New Delhi: Owning an old vehicle is about to get much costlier. The central government has decided to double the registration renewal fees for vehicles that are more than 20 years old, in a bid to discourage their use.
The rule to hike renewal charges for vehicles above 15 years came into effect on April 1, 2022, but in Kerala, the new rates are yet to be implemented due to a pending case in the High Court. For now, owners there continue paying the old rates, while giving an undertaking to pay the difference if the court approves the hike.
This increase is in addition to the already higher road taxes, making ownership of old vehicles far more expensive. Vehicles between 15 and 20 years will still follow the existing fee structure, but once they cross 20 years, the charges will rise steeply.
To put it in perspective: while most states currently collect ₹1,000 for two-wheelers, Kerala charges only ₹300. Under the new rule, the fee will jump to ₹2,000 for vehicles over 20 years old — a sharp spike for owners holding on to their aging rides.
