📜 In This Article
- What is Road Tax and When Do You Pay It?
- Types of Road Tax in India
- How Road Tax is Calculated
- Pay Road Tax Online — Step by Step
- Pay Road Tax for Another State (Interstate)
- Pay Commercial Vehicle Tax Online
- How to Reprint Your Road Tax Receipt
- State-Wise Road Tax Rates 2026
- BH Series Registration — Pay Tax in 2-Year Blocks
- EV Road Tax Exemptions 2026
- Road Tax Refund When Moving States
- Common Errors and Fixes
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Road Tax and When Do You Pay It?
Road tax (officially called Motor Vehicle Tax) is a compulsory levy imposed by state governments under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It is collected at the time of vehicle registration and grants legal permission to drive on public roads. Without a valid road tax payment, a vehicle cannot be legally registered or driven on Indian roads.
The funds collected go directly to the state government and are used for road construction, maintenance, and transport infrastructure. Road tax rates and payment modes vary significantly between states — each state has its own Motor Vehicles Taxation Act.
When Do You Pay Road Tax?
- New vehicle purchase: Paid at the time of first registration, usually collected by the dealership and deposited to the RTO on your behalf
- Interstate re-registration: When you move permanently to another state, you must pay road tax in the new state (and can claim a refund from the original state)
- Commercial vehicles: Paid quarterly, half-yearly, or annually depending on the state and vehicle type
- BH Series vehicles: Paid every 2 years regardless of state
- RC renewal after 15 years: For private vehicles, a road tax renewal may apply at re-registration after the 15-year lifetime tax period ends
Types of Road Tax in India
Lifetime Road Tax
Paid once, valid for 15 years. Applied to all private (non-commercial) vehicles at first registration. Calculated as a percentage of ex-showroom price. Paid when buying a new car or bike.
Periodic Road Tax
Paid quarterly, half-yearly, or annually by commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, taxis, autos). Based on vehicle capacity, weight, or seat count. Must be renewed online via Vahan portal.
BH Series Tax
Biennial (2-yearly) tax for Bharat Series registration holders. Paid every 2 years. Valid across all 28 states and 8 UTs — ideal for people with transferable jobs.
🌿 Green Tax (15+ Year Old Vehicles)
Vehicles older than 15 years (private) or 8 years (commercial) pay an additional Green Tax at RC fitness renewal — 10–50% of the original road tax amount. Older diesel vehicles typically face higher green tax rates.
⚡ EV Road Tax Exemption
Most states still offer 0–100% road tax exemption for electric vehicles in 2026 to promote EV adoption. Rates vary by state and EV category. See Section 10 for full details.
How Road Tax is Calculated
Road tax for private vehicles is calculated as a percentage of the vehicle's ex-showroom price — not the on-road price, not the discounted dealer price, and not the invoice amount. The RTO uses the ex-showroom price as declared by the manufacturer.
Factors That Affect Road Tax Amount
| Factor | How It Affects Tax |
|---|---|
| State of registration | Biggest factor — rates vary 2.5% to 18% across states for identical vehicles |
| Ex-showroom price | Higher price = higher tax. Most states use progressive slabs (higher slabs for ₹10L+, ₹20L+) |
| Fuel type | Diesel vehicles often attract a 1–2% surcharge. EVs get exemptions. CNG gets discounts in some states. |
| Vehicle type | Two-wheelers taxed at lower rates (4–13%) than four-wheelers (6–18%). Commercial vehicles taxed separately. |
| Vehicle age | New vehicles pay full lifetime tax. Used vehicles being re-registered pay depreciated tax amount. |
| Engine capacity | Some states use CC (engine displacement) as an additional slab criterion alongside price |
Pay Road Tax Online — Step by Step
The Vahan portal allows you to pay pending road tax online for your registered vehicle. This is most commonly used by commercial vehicle owners paying periodic tax, or individuals paying arrears or re-registration tax.
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1Go to vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice/vahan/ — the official Vahan Citizen Services portal.
Visit the Vahan Citizen Services portal and enter your registration number -
2Enter your vehicle registration number (e.g., MH01AB1234) in the field and click "Proceed." The portal will identify your registered RTO.
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3Log in or register with your mobile number (OTP verification). Click on "Online Services" from the top navigation menu.
Click Online Services and select Pay Vehicle Tax -
4From the services list, select "Pay Vehicle Tax" (also listed as "Pay MV Tax" or "Tax Payment" in some states).
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5Enter the last 5 digits of your chassis number (found on your RC or on the chassis plate under the bonnet/frame) and click "Validate Regn_no/Chasi_no."
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6Click "Generate OTP." Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click "Submit."
