RTO (Regional Transport Office)

What is RTO?

The full form of RTO is Regional Transport Office. This is a government department or agency that takes care of everything related to a vehicle whether issuing a driving license, transferring from one state to another, issuing different types of certificates, and many more. You can find an RTO office in each state and union territory

Functions of RTO

There are different types of functions performed by RTO and they are discussed here in detail

Registration of a Vehicle

Vehicle registration is one of the most important jobs performed by RTO. In this process, RTO provides registration numbers, license plates, and certificates for vehicle registration. A transport permit is also provided along with a no-objection certificate.

Driving Licenses

Another important task is the issuance of a driving license. Before issuing the license, the department conducts a driving test. Records of licensed drivers are also maintained. The license is issued to the drivers who qualify the test. RTO is also responsible for canceling, suspending, and renewing the driving license.

Pollution and Fitness Certificates

Inspection of different vehicles is conducted at regular intervals to know about their fitness. The department also checks the pollution caused by the vehicle. A pollution and a fitness certificate is issued which consists of the readings of different tests conducted.

Tax Collection

Different types of taxes and fees are collected by RTO related to vehicles and roads. Some of these taxes are −

• Road tax

• Permit fees

• Vehicle transfer fees

The tax collected is used for the maintenance of roads and infrastructure development. taxes that a government has levied on different types of vehicles have to be paid. The payment of tax depends upon the type and size of a vehicle. The RTO is also responsible for collecting International Multi-purpose vehicle fees and department action case charges.

Permits and Transport Regulation

Permits related to commercial vehicles are also issued by the department. RTO is also responsible for the regulation and enforcement of transport-related regulations for commercial vehicles. Passenger safety, travel routes, and load limits are decided.

Enforcement and Traffic Management

RTO and enforcement agencies collaborate by law so that the traffic rules and regulations can be imposed and enforced. The other responsibilities of this collaboration are parking regulation, traffic congestion management, arrangement of safety awareness campaigns, etc.

Environmental Norms

RTO has to track whether vehicles running on roads are meeting the environmental norms. This is done by checking the pollution emitted by vehicles. Accordingly, a Pollution Under Control certificate is issued which consists of the readings.

How does RTO work?

RTO conducts different types of activities related to vehicles. We will discuss some of them here along with their processes.

Vehicle Registration Process

Here are the steps that are taken to register a vehicle

• The owner has to submit all the required documents which include address proof, sale certificate, identity, roadworthiness certificate, and insurance.

• All documents are verified by RTO and different fees are collected which include registration fees, road tax, and other charges.

• An inspection of the vehicle can be done to check pollution level, fitness, etc.

• After the completion of verification, a unique registration number is issued

• The registration certificate is given to the owner of the vehicle which consists of the name of the owner along with registration number, address, and engine and chassis numbers.

Issuance of Driving License

Here are the steps taken to issue a driving license

• The driving test is conducted to know whether the driver is skilled enough to drive the vehicle safely on the road

• A driving license is then issued if the driver passes the test. Various details are included in the license which include the identity, age, and address of the applicant.

• RTO is also responsible for suspending, renewing, and canceling driving licenses.

• For renewal, RTO has to make sure that drivers update their licenses at regular intervals.

• A database related to the licensed drivers is also maintained.

Tax Collection

RTO collects different types of taxes and we will discuss them here in detail.

Road Tax

RTO has to collect road tax which is a state-level tax and has to be paid at the time of registration. It can also be paid periodically till the time the vehicle is fit to run on the road. The road tax is paid on the basis of the type of vehicle, capacity of the engine, seating capacity, and usage.

Motor Vehicle Tax

Motor Vehicle tax is collected by RTO each year or every two years. The amount of tax depends upon the age of the vehicle, its type, the capacity of the engine, and many more things. The tax is added to the revenue of the state.

Permit Fees

Permit fees are collected from commercial vehicles which include goods carriers, taxis, and passenger buses. These permits are also renewed by RTO and the tax is added to the revenue of the state.

Fitness Certificate Fees

A fitness certificate is issued to commercial vehicles after checking their fitness. This document must be carried by drivers while driving. RTO conducts a fitness test of the vehicle before issuing the certificate.

Other Fees

Other fees collected by RTO include issuance of the duplicate registration certificates along with many others.

Vehicle Transfer

When the owner of the vehicle is changed due to sale, inheritance, or gift, RTO plays a role in transferring the vehicle along with issuing a no-objection certificate. Required documents have to be submitted by the buyer and seller which include address proof and, an original registration certificate. The documents are verified and the new owner receives the registration certificate.

Difference between DTO and RTO

The full form of RTO is Regional Transport Office while DTO stands for District Transport Office. RTO is a government department which is responsible for enforcing rules and regulations related to vehicles and roads. It has different responsibilities like issuing driving licenses, registration certificates, and many more

District Transport Office also performs similar tasks as RTO but they are done in a particular district only. Vehicle registration issuance of driving license, tax collection, etc. are the tasks conducted by DTO.

Conclusion

RTO is a government department which is responsible for handling traffic rules and regulations along with issuing different types of certificates and tax collection. Similar tasks are also performed by DTO at the district level.

FAQs

FAQ 1: Are RTO and DTO same?

Ans: Yes! DTO and RTO are same but RTO functions on the state level while DTO functions on the district level.

FAQ 2: What type of taxes are collected by RTO?

Ans: The taxes collected by RTO include road tax, registration fee, permit fee, and many more.

FAQ 3: Which documents are needed to register a vehicle?

Ans: The documents required for registering a vehicle are address proof, sale certificate, identity, roadworthiness certificate, and insurance.

FAQ 4: Can a driving test be scheduled online?

Ans: Yes! Driving tests can be scheduled online.

FAQ 5: Can RTO issue a duplicate copy of the driving license if it is lost?

Ans: Yes! RTO can issue a duplicate copy if the original is lost.