Purchasing an out-of-state vehicle or transporting a bare truck chassis? Learn the 2026 rules for temporary red number plates, extensions, and RTO Form 20 submissions.
Operating a motor vehicle on public roads with an expired temporary registration plate is equivalent to driving an unregistered vehicle. Under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, this is a serious offense carrying traffic fines ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, and subsequent offenses can result in vehicle impoundment.
A temporary number plate (traditionally printed with red characters on a yellow background or vice versa depending on trade status) is issued to vehicles that are in transit. It serves as a short-term legal cover until the vehicle reaches its destination state for permanent registration and road tax assessment.
When a buyer purchases a car or bike from a dealership outside their home state due to price differences or availability, and needs to legally drive it back across borders.
When truck or bus chassis are sold as bare engine frames and must be driven on public highways to a body fabricator shop for structural completion before undergoing full RTO registration.
The selling dealer logs into the central Vahan dealer module, uploads Form 21/22 parameters, enters the buyer\'s home RTO location, and files Form 20.
Complete the nominal temporary RTO processing fee online. The portal instantly generates an A4 sheet containing the temporary registration mark (e.g. MH-12-TEMP-XXXX).
Drive the vehicle directly to your home state. Within 30 days of the invoice date, submit the temporary file at your local RTO counter, pay your respective state road tax, and undergo physical vehicle verification to secure your high security permanent plate.
While the Vahan portal supports faceless services, certain steps may still require a physical visit to your local RTO for inspection or document submission.
Find your RTO Code & Office Details ➔Under Section 43 of the Motor Vehicles Act, a Temporary Registration Certificate is valid for a maximum period of 1 month. It cannot be renewed or extended for private passenger vehicles unless there are extreme certified structural coach-building delays.
A Temporary RC is legally required if you purchase a vehicle in one state but intend to register it permanently in another state, or when a bare commercial truck/bus chassis must be driven to an independent body-builder for cabin construction before permanent registration.
Yes. A temporary number plate allows you to legally operate the vehicle on public roads to transport it directly from the dealership to the destination RTO where permanent state road taxes will be paid.
The standard temporary registration fee is nominal: ₹100 for two-wheelers, ₹300-500 for private cars, and ₹1,000 for heavy commercial chassis, depending on state transport rules.