Maharashtra, a state that occupies a large portion of the deccan plateau, is renowned for its culture and beauty. With many scenic routes for long drives, such as the Varandha Ghat, Mazeri, which is a mountain pass accompanied by waterfalls, lakes and dense woods, and spans 10 kms, Maharashtra is the perfect destination for people who like driving and nature.
To maintain the roads and infrastructure around these destinations and make the drives more enjoyable, the state government of Maharashtra levies road tax on all vehicles, which varies from vehicle to vehicle. As per reports, more than 25 Lakh new vehicles hit the roads of Maharashtra, clocking the highest passenger vehicle sales in the October-December period. The road tax collected from these vehicles ensures that the public has well-maintained roads, including other essentials like traffic lights and road signs. These funds are also utilised in the expansion of the roadways, creating new roads and highways to enhance intercity connectivity.
How is Road Tax Calculated in Maharashtra?
In Maharashtra, as per the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Act of 1958, road tax is levied by the state government, and the payable tax depends on a number of factors. These include the vehicle type, such as 2-wheeler or 4-wheeler, vehicle cost, vehicle age, engine capacity, fuel type, seating capacity, and usage type of vehicle, i.e. private or commercial. It is important to note that vehicle age is only considered in cases of re-registration of vehicle, or in the case of transfer of vehicle from a different state.
Road Tax in Maharashtra for Two-wheelers (new)
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
Motorcycles with engine capacity below 99cc | 10% (minimum of ₹1,500) |
Motorcycles with engine capacity between 99 and 299cc | 11% (minimum of ₹1,500) |
Motorcycles with engine capacity above 299cc | 12% (minimum of ₹1,500) |
If a vehicle must be registered for the second time, the age of the vehicle determines the percent of road tax that must be paid.
Road Tax in Maharashtra for Two-wheelers (re-registered)
No of years since vehicle registration | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
1 to 2 years | 95.80% |
2 to 3 years | 94.30% |
3 to 4 years | 86.70% |
4 to 5 years | 81.80% |
5 to 6 years | 76.60% |
6 to 7 years | 71.20% |
7 to 8 years | 65.60% |
8 to 9 years | 59.60% |
9 to 10 years | 53.40% |
10 to 11 years | 46.90% |
11 to 12 years | 39.90% |
Above 12 years | 32.70% |
Road Tax in Maharashtra for Four-Wheelers
The road tax levied for private four-wheelers in Maharashtra varies according to the fuel type of the vehicle. Following are the different taxes levied on various fuel-type four-wheelers-
Road tax in Maharashtra for LPG or CNG vehicles (new)
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
Vehicle cost up to Rs. 10 lakhs | 7% |
Vehicle costs between Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 lakhs | 8% |
Vehicle cost above Rs. 20 lakhs | 9% |
Road tax in Maharashtra for petrol cars (new)
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
Vehicle cost up to Rs. 10 lakhs | 11% |
Vehicle costs between Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 lakhs | 12% |
Vehicle cost above Rs. 20 lakhs | 13% |
Road tax in Maharashtra for diesel cars (new)
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
Vehicle cost up to Rs. 10 lakhs | 13% |
Vehicle costs between 10 and Rs. 20 lakhs | 14% |
Vehicle cost above Rs. 20 lakhs | 15% |
Just like two-wheelers, re-registration or second-time registration of four-wheeled vehicles is also determined by the vehicle’s age. The following table depicts the amount of road tax payable for second-time registration in correspondence to the age of the vehicle, regardless of the fuel type:
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
1 to 2 years | 97.2% |
2 to 3 years | 94.3% |
3 to 4 years | 91.2% |
4 to 5 years | 87.9% |
5 to 6 years | 84.5% |
6 to 7 years | 81.0% |
7 to 8 years | 77.2% |
8 to 9 years | 73.3% |
9 to 10 years | 69.1% |
10 to 11 years | 64.8% |
11 to 12 years | 60.2% |
12 to 13 years | 55.4% |
13 to 14 years | 50.4% |
14 to 15 years | 45.1% |
15 to 16 years | 39.6% |
16 to 17 years | 33.8% |
Above 17 years | 27.7% |
Road Tax in Maharashtra for Commercial Vehicles
Omni buses (seating capacity up to 12 people), which are operated for commercial purposes, pay a similar road tax as to private vehicles in Maharashtra. On the other hand, the road tax for buses is levied according to seating capacity. The table below depicts the road tax for commercial vehicles in Maharashtra.
