In order to preserve and promote the heritage of vintage motor vehicles in the country, the Centre has formalised a set of rules to make it easier to register two-wheelers and four-wheelers that are more than 50 years old.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to facilitate the process for vintage vehicle enthusiasts and stipulate a 60-day deadline for the concerned authorities in different states to complete new registrations of vintage vehicles.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “the new rules will provide a hassle-free process along with convenient features such as retention of old number for already registered vehicles and a “VA” series (Unique Registration Mark) for fresh registrations.

Salient Features

·         All 2/4 wheelers, 50+ years old, maintained in their original form and which have not undergone any substantial overhaul, shall be defined as Vintage Motor Vehicles.

·         Application for registration/re-registration shall be made as per Form 20 and shall be accompanied by an insurance policy, fee, bill of entry in case of imported vehicles, and old RC in case of an already registered vehicle in India.

·         The State Registering Authority shall issue a certificate of registration as per Form 23A, within 60 days.

·         Vehicles already registered can retain their original Registration Mark.  However, for fresh registration, registration mark will be assigned as “XX VA YY*”, where VA stands for vintage, XX stands for State Code, YY will be a two-letter series and “8” is a number from 0001 to 9999 allotted by the State Registering Authority.

·         Fees for a new registration – Rs. 20,000 and subsequent re-registration – Rs. 5,000.

·         Vintage motor vehicles shall not be driven on roads for regular/commercial purposes.

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