Registration of vintage cars and motorcycles has officially commenced in Uttar Pradesh under a new “vintage” category. This is in line with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) 2021 notification surrounding vintage vehicle registration, which has been in effect in other states for quite some time.
- New vintage vehicle registration costs Rs 20,000; Rs 5,000 for renewals
- Vintage vehicles get a unique number plate format
- They can't be used for daily commutes or commercial purposes
UP vintage vehicle registration details
Eligibility criteria
To qualify, vehicles must be at least 50 years old from the date of first registration. They must also retain their original chassis, body shell, and engine without major modifications. The rule applies to two-wheelers and four-wheelers but not tractors or other agricultural vehicles. Transport department officials maintain that age alone does not automatically make a vehicle “vintage.”
Owners of qualifying vintage vehicles need to apply at their local RTO or ARTO, following which inspectors will verify the vehicle’s originality and keep photographic records. Applications will be processed within 60 days, with pending ones being given priority.
New vintage RC costs Rs 20,000, renewals cost Rs 5,000
The registration fee has been set at Rs 20,000 for a new vintage Registration Certificate (RC) and Rs 5,000 for renewals. A vintage RC will be valid for 10 years and must be renewed every five years. It’s also worth noting that vintage vehicles will be exempt from high-security registration plates (HSRP). Instead, they’ll carry a special “UP VA YY xxxx” number plate format (for example, UP VA AA 0001).
Authorities have made it clear that vintage vehicles cannot be used for daily commutes or commercial purposes, and this will be mentioned on the RC too. Vintage vehicles are meant only for preservation and exhibition, as per officials.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