Category | Tax on Commercial Vehicles |
Standees | Rs.200 for every seat per year |
Non-air-conditioned buses | Rs.800 for every seat per year |
Air-conditioned buses | Rs.1,800 for every seat per year |
LPG or CNG vehicles |
|
Petrol Omnibuses and Cars |
|
Diesel Omnibuses and Cars |
|
In case of vehicle re-registration or second registration, the amount of road tax payable depends on the age of the vehicle, as shown in the table below.
Category | Percentage of Road Tax Applicable (Value\Cost of the vehicle) |
1 to 2 years | 97.2% |
2 to 3 years | 94.3% |
3 to 4 years | 91.2% |
4 to 5 years | 87.9% |
5 to 6 years | 84.5% |
6 to 7 years | 81.0% |
7 to 8 years | 77.2% |
8 to 9 years | 73.3% |
9 to 10 years | 69.1% |
10 to 11 years | 64.8% |
11 to 12 years | 60.2% |
12 to 13 years | 55.4% |
13 to 14 years | 50.4% |
14 to 15 years | 45.1% |
15 to 16 years | 39.6% |
16 to 17 years | 33.8% |
Above 17 years | 27.7% |
How to Pay Road Tax Online in Maharashtra?
Road tax in Maharashtra can be paid online, through the parivahan portal, or offline, by personally visiting the registering RTO. To carry out the payment process online, you can follow the steps given below.
Head to the parivahan portal on a web browser, such as Chrome or Safari
From the ‘Online Services’ menu, select the ‘Vehicle Related Services’ option
On the new page that opens, select ‘Maharashtra’ from the ‘Select State Name’ drop-down menu
Enter your vehicle registration number and click on proceed
Click on ‘Online Services’ and select ‘Pay Vehicle Tax’.
- Enter the last 5 digits of your chassis No. and click on "Validate Regn_no/Chasi_no"
- Click ‘Generate OTP’ and enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number
- Update your ‘Insurance Details’, and from the Fee Panel, click on proceed
- Pay the fees, and remember to download your payment receipt
In order to take care of the process offline, you will need to visit your registering RTO.
What is the Road Tax Penalty in Maharashtra?
In Maharashtra, once you have registered your vehicle, there is a window of 30 days, within which you must ensure you pay your road tax. Failing to do so may attract fines and penalties, which in some cases may be quite expensive. For first-time offenders, in the case of motorcycles, cars or omnibuses, the minimum fine is set to ₹300. This fine may also be increased to the yearly tax charged on the vehicle. In case of repeat offenders, the penalty can lead to twice the amount of the yearly tax to be paid on the vehicle.
FAQ
Q. What is road tax?
Road tax is a tax levied by the state government on the purchase of vehicles for the maintenance and development of roads and infrastructure within its jurisdiction.
Q. How often do I need to pay road tax in Maharashtra?
The frequency of road tax being levied on a vehicle in Maharashtra is dependent on a few factors. If you have bought a new vehicle and will be using the vehicle within Maharashtra, you can pay the road tax in lump sum as a one-time payment. If you are moving from a different state to Maharashtra, you can pay the road tax annually, which is calculated depending on the age of your vehicle.
Q. Which state in India has the highest amount of road tax?
Karnataka is the Indian state known to have the highest road tax, at 14.43%.
Q. Is the road tax refund process online?
Many states offer the ability to apply for road tax refund online post registration. To do this, one can use the state transport website, if available, or the parivahan portal.
Q. Where can I check the status of road tax in Maharashtra?
You can check the status of your road tax online and offline in Maharashtra. To check the status online, visit the parivahan website, select ‘Vehicle Related Services’ from the ‘Online Services’ menu. Select the state as Maharashtra, then select your RTO. On the page that opens, enter your vehicle details and click on ‘Verify Details’.
Q. What vehicles are exempted from paying road tax in Maharashtra?
The following vehicles are exempt from paying road tax in Maharashtra:
- Vehicles belonging to state govt, local self govt, municipal corporation
- Ambulances working on no loss no profit bases
- Invalid carriage
- Vehicles under non-use
- Tractors and trailers used for agricultural purpose
Q. Will I need to provide the registration certificate of the vehicle when I pay the road tax?
Yes, the registration of the vehicle is required when paying road tax. You can also utilise a self attested copy of your registration certificate.
Q. Can I pay the Maharashtra road tax by using a debit card?
If you are paying the road tax in Maharashtra online, you can make the payment using your debit card.