Have you got bored of your old car and want to sell it? Well, if that is the case, you first need to find a potential buyer for your vehicle. But is that the end of your responsibility? The answer is no.
Selling a used car comes with more rules, and being a seller, you must follow the rules to avoid any legal charges in the future. According to the Motor vehicle law of 1988, transferring a vehicle’s ownership once it is sold is mandatory.
But how can you transfer a vehicle’s ownership? Does it not sound a bit confusing? Do not worry! We have provided every piece of information necessary to wipe out your confusion. Keep reading the article and know how you can transfer a vehicle’s ownership after selling it.
When Is Car/Bike Ownership Transfer Required?
By now, you all know that transferring a 2nd hand car’s ownership is compulsory in India. But when is the transfer required? Let’s find that out below.
- Normal Sale: Transferring ownership is compulsory if you sell a second-hand car to a buyer.
- Public Auction: Selling a vehicle in a public auction requires the transfer of ownership.
- Death of the Previous Owner: If the previous owner of the car dies and any family member wants to sell the car, transferring its ownership is a must. You have to follow the same rule for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers.
Also Read: e-Challan Chennai – How to Pay Traffic Challan Online in Chennai
How To Transfer A Car’s Ownership To The Buyer In Case Of Normal Sale?
We have already mentioned above that normal selling of an old car requires a transfer of ownership. But does the process have to be so hectic? No. You can transfer your vehicle’s ownership by going to the RTO office or applying for the new Registration certificate online.
We have provided the online and offline methods below. Follow the steps and decide which one is suitable for you.
Also Read: Learning Licence Kerala – Learning Licence Online & Offline Apply in Kerala
How To Transfer A Vehicle’s Ownership Offline In Chennai?
- Step 1: Firstly, the vehicle sellers must prepare a selling agreement by mentioning the necessary details like the payment mode, the sold vehicle’s Registration details, the insurance details, the status of the ownership transfer, and the permanent address of the seller (if required), details of the buyer’s valid id proof (if required), and the selling conditions.
- Step 2: Now, the seller and buyer must complete the RTO forms 28, 20, 27 and 33 (in case of interstate ownership transfer),29 and 30 and sign them.
- Step 3: Next, submit the following documents: a copy of the registration certificate, valid id proof of the buyer, driving license (if required), address proof of the owner (telephone bill, Voter, PAN or Aadhar card), toll tax calculator (if required), Pollution Under Control certificate, insurance certificate, etc., along with the filled out RTO forms.
- Step 4: If you are doing an interstate transfer or the RTO is not the same, applying to the RTO office to get a clearance certificate from NCRB is necessary.
- Step 5: Now, pay the road tax.
- Step 6: After the Road tax payment, the RTO office will send an acknowledgement form.
- Step 7: When the RTO office finishes verifying the documents, it will send a clearance certificate to the buyer.
- Step 8: Now, pay the registration fee required to get the new Registration certificate.
- Step 9: Next, the RTO office will start verifying the documents.
- Step 10: Once the RTO completes its verification, the buyer will get the hard copy of the new registration certificate via Post. If you get the soft copy of the R.C book, please keep it saved on your device.
How To Transfer A Vehicle’s Ownership Online In Chennai?
- Step 1: First, open the ParivahanSewa official website.
- Step 2: Now, select the Online Services option.
- Step 3: Next, click on the Vehicle-Related Services option.
- Step 4: Next, provide your vehicle’s registration number.
- Step 5: Click on Proceed.
- Step 6: Next, click on the Misc (TO/CoA/HPA/HPS/HPT/DupRC).
- Step 7: Now, provide your phone number.
- Step 8: Now, you will get the option to generate OTP. Press that button.
- Step 9: Now, enter the OTP you have generated.
- Step 10: Now, you will get the Show Details option. Click on that.
- Step 11: You will get another option, Application Selection. Tap on that.
- Step 12: Now, you will get the Transfer of Ownership option. Tap on that.
