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Core Purpose

This notification introduces the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2026, to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, primarily concerning vehicle fitness certification, testing procedures, and related requirements.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification on May 8, 2026, enacting the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2026, which amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. These amendments come into force from their publication date in the Official Gazette. Key changes include amending rule 52(2) to allow vehicle referral and fitness certificate issuance by 'authorised testing stations' in Form 38. Rule 62(1) is significantly revised: it now applies to 'motor vehicles' instead of only 'transport vehicles', introduces a fifteen-year fitness validity for new non-transport vehicles and five years for their renewal, and mandates automated testing stations registered under rule 175 for light motor vehicles in their jurisdiction. Furthermore, the renewal of fitness certificates now requires capturing and uploading a ten-second geo-tagged video of the vehicle via a Central Government mobile application, covering all sides and ensuring clear visibility of registration number, chassis number, and features. New inspection parameters are added to the TABLE under rule 62(1), including checks for Speed governor (rule 118), Vehicle location tracking (VLT) device (rules 90/125H/129, active in VAHAN database as per AIS 140, e-SIM validity), High security registration plate (HSRP) (rule 50), Retro-Reflector and reflective tapes (rule 104), and Safety belt (seat belt) (rules 125 or 125A). The third and fourth provisos of rule 62(1) are omitted, and a new proviso exempts new fully built non-transport vehicles from fitness certification at registration, deeming them fit for fifteen years. Rule 174(1)(iii) is amended by omitting 'in Form 25 for'. Rule 176(1) is amended to prohibit service stations or repair-related persons from owning/operating automated testing stations in the same district. Rule 177(2) omits certain restrictions on automated testing station owners. Rule 181 is extensively amended regarding booking slots for fitness tests (requiring registration and mobile numbers), information capture (adding insurance, permit, and PUC validity), and visual checks data (mandating geo-tagged photos and videos via mobile application). Rule 182 is amended to require payment of fees as per rule 81 for re-tests and omits sub-rule (1A). Rule 189 is amended to include 'Functional' inspection for VLT devices, remove provisions for multiple re-tests without fee, and define 'End of Life Vehicle' (ELV) for vehicles not declared fit within 180 days, with a provision for State/UT extensions. Sub-rule (5) of rule 189 mandates preservation of all test data, photos, and videos for at least six months. Finally, Form 38 is amended by omitting the heading '(APPLICABLE IN THE CASE OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES ONLY)', and Form 38A is omitted entirely. The principal rules were published vide G.S.R. 590(E) dated June 2, 1989, and last amended vide G.S.R. 298(E) dated April 21, 2026. This notification was signed by Mahmood Ahmed, Addl. Secy.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-12052026-272469 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 315] | NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026/VAISAKHA 18, 1948 MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 8th May, 2026 2 | THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY | [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] 1. Short title and commencement.-- (1) These rules may be called the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (hereinafter referred as the said rules), in rule 52, in sub-rule (2), (a) after the words “shall refer the vehicle to the authority”, the words “or authorised testing station” shall be inserted; (b) for the words “certificate of fitness from that authority”, the words “certificate of fitness, in Form 38 from that authority or authorised testing station” shall be inserted; 3. In the said rules, in rule 62, in sub-rule (1), (a) for the words “in respect of a transport vehicle”, the words “in respect of a motor vehicle” shall be substituted; (b) after clause (d), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely: - (e) new non-transport vehicle | fifteen years (f) renewal of certificate of fitness in respect of non-transport vehicles | five years: Provided that where the automated testing station registered under rule 175 is operational in the jurisdiction of a registering authority, the fitness of the vehicle of the category of light motor vehicle shall be done only through such automated testing station with effect from the commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2026. (c) in