How to Renew the Vehicle Fitness Certificate?

You have probably heard and used the phrase “the human body is like a machine”. And to keep our bodies performing at their best, we get checked up regularly and get a fitness certificate from a doctor. In the same way, a car is a machine that also needs to be checked regularly and given a fitness certificate in order for it to perform at its best. A vehicle fitness certificate, however, is issued by the Regional Transport Office rather than a doctor and is a mandatory document for any vehicle owner if they wish to drive on Indian roads legally. If a driver or owner is caught without a fitness certificate for their vehicle, hefty fines will be levied on the car or bike. The vehicle fitness certificate must also be renewed regularly to show that the vehicle is fit enough to continue to drive on the roads. Here is the complete renewal process and everything you need to know about a fitness certificate for your vehicle.

Steps to Renew Vehicle Fitness Certificate Online

Although the process of renewing a fitness certification used to be done offline only, the implementation of the internet into the various services offered by the RTO has made it easier and a lot more convenient to complete the process online. Car owners can now renew their vehicle’s fitness certificate from the comfort of their homes and from a computer or smartphone. Here are the steps you need to follow to renew the fitness certificate online:

Step 1: Go to the official PARIVAHAN SEWA website at https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Vehicle Related Services tab.

Step 3: Click on “More” under the “Other Services” option.

Step 4: Click on “More Details” in the “Fitness” option.

Step 5: Select the name of the State.

Step 6: Enter details such as REGISTRATION NUMBER and RTO and then click “Proceed”.

Step 7: Choose the “Application for Fitness Certificate” option and enter all the details.

Step 8: Once submitted, an OTP will be sent to the applicant which needs to be entered for verification.

Step 9: Click on “Payment” to complete the fitness certificate renewal process and make the payment for the fee online.

Steps to Renew Vehicle Fitness Certificate Offline

While the online procedure is preferred by the majority of people, there are many people who still trust the offline process for renewing their vehicle’s fitness certificate. Here are the steps you need to follow if you choose to renew the fitness certificate offline:

Step 1: Visit the RTO where the vehicle is registered or any RTO nearest to you.

Step2: Ask for a fitness certificate renewal application form and fill in the requested information.

Step 3: Attach all the documents asked for in the renewal form.

Step 4: Submit the form and the documents and make the payment for the renewal fees at the RTO.

Step 5: A date and time will be assigned on which the vehicle must be brought into the inspection center. If the inspection is successful, the fitness certificate will be renewed.

Documents Required for Renewal of Fitness Certificate

As mentioned earlier, there are certain documents required when it comes to renewing a vehicle’s fitness certificate. While most of the documents remain the same, there are a few different ones when it comes to commercial and private vehicles.

Documents Required for Commercial Vehicles

These are the documents needed when applying for a commercial vehicle fitness certificate renewal:

• CFRA Form
• CFA Form
• Tax Details
• Valid Insurance Policy for the vehicle
• Registration Certificate
• Emission Certificate
• Fare Meter Calibration Certificate for vehicles such as auto-rickshaws
• Roadworthiness Certificate wherever applicable
• Speed Control Device Fitment wherever applicable

Documents Required for Private Vehicles

These are the documents needed when applying for a private vehicle fitness certificate renewal:

• Registration Certificate
• Tax Token
• Vehicle Permit
• Valid Insurance Policy for the vehicle
• PUCC or Pollution Under Control Certificate

When Should You Renew a Vehicle Fitness Certificate?

A fitness certificate is valid for different periods of time for different vehicles such as private or commercial cars and bikes. At the time of registration, a private vehicle gets a fitness certificate that is valid for 15 years. After the initial 15 years, the fitness certificate for a private vehicle must be renewed every 5 years.

When it comes to commercial vehicles, the fitness certificate is only valid for 2 years after registration. After 8 years of renewal (2 years validity x 4 renewals), commercial vehicle owners have to annually apply for a fitness certificate extension. This is done because commercial vehicles are used a lot more than private vehicles and they have to be checked more frequently. Renewing a fitness certificate for both private and commercial vehicles has to be done a few days prior to the expiration date of the current certificate so that no issues arise.

Cost for Renewing a Fitness Certificate

Renewing the fitness certificate for a vehicle requires payment of a fee that varies from vehicle to vehicle. Here are the prices for vehicle fitness certificates in India:

Vehicle Category	Fitness Certificate Renewal Fee
Two-Wheelers	Rs. 400 (Manual) Rs. 500 (Automatic)
Four-Wheelers or Light Motor Vehicles	Rs. 800 (Manual) Rs. 1,000 (Automatic)
Medium Goods and Passenger Vehicles	Rs. 800 (Manual) Rs. 1,300 (Automatic)

How Long Does a Vehicle Fitness Certificate Renewal Take?

As is the case with most procedures of the RTO, the duration for renewing a fitness certificate can vary with every case. There are many factors that go into the renewal process for every type of vehicle which can sometimes delay the outcome. The application process for renewing a fitness certificate can only start 30 days before the expiration date of the current certificate which means renewing should not take more than 30 days. Regularly, the renewal of a fitness certificate takes about a week to complete.

Is there a penalty for not renewing a vehicle fitness certificate?

We have already discussed that if a fitness certificate is not renewed for a vehicle, there are heavy fines to be paid along with other penalties. Here is what you need to know:

• If you don’t have a valid fitness certificate when requested, the penalty for the first offence is Rs. 100. For any subsequent offence, the penalty is increased to Rs. 300 per case.
• If there is no valid fitness certificate registered to the vehicle, the fines for the offence can be anywhere between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000.

If you have a valid fitness certificate for your vehicle, you should always carry it while driving. If the fitness certificate has expired or is close to expiring, you should renew it immediately to avoid paying any heavy fines.