- Step 13: Now, enter the necessary details of the vehicle and the buyer. You can provide details like the payment address of the applicant, fuel cost calculator (if necessary), address proof of the seller, a copy of a valid id proof of the buyer (if required), a valid vehicle insurance certificate, etc.
- Step 14: Now, select a Payment option according to your convenience.
- Step 15: Once you complete the payment, you will get soft copies of the RTO forms and the payment receipt. Please keep those saved on your device.
- Step 16: Take a printout of all of them and sign them.
- Step 17: Now, submit the insurance certificate of the vehicle, a copy of the vehicle’s registration certificate, driving license (if required), and a Pollution Under Control certificate to the RTO office.
- Step 18: After the submission of the documents, the RTO will start verifying the documents.
- Step 19: When the RTO completes the verification, the buyer will receive the soft copy of the new registration certificate via email or post within fifteen days.
Note: For driving license, you may have to fill out a driving license form
Transfer Of Ownership On Death Of The Owner Of The Vehicle:
Selling an old car after the death of its owner is not as difficult as you think. All you need to do is obtain a succession certificate to avert any legal charges in the future. We have provided a step-by-step guide on how to transfer a vehicle’s ownership after the death of its owner below:
- Step 1: Firstly, before you even start looking for a potential buyer, apply for the succession certificate from the Regional court or SDM.
- Step 2: If the vehicle is under hypothecation or an interstate ownership transfer, fill out Form 28 to get a NOC certificate. You may need to fill out Forms 20,27,33 if it is an interstate R.C transfer. Also, fill out Forms 29 (if the RTO is not the same) and 30 for getting the new R.C book.
- Step 3: Provide the necessary documents like the succession letter (compulsory), a copy of the current Registration certificate of the vehicle, the applicant’s address proof (PAN, Aadhar or Voter card), the owner’s death certificate, valid id proof of the buyer, passport size photograph of the buyer, insurance details of the vehicle, driving license (if required), and PUC certificate to the regional RTO office.
- Step 4: Now, pay the road tax.
- Step 5: After the road tax payment is complete, pay the registration fee to obtain the new Registration certificate.
- Step 6: Now, the RTO will start verifying the documents.
- Step 7: Once the verification is complete, the RTO office will send the new registration certificate to the new owner by email or Post within a fortnight.
Transfer Of Ownership Of Vehicle Purchased In A Public Auction:
If you have sold your car to a public auction, then check out the steps mentioned below to know how to transfer the ownership of the vehicle:
- Step 1: First, the seller needs to provide the chassis and engine pencil print (if required), a certificate confirming that the vehicle is sold, address proof of the applicant (Aadhar, voter or PAN card, telephone bill), a copy of Registration Certificate, birth certificate of the buyer, valid id proof of the buyer, a copy of the vehicle’s insurance certificate, valid utility bill (phone bill, gas electricity bill), Pollution Under Control Certificate, passport size photograph of the buyer, the buyer undertaking and last but not the least a certified copy of the government’s order proving the permission for the auction to the RTO.
- Step 2: Now, fill out forms 29 and 30, and28 in case it is an interstate vehicle ownership transfer.
- Step 3: Pay the road tax.
- Step 4: Obtain the acknowledgement form from the RTO office after payment.
- Step 5: Now, pay the R.C transfer fees.
- Step 6: Once the payment process is complete; the RTO office will start to verify the documents.
- Step 7: When the RTO completes the verification, it will send the soft copy of the new Registration Certificate to the buyer by email or Post.
Why Is A Vehicle Ownership Transfer Required In Chennai?
Transferring a vehicle’s ownership is compulsory in India. But why? Let’s find it out below:
- In India, transferring a vehicle’s ownership while selling is mandatory. If someone does not follow this law, that person may face legal charges.
- Suppose the new owner is involved in a road accident, violates any traffic rule or commits a crime. In that case, the previous owner may face unpleasant consequences if the seller or the previous owner has not transferred the vehicle’s ownership to the present owner.
