Renewal Fee Doubled for Vehicles Over 20 Years Old – Check New Charges

Owning a vehicle older than 20 years is now going to cost more. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued new rules under the Central Motor Vehicles (Third Amendment) Rules 2025, announcing that the registration renewal fees for such vehicles will almost double. This move will directly impact people who still drive vehicles that are more than two decades old.

What has changed?

Under the revised rules, the renewal fee for motorcycles has been doubled to ₹2,000 from ₹1,000, while for three-wheelers and quadricycles it has been increased from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000. Light motor vehicle owners will have to pay ₹10,000, which was previously ₹5,000. The renewal fee for imported two- and three-wheelers has been doubled, rising from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000. Similarly, for imported four-wheelers and larger vehicles, the fee has been raised from ₹40,000 to ₹80,000. For other vehicles, the fee has been fixed at ₹12,000. It is worth mentioning that the revised fees are exclusive of GST. Additionally, vehicles that are 15 years old can still be re-registered, but their lifespan cannot be extended beyond 20 years.

Why was the hike introduced?

The government’s clear objective is to gradually phase out old vehicles from the roads and replace them with newer, safer, and more environment-friendly ones. Vehicles that are over 20 years old cause higher pollution and pose safety risks on the road. This is also linked with the government’s vehicle scrappage policy.

Reference to Delhi-NCR

In Delhi-NCR, restrictions on old vehicles are already in place. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on vehicles older than 15 years. Later, in 2015, diesel vehicles over 10 years old were also prohibited. In 2018, the Supreme Court declared these vehicles as “end-of-life.” Recently, the Court also directed that the Delhi government should not take coercive action against owners of old vehicles.

What does this mean for vehicle owners?

Now, vehicle owners are left with only two options:If they want to continue using their old vehicle, they must pay the hefty renewal fees. Alternatively, they can take advantage of the government’s scrappage policy by selling their old vehicle and purchasing a new one.