How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership Online: Fees & Process

As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, you must transfer vehicle ownership in case of vehicle resale, auction, or the death of the registered owner. The vehicle ownership transfer enables the previous registered owner’s name to be replaced by the new owner’s name. If not done, all parties can be fined by the Indian authorities. An easy way to transfer vehicle ownership is to complete an RC transfer online, as it is simpler and faster than the offline method.

Transferring vehicle ownership

The process of vehicle ownership transfer can be offline or online. The offline method is more time-consuming, as you need to physically collect the forms to submit, pay transfer fees, and ensure verification takes place. The online vehicle ownership transfer method is more convenient, as most of the process is completed online by entering accurate details. You can then send the signed documents via mail for a hassle-free vehicle ownership transfer.

Intrastate vs Interstate Vehicle Ownership Transfer: Key Differences

An important distinction to understand is whether the vehicle ownership transfer is intrastate (within the state) or interstate (outside the state of registration). The regulations, fees and taxes involved, the timelines, and the overall compliance differ critically between the two cases. For example, if the vehicle transfer is within Delhi, the regulations will be easier, and the process will be quicker. However, when the vehicle ownership transfer is from Delhi to Maharashtra, you may need to take a few extra steps. 

Here is a table explaining the differences:

How to Check Vehicle Ownership Transfer Status Online

With the Parivahan Portal and various third-party apps, it is quite straightforward to check the ownership transfer status. We strongly recommend using the official portals (Parivahan) for the correct information. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Visit the Parivahan Sewa website
2. Click on “Know Your Application Status”
3. Enter the application number received during submission
4. Complete the captcha verification and submit
5. View the application status, such as Pending, Verified, Approved, or RC Dispatched

Alternatively, you can check the owner's details after the prescribed period has passed to ensure that the new records have been updated in the government database. 

Also Read: RTO Charges for New Car in India 

Common Reasons Why Vehicle Ownership Transfer Gets Delayed or Rejected

If you are not vigilant enough in providing all the required information, your documents have issues, or there are other pending compliance issues, the vehicle ownership is delayed or rejected. Here are some of the most common reasons and its suggested solutions:

When to Transfer Vehicle Ownership?

The need for RTO transfer of ownership arises in three scenarios: reselling the vehicle, auctioning the car/bike, or the death of the vehicle’s registered owner.

Scenario 1: Vehicle resale

When the owner sells a vehicle to another individual, it is registered under the seller’s name. The buyer must transfer the vehicle ownership to their name. It enables the RTO to know that the vehicle has a new owner and to obtain their details.

Scenario 2: Vehicle auction

A seller can auction his vehicle for debt repayment purposes. In such cases, it is mandatory to transfer ownership to the buyer by following the transfer process. This process is known as the transfer of ownership in an auction.

Scenario 3: Death of registered owner

If the registered owner passes away, the car/bike ownership is transferred automatically to the legal heir. However, the inheritor must apply to change the vehicle ownership to their name within three months of the registered owner’s death.

Also Read: What is Motor Fleet Insurance?

How to Get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from RTO

The process of obtaining an NOC from the relevant RTO can be a bit confusing, especially when transferring interstate vehicle ownership. However, we suggest that you follow the following steps, as the entire process is facilitated online:

1. Visit the Parivahan portal and apply for NOC under Vehicle Related Services
2. Fill and submit Form 28 (usually in triplicate)
3. Pay the applicable NOC fee
4. The RTO may conduct verification checks before approval
5. Once approved, the NOC is issued by the original RTO
6. The NOC can then be used for re-registration or ownership transfer in another state

In a few cases, you can be asked to send documents, receipts and other attachments through physical mail. We strongly recommend that you follow all the instructions properly to ensure that your application is not delayed or cancelled by the relevant authorities, citing lack of compliance or due to the absence of required documents. The NOC validity also varies depending on the RTO. 

Insurance Transfer After Vehicle Ownership Change: Complete Process

From a legal and financial perspective, transferring the insurance policy is also important after the ownership has been transferred from one party to the other. Imagine a situation where the vehicle needs post-accident repairs and there is a mismatch between the RC and insurance details. This can delay the insurance claim for the new owner or it can be rejected as well. 