List Of RTOs In Chennai:
| RTO | Code |
| Anna Nagar | TN-02 |
| Tondiarpet | TN-O3 |
| Puliyanthoppu | TN-O4 |
| Vyasarpadi | TN-05 |
| Mandaveli | TN-06 |
| Thiruvanmiyur | TN-07 |
| K.K.Nagar | TN-09 |
| Valasaravakkam | TN-10 |
| Tambaram | TN-11 |
| Ambattur | TN-13 |
| Meenambakkam/Alandur | TN-22 |
How To Transfer A Vehicle’s Ownership If the Vehicle Registered & Buyer’s RTO Is Same?
- Step 1: Firstly, the sellers must prepare a selling agreement by mentioning the details: the registration details, the status of the ownership transfer, the vehicle’s selling condition, the payment mode of the vehicle, and the insurance details of the vehicle.
- Step 2: Now, both the buyer and the seller need to fill out Forms 29 and 30 to get the new R.C. If it is an interstate ownership transfer, you need to fill out RTO forms 20,27,28 and 33 too.
- Step 3: Submit the filled out RTO forms, the permanent address proof of the applicant, utility bill (electricity bill, phone bill, Gas bill, etc.), the insurance certificate of the vehicle, toll tax calculator (if required), Pollution Under Control certificate, a copy of the Registration Certificate to the RTO office.
- Step 4: Pay the road tax.
- Step 5: The RTO will send an acknowledgement form.
- Step 6: Next, pay the amount required for obtaining the new Registration certificate.
- Step 7: Once the payment is complete, the RTO will send another acknowledgement form.
- Step 8: Now, the RTO will start verifying the documents.
- Step 9: When the verification is complete, the buyer will get the new Registration certificate.
How To Transfer A Vehicle’s Ownership If The Vehicle Registered & Buyer’s RTO Is Different?
Transferring a vehicle’s ownership is easy even if the RTO is not the same. All you need to do is fill out a few extra forms. Follow the steps we have provided below to know more about it:
- Step 1: Fill out the RTO Forms: 29,30 and 28,20,27,33 (because the RTO is not the same). You may have to fill out the driving license form. You may talk to the RTO about it.
- Step 2: Now, Submit the filled out forms and the following documents like a passport-size photograph of the buyer, a copy of the Registration Certificate of the vehicle, clearance Certificate (by NCRB), the applicant’s permanent address proof, a copy of the Insurance Certificate, Pollution Under Control Certificate, succession letter (if the owner has died), PAN card (as id proof), the road tax receipt (if required) to the RTO office.
- Step 3: Pay the road tax. You can pay the road tax online. You will get an acknowledgement certificate. Please keep it safe.
- Step 4: Now, pay for the R.C transfer.
- Step 5: When the verification is complete, the RTO will send the buyer the new registration certificate by Post or email.
Documents Required For The Ownership Transfer Process In Chennai
| Document | Requirement |
| PAN card | Mandatory |
| Purchaser’s undertaking | Mandatory |
| Address proof | Mandatory |
| Insurance Certificate | Mandatory |
| Form 20 | If required |
| Form 27 | If required |
| Form 28 | If required |
| Form 29 | Mandatory |
| Form 30 | Mandatory |
| Form 31 | If required |
| Form 32 | If required |
| Form 33 | If required |
| Form 35 | If required |
| Form 60 | If required |
| Form 61 | If required |
| Driving License | If required |
| NOC Certificate | If Required |
| Registration certificate | Mandatory |
| Succession Certificate | If required |
| Tax Payment Receipt | If required |
| Pollution Under Control Certificate | Mandatory |
Step-by-Step Procedure For Application Of Transfer Of Ownership Of Vehicle In Chennai:
Procedure For Offline Application Of Transfer Of Ownership Of Vehicle In Chennai:
- Step 1: First, the seller needs to prepare a sale agreement by mentioning the existing Registration details, insurance details of the vehicle, the status of the ownership transfer, selling condition, the payment mode, details about the Pollution Under Control certificate, etc.
- Step 2: Now, the seller and buyer must fill out the required RTO forms (29,30) to get the new R.C.
