Importance of bike registration certificate and how to obtain it
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Let’s learn more about why an RC or Registration Certificate is absolutely essential for riding your motorbike on the road and how you can obtain one.
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Can’t wait to hit your new motorbike on the road? Can totally understand the awesome feeling but the wait can get slightly longer, considering that you’d first need to get the Registration Certificate (RC) for the bike before it can be allowed to be taken on the road. This regulation is mandated by the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and applies to all bike owners. Here we discuss all about RC bike and why it is so important to have one. We also share how you can get one so that your wait to ride your dream bike can end faster.
What RC Means in Bike Registration?
As mentioned above, RC stands for Registration Certificate. It needs to be understood here that an RC is the most important document for a bike owner, which they must possess and carry with them at all times when taking the bike on the road.
It is essentially a legal document mandated by the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which authorizes that the said bike has been registered with the Regional Transport Office or RTO.
This implies that the bike registration certificate must be present with the bike owner/rider at all times since it is the only proof that the bike is legally registered and authorized to ride on roads.
Importance of Registration Certificate of Bike
We learned what the bike registration certificate is and we now know that it is a legal document. Needless to say, it has to be the most vital document pertaining to the motorbike. Here we explain why an bike registration certificate holds so much value for a bike owner or rider.
The Registration Certificate of a motorbike contains a number of significant details pertaining to your bike, such as:
- Date of registration of the vehicle
- Registration number of the bike
- The seating capacity of the vehicle
- Engine number
- Bike’s model name and number
- Type of vehicle
- Color of the bike
Since your bike registration certificate contains some very important details with regard to your bike, it is almost indispensable and needs to be carried with you at all times while riding the bike on the road. Note that failure to abide by this rule can result in a heavy penalty fee of up to Rs. 2,000 or even bike seizure by the traffic police.
How to Obtain RC Registration of the Bike?
For the sake of convenience of bike owners, the bike registration certificate check or RC is now issued by the RTO in the form of a smart card. It is relatively easier to carry around in the pocket at all times.
The RTO generally issues the bike registration certificate for a total of 15 years, after which it expires and needs to be renewed for 5 years thereafter upon expiration. Note that in case a bike owner has been issued a temporary RC, its validity only lasts up to 1 month with no renewal feature.
Here are some simple steps to follow in order to get bike registration certificate:
- The first step after purchasing your bike is to take it to the RTO branch near you at the earliest. The office authorities will then inspect the bike before issuing the RC.
- At the RTO, you’d also be required to fill out Form 20 with complete and accurate information regarding your name, address, place of birth and other personal details, type of vehicle, PAN card for ID proof, manufacturing month and year details, engine information, seating capacity of the bike, its color, and the like.
- The RTO would ask for an imprint of the chassis number of the vehicle.
Documents Required for RC Bike Registration
As part of the registration procedure explained above, you’d be required to submit the following documents along with Form 20 at the RTO:
- Original invoice of the manufacturer and dealer of the vehicle
- A certificate of roadworthiness of the bike issued by the bike manufacturer
- Attested copies of proof of address of bike owner and those of bike insurance policy
Upon completion of the entire procedure, including submission of all required documents, the RC will be issued within a few working days.
How to Get Bike RC Online?
In case the procedure for bike registration detailed above seems overwhelming and too much work, there is an alternate simpler and relatively hassle-free process too. You can simply complete the entire process online and also receive the bike RC online.
All you need to do is visit the official website vahan.parivahan.gov.in to get your bike registered. Here, you can even apply for renewal of bike RC, transfer of ownership in case of second-hand or used bike, and fitness certificate for the bike, along with the RC for the vehicle.
In a Nutshell
It is absolutely mandatory by the Indian law for every motor vehicle in the country to obtain a Registration Certificate before hitting the road officially. This is actually done in the interest of the vehicle owner, though it may sometimes seem otherwise.
The same rule applies to motorbikes as well. All bike owners and riders are required to possess the bike’s RC and even carry with them at all times while riding the vehicle on the road. Failure to comply with this order may attract penalty or even bike seizure.
Make sure to visit the RTO branch near you and apply for RC for your bike. We discussed in this blog what RC of bike means and the procedure to apply for and obtain one. It is far easier to get an RC online and faster too.

Author Bio
Paybima Team
Paybima is an Indian insurance aggregator on a mission to make insurance simple for people. Paybima is the Digital arm of the already established and trusted Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd., a reputed name in the insurance broking industry with 17 years of experience. Paybima promises you the easy-to-access online platform to buy insurance policies, and also extend their unrelented assistance with all your policy related queries and services.
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