the first proviso, for the words “the renewal of a fitness certificate shall be made only after an Inspecting Officer or authorised testing stations as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 56 of the Act has carried the tests specified in the Table given below, namely: -”, the words “the renewal of a certificate of fitness shall be made only after capturing and uploading at least a ten seconds geo-tagged video of the vehicle at the time of fitness test through a mobile application developed by the Central Government, covering the vehicle from front, rear, right side and left side ensuring clear visibility of the registration number plate, chassis number and features of the vehicle by an, (i) authorised testing station as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 56 after carrying out the tests specified in the Table-D in sub-rule (1) of rule 189; or (ii) inspecting Officer after carrying out the tests specified in the Table given below, namely:-” shall be substituted. (d) in the first proviso, in TABLE, after serial number 20 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and entries shall be inserted, namely: - "(21) | Speed governor | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Ensure compliance with rule 118. Visual inspection parameters: (i) securely fitted; (ii) speed governor shall be sealed; (iii) electrical wirings of speed governor shall not be disconnected; 3 | THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY | [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (22) | Vehicle location tracking (VLT) device | Yes | Yes (Visual) | Yes (Visual) | Yes | Yes | Ensure compliance with rule 90 / rule 125H / rule 129. Visual inspection parameters: (i) Vehicle location tracking shall be installed; (ii) emergency alarm button shall be working. Functional inspection parameters: (i) Vehicle location tracking device shall be active in VAHAN database as per AIS 140; (ii) e-SIM shall have a validity period up to the date on which the subsequent fitness test of the vehicle falls due. (23) | High security registration plate (HSRP) | Yes | Yes (Visual) | Yes (Visual) | No | No | Ensure compliance with rule 50. Visual inspection parameters: (i) high security registration plates installed at the front and rear of the vehicle including third registration mark on the windshield; (ii) securely fixed. (24) | Retro-Reflector and reflective tapes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Visual) | No | No | Visual inspection parameters: (A) Reflectors: (i) ensure presence of clean reflectors; (ii) secured fitment of reflectors; (iii) reflectors shall not be in damaged condition; (iv) ensure that colour of reflectors shall be as per rule 104, i.e., red colour to the rear or white to the front. (B) Reflective tapes: (i) ensure presence of clean reflective tapes; (ii) securely pasted to vehicle body; (iii) ensure that size, colour and location of reflective tapes shall be as per rule 104; 4 | THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY | [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (iv) reflective tapes shall not be damaged; (v) the marks shall be visible, clearly legible on the outside of the marking material and shall be indelible. (25) | Safety belt (seat belt) | Yes | No | Yes (Visual) | No | No | Ensure compliance with rule 125 or 125A. Visual inspection parameters: (i) mandatory safety belts shall be available and securely fitted; (ii) safety belts shall not be damaged; (iii) safety belt anchorage shall not be loose; (iv) seatbelt reminder system, if available, should be functioning; (v) G-lock of seatbelt should be functioning. (e) in the second proviso, for the words “the renewal of fitness certificate shall be made only after carrying out tests specified in the Table given below”, the words “the renewal of a certificate of fitness shall be made only after capturing and uploading at least a ten seconds geo-tagged video of the vehicle at the time of fitness test through a mobile application, developed by the Central Government, covering the vehicle from front, rear, right side and left side ensuring clear visibility of the registration number plate, chassis number and features of the vehicle after carrying out the tests specified in the Table given below” shall be substituted. (f) the third proviso and the fourth proviso shall be omitted; (g) after the fifth proviso, the following shall be inserted, namely: - “Provided also that no fitness certification shall be required at the time of registration for new non-transport vehicle sold as fully built vehicle and such vehicle shall be deemed to be having certificate of fitness for a period of fifteen years from the date of registration." 4. In the said rules, in rule 174, in sub-rule (1), in clause (iii), the words "in Form 25 for" shall be omitted. 