Transfer vehicle ownership by filing Form 29 (notice) and Form 30 (intimation) when selling or buying a used vehicle.
Jurisdiction
India — State-level (Regional Transport Office where the vehicle is currently registered)
Who applies
Any buyer and seller of a used motor vehicle who need to legally transfer vehicle ownership. The seller gives notice using Form 29 and the buyer applies for transfer using Form 30. Both must be submitted within 30 days of the date of sale.
Typical time
15–30 working days for the updated RC (with new owner's name) to be issued; the process at the RTO counter typically takes 1–2 hours.
Fee
Transfer of ownership fee: ₹300 for non-transport private vehicles (two-wheelers approx. ₹50–₹100); hypothecation entry fee (₹200) if applicable; road tax difference (if transferring to a new state — see Process 048).
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Form 29 — Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle | Download / Print | Filed by the seller to notify the RTO that the vehicle has been sold. Both seller and buyer must sign this form. |
| 2 | Form 30 — Report of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle | Download / Print | Filed by the buyer as an application for transfer of ownership. Both seller and buyer must sign this form. |
| 3 | Original Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle | Original | Required by the RTO for verification and endorsement of the new owner's name; submitted by the seller. |
| 4 | Proof of Address of the Buyer (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport / Utility Bill) | Self-attested Copy | To record the buyer's address on the new RC. |
| 5 | Proof of Identity of the Buyer (Aadhaar / PAN Card / Passport) | Self-attested Copy | To verify the identity of the new owner. |
| 6 | Valid Motor Insurance Certificate (in the buyer's name, or transferred policy) | Original | Insurance must be transferred to the buyer's name; the RTO verifies the insurance is current before updating the RC. |
| 7 | PUC Certificate (Pollution Under Control) | Original | Valid PUC certificate must accompany all vehicle-related applications. |
| 8 | Sale Agreement / Invoice between buyer and seller(optional)Required by some RTOs as supporting evidence; not universally mandatory under CMVR. | Original | Documents the agreed sale price and date; may be required by some RTOs to establish the date of transfer. |
| 9 | Road Tax Clearance Certificate or Payment Receipt(optional)Required only if road tax is outstanding on the vehicle. | Original | Proof that road tax up to the date of transfer has been paid; required if any road tax dues exist. |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
The seller must file Form 29 (Notice of Transfer) at the RTO within 14 days of the sale (rule of thumb — check with specific state rules). This notifies the RTO that the vehicle has changed hands and protects the seller from future liabilities.
The buyer fills Form 30 (Application for Transfer) with details of both buyer and seller, vehicle details, and the sale date. Gather all supporting documents: RC original, address proof, identity proof, insurance, and PUC certificate.
Both forms are ideally submitted together at the RTO's vehicle registration counter. If the RTO has an online portal (Vahan), the application can be initiated online; however, originals must be brought for verification. Both buyer and seller should be present (or authorise a representative).
Pay the vehicle transfer fee at the RTO cashier or online. For private non-transport vehicles, this is approximately ₹300. Collect the payment receipt.
The Registering Authority verifies all documents, updates the Vahan national database with the new owner's details, and endorses the RC with the new owner's name. The original RC is retained by the RTO for processing.
The new smart-card RC with the buyer's name is dispatched by India Post Speed Post to the buyer's address within 15–30 working days. The buyer also receives the digital RC in DigiLocker.
Regional Transport Office (RTO)
Receiving applications, document verification, and approving ownership transfer
Reviews Form 29 and Form 30, verifies documents, updates the Vahan database, and issues the updated RC in the buyer's name.
Regional Transport Office (RTO)
Fee collection
Collects the transfer fee and issues an official payment receipt.
Online initiation of ownership transfer application, fee payment, vehicle ownership verification, and RC status tracking.
Vehicle ownership history check, RTO locator, fee schedule, and e-challan verification.
The updated RC is available digitally in the new owner's DigiLocker account after the transfer is processed.
Both Form 29 (by seller) and Form 30 (by buyer) must be filed within 30 days of the sale date. Missing this window attracts a late fee. More importantly, until the transfer is completed, the seller remains legally liable for the vehicle — including for accidents, traffic violations, and challans.
Before purchasing a used vehicle, verify on the Vahan portal (or the RC itself) whether the vehicle has a bank loan/hypothecation entry. If the seller hasn't fully repaid the loan, the transfer cannot proceed without the bank's NOC. Ensure Form 35 (hypothecation termination) is obtained first.
The seller's insurance policy should be transferred to the buyer's name within 14 days of the sale. An untransferred insurance policy may not provide the buyer with coverage in case of an accident. Contact the insurance company along with filing the RTO transfer.
Any pending e-challans or fines against the vehicle are associated with the vehicle's registration number, not just the previous owner. The buyer may face difficulty at traffic checkpoints. Always verify and clear outstanding challans before purchase using the Parivahan portal.
If the buyer lives in a different state from where the vehicle is registered, the seller must first obtain an NOC from the current RTO (Process 048) before the transfer can be processed at the buyer's state RTO. This adds time and cost to the transaction.