Road Tax in Tamil Nadu: Fee Structure and Documents You Need

Road tax isn’t just a formality: it’s what keeps the wheels of infrastructure turning. While national highways fall under the central government’s care, each state, including Tamil Nadu, has its own rules when it comes to taxing vehicles that hit its roads.

In Tamil Nadu, road tax is governed by the Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, and it applies whether you’re buying a brand-new car, riding a second-hand scooter, or even switching states. This blog breaks down everything you need to know such as who needs to pay, the amount, when and how it must be paid along with details on refunds, exemptions, and more, so keep scrolling through.

Who Needs to Pay Road Tax in Tamil Nadu?

Every vehicle owner living in Tamil Nadu is liable to pay the road tax. This includes:

• Private vehicle owners, regardless of whether they own two-wheelers or four-wheelers.
• Commercial vehicle owners.
• Re-registered vehicles from other states moving into Tamil Nadu

How is road tax calculated in Tamil Nadu?

Road tax in Tamil Nadu is calculated based on several aspects of the vehicle:

• Type of vehicle (two-wheeler, four-wheeler, etc.)
• Age of the vehicle (new vs used)
• Purpose of use (private or commercial)
• Cubic capacity (cc) for two-wheelers
• Cost of the vehicle (ex-showroom price)

Owners of private vehicles pay a percentage of the vehicle’s cost, whereas owners of a commercial vehicle can pay a one-time lifetime tax or make periodic payments. Depreciation is also considered in the case of used cars imported from a different state.

Road tax rates in Tamil Nadu

Here is a table of the Road tax in Tamil Nadu for various private vehicle types and criteria:

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

According to the new Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy, EVs are now exempt from road tax in Tamil Nadu to encourage environment-friendly mobility. However, the state may review this policy later and provisions may change.

How to Pay Road Tax in Tamil Nadu?

The Tamil Nadu government supports seamless payment of road tax as it has both online and offline payment methods.

Online Method

1. Visit the Parivahan website of the Tamil Nadu government and click on "Online Services".
2.    Select the “Pay Vehicle Tax” option.
3.  After selecting, enter the required vehicle information
4.  Make the payment with a suitable payment method and download the digital receipt.

Offline Method

1. Visit your nearest RTO office
2.  Ask the support staff and fill out the required form
3. Submit essential documents like address proof, invoice of purchase, registration certificate, and insurance documents.
4. Pay the amount and collect the receipt

Penalty for Non-Payment of Road Tax in Tamil Nadu

Failing to pay the road tax in Tamil Nadu can lead to the following consequences:

• 2% of the tax amount penalty for a delay of 30 days
• 5% of the tax amount penalty for a delay of 30-90 days
• 10% of the tax amount penalty for a delay of 90 days- 1 year
• 25% of the tax amount penalty for a delay of more than 1 year.

Road Tax Refund in Tamil Nadu

Refund for road tax in Tamil Nadu can be applied under the following conditions:

• If the vehicle is damaged beyond repair, stolen, or permanently scrapped.
• Faulty duplicate payment
• Permanently relocated or re-registered in another state.

To avail the refund, you need to apply to your nearest RTO with the following documents:

• Re-registration certificate
• Application form
• ID
• Original payment proof.

RTO Offices and Contact Details in Tamil Nadu

Check the complete RTO vehicle details in Tamil Nadu here.

Conclusion

Paying the road tax in Tamil Nadu on time ensures that you’re on the right side of the law. With defined rates on two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and exemptions on EVs, the system is quite simple once you understand the regulations. Keep your documents in order, select your payment method (online or offline), and you are ready to go. For simplified car ownership, renewals, transfers, and accurate RTO information, you should count on trusted platforms like Cars24.