Govt revises fitness test fees, sharply increasing charges for older vehicles
The government has introduced a revised fee structure for vehicle fitness tests across India, bringing significantly higher charges for vehicles that are more than 10 years old. The update comes under the amended Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), which now divide vehicles into three age slabs – 10-15 years, 15-20 years and above 20 years. This expands the earlier structure that only applied higher charges to vehicles older than 15 years.
New Fee Structure: Higher Charges for All Vehicle Categories
Under the revised system, fitness test fees have increased for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, light motor vehicles and commercial categories such as medium and heavy goods carriers. Even vehicles less than 15 years old will now pay higher base certification fees.
Updated fees for 10–15-year-old vehicles are:
- Two-wheelers: Rs. 400
- Light motor vehicles: Rs. 600
- Medium/heavy commercial vehicles: Rs. 1000
Charges rise steeply for older vehicles. Cars aged 15-20 years will pay Rs. 5000, while those older than 20 years will be charged Rs. 15,000. For heavy commercial vehicles, the fee goes up to Rs. 25,000 for the 20+ year category. In several cases, fees for the oldest vehicles have increased by as much as 10-15 times compared to the previous rates.
Reason Behind the Increased Fees
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has stated that the revised fees aim to reduce the number of unsafe and high-emission vehicles on Indian roads. Older vehicles tend to face structural degradation and higher pollution levels, necessitating more stringent checks. The stepped fee system seeks to encourage vehicle retirement, scrappage or replacement with newer, cleaner models.
Impact on Private and Commercial Owners
Private owners with vehicles in the 10-20-year age group will see higher recurring costs for mandatory certification. Re-inspection fees have also gone up, increasing the financial burden for vehicles that fail the test.
Commercial operators are expected to be most affected, especially those running fleets over 20 years old. The higher charges may further push fleet owners toward accelerated replacement cycles and greater adoption of newer vehicles with lower emissions.
With the revised structure now in effect, vehicle owners across categories will need to factor in higher compliance costs as their vehicles age.
