Re: Transfering a vehicle within India: Procedures I am in the process of re-registering my Toyota Qualis which I had purchased in 2004 in Pune, to Hyderabad. For the benefit of many fellow BHPians who are in similar boat as I am, I will list the following experience: Background:
I bought the Qualis in Feb 2004 in Pune. Moved to Hyderabad in end 2004. Being that we just moved back to India after 15 years in the US, I was quite apprehensive / fearful / ignorant about the laws governing vehicle transfer to another state. Add to that, severe work pressures and multiple out-of-country trips reinforced by extended periods of procrastination prevented me from acting decisively to start the process of re-registering the vehicle in Hyderabad. 2006:
Then one day in July of 2006 a traffic cop stopped the vehicle as it was returning home after picking up the kids from school. I was at work when I got a call. I rush to the scene, and we had two anxious, hungry kids, a nervous driver and a constable and his officer licking their lips in anticipation of paydirt - I had not paid the Lifetime tax. After much pleading that we just came to Hyderabad the previous month, the officer must have taken pity on the crying kids, and admonished me and ordered me to pay the tax that very day. So off I went to RTO Khairatabad - but it had already closed. The next day, paid the tax (51k) and thought everything was ok and was merrily driving around after sticking a copy of the tax receipt on the windshield.
2009
Suddenly I realized that though I had paid AP Lifetime tax I had not obtained NOC. Luckily I still had my Pune driving school owner's number. (Though I have driven across the US, I was terrified of driving in India after we returned. I enrolled in a driving school to relearn driving all over again). His brother was working in Pune RTO (Dont you love it when that happens?) So for a measely sum of Rs. 3000 as consultancy charges he got the NOC issued in 10 days time. 2012
And now, next month we are going on a trip to Goa. It set me thinking we need new registration numbers. So began the exercise to collect all the papers, and make the trip to Attapur RTO. Happily they did not seem to mind that the NOC was 3 years late. But the NOC was issued to RTO Khairatabad and I live near Miyapur which falls under Ranga Reddy. So off to the former to get a Non Utilization Certificate. After bringing it to Ranga Reddy, I realized that the Admin Officer forgot to sign it. Back to Khairatabad, got the signature and submitted it. Thought everything was done. Then I am told I need to get the vehicle inspected at Kondapur. At Kondapur the guy asked to take a chassis imprint on 3 forms. With great difficulty, I maneuvered myself past the right tire and got the imprint with a broken pencil. The slimy inspector at Kondapur looked at the Qualis and immediately smelled money, thinking it was a taxi. I told him this was one of the only 3 Qualis Petrol vehicles in Hyderabad and we treat the vehicle as a family member. That shut him up and he signed; got it approved by the RTO Kondapur.
Will submit it tomorrow to RTA Ranga Reddy. Lets see what is in store. What I want to say in conclusion is that mine was a case that would have never gone through. I was able to do everything myself because I kept ALL papers in tact, right from the time of purchase. If any of the documents had been missing I would have been in deep doodoo. In fact I scan any important document and keep it safely store in CDs.
I learnt from RTO Ranga Reddy that it will take around 1 - 1.5 months for the smart card to come because they will contact Pune to verify all the documents. However he assured me that I will get a paper vouching for the fact that my registration is current and valid and that I can merrily drive the vehicle around.
So the moral of the story is a) Don't procrastinate - do all the paperwork as fast as you can; you may not be lucky
b) Keep all papers safely and preferably scan them. (Remember BCP and DRP). Failure to do a) and b) will most likely will cause situations which may blow up right when you least expect them to.
I will post a shorter article on what documents are needed and what is the procedure to get this whole process done (without the theatrics).
cheers
- Krishnan |