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7The portal displays your pending tax details — amount due, tax period, and any penalties. If you are paying periodic tax for a commercial vehicle, select the tax mode (quarterly, half-yearly, or annual) and the payment period.
Review your pending tax amount and select the tax period (for commercial vehicles) -
8Click "Proceed to Pay." Select your payment method — UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking. A nominal convenience charge of approximately 1% may apply. Complete the payment on the secure government payment gateway.
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9After successful payment, a tax receipt (e-receipt) is generated with your transaction number, vehicle registration number, tax period covered, and amount paid. Download and save this PDF immediately. This is your official road tax payment proof.
Download the tax e-receipt PDF — save and print for your records
Pay Road Tax for Another State — Interstate Vehicle Tax
If you are driving your vehicle in another state temporarily or planning to re-register it, you may need to pay that state's road tax. The Vahan portal supports interstate tax payment through the Checkpost Tax feature.
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1Go to the Vahan Checkpost Tax portal or the Vahan Citizen Services page and look for "Pay Other State Road Tax" or "Check Post Tax."
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2Select the destination state where you want to pay the tax from the "Select State" dropdown.
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3Enter your vehicle registration number and other required details. The system may auto-fill details from the Vahan database or ask you to enter them manually.
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4The portal calculates the applicable road tax for that state. Review and complete payment via UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking.
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5Download the tax receipt — carry it when driving in that state. This payment is typically required for commercial vehicles crossing state borders and for personal vehicles being permanently re-registered in a new state.
Pay Commercial Vehicle Tax Online — Quarterly/Annual
Commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, goods carriers, taxis, auto-rickshaws) pay road tax periodically — not as a one-time lifetime payment. The frequency and amount depend on the vehicle type, capacity, and state.
Commercial Vehicle Tax Payment Modes
| Vehicle Type | Tax Mode | Typical Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Light goods vehicles | Quarterly or annual | ₹2,000–8,000 per quarter |
| Heavy goods vehicles (trucks) | Quarterly or annual | ₹8,000–25,000 per quarter depending on weight |
| Stage carriage (buses) | Quarterly or annual | Based on seating capacity — ₹100–300 per seat per quarter |
| Taxis / cabs / contract vehicles | Quarterly or annual | ₹1,000–5,000 per quarter depending on capacity |
| Auto-rickshaws | Quarterly or annual | ₹500–2,000 per quarter |
The payment process for commercial vehicles follows the same steps as Section 4 above. On the "Pay Vehicle Tax" screen, you will additionally see options to select the tax period (quarterly/half-yearly/annual) and the coverage dates. Pay for as many periods as needed in a single transaction.
How to Reprint Your Road Tax Receipt
If you forgot to download the receipt after payment, or need a fresh copy, you can reprint it from the Vahan portal at any time — for free.
Method 1 — By Application Number
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1Go to vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice and navigate to Online Services → Reprint Tax Receipt or Tax Receipt Reprint.
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2Select "Application No. Wise" and enter your application number from the original payment acknowledgement. Click Search.
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3Your payment details appear. Click "Print Receipt" or "Download PDF."
Method 2 — By Bank Transaction Number
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1On the Reprint Tax Receipt page, select "Bank Transaction No. Wise."
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2Enter the bank transaction reference number (visible in your bank statement or UPI transaction history). Click Search and download the receipt.
Method 3 — By Registration Number
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1Select "Registration No. Wise" and enter your vehicle registration number. All tax receipts for that vehicle will appear. Select and download the one you need.
State-Wise Road Tax Rates for Private Cars — 2026
Road tax rates vary significantly between states and are typically structured as progressive slabs (higher price = higher rate). The rates below are approximate — always verify with your state's RTO for exact current rates before purchase.
BH Series Registration — Pay Road Tax in 2-Year Blocks
The Bharat (BH) Series is a special nationwide vehicle registration format introduced in 2021 for people with transferable jobs. Instead of paying a one-time 15-year lifetime tax locked to one state and then re-paying when you move, BH vehicles pay road tax in 2-year renewable blocks that are valid across all 28 states and 8 UTs without re-registration.
Who Can Get BH Series Registration?
- Central and state government employees
- Defence personnel
- Employees of central PSUs, banks, and state PSUs
- Employees of private companies with offices in 4 or more states or UTs
BH Series Road Tax Rates
| Vehicle Price (Ex-showroom) | BH Petrol Tax (per 2 years) | BH Diesel Tax (per 2 years) | BH EV Tax (per 2 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹10 lakh | 8% | 10% | 4% |
| ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh | 10% | 12% | 6% |
| Above ₹20 lakh | 12% | 14% | 8% |
Pay BH Series Tax Online
BH Series road tax is renewed every 2 years through the same Vahan portal process described in Section 4. Log in → Online Services → Pay Vehicle Tax → Select tax mode (BH) → Select 2-year period → Pay. No state-specific tax applies; the BH rate is uniform nationally.
