Vehicle Registration Certificate

On registration, the vehicle details are recorded in the database of a government authority called the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and a certificate is issued. This is called the Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC). As for motor insurance, according to the law, at least a third-party insurance cover is necessary. It is quite easy to get car insurance online with Tata AIG's simple online process.

It is the certificate issued by the RTO of the state in which the vehicle is registered. It contains the following details:

• Vehicle registration number and date of registration
• Name and address of the owner
• Class of the vehicle
• Month and year of manufacture
• Type of fuel used
• Chassis number and engine number of the vehicle
• Cubic capacity
• Dry weight or unladen weight
• Date of registration and the expiry date for the validity of the registration

A registration certificate is an essential document if you are a vehicle owner. It has the following uses:

• Establishes the identity of the vehicle owner
• It is necessary when the vehicle is sold, and the new owner's name should be included in the certificate.
• It should be produced when claims under an insurance policy are lodged after an accident or theft. Therefore, along with the car insurance policy document, you should also submit a copy of the RC.
• It is also used in forensics to identify a recovered stolen/abandoned car.

You can get the vehicle registration certificate for your car from the nearest RTO sub office in your area. You have to submit the following documents:

• Application form in Form 20
• Sales certificate for the car in Form 21
• Dealer invoice for the car
• Valid address proof
• Form 34 in case the vehicle has been purchased under an HP scheme
• Passport size photographs
• Proof of age
• Pencil print of chassis and engine (in some states)
• Proof of valid four-wheeler insurance policy
• Temporary registration issued by the dealer
• Copy of PAN card
• Receipt for the fee paid

Once you have these documents ready, you can either take the vehicle for a personal inspection by the RTO authority or request your vehicle's dealer to complete the process. It generally takes 7-15 days for the registration process to be completed and details updated in the database. Once you receive your certificate, you can also check the status of your vehicle registration by checking the government's Vahan Service.

For a non-transport vehicle, like your car or a scooter, the registration certificate is valid for 15 years from its first registration date, and shall renew it every five years after that. For transport vehicles, the certificate is valid until the validity of the fitness certificate for the vehicle. After that , the certificate of fitness is issued for two years and renewed annually from the third year.

As the owner of the vehicle, you should drive it on the road with a valid RC. However, there are a few circumstances in which the vehicle registration certificate needs to be updated. These are as follows:

• When you sell the vehicle, the buyer's details should be updated as the new owner in the RC.
• The lien marked on the RC would be cancelled when you have squared up the loan against the vehicle.
• In some states (Delhi and Sikkim), the owner's mobile number is recorded on the RC. If you live in these states and wish to change the mobile number linked to your vehicle registration details, you can update the RC.

Now that you know how to get the registration certificate, you should also know how to get the right insurance for your car. You can opt for the standalone third-party insurance policy or go for the comprehensive coverage including both third-party coverage and own damage. Tata AIG's car insurance policies can be purchased online and customized according to your specific requirements.

With Tata AIG, you can easily get the four-wheeler insurance price for any policy by providing the registration details on the Car Insurance page and clicking the "Get Policy “The entire process can be completed in three simple steps.

• First, you should provide the details about your car and the appropriate IDV. You can also choose the add-ons that you wish in your comprehensive car insurance policy.
• The online calculator will return the premium to be paid.
• Finally, if you find the premium feasible, you can go ahead and submit the required documents, pay the premium and download the policy.

• Both RC and car insurance documents are important government authorized documents. Therefore, you should be careful in handling them and protect them from mishandling, mutilation, etc.
• You should remember the due date for the car insurance renewal and pay the premium before the due date. Driving on the road without a valid insurance policy can lead to claim rejection.
• You should also keep the registration validity in mind, especially if you have old vehicles with sentimental value. Keep all the registration certificates current.
• When buying a second-hand car, make sure that the registration certificate and car insurance are transferred to your name.

Both registration and insurance are the twin sisters of responsible car ownership. With the information provided above, ensure that you get the vehicle registered in your name and you drive with a valid RC at all times. Similarly, you should always carry current insurance documents while driving on the road so that in case of an unexpected mishap, the insurer would be convinced that there was no deficiency in documentation as required by law.