Delhi Old Car Rule 2025: NOC Relaxation and What It Means for You

If you own an old car in Delhi, there’s some good news for you. The Delhi Government has relaxed the rules for getting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for old petrol and diesel vehicles.

This means that vehicle owners who missed the earlier one-year window to get an NOC after registration expiry can now apply anytime. The change, announced on October 31, 2025, aims to make life easier for vehicle owners while continuing to control Delhi’s air pollution levels.

What Has Changed

Under Delhi’s earlier rules, petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel cars older than 10 years were automatically deregistered. Once that happened, owners had only one year to apply for an NOC. This certificate allowed them to transfer or re-register the vehicle in another state where such old cars could still be used.

If the one-year deadline passed, the car was considered “end-of-life,” and owners had no option except to scrap it, even if it was in perfect condition. Now, under the Delhi old vehicle NOC rule 2025, that one-year limit has been removed. Owners can apply for an NOC at any time, even years after deregistration. The rule is expected to benefit thousands of Delhi residents who still have older cars parked in garages, waiting for a chance to be moved or sold.

Why Delhi Made This Move

Delhi continues to face severe air quality issues, especially during winter months. To fight pollution, the city has imposed strict rules on old vehicles; a 10-year diesel car ban and a 15-year petrol car ban within city limits.

However, these rules also created hardship for owners who missed bureaucratic deadlines. Many well-maintained cars had to be scrapped, even though they could have been used safely in other states.

The government’s decision to relax the NOC rules strikes a balance between environmental protection and citizen convenience.

According to Delhi Transport Department officials, the move is aimed at ensuring that while vehicles do not add to pollution in Delhi, at the same time, owners have the flexibility to legally relocate their vehicles to other states instead of scrapping them prematurely.

This new flexibility also supports the government’s broader scrappage and re-registration policy under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which promotes the re-registration of old cars in India in cleaner zones while phasing out highly polluting ones.

Parallel Enforcement Measures

At the same time, Delhi is tightening its control on polluting vehicles entering the city. From November 1, 2025, the city will ban the entry of non-Delhi registered BS-III commercial vehicles. Enforcement teams will be deployed at border check-posts to monitor vehicle entry and ensure compliance.

This double strategy, easier transfers out, stricter entry checks in  is designed to keep old vehicles off Delhi’s roads without unfairly penalizing responsible owners.

What This Means for Vehicle Owners

The new rule changes the game for thousands of car owners in Delhi and NCR:

1. Freedom from deadlines: You can now apply for an NOC at any time, even if your registration expired several years ago.
    
2. No forced scrapping: You can relocate your car to another state instead of sending it to the scrapyard.
    
3. Better resale value: Older cars that were earlier worthless in Delhi can now be sold legally in other states, improving the used car resale Delhi market.
    
4. Less paperwork stress: The removal of the time limit simplifies the process for both owners and dealers handling multiple vehicles.
    

For example, a 12-year-old diesel SUV in Delhi; previously unsellable can now be legally transferred to states like Punjab, Rajasthan, or Madhya Pradesh where re-registration is still allowed.

Impact on the Used Car Market

This policy change could bring a positive shift in the used car market in and around Delhi.

• More vehicles available for resale: Old but functional cars that were lying idle can now re-enter the market, being legally fit to be sold in other states.
   
• Increased interstate sales: Dealers can legally sell Delhi-registered cars in other states, expanding their buyer base.
   
• Price correction: As supply increases, resale prices may stabilize, benefiting both sellers and buyers.
   
• Cleaner market data: With proper NOC and re-registration channels, the risk of illegal or unregistered car sales will reduce.

How to Get an NOC for Your Old Vehicle

Getting an NOC under the new rule is simple:

1. Visit the Delhi Transport Department website or your zonal RTO.
    
2. Apply for an NOC under the old vehicle transfer category.
    
3. Submit your car’s RC, pollution certificate, insurance details, and other documents as required.
    
4. Pay the required fee and collect your NOC within a few working days.
    

Once you get your NOC, you can re-register the car in another state where it’s permitted.

The Road Ahead

Even with the relaxed rule, the 10-year diesel car ban and 15-year petrol car ban Delhi rules still stand firm. Old cars cannot run within Delhi-NCR. The new policy simply provides a longer runway for owners to transfer, sell, or re-register their vehicles elsewhere.

Looking ahead, more Indian states may adopt similar rules to strike a balance between pollution control and vehicle reuse. As automated vehicle testing centers and digital RC services expand, managing old vehicles will become easier and more transparent.

For car owners, the takeaway is simple:

• Check your vehicle’s registration expiry date.

   

• Apply for an NOC if you plan to move or sell it.
   
• Stay updated on your state’s re-registration rules.
   

Delhi’s new decision proves that smart regulation doesn’t have to be harsh, as it can be fair, flexible, and future-ready.