Last updated: 2 October 2026
Quick Answer: A vehicle transfer from one state to another needs re-registration if it stays there over 12 months, under Section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Get an NOC (Form 28) from your old RTO, then apply in Form 27 to the new state's RTO for a new number. Pay road tax there; your old state may refund unused tax.
Cars and bikes follow the same vehicle re-registration process, through the Parivahan Vahan portal and the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in both states.
At a glance
| Point | What applies |
|---|---|
| When required | Vehicle kept in the new state for more than 12 months (Section 47) |
| Deadline to apply | Within 30 days after those 12 months (Rule 54, Central Motor Vehicles Rules) |
| Step 1 | No Objection Certificate (NOC) in Form 28 from your old RTO |
| Road tax | Paid again in the new state, at that state's rates |
| Refund | Claimed from the old state for the unused period, where its rules allow |
| Alternative | BH series, for eligible employees |
When do you have to re-register your vehicle in a new state?
For a vehicle transfer from one state to another, re-registration becomes compulsory once the vehicle has been kept in the new state for more than 12 months. Rule 54 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules then gives you 30 days to apply.
Moving for good? Rule 54 also lets you apply any time within those 12 months, with a declaration that the vehicle will stay longer.
What's the first step before you move your vehicle?
To apply for a vehicle NOC online for a transfer to another state, file Form 28 on the Parivahan Vahan portal with your registration and chassis numbers. Your old RTO checks for pending road tax, challans or a loan, then issues the No Objection Certificate (NOC) you'll need in the new state.
You can preview Form 28, the NOC application on Parivahan. Our step-by-step vehicle NOC guide covers the fee, status tracking and validity.
Short on time? Jaagruk Bharat's team can help you apply for vehicle NOC online without an RTO visit.
Get it done for you
- You share your registration certificate (RC) and documents once, over WhatsApp or online.
- The team fills in the NOC application with you and uploads the papers.
- You get status updates until the NOC is issued.
The NOC itself is always issued by your RTO, not by us.
How do you apply for a new registration number in the new state?
Apply in Form 27 to the RTO for your new address, on the Parivahan Vahan portal where your new state offers it, or at the RTO counter. This re-registration of vehicle in another state gives you a new number and moves your record to the new RTO.
- Keep the NOC (Form 28) from your old RTO ready.
- Pay the new state's road tax, on Vahan or at the RTO.
- Fill in Form 27, the application for a new registration mark, and submit it with your documents and the registration fee.
- Take the vehicle to the RTO if it asks to verify it.
- Collect your RC with the new number.
- Fit plates showing the new number. You can book high security registration plates (HSRP) online once it's assigned.
What documents do you need for re-registration in another state?
You need four core documents: Form 27, the NOC in Form 28, your original RC and the new state's road tax receipt. Add your lender's NOC if the vehicle is on a loan.
| Document | Why the RTO asks for it |
|---|---|
| Form 27 | Your application for a new registration mark (Rule 54) |
| NOC in Form 28 | Old RTO's no-objection (or the NOC receipt plus a declaration) |
| Original RC | The new number is entered on it |
| Road tax receipt | Proof you've paid the new state's tax |
| Lender's NOC | Only for a vehicle on hire-purchase, lease or hypothecation |
| Fitness certificate | Transport (commercial) vehicles only |
| Insurance, pollution under control (PUC) certificate, address proof | Usually checked; confirm with the new RTO |
Selling the vehicle at the same time? That's a change of owner too, covered in our guide to transferring RC ownership.
How much does it cost to transfer a vehicle to another state?
Most vehicle transfer charges come from the road tax your new state collects, at rates each state sets. The NOC, registration fee and plates add less.
| Cost item | Who charges it | What decides the amount |
|---|---|---|
| Road tax | New state | That state's motor vehicle tax law |
| NOC | Old RTO | Your old state's fee (see the NOC guide) |
| Registration fee for the new number | New RTO | Rule 81 fee table, by vehicle class |
| Smart card RC and HSRP plates | New RTO and authorised plate supplier | State and vehicle type |
| Late fee | New RTO | Charged if you miss the Rule 54 deadline (Section 47(5)) |
When you transfer a car to another state, check that state's road tax first. A car transfer from one state to another costs more than a bike's, and a refund from your old state, where its rules allow one, offsets part of it.
How do you claim a road tax refund from your old state?
Apply to your old state's RTO or transport department once the new state has given you a new number. The refund covers the unused tax period, where that state's rules allow it.
Keep the new RC, the NOC, the old tax receipt and your bank details ready; forms differ by state. Our vehicle tax payment guide lists the documents a refund usually needs.
Is the BH series a better option?
It is if you qualify, because a BH (Bharat series) number doesn't change when you move states. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) opened it to government, PSU and public-sector bank employees, and to private employees whose employer has offices in four or more states or UTs.
Under Rule 51B, BH tax is 8% of the invoice price (before GST) below ₹10 lakh, 10% for ₹10–20 lakh and 12% above, plus 2% for diesel and minus 2% for electric. Every two years you pay two-fifteenths of that amount plus 25%, as MoRTH told Parliament. Some states apply their own tax law to BH vehicles, so confirm the amount with your RTO.
A regular-number vehicle can switch in Form 27A once you're eligible, where your state offers BH registration.
Moving soon? Get the NOC first, then let Jaagruk Bharat's team help you pay your vehicle tax online. Registration itself is always done by the RTO.