Electric Vehicle Road Tax Exemptions in 2026
The era of blanket 100% EV road tax exemptions is gradually ending as EV sales grow, but most states still offer significant reductions. Here is the current status as of April 2026:
| State | EV Road Tax Status 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ✅ 0% — Full exemption | Applies to all EV types (two-wheeler, four-wheeler) |
| Maharashtra | ✅ 0% — Full exemption | Exemption extended through 2026 |
| Tamil Nadu | ✅ 0% — Full exemption | Policy under review for 2027 |
| Rajasthan | ✅ 0% — Full exemption | Applies to new EV registrations |
| Uttar Pradesh | ✅ 0% — Full exemption | 100% waiver for EV registrations |
| Telangana | ✅ 0% + registration fee waiver | Full exemption until December 2026 |
| Karnataka | ⚡ 4–7% (tiered) | Moved from full exemption to tiered EV taxation |
| Kerala | ⚡ 5–8% (tiered) | Introduced tiered EV rates; no longer fully exempt |
| Gujarat | ⚡ 1% (nominal) | Nominal rate to maintain registration records |
| Haryana | ⚡ Tiered rates | Introduced EV slab rates in 2025 |
Road Tax Refund When Moving to Another State
If you paid lifetime road tax in one state and then permanently move to another state with your vehicle, you are entitled to a pro-rata refund of the unused portion of your road tax from the original state.
How Refund is Calculated
The refund is calculated on a pro-rata basis based on the remaining registration period. If you paid lifetime tax for 15 years and move after 5 years, you may be eligible for a refund for approximately 10 years' worth of unused tax — adjusted for depreciation of the vehicle's value.
How to Apply for Road Tax Refund
- Complete re-registration in the new state and obtain the new state's RC
- Visit the original state's RTO where your vehicle was first registered
- Submit Form 16 (Application for Refund of Road Tax) along with your original road tax receipt, old RC (if surrendered), new state RC, and Aadhaar/identity proof
- The refund is processed by the original state's RTO — timelines vary from 2 weeks to several months
Common Errors and Fixes
The option may not appear if your vehicle has no pending tax, if the service is not available in your state's Vahan implementation, or if your vehicle is not registered as a commercial vehicle subject to periodic tax.
The government payment gateway takes 24–48 hours to sync with the Vahan database after successful payment.
A technical interruption during gateway processing caused a failed transaction despite money being debited.
The OTP goes to the mobile number registered with your vehicle in the Vahan database — which may be an old or inactive number.
For commercial vehicles, selecting the wrong tax period (e.g., paying for next quarter instead of current overdue quarter) results in partial non-compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. For private (non-commercial) vehicles in India, road tax is a one-time lifetime payment valid for 15 years from the date of registration. After paying it at the time of purchase, no annual renewal is needed — unless you move to another state, at which point you must re-register and pay the new state's road tax.
Typically, the dealer collects the road tax amount from you as part of the on-road price and deposits it to the RTO on your behalf as part of the vehicle registration process. The road tax receipt is then given to you with your RC. However, for some services (re-registration, arrears, commercial tax), you pay directly through the Vahan portal.
A penalty of up to 10% of the outstanding road tax amount is levied for late payment. Additionally, the vehicle's RC renewal, permit renewal, and fitness certificate are blocked until all tax dues are cleared. Driving a commercial vehicle with unpaid road tax is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act.
No — these are completely different. Road tax is a one-time (or periodic) registration tax paid to the state government when registering a vehicle, based on vehicle value. Toll tax is a per-use charge collected at specific highways, bridges, and expressways by NHAI or state authorities every time you pass through a toll plaza. They fund different things and are collected by different entities.
Yes. The Vahan portal's payment gateway supports UPI (including Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM, Paytm), debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay), credit cards, and net banking. A small convenience charge (approximately 1% + GST) may apply depending on the payment method. UPI is the most convenient and typically has the lowest or zero convenience charge.
Yes. If you move to a new state permanently and do not re-register your vehicle within 12 months, traffic police in the new state can impose fines and even detain the vehicle. You should apply for NOC from the original state and complete re-registration in the new state within 12 months of establishing permanent residence.
Yes — in states that offer EV road tax exemptions, the exemption applies to both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Electric scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds also get 0% road tax in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, UP, Tamil Nadu, and several others. Check your specific state's current EV policy as this changes frequently.
Typically 24–48 hours after successful payment. During this period, keep your payment receipt as proof. If a traffic officer or RTO official queries your tax status within this 48-hour window, show the receipt. The database sync is automatic and requires no action from your side — it updates on its own once the payment gateway confirms the transaction to the Vahan system.