Re: Procedure of renewing vehicle registration at the 15-year mark | It's easier than you think Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey Questions about 20th-year car registration renewal in Bangalore, Karnataka. |
Update: Got my RC renewal done and I've received the updated RC as well by India Post.
I'll answer my questions from the previous post if it helps anyone. Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey However, now I am getting quoted (what seems to me) exorbitant charges by the agents for the RC renewal. The couple of folks I enquired with quoted charges in the range of around 18.5k (including the RTO charges).
Hence, Question #1: Are these charges worth it? | Answer: The charges are not worth it if you can set aside half a day from your schedule and go to the RTO to get the job done. Make sure that you keep your schedule flexible for the usual government office pillar-to-post runs. However, the job will get done if your paperwork is straightforward and in order - meaning that your PUC is valid, the RC hasn't expired yet, insurance is current etc. Since my paperwork was in order, I had no issues. Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey Question #2: What exactly would be the RTO charges for this RC renewal? | Answer: Final bill = Rs 6,720.00 only.
You can check my previous post to understand how this number was arrived at. Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey Question #3: What I do not understand is the first field in the Tax Details panel as shown below. What is this for and what is the correct value to be input here? | Answer: 1.
I still don't know the rationale behind this magic number, but it worked for me. Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey Question #4: How do I figure out which RTO I would have to approach to get this work done, especially the eventual inspection?
KA03 (from my car’s registration) indicates the Indiranagar RTO.
However, for the 15th-year renewal, I had to go the the Jayanagar RTO for inspection! Presumably, because the car was originally registered in Bengaluru South RTO by the previous owner. | Answer: I went to the Jayanagar RTO and there was no fuss. Quote:
Originally Posted by KryptonMonkey Question #5: Am I on the right track in case I want to go ahead with the registration renewal by myself? | Answer: A resounding yes!
All of the above details are regarding the online part of this journey.
Part 2 of this journey is in offline mode at the RTO.
Here's my experience at the Bengaluru South, Jayanagar RTO: - I already had the documents to be submitted arranged in a folder in the way that they prefer it. You can get this folder downstairs at a shop. It costs 20 rupees. The original RC has to be put in the zip-lock pouch and tied to the folder as shown.
  - I ensured that I reached the RTO office sharply at the opening time (10 AM).
- There was an officer sitting at a desk immediately upon entry. Speak with them politely, state your purpose and show them the documents. They will quickly check and if everything is in order they will direct you to the correct counter number to line up at. If you need to make any corrections, they will tell you that as well.
They will speak mainly in Kannada, and a bit of English (broken Hindi too, if you're lucky!). Take along a Kannada-speaking friend if you can. I went by myself and managed with my rudimentary Kannada skills. Again, since my documents were in order, the interaction was minimal. There were other Kannada speakers nearby who I saw helping out non-Kannada speakers very kindly. Being polite is the mantra.
- An officer at the counter checked my documents and put a date and their signature. They asked me to write down my phone number on the form with a pen, which I duly did at the counter.
- Then I was asked to go to the parking lot upstairs and wait for the RTO Vehicle Inspector to show up.
- There was confusion about who this RTO Inspection officer was and when they would arrive. Turns out that they will arrive only at the last possible minute so that there is a sizable crowd to dispose off at one go. So I had to wait until around 11:45 am for the inspector to arrive.
Take a water bottle, biscuits, and some phone entertainment with you to pass the time. - There was some confusion about taking a pencil impression of the chassis number. Since it was already printed on the form, I felt maybe it was no longer needed. However, there was a flurry of activity in the assembled crowd to take this pencil imprint so I got jittery. I approached an officer there, took their help, and paid 200 bucks for their trouble. Yes, this grease is necessary. On the plus side, they did it very quickly and effectively and gave me complete peace of mind.
- Suddenly at around 11:45 am, the RTO Vehicle inspector shows up and sits at a table and chair set up for him. His side-kicks start shouting at the crowd to line up the cars and bikes in a line. Everyone scrambles but somehow a queue emerges.
- Mine was the 4th car in line. Reached the desk, opened the bonnet, and presented my folder to the inspector who didn't move a millimeter from his chair. Everything on my car was perfect except for a 4cm scratch on the left front passenger door. That was enough to trigger the vehicle inspector and he shouted something like "There's a scratch, I won't approve. Fix it and come back. NEXT!!". His sidekicks urged me to move on.
Lesson learned: Find out which side the vehicle inspector will sit on and ensure that side as well as the front of the vehicle are perfect to look at.
- Though frustrated, I had to move on. I looped around the parking lot, parked my car, and composed myself. Then I picked up my folder, left my car in the parking, and walked over to the inspection area.
- I waited for about 5 minutes and by this time, he had disposed off all the vehicles and asked his side-kicks if that was all for the day. They said yes, and he smiled. Instinctively I jumped in front of him, folded my hands, made what I thought were puppy eyes, and held out my file ready for him to sign on it. I don't know if it was my pitiful theatrics or his happiness at being done for the day that he signed off on the form immediately! He then told me to go to some counter and get the stamp. I thanked him profusely, thanked my lucky stars, and rushed to the counter.
- Got the stamp done. From there, I was directed to one last counter for submission. Job done! Phew!
The RC Smart Card arrived by India Post a month later, as mentioned by the person at the last counter. |