· CMVR · Ambulances · Fitness certificate
Bike Ambulances Get Their Own Rules: What the CMVR Thirteenth Amendment Requires
Written and checked byVijay Rajkumar· Transport Data
Key points
- Notified as G.S.R. 879(E) on 13 October 2026. The rules took effect on publication, apart from the provisions that carry their own dates.
- A two-wheeled road ambulance must now renew its fitness certificate every two years.
- Eight items were added to the fitness inspection, including the patient unit’s mounting, the stretcher, its lock, the patient restraints and a fire extinguisher.
- From 1 January 2027, top lights on these ambulances must meet AIS-209 (Part 1):2026. The draft had proposed 1 October 2026.
- From 1 October 2027, L2-category two-wheeled ambulances must conform to AIS-209 (Part 1):2026. They may be registered only for an area the State Government decides.
Where these rules come from
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published the proposal as draft rules G.S.R. 663(E), dated 23 July 2026, and invited objections for thirty days. The final rules, the Central Motor Vehicles (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules, 2026, were notified as G.S.R. 879(E) on 13 October 2026. They are made under sections 64 and 110 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The amendment adds provisions on two-wheeled road ambulances to four rules of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Rule 62 (fitness), Rule 108 (lights), Rule 112 and Rule 125-F. When the draft was published, the ministry’s stated aim, as reported at the time, was faster emergency response and better last-mile access to medical care in rural, remote and hilly areas, where a conventional ambulance struggles to get through.
A fitness certificate every two years
Rule 62 sets how long a certificate of fitness lasts. The amendment adds a separate entry: the renewal of a fitness certificate for a two-wheeled road ambulance is valid for two years. For comparison, here is how that sits against the other periods in the rule:
| Vehicle | Fitness certificate validity |
|---|---|
| Two-wheeled road ambulance, each renewal | 2 years (new entry, from 13 October 2026) |
| New private (non-transport) vehicle | 15 years from registration, then 5 years per renewal |
| Transport vehicle up to 8 years old | 2 years |
| Transport vehicle older than 8 years | 1 year |
What the inspector now checks
Eight items, numbered 26 to 33, were added to the Rule 62 inspection table. All but one must be checked for fitment, make or rating, condition and functioning. Tyres and rims are the exception: they are checked for fitment, rating and condition, but not functioning.
- Ambulance accessory or patient unit: securely mounted to the base vehicle, with no loose bolts, cracks, deformation or structural damage in the brackets, fasteners or structural members.
- Tyres and rims, including those of the side-mounted ambulance unit: free of cuts, bulges, excessive wear or damage, correctly fitted and adequately inflated.
- Emergency warning lights, such as a beacon or flashing light: securely mounted, working, and able to be operated during an emergency response.
- Patient stretcher: present, properly mounted and securely fixed, with no damage or instability.
- Stretcher locking mechanism: engages securely and stops the stretcher moving during transit.
- Patient restraint system: belts or straps on the stretcher present, intact and able to hold the patient while the vehicle moves.
- Loading and unloading mechanism: operates smoothly, with no jamming, excessive force or instability.
- Fire extinguisher: of a suitable type, securely mounted, easily reached and within its validity period.
The AIS-209 standard arrives in two steps
The vehicle itself must meet a new Automotive Industry Standard, AIS-209 (Part 1):2026, on the dates below.
| From | Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Rule 108(8) | Top lights fitted on two-wheeled road ambulances must be in accordance with AIS-209 (Part 1):2026 |
| 1 October 2027 | Rule 112(10) | Two-wheeled road ambulances of category L2 must be in accordance with AIS-209 (Part 1):2026 |
| 1 October 2027 | Rule 125-F(2) | L2 two-wheeled road ambulances manufactured on or after this date must be in accordance with AIS-209 (Part 1):2026 |
Where a bike ambulance may run is for each state to decide
Rules 112(10) and 125-F(2) both carry the same proviso: such a two-wheeled road ambulance shall be registered to ply in an area decided by the State Government. The central rules do not name any area themselves.
What operators should do now
If a health department, hospital or NGO already runs two-wheeled ambulances, the two-year fitness renewal and the eight inspection items apply from 13 October 2026. Before the next fitness test, make sure the patient unit is firmly mounted, the stretcher locks, the restraint straps are intact, the warning light works and the fire extinguisher is within date. Anyone buying a new unit should ask the manufacturer whether it is certified to AIS-209 (Part 1):2026, since that becomes mandatory for L2 vehicles from 1 October 2027.