How to get a Temporary Registration Number in India?

Have you recently bought a car? Did you get a temporary registration number?

When the dealer called you to pick up your brand new car from the showroom, you must have made plans to take the new vehicle for a spin. However, to drive your newly purchased car, you must get a temporary license number.

You must be wondering why we are stressing the word temporary only. Let us tell you why!

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What is a temporary registration number?

Temporary registration number refers to that particular number assigned by the dealer from which the vehicle is purchased. The temporary registration number is unique with every vehicle and comes with a validity of one month. Car owners must get their vehicles registered by the concerned Regional Transport Office (RTO) authority.

A temporary vehicle registration number must be assigned to the brand new vehicle (which is yet to get its permanent registration number) before it leaves the showroom.

How to get a temporary vehicle registration number?

To get a temporary number plate, follow the steps mentioned below.

Step-1 – Fill up the Form 20.
Step-2 - Submit the form to the authority under whose jurisdiction the vehicle falls.
Step-3 – You can also submit the form to the dealer registered by the Transport of Commissioner.
Step-4 – Furnish the required documents (discussed in the next section).
Step-5 – Make the payment of fees and tax as mentioned in Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 for temporary registration.

You should also know how to check the temporary registration number as well.

What are the documents for a temporary registration number?

To apply for a temporary registration certificate, you are required to furnish the following documents.

Application for the temporary registration number plate via Form 20, Road Worthiness Certificate details (stating the vehicle has cleared all the required tests to be able to run on the road) via Form 22.
Sales Certificate (having all the purchase-related details) via Form 21.
Address proof (electricity bills, Ration card, etc.).
Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).
Valid insurance certificate.
Copy of PAN card. In case you cannot provide the PAN card, Form 60 and Form 61 would do.

How to extend the temporary registration number of a vehicle?

As stated earlier, the temporary registration number has a validity of one month, within which the vehicle owner must get the permanent registration number. However, if an owner fails to get a permanent registration number within the given period, she/he may have to extend the validity period.

To complete the process, owners have to follow certain steps and also submit essential documents.

Please note, a vehicle owner can only apply for an extension twice. However, the extension application for the second time incurs a penalty charge as specified in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.

What are the documents required for extending a temporary registration number?

Following is a list of documents that you need to submit while applying for an extension of the temporary registration number.

Application for the temporary registration number via Form 20
Sales Certificate details via Form 21
Road Worthiness Certificate details via Form 22
Valid insurance certificate
Proof of address
Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC)
Design approval certificate from STA (if you are applying for an extension for vehicles like trailer or semi-trailer)
Original Sales Certificate details via Form 22 (in case of an ex-army vehicle)

What is the procedure for downloading the temporary registration form online?

It is clear from the above-mentioned list of documents that in order to initiate the process of applying for the temporary vehicle registration number, you must get the application form first. For that, you have to download the application form online.

Follow the simple steps to get it done.

Step-1- Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa.
Step-2- Move to the third option naming ‘Informational Services.’
Step-3- Place your cursor on the second last option of ‘Downloadable Forms’ from the drop-down menu.
Step-4- Click on ‘All Forms’/ ‘Vehicle registration.’ It will open a new page.
Step-5- Click on the required forms, and after opening the documents, download the forms and save them.

These are some steps regarding how to check vehicle temporary registration number plates.

What are the fees for getting a temporary registration number?

The temporary registration charges in India vary from one state to another. Below are the state-wise costs of temporary registration for different categories of vehicles.

State	Fees of Temporary Registration Number
Tamil Nadu	Two-wheeler – Rs.100 Service Charge + Rs.40, Four-wheeler - Rs.100 Service Charge + Rs.40, Transport vehicle- Rs.100 Service Charge + Rs.40
Madhya Pradesh	Two-wheeler – Rs.50, Four-wheeler - Rs.50, Transport vehicle - Rs.50
Andhra Pradesh	Two-wheeler – Rs.150, Four-wheeler – Rs.300, Transport vehicle – Rs.500
Kerala	Two-wheeler – Rs.50 Service Charge + Rs.100, Four-wheeler - Rs.50 Service Charge + Rs.100, Transport vehicle- Rs.50 Service Charge + Rs.100
Punjab	Two-wheeler - Rs.50, Four-wheeler - Rs.50, Transport Vehicle- Rs.50
Rajasthan	Two-wheeler – Rs.200, Four-wheeler – Rs.200, Transport Vehicle- Rs.500

Evidently, the temporary registration charges for two-wheelers and four-wheelers tend to be identical. Though the dealer conducts all the paperwork related to the temporary registration number, you must be well aware of the application process, extension norms, and the fees for completing the whole task.

On a different note, the Government of India is getting stricter day by day and launching new rules to ensure uniformity and transparency in transportation and related activities. Hence, you must stay updated on the new rules regarding both temporary registration numbers and types of registration plates to avoid hefty penalties.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I have to provide permanent address proof while applying for a temporary registration number?

Yes, Form 20 demands a permanent proof of address. Hence, you need to provide a permanent address while applying for a temporary registration number.

How to check the temporary registration number online?

As there is no temporary registration number tracking process available in India, one can check the same with the registering authority or the vehicle dealer.

How fast can I get a temporary vehicle registration number?

You can get a temporary registration number within a day or two. However, the process entirely depends on the dealer and the registering authority. Get in touch with them to get detailed information. However, you would need to pay a temporary registration fee.