As per IRDAI guidelines, the buyer should transfer the insurance policy to his name within 14 days of purchasing the vehicle. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

• Inform the insurer about the vehicle ownership transfer
• Submit the RC transfer proof and the existing insurance policy copy
• Provide identity proof, address proof, and passport-size photographs of the buyer
• Submit Form 29 and Form 30 copies, if required
• Pay the endorsement fee charged by the insurer (usually around ₹50–₹100)
• The insurer verifies the documents and issues the updated policy in the buyer’s name

Please note that accumulated NCB is not transferred to the buyer and remains with the seller. 

How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership After the Owner’s Death

If the vehicle owner has passed away, the legal heir must have the vehicle transferred into their name for legal and procedural reasons. The timeline for this transfer should be within 3 months of the owner's death. The process is fairly straightforward and includes the local RTO (in which the vehicle is registered). 

You need to submit a duly filled Form 31 along with these documents:

• Original Registration Certificate (RC)
• Death certificate of the registered owner
• Valid insurance policy and PUC certificate
• Legal heir certificate or succession certificate
• Identity and address proof of the inheritor
• NOC from other legal heirs (if applicable)

The verification and transfer of ownership to the legal heir can take up to 30-45 days. 

Vehicle Ownership Transfer for Gift Deeds or Family Transfers

It is common to gift a car or a two-wheeler to family members. However, there is a proper system in place that should be followed to ensure the vehicle is legally transferred to the new owner, and all subsequent legal formalities (such as insurance renewal, payment of challans, etc.) will be handled by the new owner only. 

The process generally follows the standard RC transfer procedure, using Forms 29 and 30. In most cases, the buyer and seller must also submit a notarised gift deed along with identity proof, RC, insurance policy, and address proof. The vehicle insurance policy must also be transferred to the new owner’s name.

Documents required for vehicle ownership transfer online

The following documents are required to transfer car or bike ownership online.

Registration certificate

The seller must have their original registration certificate (RC) or the smart card, depending on when the registration.

PAN card

PAN cards of both the seller and the buyer are required if the vehicle's value exceeds Rs. 50,000. They are a must for both online and offline RC transfers.

Address proofs

These include the electricity, gas, or water bills as they contain the permanent address.

Car/bike insurance certificate

A valid vehicle insurance certificate is mandatory for the online transfer of ownership of a vehicle. It is a must for a four-wheeler or bike name transfer online.

Also Read: How to Make Bike Insurance Premium Payment Online?

Form 28

This form is for intrastate vehicle ownership transfer in Maharashtra. It is also for interstate ownership transfer. Form 28 is the No Objection Certificate (NOC) application and grant. When you apply for it, you must pay the fees first. The seller needs to obtain Form 28 before he sells his vehicle. The RTO will contact the local police. The police will search for any illegal cases registered against the car/bike. If your vehicle has no such issues, you will receive the NOC.

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Form 29

This form is for informing the RTO about the sale. It acts as a Notice of Ownership Transfer. The seller of the four-wheeler or bike may need to submit more than one copy of this form.

Form 30

This form serves as confirmation of Form 29 and as an intimation of the ownership transfer. Just like Form 29, you must submit two copies of this form to the RTO for online bike RC transfer.

Form 31

This application form must be duly filled out and submitted when there is a legal heir to the vehicle. It transfers the ownership to the nominated person.

Form 32

This application form is needed when the buyer has purchased the vehicle at a public auction. It is necessary to transfer both car and bike ownership online.

Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate

The PUC certificate shows that your vehicle's emissions are under control. If you purchased your vehicle after April 2010, an annual PUC renewal is required. Otherwise, the PUC must be renewed every 3 months.

Form 35

This form must be submitted when terminating a purchase/lease/hypothecation during an online car or bike ownership transfer. This form does not need to be submitted if the vehicle is hypothecated to a bank and must be transferred to a new owner.

NCRB acknowledgment form

If someone used your vehicle to carry out criminal activities, you must submit the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) acknowledgment form.

You must submit only those documents that the RTO specifies, depending on the reason for the vehicle ownership transfer.

What Happens If You Don't Transfer Vehicle Ownership? (Legal Consequences)

You must ensure that the vehicle ownership is duly transferred and the new owner’s details are updated on the government database when you sell a vehicle, in case of the demise of the existing owner, or any other circumstances where transfer of ownership is legally required. If you fail to transfer ownership, here are some of the many legal consequences:

• The seller may continue to receive traffic challans issued against the vehicle
• The previous owner may face legal liability in case of accidents or criminal misuse
• Insurance claims may get rejected due to an ownership mismatch
• The buyer may face issues during resale or insurance renewal
• Penalties may apply under Section 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act for delayed ownership transfer
• In serious cases, the registration may face suspension or cancellation-related complications

There are thousands of pending cases where delays in the transfer of ownership have resulted in one or many of the above issues. 