5. In the said rules, in rule 176, in sub-rule (1), - (a) for the first proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely: - "Provided that a service station or any person related to repair of vehicle shall not become the owner or operator of an automated testing station directly in the same district where such operations are conducted:"; (b) the second proviso, shall be omitted; 6. In the said rules, in rule 177, in sub-rule (2), the words "or manufacturing or sale of vehicles or automobile spares or scrapping of vehicles" shall be omitted. 7. In the said rules, rule 181,- (a) sub-rule (2) shall be omitted; (b) for sub-rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - "(3) The following information for vehicle identification and vehicle owner identification shall be entered at the time of booking a slot for fitness test at an automated testing station, namely: - (i) Registration number of a vehicle; 5 | THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY | [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (ii) Mobile number of the registered owner or authorised signatory,"; (c) in sub-rule (4),- (i) in clause (viii), after the words "Month and Year of Manufacture; ", the word “and” shall be omitted; (ii) after clause (ix), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely: - "(x) insurance validity; (xi) permit validity, wherever applicable; (xii) Pollution under Control Certificate validity."; (d) in sub-rule (6),- (i) clause (v) shall be omitted; (ii) for clause (vi), the following clause shall be substituted, namely, - "(vi) the visual checks data, including geo-tagged photographs and at least a ten seconds geo-tagged video of the vehicle shall be captured and uploaded through a mobile application developed by the Central Government, covering the vehicle from front, rear, right side and left side ensuring clear visibility of the registration number plate, chassis number, features of the vehicle and presence of the vehicle in the automated testing station."; (e) in sub-rule (7), - (i) the words "Form 25 or" and the words ", as the case may be," shall be omitted.; (ii) in clause (iv), after the word "details", the words "and photographs" shall be inserted. 8. In the said rules, in rule 182, - (a) in sub-rule (1), for the words "after getting the defects rectified", the words "after paying fees as specified in rule 81" shall be substituted; (b) sub-rule (1A) shall be omitted; (c) in sub-rule (2), after the words "multiple re-tests", the words "after paying fees as specified in rule 81" shall be inserted. 9. In the said rules, in rule 189, - (a) in sub-rule (1), - (i) In Table-D, against serial number 23, - (A) in column 5, for the word "Visual" the words "Visual and Functional" shall be substituted; (B) in column 7, after item number (ii), the following shall be inserted, namely: - "Functional inspection parameters: (i) vehicle location tracking device shall be active in VAHAN database as per AIS 140; (ii) e-SIM shall have a validity period up to the date on which the subsequent fitness test of the vehicle falls due; (iii) location of the vehicle during the fitness test shall be validated through vehicle location tracking device." (ii) in Note (a), the words "and shall be allowed to apply for multiple re-tests after paying prescribed fitness testing fee” shall be omitted; (iii) for Note (b), the following Note shall be substituted, namely: - "(b) if a vehicle is not declared as 'fit' within 180 days from the first date of vehicle being declared as 'unfit' (excluding the day of test), after failing any of the tests listed in Note (a) above or from the date of expiry of fitness certificate, whichever is later, the vehicle shall be categorized as 'End of Life Vehicle' (ELV) and flagged in the VAHAN as 'ELV': Provided that the registering authority of the State or Union territory, may allow extension beyond 180 days, under exceptional circumstances."; 6 | THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY | [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (b) (iv) in Note (c), the words "Such vehicle may undergo multiple re-tests, after paying the prescribed fitness testing fee" shall be omitted. for sub-rule (5), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely- "(5) All test data and visual checks data, including photographs and videos, captured as per sub-rule (6) of rule 181, shall be preserved for atleast 6 months for audit and assessment purpose.". 10. In the said rules, in Form 38 in the heading, the words “(APPLICABLE IN THE CASE OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES ONLY)" shall be omitted. 11. In the said rules, Form 38A shall be omitted. [F. No. RT-16011/3/2023-T-Part(1)] MAHMOOD AHMED, Addl. Secy. Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide notification number G.S.R. 590(E), dated the 2nd June, 1989 and last amended vide notification number G.S.R. 298(E), dated the 21st April, 2026. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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