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The government has proposed steep hikes in vehicle fitness testing and renewal fees, with charges doubling for vehicles over 20 years to curb pollution and safety risks.
New Delhi: Policemen check vehicles on the road (Photo: PTI)
Holding on to older vehicles could soon burn a deeper hole in the pocket, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) proposing changes to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
The draft amendments, issued Thursday, call for steep hikes in fitness testing and certificate renewal fees, with charges set to climb higher as vehicles get older.
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AGE-LINKED SLABS FOR FITNESS TESTING
The proposal introduces separate fee slabs for vehicles over 10, 13, 15 and 20 years. Currently, vehicles above 20 years pay the same as those in the 15+ category, but under the amendment, both testing and certification fees for 20+ year vehicles will be doubled.
Fitness testing for commercial vehicles is mandated every two years up to eight years and annually thereafter, while for personal vehicles it is required at the time of registration renewal, after 15 years, and then every five years.
The last fee revision came in 2021. The 2025 draft reflects a policy push to discourage the use of older vehicles, citing safety and pollution concerns.
PROPOSED FITNESS TESTING COSTS
Under the draft, manual and automated testing slabs have been merged. For vehicles between 15–20 years, testing fees will be Rs 500 for motorcycles, Rs 1,000 for three-wheelers/light motor vehicles, Rs 1,300 for medium goods/passenger vehicles, and Rs 1,500 for heavy goods/passenger vehicles.
For 20+ year vehicles, charges will double to Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 2,600, and Rs 3,000, respectively.
CERTIFICATE RENEWAL FEES
The government has also proposed higher charges for fitness certificates, with new age-linked categories. For motorcycles, three-wheelers, and cars between 10–15 years, fees will be Rs 200. For medium/heavy vehicles, it rises to Rs 1,000 (10–13 years) and Rs 5,000 (13–15 years).
Vehicles older than 20 years will face steep costs: Rs 2,000 for motorcycles, Rs 7,000 for three-wheelers, Rs 15,000 for cars/light vehicles, Rs 20,000 for medium, and Rs 25,000 for heavy vehicles.
OBJECTIONS INVITED
The public has 30 days to submit objections and suggestions to the Additional Secretary (Transport) at comments-morth@gov.in, or by post to the MoRTH, Transport Bhawan, New Delhi.
SECOND PROPOSAL IN 2025
This is the second proposal this year to raise fitness-related charges. A similar draft in February 2025 was withdrawn after backlash from commercial transport bodies. However, part of that plan was implemented last month, doubling renewal fees for 20+ year-old vehicles.
PUSH FOR AUTOMATED CENTRES
The ministry is also moving to mandate that all fitness tests be conducted at automated centres, replacing manual inspections to ensure transparency and tamper-proof results.
RELIEF FOR NEW BUYERS
While ownership of old vehicles may get costlier, new small cars and bikes could become cheaper. From September 22, the GST Council has approved a tax cut for entry-level vehicles — reducing rates from 28 per cent to 18 per cent for small petrol, LPG, and CNG cars (under 1,200cc and 4,000 mm length) and diesel cars (under 1,500cc and 4,000 mm).
About the Author
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
September 05, 2025, 09:14 IST
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