360 for up to 80 cc and ₹2,725 for those above 80 cc. This trend continues with lower rates for older vehicles:
• Between 3 and 4 years: ₹1,260 (up to 80 cc) and ₹2,525 (above 80 cc).
• Between 4 and 5 years: ₹1,160 (up to 80 cc) and ₹2,325 (above 80 cc).
• Between 5 and 6 years: ₹1,060 (up to 80 cc) and ₹2,125 (above 80 cc).
• Between 6 and 7 years: ₹960 (up to 80 cc) and ₹1,925 (above 80 cc).
• Between 7 and 8 years: ₹830 (up to 80 cc) and ₹1,675 (above 80 cc).
• Between 8 and 9 years: ₹725 (up to 80 cc) and ₹1,475 (above 80 cc).
• Between 9 and 10 years: ₹625 (up to 80 cc) and ₹1,250 (above 80 cc).
• Between 10 and 11 years: ₹525 (up to 80 cc) and ₹1,050 (above 80 cc).
• Between 11 and 12 years: ₹425 (up to 80 cc) and ₹850 (above 80 cc).
• Between 12 and 13 years: ₹325 (up to 80 cc) and ₹650 (above 80 cc).
• Between 13 and 14 years: ₹225 (up to 80 cc) and ₹450 (above 80 cc).
• Between 14 and 15 years: ₹125 (up to 80 cc) and ₹250 (above 80 cc).
• For larger two-wheelers, the tax rates for new vehicles over specific capacities are as follows:
• Up to 170 cc: New vehicles pay ₹4,685, while those over 250 cc pay ₹6,250.
• The rates decrease similarly with age.

Three-Wheeler Road Tax in Kolkata

The road tax for three-wheelers in Kolkata is determined by fuel type. Petrol three-wheelers incur a tax of ₹500 per annum, while diesel three-wheelers are taxed at ₹1,000 per annum.

Four-Wheeler Road Tax in Kolkata

For four-wheelers, the road tax is based on engine capacity. The one-time tax payable is as follows:

• Up to 900 cc: ₹10,550 with a special tax of ₹4,000.
• Between 900 cc and 1,490 cc: ₹13,900 with a special tax of ₹7,500.
• Between 1,490 cc and 2,000 cc: ₹21,800 with a special tax of ₹10,000.
• Between 2,000 cc and 2,500 cc: ₹28,000 with a special tax of ₹12,500.
• More than 2,500 cc: ₹30,000 with a special tax of ₹15,000.

Road Tax for Commercial Vehicles in Kolkata

The road tax for commercial vehicles is determined by seating capacity. For vehicles seating up to ten people, the annual tax is ₹1,400. For seating more than ten people, an additional charge of ₹150 per passenger beyond ten applies.

Road Tax for Other State Vehicles in Kolkata

The rates vary by vehicle type:

• For private cars and two-wheelers: ₹500 for engine capacities up to 1,000 cc, and ₹1,200 for those above.
• For commercial vehicles: The charge is ₹2,000 for engine capacities up to 2,000 cc, while it’s ₹4,000 for those above.

According to the Motor Vehicles Act, motor insurance is mandatory for all vehicle owners. This applies to both private and commercial automobiles, and the insurance policy must cover damages to third parties in the event of an accident. 

If you are caught driving on public roads without a valid vehicle insurance policy, a penalty of ₹2,000 is chargeable. For repeat offences, this fine will increase to ₹4,000 and may include up to 3 months of imprisonment.

You must fulfil a few documentation requirements when registering your vehicle in the RTO Offices in Kolkata. Check them out below:

1. Application for Registration of a New Vehicle (Form 20)

Form 20 is the official form you must submit to register your vehicle. It contains all the details about the owner and the vehicle as well as other crucial aspects. 

2. Sale Certificate (Form 21)

The dealer issues this certificate to ascertain that the bike/car was purchased legally. It generally contains information about the buyer, the seller and the date of purchase.  

3. Invoice from the Dealer

This is the original purchase invoice you received from the dealer when buying your vehicle. It contains details such as the bike/car’s price and features. 

4. Roadworthiness Certificate (Form 22)

The vehicle’s manufacturer provides this certificate as proof that the automobile can be driven on public roads and complies with all the legal mandates of the Motor Vehicles Act. 

5. Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC)

This document confirms that the vehicle complies with the prescribed emission standards and can operate on public roads without emitting excessive pollutants. 

6. Vehicle Insurance Certificate

Having a valid vehicle insurance policy is a must when registering your vehicle. You can choose either comprehensive or third-party coverage.

7. Temporary Registration Certificate (where necessary)

If the dealer has already provided your vehicle with a temporary registration, you must mention it in your permanent registration application.

8. Road Tax Payment Receipt

You must submit the road tax receipt when registering your vehicle. The rate usually depends on the vehicle’s type and cost. 

9. Bank NOC (if financed)

If you have purchased your vehicle through an automobile loan, you must obtain an NOC from the lender (bank or other financial institution). This document proves that the financier has no objection to registering the vehicle under your name.  

10. PAN Card or Form 60/61

You must provide your PAN card details if the vehicle’s purchasing cost exceeds ₹50,000. If you do not have a PAN card, you can also attach Form 60/61.   

11. Customs Clearance Certificate (for imported Vehicles)

When registering an imported vehicle, you must submit a customs clearance certificate. It proves that all the required import and customs procedures have been completed.  

12. Vehicle Owner’s ID Proof

You can submit the following documents as ID proof: 

• Aadhaar card 
• Passport 
• Driving licence 
• Voter ID card 
• PAN card 

13. Vehicle Owner’s Address Proof

For proof of address, you can submit the following:

• Aadhaar card 
• Voter ID card 
• Utility bills (electricity, water, or gas) that the owner pays
• Passport 
• Lease contract (if the owner is renting a residence)

14. Passport-Size Photographs

You need to submit your recent passport-size photographs for documentation. 

Heavy rainfalls have caused severe disruption in Kolkata's traffic. Many parts of the city, mainly north Kolkata and on VIP Road, have experienced waterlogging. This has resulted in the slow movement of vehicles and created significant congestion in the town. 

The festival of Durga Puja is almost around the corner, and various traffic restrictions will be implemented from October 7. Nearly 1,000 traffic officers will be deployed to tackle the crowds. The Kolkata Traffic Police have identified the pressure points and, if necessary, have made diversions to ensure an easy traffic flow.

Kolkata, the capital city, recently revamped its "Safe Drive, Save Life" campaign to improve road safety, mainly during the monsoon. This time, with a direction from the Chief Minister, Lalbazar has decided to carry this campaign forward to reduce the number of accidents, which, according to reports, have already claimed 13 lives this month. 

This campaign's key elements are freeing roads from encroachment, retraining drivers, and enlisting students as safety agents. The road safety campaign also aims at pedestrians whose reckless behaviour is responsible for most accidents—ongoing awareness programs for educating the common people and upgrading road conditions.