Hiren bought a used car in Ahmedabad and needed it transferred into his name. Ownership transfer is reported to the registering authorities concerned, based on the jurisdictions of the transferor and transferee. Ahmedabad has three of them.
Every Gujarat vehicle carries a GJ-series code naming the office that holds its record and Gujarat has 40 RTO and ARTO registration codes. The district alone may not identify the relevant registering office, because several districts have more than one office. The offices are run by the Commissionerate of Transport, Government of Gujarat. Each is designated either RTO or ARTO.
What the Gujarat RTO does
Every Gujarat RTO works under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and handles the same core functions.
Vehicle registration. Issuing and renewing registration certificates for private and commercial vehicles.
Driving licences. Learner's licences, permanent licences, renewals and international driving permits.
Taxation. Collecting lump-sum motor vehicle tax and transfer tax.
Permits. Goods carriage, passenger, tourist, national and interstate permits.
Fitness certification. Testing and certifying that a vehicle is roadworthy.
Pollution control. Overseeing PUC certification and emission compliance.
Enforcement support. Working alongside police on traffic regulation.
Offices are designated either RTO or ARTO. An ARTO is an Assistant Regional Transport Office. It carries its own registration code rather than operating under a nearby RTO.
Gujarat RTO code list
Gujarat operates 40 RTO and ARTO registration codes across the state.
Table: Gujarat RTO and ARTO codes
Code | Office |
GJ-01 | RTO Ahmedabad (Sabarmati) |
GJ-02 | RTO Mehsana |
GJ-03 | RTO Rajkot |
GJ-04 | RTO Bhavnagar |
GJ-05 | RTO Surat |
GJ-06 | RTO Vadodara |
GJ-07 | RTO Nadiad (Kheda) |
GJ-08 | RTO Palanpur (Banaskantha) |
GJ-09 | RTO Himatnagar (Sabarkantha) |
GJ-10 | RTO Jamnagar |
GJ-11 | RTO Junagadh |
GJ-12 | RTO Bhuj (Kutch) |
GJ-13 | ARTO Surendranagar |
GJ-14 | ARTO Amreli |
GJ-15 | RTO Valsad |
GJ-16 | ARTO Bharuch |
GJ-17 | RTO Godhra (Panchmahal) |
GJ-18 | ARTO Gandhinagar |
GJ-19 | ARTO Bardoli |
GJ-20 | ARTO Dahod |
GJ-21 | ARTO Navsari |
GJ-22 | ARTO Rajpipla (Narmada) |
GJ-23 | ARTO Anand |
GJ-24 | ARTO Patan |
GJ-25 | ARTO Porbandar |
GJ-26 | ARTO Vyara (Tapi) |
GJ-27 | ARTO Ahmedabad East (Vastral) |
GJ-28 | ARTO Surat (Pal) |
GJ-29 | ARTO Vadodara (Darjipura) |
GJ-30 | ARTO Ahva-Dang |
GJ-31 | ARTO Modasa (Aravalli) |
GJ-32 | ARTO Veraval (Gir Somnath) |
GJ-33 | ARTO Botad |
GJ-34 | ARTO Chhota Udepur |
GJ-35 | ARTO Lunawada (Mahisagar) |
GJ-36 | ARTO Morbi |
GJ-37 | ARTO Khambhaliya (Devbhoomi Dwarka) |
GJ-38 | ARTO Bavla (Ahmedabad) |
GJ-39 | ARTO Anjar (Kachchh) |
GJ-40 | ARTO Tharad |
Codes are allocated by the Commissionerate and change as new offices open. Confirm yours on cot.gujarat.gov.in . The code on your paperwork names your registering office. Hiren's GJ-27 identifies ARTO Ahmedabad East at Vastral as the registering office.
Services offered by RTO Gujarat
Every office handles registration, licensing, permits, taxation and fitness work.