- Step 3: When the forms are filled out, submit all of them and a copy of the existing Pollution Under control certificate, the permanent address proof of the seller, a copy of the driving license (if required), Registration certificate, a copy of the insurance certificate, and Tax receipt (if required) to the RTO office.
- Step 4: Pay the road tax.
- Step 5: Now, pay the registration fee.
- Step 6: Once the payment for the R.C transfer is complete, the RTO will provide the applicant with an acknowledgement form.
- Step 7: Once you are done with the payment procedure, the RTO can start verifying the documents.
- Step 8: When the RTO is done with the verification, it will send the soft copy of the new Registration certificate to the new owner of the vehicle.
Procedure For Online Application Of Transfer Of Ownership Of Vehicle In Chennai:
- Step 1: Open the official website of ParivahanSewa.
- Step 2: Select the Online Services tab.
- Step 3: Now, select the Vehicle-Related Services option.
- Step 4: After choosing the option mentioned above, you will get a box. Provide the vehicle’s registration number there, and press Proceed.
- Step 5: Click on the Misc (TO/CoA/HPA/HPS/HPT/DupRC).
- Step 6: Enter your mobile number.
- Step 7: Now, press Generate OTP option.
- Step 9: Now, enter the OTP you get via SMS. The OTP will get auto-filled if the website has an autofill feature activated.
- Step 10: Next, tap the Show Details option.
- Step 11: Now, select application Selection.
- Step 12: Next, select the Transfer of Ownership option.
- Step 13: Enter the vehicle’s and buyer’s details like the payment address of the applicant, the permanent address proof of the seller/the applicant, the insurance details of the vehicle, the address of the new owner, etc.
- Step 14: Pay the road tax and obtain the acknowledgement form and keep it safe.
- Step 15: Now, select the Payment option and pay the fees to get the new Registration Certificate. You are supposed to get another acknowledgement form. Please keep the acknowledgement certificate safe.
- Step 16: Next, you will get the soft copies of the filled-out RTO forms and the payment receipts once you finish the application process.
- Step 17: Print them out and sign them.
- Step 18: Submit the necessary documents and forms mentioned in the above table.
- Step 19: The RTO will start verifying the documents. After the verification, the new owner will get the new registration certificate via email or Post within thirty working days.
Note: In case of interstate vehicle ownership transfer, or if the RTO of the buyer and seller is not the same, the applicant must fill out Forms 28 and 29.
What Are The Consequences Of Not Transferring Car/Bike Ownership?
- If the new owner violates traffic rules, as the official owner of the vehicle, you may face legal charges.
- Since transferring a sold vehicle’s ownership is compulsory, you may face legal charges for not transferring its ownership.
- You may face the consequences if the vehicle is involved in any road accident or criminal activity.
RC Transfer Charges in Chennai:
R.C transfer charges vary depending on which vehicle needs the ownership transfer. We have provided a table mentioning how much you have to pay to obtain a new R.C book if you live in Chennai.
| Vehicle | Charge |
| Two wheelers | 150/- |
| Four wheelers | 300/- |
Procedure Of Paying Pending Tax Of Vehicle In Chennai:
- Step 1: Open the Parivahan official website.
- Step 2: Press the Vahan Service option.
- Step 3: Next, enter your vehicle’s registration details.
- Step 4: Click on the Pay Tax option.
- Step 5: Now, you need to generate OTP.
- Step 6: After clicking on the Generate OTP button, tap on Okay.
- Step 7: Now, you will be able to see your vehicle’s information. Check them once.
- Step 8: Now, select an online payment mode according to your convenience.
- Step 9: When the payment is complete; please save a copy of the e-challan on your device.
Vehicle Ownership Transfer Forms:
| Vehicle Ownership Transfer Forms | Requirement |
| Form 20 | If required |
| Form 27 | If required |
| Form 28 | If required |
| Form 29 | Mandatory |
| Form 30 | Mandatory |
| Form 31 | If required |
| Form 32 | If required |
| Form 33 | If required |
| Form 35 | If required |
| Form 60 | If required |
| Form 61 | If required |
Conclusion
If you are interested in selling your old vehicle, follow a few rules. The seller needs to transfer the sold vehicle’s ownership at the selling time. But, we figured that many people might not have clear knowledge about how to transfer ownership. However, following this article can help you find every piece of information that may help you transfer your vehicle’s ownership.