Tips for Sellers and Buyers Before/After Ownership Transfer

Before Selling the Vehicle

• Check and clear pending e-challans or FASTag dues
• Remove hypothecation and obtain bank NOC if the vehicle loan is active
• Renew the PUC certificate and keep insurance active
• Verify the chassis number and engine number details
• Keep all RC and ownership documents ready

After Buying the Vehicle

• Complete RC transfer within the prescribed timeline
• Transfer the vehicle insurance policy to the new owner’s name
• Update FASTag KYC and linked mobile details
• Verify address and identity details in the RC and insurance records
• Keep copies of all transfer forms and payment receipts for future reference

Costs of ownership transfer

The total cost of an RC transfer online varies by RTO. Many factors determine the total cost of ownership transfer, such as vehicle model, age, and condition. Vehicle ownership transfer costs start at approximately Rs. 300 and can go up to Rs. 2,000 or more.

Car ownership transfer charges

The approximate fees for offline and online car registration transfers are as follows.

• The starting cost for transferring ownership of light motor vehicles that are not used for transporting goods is Rs. 300.
• Light motor vehicles used for transporting goods in India are subject to an ownership transfer fee starting at Rs. 500.
• Motor vehicles that fall under the medium-built category and transport goods have ownership transfer costs starting at Rs. 750.
• Heavy vehicles used only for transporting goods have transfer ownership costs starting from Rs. 750.

Bike ownership transfer charges

Like car ownership transfer, you will need to pay transfer fees when you transfer the ownership of someone else’s bike to your name. The bike ownership transfer fee is not specified because it varies by bike, depending on the type, model, age, and current condition. Additionally, the RTO determines the transfer charges for the bike. You can expect bike name transfer fees in India to start at Rs. 250.

Vehicle ownership transfer online process

If you are wondering how to transfer vehicle ownership online, follow these steps for a vehicle registration transfer.

Step 1: Visit the Parivahan website, go to the Online Services tab and select Vehicle-Related Services.

Step 2: Enter your vehicle registration number and click on Proceed.

Step 3: Select Miscellaneous.

Step 4: Enter your mobile number, then click Generate OTP.

Step 5: Enter the OTP received on your number, then click See Details.

Step 6: Go to Application Selection and choose Transfer of Ownership.

Step 7: Fill in the following details: new owner-related information, insurance particulars, current address, and permanent address.

Step 8: Go to Payment and then pay the required transfer fee. Two forms, Forms 29 and 30, will be automatically generated after successful payment of the fee.

Step 9: Print these forms and ensure they are duly signed by the seller and buyer of the vehicle involved in the transfer of ownership.

Step 10: Submit these forms and the PUC, original registration certificate, copy of insurance policy, and the other required documents. You can submit them either in person at the RTO office or by mail.

If any issue arises during the processing stage, the RTO will summon the seller and buyer for clarification. The buyer can view the status of the ownership transfer online. Once the verification process is complete, the buyer will receive the new registration certificate in the mail.

Duration of the online ownership transfer process

The duration of the RC online transfer depends on the scenario. The process completion can take anywhere between a week and 45 days.

• If the vehicle is being sold, the online transfer of ownership can take anywhere between 7 and 14 days if both the seller and buyer reside in the same state.
• If the vehicle is being sold, it can take up to 30 days for the entire ownership transfer to complete in the case of an interstate vehicle transfer online.
• If the ownership transfer is due to the owner’s death or the vehicle is being auctioned, the online change of vehicle ownership can take up to 45 days.

The primary reason for the delay in the ownership transfer process is the failure to submit the required documents. It is best to ensure you submit all required documents, complete the forms accurately and check with the RTO to understand the transfer process timeline.

Key takeaways

Vehicle transfer of ownership is required when the registered owner dies or when the vehicle is sold to another individual. RC transfer, both online and offline, is a method by which you can transfer vehicle ownership. Vehicle ownership in India starts from Rs. 250 and can go upwards to Rs. 2,000 or more. The new owner must also transfer the car or bike insurance policy to their name within 14 days of the vehicle ownership transfer.

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