Table: Services available across Gujarat RTOs
Category | Services |
Vehicle registration | New registration, temporary registration, permanent RC, duplicate RC, RC renewal, re-registration |
Ownership | Transfer of ownership, transfer after the owner's death, address change in RC, correction of details |
Driving licence | Learner's licence, permanent licence, renewal, duplicate, international driving permit |
Permits | Goods carriage, national, tourist, contract carriage and interstate permits |
Fitness and compliance | Fitness certificate issue and renewal, vehicle inspection |
Taxation | Lump-sum motor vehicle tax, transfer tax, tax clearance |
NOC and hypothecation | No Objection Certificate, addition and removal of hypothecation |
Other | Fancy number booking, HSRP number plates |
How to register a vehicle in Gujarat?
The vehicle registration process generally involves these stages and a dealer usually files it for a new vehicle.
Submit Form 20 with your supporting documents, at the office or on Parivahan.
Pay motor vehicle tax and the registration fee. Retain the receipt.
Vehicle inspection. An officer checks the engine and chassis numbers. A dealer inspection certificate can substitute in some cases.
Verification and approval. The office assigns a permanent registration number.
RC issued. The registration certificate is issued after approval.
A dealer-issued temporary registration is valid for 30 days. Apply for permanent registration before the temporary registration expires. A registration certificate for a private vehicle runs for 15 years. It is renewable every five years after that.
Documents required for vehicle registration
The core documents required for vehicle registration include:
Form 20, the application for registration
Form 21, the sale certificate from the dealer
Form 22, the roadworthiness certificate from the manufacturer
Form 34, where the vehicle is financed
Valid motor insurance certificate
Proof of identity and proof of address
Sales invoice from the dealer
PAN card or Form 60 where no PAN is held
Pollution Under Control certificate, where applicable
Passport-size photographs
Bill of entry from Customs, for an imported vehicle
Vehicle registration fees in Gujarat
Registration fees are set centrally and are the same at every Gujarat RTO.
Table: Registration fees by vehicle category
Vehicle category | Fee |
Motorcycle | Rs. 300 |
Three-wheeler, quadricycle or light motor vehicle, non-transport | Rs. 600 |
Three-wheeler, quadricycle or light motor vehicle, transport | Rs. 1,000 |
Medium goods or passenger vehicle | Rs. 1,000 |
Heavy goods or passenger vehicle | Rs. 1,500 |
Imported motorcycle | Rs. 2,500 |
Imported motor vehicle | Rs. 5,000 |
Any other vehicle | Rs. 3,000 |
Duplicate RC, ownership transfer, address change | Half the registration fee |
These are administrative charges. Motor vehicle tax is separate.
How much is the road tax in Gujarat?
Gujarat charges a lump-sum motor vehicle tax of 6% of vehicle cost on a new private car registered to an individual. Fully battery-operated electric vehicles are subject to the applicable state tax concession.
The rate is flat. Gujarat's current tax structure carries no price bands for an ordinary private car. A Rs. 6 lakh car and a Rs. 30 lakh car attract the same percentage.
Table: Gujarat lump-sum motor vehicle tax on a new private car
Owner or vehicle type | Tax |
Individual owner | 6% of vehicle cost, fully battery-operated EVs are subject to the applicable EV concession. |
Company or other non-exempt non-individual owner | 12% of vehicle cost |
Imported vehicle | Imported private vehicles are generally subject to twice the applicable rate |
Universities, educational institutions, public trusts, social welfare institutions and local authorities are treated separately from the doubled rate. For an ordinary private car registration, Gujarat's current tax table lists no additional cess or road safety tax. That does not make 6% the whole bill. Registration fees, HSRP charges and hypothecation fees where applicable are all separate.
Road tax when you buy a used car in Gujarat
A resale attracts a transfer tax calculated on the lump-sum tax originally paid, not a fresh percentage of the car's value.
Table: Gujarat transfer tax on a used private car
Age of vehicle at transfer | Transfer tax |
Up to 8 years | 15% of the lump-sum tax originally paid |
Over 8 years | 1% of the lump-sum tax paid or Rs. 100, whichever is higher |
Ask the seller what lump-sum tax was paid at first registration. The transfer tax cannot be worked out without it.
