What is RTO? List of Offices in India

The Government of India has the responsibility of keeping a database of all the vehicles and the drivers in India and this responsibility is carried out by each State and Union Territories through their RTO or Regional Transport Authority. The head of an RTO is the Transport Commissioner who supervises all such activities related to safekeeping the data of vehicles plying on the Indian Road, issuance of licenses and permits in India and all related certifications.

What is an RTO?

Motor Vehicles Department was formed under section 213(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and is the main act which is pertinent to the motor vehicles and its related services all over India. The motor vehicle department is in control of imposing several requirements of this act. Every state and city in India have their own RTO or Regional Transport Office and RTA or Regional Transport Authority.

As per the act, every RTO or RTA is responsible to carry out certain roles and activities. RTO or RTA is a Government organization with the purpose of keeping the record and monitor all the motor vehicles in different States and various Union Territories. The main intention is to ensure the proper functioning of vehicles which are allotted under specific series in a particular state. The RTO office identifies the vehicles that are not taxed. The role also involves identifying cars entering different Indian states.

An RTO also keeps a tab of vehicles exceeding the prescribed speed limit on the roads as caught on the speed cameras. Hence, RTO or RTA or any State provides many facilities and services both offline and online to the general public like you and me for our convenience and ease.

List of Most Important Functions and Activities carried out by the RTO

Every department or office has certain duties and responsibilities in any organization. Likewise, any RTO has also some important jobs and activities to carry out. Let us see how the main functions and activities which an RTO or RTA does for you to understand the role of an RTO.

1. Main Functions by an RTO
• To impose the requirements of several rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, CMVR Act or the Central Motor Vehicles Rules Act, 1989 and also the State Motor Vehicles guidelines as stated by the Indian Government
• To ensure continuous growth and expansion of road transport by managing various kind of permits
• To levy the applicable tax and collecting the same as per the Motor Vehicles Act
• To issue badges for public service
2. Activities performed by an RTO
• To issue Driving Licences
  Driving in India without a valid driving license is a criminal offence. More importantly, you need to have a valid driving license before driving a for your and others safety. However, the RTO also has other activities like the issuance of driving license in this category, which can be summarized as:
1. Issuance of learner’s license as well as conducting the driving tests
2. Issuance of permanent driving license and doing the necessary paperwork for the same
3. Issuance of duplicate license in case you have lost, misplaced your driving license or the same is damaged
4. To renew a driving licence
5. To issue the international driving permit (IDP) for anyone who wishes to drive out of India with the Indian driving license
6. To issue a licence pertaining to motor vehicle driving school
7. To issue a licence for the driving instructors for professional coaching
8. To issue a licence for conductors for commercial vehicles
• Vehicle Registration
  Registration of every vehicle is mandatory with the RTO as soon as you buy the vehicle before plying it on the Indian roads. This is the way RTOs maintain the database for all vehicles in India. Thus, an RTO takes the necessary actions for this process and some of them are:
1. To issue and renew the Registration Certificate for your Motor Vehicle
2. To transfer the ownership in Registration Certificate from one person to another in case of sale of the vehicle
3. Change of Registration details of the vehicle when the car/bike is transported to a different state for a period of more than 12 months
4. To record for any hypothecation in registration book if you have taken your vehicle on loan and then removal of hypothecation when the loan is completed
5. To capture any changes in your Vehicle Registration Certificate in case of physical modification of the vehicle or any other change that needs to be recorded
6. To issue No Objection Certificate in case you are transferring your vehicle from one state to the other
7. To issue a fitness certificate for your vehicle to see whether your vehicle meets all the norms under pollution control, especially necessary for all commercial vehicles
8. To issue permits for tourist as well as for transport vehicles like:
1. Permits for Commercial vehicles carrying goods from one place to another within the State
2. National Permits for Commercial vehicles carrying goods across the geographical boundaries of India
3. Permits for Passenger-carrying vehicles like taxis, auto-rickshaws, rental cabs, e-rickshaws, etc.
4. Permits for Chartered and School Bus 
5. Temporary permits
6. All India Tourist Permits
• Collection of Tax
  Tax of any kind is collected with a purpose to maintain certain basic needs of any country and acts as an important source of revenue or income to the Government. Likewise, an RTO performs a very crucial function of collecting tax, like road tax which is a source of income for the Government to maintain the necessary infrastructure. These areas below:
1. To collect Road Tax (also identified as MV Tax or Motor Vehicle Tax) on motor vehicles
2. To collect various fees, including IMV (Inspector Motor Vehicle) fees
3. To conduct any department’s action cases
• Vehicle Scrutiny at various check posts:
  Appropriate scrutiny of vehicles is also done by the RTO at necessary points of compliance of motor safety norms like:
1. Inspection of all accidental vehicles before it is fit to ply again
2. Random validity check of
1. PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificates
2. Insurance Certificates
3. Driving License
• Safeguarding the environment
  In light of increasing pollution every day, keeping the same under control is very important. Therefore, the Motor Vehicles Act,1988 makes the below two features very crucial which an RTO implements:
1. CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) Conversion from petrol or diesel
2. Testing Centres for all Pollution Under Control centres of the State
• Safety of roads
  RTO performs this important function as well by continuously making all of us aware of the safety measures to be taken on roads in various ways.

