Vehicle fitness test fees go up: Here’s what changes for your car, new age slabs and charges explained

Months after increasing renewal charges for ageing vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has now revised fitness test fees, making it significantly costlier to keep motor vehicles beyond 20 years. The new rules, issued through a notification on 11 November, aim to phase out older, more polluting vehicles from Indian roads.

What Are the New Age Brackets for Vehicle Fitness Tests?

MoRTH has created three clear age groups for fitness testing: 10–15 years, 15–20 years, and above 20 years. One major shift is that commercial vehicles will now fall into higher fee slabs from the age of 10 years instead of 15, bringing more vehicles under stricter regulations.

How Much Will LMV Owners Pay Under the New Fees?

For light motor vehicles (LMVs) older than 20 years, the renewal fee has increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. This rise is part of the government’s broader attempt to discourage people from holding on to ageing vehicles that may no longer meet safety and emission standards.

What Are the Revised Charges for Heavy and Medium Commercial Vehicles?

The steepest increase has been applied to heavy trucks and buses above 20 years, where the fitness test fee has jumped from Rs 3,500 to Rs 25,000. Medium commercial vehicles in the same age bracket will now pay Rs 20,000, while light commercial vehicles above 20 years match the Rs 15,000 fee.

How Have Fitness Test Fees Changed for Two-Wheelers?

Two-wheelers older than 20 years will also see a sharp rise in fees, with charges increasing from Rs 600 to Rs 2,000. This follows the ministry’s earlier August notification, which had already revised renewal charges for various vehicle categories.

What Relief Has the Supreme Court Provided for NCR Vehicle Owners?

In August, the Supreme Court directed authorities not to take coercive action against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the Delhi-NCR, offering temporary relief amid growing regulatory tightening around ageing vehicles.

Inputs from PTI