· CMVR · Fitness certificate · Vehicle documents
New Fitness Certificate Rules: 15 Years for Private Vehicles, and a Video at Every Renewal
Written and checked bySignalPe Desk· Editorial Desk
Key points
- Notified as G.S.R. 349(E) on 8 May 2026, in force from publication.
- Rule 62 now covers every motor vehicle, not only transport vehicles.
- A new private (non-transport) vehicle is deemed to hold a fitness certificate for 15 years from registration; each renewal after that is valid for 5 years.
- Where an automated testing station is operational, light motor vehicles must be fitness-tested there.
- Every renewal needs a geo-tagged video of at least 10 seconds, recorded on a government app.
- HSRP, reflectors, seat belts, speed governors and tracking devices were added to the inspection list.
What the amendment does
The Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2026 were notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as G.S.R. 349(E) on 8 May 2026. They came into force on publication. The centre of the change is Rule 62, which sets how long a certificate of fitness lasts and what must be checked before it is renewed.
Until this amendment, Rule 62(1) spoke of the fitness certificate “in respect of a transport vehicle”. It now reads “in respect of a motor vehicle”, and two new clauses set the validity for private vehicles.
How long a fitness certificate lasts now
For a private car or two-wheeler, the practical effect is that no separate fitness test is needed in the vehicle’s early life. A fully built new non-transport vehicle needs no fitness certification at registration and is deemed to hold a certificate for fifteen years from the date of registration.
| Vehicle | Validity |
|---|---|
| New private (non-transport) vehicle | 15 years from the date of registration |
| Private vehicle, each renewal after that | 5 years |
| Transport vehicle up to 8 years old | 2 years (rule unchanged by this amendment) |
| Transport vehicle older than 8 years | 1 year (rule unchanged by this amendment) |
Testing moves to automated stations
A new proviso to Rule 62 says that where an automated testing station registered under Rule 175 is operational in a registering authority’s jurisdiction, the fitness of light motor vehicles shall be done only through that station. Where no station is operational, the existing route through the authority’s inspecting officer remains.
Booking a slot at an automated testing station now needs only two things: the vehicle’s registration number and the registered owner’s mobile number (Rule 181(3)). The particulars the station captures (Rule 181(4)) now also include insurance validity, permit validity where applicable, and the validity of the PUC certificate.
The amendment also tightened who can run a station: a service station, or anyone connected with vehicle repair, cannot own or operate an automated testing station directly in the same district where they carry on that business.
A geo-tagged video at every renewal
A fitness certificate can now be renewed only after a geo-tagged video of at least ten seconds has been captured and uploaded through a mobile application developed by the Central Government. The video must cover the vehicle from the front, rear, right and left, with the registration plate, the chassis number and the vehicle’s features clearly visible. This applies whether the test is carried out at an authorised testing station or by an inspecting officer.
What the inspection now checks
Five items were added to the Rule 62 inspection table. Not every item applies to every class of vehicle: a speed governor or tracking device is checked only on vehicles that are required to carry one.
- Speed governor — securely fitted, sealed, with its wiring connected (Rule 118).
- Vehicle location tracking device — installed, emergency button working, active in the VAHAN database as per AIS-140, with an e-SIM valid until the next fitness test is due.
- High security registration plates — fitted front and rear, with the third registration mark on the windscreen (Rule 50).
- Reflectors and reflective tape — clean, secure, undamaged, and of the colour and placement required by Rule 104.
- Seat belts — all mandatory belts present and secure, anchorages tight, and the seat-belt reminder working where fitted.
What owners should do
If you own a private vehicle registered less than fifteen years ago, there is nothing to do now. If your vehicle is older, or you run a taxi, goods vehicle or bus, check whether an automated testing station is operational near your RTO before booking. Make sure the HSRP, reflectors and seat belts are in order before the test — these are now on the checklist.