RTO code list in India & link for their official website

As you know there are 29 states in India with 8 Union Territories and each State as well as the Union Territories has its own RTO offices with a certain designated code and their respective website. You must be aware of these codes for your knowledge. So, let us see the RTO code list in a tabular format as below:

India RTO code for STATES

India RTO code for UNION TERRITORIES

Let us see the Union Territories now as below:

How to register a vehicle in an RTO? 

Vehicle Registration is a procedure whereby after buying the vehicle you obtain the number plate of your vehicle and the same is registered under records of the government. The main purpose of registration is to establish a linkage between you as the owner and the vehicle by a distinct identification number which is nothing but the registration number plate. It is of utmost importance to register the vehicle keeping in mind the uniqueness which is given to you and your vehicle. Also, without proper registration, you will not get the insurance coverage. 

What are the documents required for the same?

There is a list of necessary documents that need to be submitted in order to register your vehicle with the RTO. There is a fee that needs to be paid as well for the same. After the documents have been authenticated and your vehicle is scrutinized, a vehicle number will be issued to you. And after 7 days the registration certificate will be issued and this will stand as proof for the registration of your vehicle. Let us see the documents now for this process.

• Application for registering the car Form number 20
• Sales Certificate Form number 21
• Road Fitness Certificate to be obtained from the manufacturers by Form number 22
• Pollution Under Control Certificate
• Certificate of Insurance
• Your address proof as to the buyer like an Aadhaar card, Ration card, any Utility bill, etc.
• Your age proofs
• For vehicles which are imported, the custom’s authorization certificate with the license and the bond
• Temporary registration number, if any
• Form number 34 in case you have taken the vehicle on loan or hypothecation
• Permit records for transport vehicles
• Parking charge by the respective Municipal Corporation
• Invoice from the dealer
• Your PAN card copies with proper attestation or form 60 as appropriate
• Passport size photographs
• Sketch imprint of the Chassis and the Engine
• Approval for the design from Transport Minister for registration of trailer or semi-trailer vehicles

Cost of registering different types of vehicle

There will be an additional charge of INR 200 if the Registration Certificate is a smart card that is being issued or may have been renewed under Form number 23A which is a certificate of registration in electronic mode. 

It is beneficial for you to have a smart card that has all the necessary details of the vehicle along with the details of you as the owner like your name, date of birth, address, blood group. Let us take you through the cost as below:

How to get vehicle fancy number through RTO?

Some people have a fascination for a fancy number for their vehicle number plate like 1111, 9999 or maybe a bond number 007. Others might have some astrology or numerology reasons for the same as well. However, a fancy number plate or a specific number plate can surely be requested and there is a procedure for the same as well.

• As per the Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, you need to submit the application for special numbers or fancy numbers to the respective RTO office
• After a fancy number is approved and allotted to you, you will be required to pay the necessary charges as per the choice of the fancy number
• If there is more than one application for any specific registration number, the same will be chosen through an auction
• The booking of a fancy number of your vehicle will remain valid for 30 days within which you must complete the registration of the vehicle

How to get a driving license through the RTO?

You have seen above that issuing driving license is one of the critical activities performed by an RTO or RTA. Here, we will briefly explain to you how to get your driving license.

• You will have to obtain Form number 4, an application form for motor vehicle driving license in India
• You can download the said form from the respective State Transport website or you can visit the nearest RTO
• You must fill up the application correctly and accurately with documents like your age and address proof and photographs. You need to submit the same at the RTO in the respective jurisdiction. A schedule with a specific slot will be given post the payment of INR 200 is made by you
• You need to be present as per the stated date and time for the test. Once passed, the driving license will be handed over to you there itself or may be sent to your registered address

• If you are learning driving from a Driving school, the school also can help you to apply for your driving license

So now you are aware of the duties and the responsibilities of an RTO and you can easily go and visit as per your need. You do not have to get hassled or worried from now on. Get the right information and know exactly what you need to do and make things easier for you.