The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has sharply raised the cost of renewing registration for vehicles older than 20 years, doubling fees across most categories to discourage the use of aging, high-pollution models.
For two-wheelers, the renewal charge has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000. Three-wheelers and quadricycles will now cost ₹5,000, up from ₹3,500. Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) face a jump from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
Imported vehicles have been hit with the steepest hikes. Old imported two- and three-wheelers will now require ₹20,000 for renewal, while imported cars will attract a fee of ₹80,000.
According to officials, vehicles older than 20 years, particularly those manufactured before Bharat Stage-II emission norms, make up a small share of the fleet but are responsible for nearly 40 percent of vehicular pollution. The new fees are intended to push owners to retire these vehicles and switch to cleaner, more efficient options.
The draft proposal was floated in February, with a formal notification issued on August 20 and finalized on August 21. This is the most significant change in renewal charges since October 2021, when the government introduced the vehicle scrappage policy.
By pricing out older vehicles, authorities hope to accelerate the phase-out of polluting models and promote cleaner transport alternatives.
