RTO office: all about RTO offices in India

When you apply for a driving license or purchase a new car, you must contact your local RTO or Regional Transport Office. Let’s learn more about the RTOs in India and their functions.

The Regional Transport Office (RTO), also called the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), is a government organisation. It maintains information about drivers and vehicles used across the country. They provide vehicle-related services to citizens under the guidelines of the Motor Vehicles Act. They are responsible for the following functions:
       • Issuing driving licenses
       • Registering vehicles in the state
       • Inspecting vehicles
       • Collecting taxes
       • Issuing permits
       • Issuing vehicle-related documents
       • Enforcing pollution control measures
       • Enforcing road safety measures
       • Registering vehicle owner details through car registration

Every Indian state and union territory has a unique code for their respective RTO. When a vehicle gets registered, the first two digits of the registration number are the state RTO code. Let’s look at the codes for each state and union territory:

Most vehicle owners do not deal with the RTO every day. Unless we have to apply for or renew our licence or register a new vehicle, we don’t need to interact with RTO officers. However, the RTO plays a crucial role in the life of every driver and vehicle owner - let’s see how.

You cannot purchase car insurance in India without a valid driving license. The RTO will issue a learning license for you to start classes. Once you complete the requisite sessions and a test, the RTO will issue a permanent driving license. You’ll have to contact the RTO to renew your license periodically. The RTO will correct errors in your learning or driving license and issue a duplicate copy in case your original gets lost or stolen.

You must have a valid insurance policy with a certificate of coverage for third-party damages in India. You might attract fines if you do not have the necessary car insurance certificate. You cannot get the required insurance policy without a registration number. The RTO registers every vehicle in the state. You can use the vehicle registration number to purchase two-wheeler and four-wheeler insurance online or offline.

All vehicles must also have a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. New cars and bikes do not require one within the first year of registration. After that, they must obtain a new PUC every six months or every year. Today, insurance companies will not issue a four-wheeler insurance plan without a valid PUC. The RTO examines vehicles and carries out the PUC check before providing the required certificate. Without it, you cannot drive your car legally or get the needed certificate of insurance. 

The RTO now provides most vehicle services online through the Parivahan website. You can use the website to pay your tax, apply for a duplicate fitness certificate, or renew the vehicle’s registration status. You can also make changes to your car or bike registration, which impacts your insurance policy. Once you complete the required process on the Parivahan portal, ensure you get a new certificate of insurance online. The new policy should reflect all the updated details about your vehicle. Visit the Zuno website to purchase two-wheeler insurance online. You can quickly complete your car insurance renewal online and your two-wheeler insurance renewal online with your vehicle registration number.

ARN: Zuno/Blog/0323/09