Check How To Transfer Ownership Of Vehicle In Different Cities:
| How to Transfer Ownership of Vehicle |
FAQs
Q. What is the process of R.C. transfer?
A: Fill out the required RTO forms and submit all the documents(we have mentioned the required documents and RTO forms in the table) to the regional RTO. Pay the road tax and the much-needed R.C transfer fees to get a new Registration certificate. Once all this is done, the RTO verifies the documents, and the new owner gets the new Registration certificate.
Q. How can you check your R.C. transfer status
A: Open Parivahan Sewa's official website and enter your vehicle's registration details. That is it. Now, you can check the R.C. transfer status online.
Q. How much time does the R.C. transfer procedure take in Chennai?
A: It takes thirty working days to get the new R.C. in Chennai.
Q. What is the procedure for the transfer of bike ownership in Chennai?
A: Submit all the necessary documents and forms mentioned in the table to the RTO office and pay the road tax and R.C. transfer fee. Once the RTO completes the verification of the documents, the new owner gets the registration certificate by Post or email.
Q. Is it necessary to get a NOC from the RTO if I have to transfer ownership of a vehicle from one RTO to another?
A: Yes. If you transfer a vehicle's ownership from one RTO to another, issuing NOC from a bank is compulsory.
Q. What are the valid and acceptable address proofs for the transfer of ownership of a vehicle in Chennai?
A: Any utility bill like electricity bill, phone bill, gas or telephone bill or any address proof like Voter card, Aadhar card or PAN, etc., is considered valid and acceptable address proof.
Q. I am purchasing a used bike. The seller is not from Chennai. Is the seller's presence mandatory for the transfer of ownership of a bike?
A: No. The sellers' presence is not compulsory. But the submission of the documents of the vehicle is essential.
Q. What is the procedure to transfer ownership of a vehicle in case of the death of a registered owner? Also, what is the rule regarding nominees in R.C.?
A: Firstly, the seller must issue a succession letter if the vehicle's previous owner is dead. After that, the seller must provide valid address proof (PAN, Aadhar card or voter card), valid id proof, or any valid utility bill and other necessary documents to the RTO office once filling out the necessary RTO forms is complete. After the submission, the transfer of ownership is possible.
Q. If the vehicle is stolen and the owner has taken the claim from the insurance company, and the insurance company sells the vehicle directly from the owner to some other person without transfer in the insurance company's name?
A: Whatever the situation is, transferring a used car's ownership is compulsory.
Q. Is a transfer of ownership necessary if a vehicle is being provided as a rental?
A: No, transferring ownership is unnecessary if you rent a car to someone.
Q. Can I (seller) get into legal trouble for not transferring vehicle ownership?
A: Yes. You may face legal charges if you sell a vehicle without transferring its ownership.
Q. When should I apply for a transfer of vehicle ownership?
A: You can start applying for the transfer of the vehicle's ownership at the time of selling it or once you have already sold it.
Q. What documents are considered Proof of Address?
A: Any address proof like Aadhar card, PAN card, voter card or any valid utility bill like electricity bill, phone bill, gas, etc., is considered proof of address.
Q. How do I pay road tax for Chennai RTO?
A: Open the Parivahan official website and enter your vehicle's registration details. Then select a payment mode as you want, and pay the road Tax for Chennai RTO.
Q. Is there any validity period of NOC issued by a bank?
A: Yes. In India, the validity of the NOC is around six months.
Q. The validity of NOC issued by a bank has expired. What should I do?
A: If the NOC validity has expired, approach the bank that issued your NOC and either get a new draft or revalidate the old NOC.
Q. Can I sell my car without removing hypothecation from it?
A: Yes. But you must submit the necessary documents.