The Motor Vehicles Act, 1989 mentions that every vehicle should have a valid vehicle fitness certificate (FC) to ensure if it is fit for the roads. The registration of both commercial and private cars becomes easier when the Government issues an FC.

So, if you are planning to buy a car anytime soon, it is wise to clearly understand the process to apply for an FC and other formalities.

If you are still wondering what the primary purpose behind obtaining an FC is, keep scrolling down!

Apart from trying to avoid paying fines and vehicle seizure, here are all the reasons that make a vehicle fitness certificate mandatory -

• Since pollution is becoming a significant issue with every passing day, monitoring the amount of smoke a vehicle releases is necessary to prevent that. One of the key purposes of a fitness certificate for vehicles is checking and monitoring pollution arising due to motor vehicle emissions.
• A fitness certificate is necessary to maintain excellent health of your vehicle.
• Lastly, to avoid road accidents that might take place due to the improper condition of your vehicle.

Since it is pretty clear why a vehicle fitness certificate is necessary for both private and commercial vehicles, let’s see how its application process works.

As mentioned earlier, both offline and online procedures are available to help out the vehicle owners.

Offline Procedure for Fitness Certificate of a Vehicle

Here is a step-by-step guide to applying offline -

• Step 1: Go to your zonal RTO office and collect both form 20 and form 38 for transport vehicles.
• Step 2: Fill in and submit these forms along with the necessary documents at the counter.
• Step 3: Pay the required fees and bring in your vehicle as well for inspection.

Online Procedure for Fitness Certificate of a Vehicle

Now, here is what you need to do to complete the entire process from the comfort of your home -

• Step 1: Visit the official Parivahan Sewa portal and enter your vehicle’s registration number.
• Step 2: Click on the ‘Online Services’ option on the menu bar. Then, select ‘Vehicle Related Services’ under this section.
• Step 3: After that, provide both your Chassis number and registered mobile number. Next, you will receive a one-time password.
• Step 4: After that, provide both your Chassis number and registered mobile number, and click on the “Proceed”. Next, you will receive a one-time password.
• Step 5: Make payment in the next step and collect the digital receipt along with the application letter. Once you apply for a vehicle fitness certificate online, you will have to submit these documents at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to acquire your FC.

Note that to complete these procedures successfully, make sure that you are eligible for a vehicle FC in the first place. Generally, individuals can get a fitness certificate after his/her car or bike passes all sorts of fitness tests. There might be other parameters you need to meet before even applying for this, so make sure you contact your RTO to get those details along with document requirements as well.

Make sure to keep the following documents handy when applying for a vehicle fitness certificate online -

• Form 20
• Form 22
• Form 21
• Receipt of road tax paid
• Insurance certificate
• Original registration certificate of the vehicle
• Valid Pollution Under Control certificate
• A pencil imprint of the motor vehicle chassis
• Temporary registration, if any
• Address proof
• Certificate of permit
• Valid ID proof 
• Chassis number of vehicle
• Passport-size photographs

Apart from these, you also need to provide the fee receipt and a copy of your application. Now that you know the basic requirements to obtain a car FC or any commercial vehicle, know the fees you have to bear for the same.