Driving licence fees in Gujarat
Licence fees are set centrally and the driving test is charged per class.
Table: Licence and test fees
Service | Fee |
Learner's licence test | Rs. 50 |
Learner's licence | Rs. 150 |
Issue or renewal of driving licence | Rs. 200 |
Driving test, each class | Rs. 300 |
Adding a vehicle class to a licence | Rs. 500 |
Change of address or details in a licence | Rs. 200 |
International Driving Permit | Rs. 1,000 |
Apply through the Parivahan Sarathi portal. A permanent licence can be applied for 30 days after the learner's licence is issued.
Which RTO Gujarat services can you complete online?
Many licence, tax and vehicle-related services can be completed online, although some services or cases may still require a physical visit.
Table: Online and in-person RTO services
Service | Online | Requires a visit |
Learner's licence application | Yes, on the Sarathi portal | Only for the test |
Permanent driving licence | Application online | Yes, for the driving test |
Driving licence renewal | Yes | No |
Duplicate licence | Yes | Sometimes, for collection |
Motor vehicle tax payment | Yes | No |
Challan payment | Yes | No |
RC application status | Yes | No |
NOC application | Yes | Available either way |
Transfer of ownership | Application online | Yes |
Address change in RC | Yes | May require a visit depending on the application |
Check your RC application status on the VAHAN portal using your application details using the number on your acknowledgement receipt.
Why insurance comes before registration
A vehicle cannot be registered in India without a valid insurance certificate in force.
This is relevant for first-time buyers who expect to arrange cover after taking delivery. Insurance must be in force before registration is completed. Third-party cover is the legal minimum under Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. New private cars are issued a bundled policy. It carries three years of third-party cover with one year of own damage cover.
When ownership is transferred, the insurance policy should also be transferred to the buyer's name. If the transfer is not recorded as required, an own-damage claim may not be payable. Driving without valid insurance carries Rs. 2,000 for a first offence, rising to Rs. 4,000 for a repeat. You also remain personally liable for third-party compensation awarded against you.
Comprehensive cover is can be considered in addition to third-party alone in Gujarat. Long highway distances between cities are present alongside dense traffic in Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. A third-party policy does not cover damage to the insured vehicle. Zurich Kotak General Insurance Company (India) Limited covers cars and two-wheelers . Options include comprehensive, third-party and standalone own damage policies .
Conclusion
Check a code against the Commissionerate rather than the first list you find. Work out your tax on the right basis. A new private car is generally subject to the 6% lump-sum tax rate, while a used one attracts transfer tax instead. Arrange insurance before your delivery date. Registration cannot be completed without a valid certificate in force.Hiren read the code off the RC and went straight to Vastral.
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Frequently asked questions
How many RTOs are there in Gujarat?
Gujarat operates 40 RTO and ARTO registration codes across the state. Each carries its own GJ-series code.
What is the RTO code for Ahmedabad?
GJ-01 for the Sabarmati office. Ahmedabad East at Vastral is GJ-27 and Bavla is GJ-38.
Which district is GJ-36?
GJ-36 is ARTO Morbi.
Which district is GJ-29?
ARTO Vadodara at Darjipura. Chhota Udepur is a separate code, GJ-34.
What is the difference between an RTO and an ARTO?
An ARTO is an Assistant Regional Transport Office. It carries its own registration code rather than operating under a nearby RTO.
How much is road tax on a new car in Gujarat?
6% of vehicle cost for a private car registered to an individual. There are no price bands.
Is road tax higher for a company car in Gujarat?
Yes. Vehicles owned by most non-exempt non-individual entities are taxed at twice the normal rate.
Do I pay road tax again on a used car?
No. A resale attracts a transfer tax instead. It is calculated on the lump-sum tax originally paid.
How long is a registration certificate valid in Gujarat?
Fifteen years for a private vehicle, renewable every five years after that.
Is insurance compulsory to register a vehicle?
Yes. At minimum you need third-party cover in force before registration can be completed.
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