Vehicle Fitness Certificate (FC)
Transport vehicles require a fitness certificate renewed every 1–2 years. Private vehicles require it after 15 years.
Transport vehicles (taxis, trucks, buses) require a fitness certificate from the RTO renewed every 1–2 years. Private vehicles now require fitness testing after 15 years under the new scrappage policy.
Penalty Under Law
Driving without valid FC: ₹2,000 first offence (Sec. 192). Repeat: ₹5,000. Vehicle may be impounded.
Legal Source
MV Act Sec. 56; CMVR Rule 62
What the Law Says
Section 56 MV Act: A transport vehicle cannot be driven without a valid certificate of fitness. The vehicle must pass an inspection covering brakes, steering, lights, tyres, emissions, suspension, and body integrity. New transport vehicles get FC valid for 2 years; renewals are for 1 year. The 2021 Vehicle Scrappage Policy requires private vehicles to undergo fitness testing after 20 years (proposed to be reduced to 15 years).
💡 Why This Rule Exists
Unfit vehicles — with worn brakes, bald tyres, broken lights, and failing steering — are a major factor in Indian road accidents. The fitness test is the only systematic mechanism to remove mechanically dangerous vehicles from the road. India has one of the oldest average fleet ages in the world.
Key Facts
- 1
Transport vehicles: FC mandatory from day one. Valid 2 years (new), then renewed annually.
- 2
Private vehicles: FC mandatory after 15–20 years (scrappage policy rules).
- 3
Automated Fitness Centres: Government is setting up CCTV-monitored automated testing centres to reduce corruption.
- 4
FC tests: brakes, headlights, steering, emissions, tyre condition, chassis integrity.
- 5
Without a valid FC, the vehicle's registration can be cancelled.
- 6
Driving without FC also voids insurance.
⚠️ Common Violations
- ›
Operating transport vehicles with expired fitness certificates.
- ›
Bribing inspectors to pass unfit vehicles.
- ›
Private vehicle owners unaware that old vehicles need fitness testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for vehicle fitness certificate (fc)?
What does the law say about vehicle fitness certificate (fc)?
Why does vehicle fitness certificate (fc) matter?
Know Someone Who Breaks This Rule?
Share this page. Awareness is the first step to safer roads.
More Vehicle Standards Rules
Tyre Safety Rules — Tread, Pressure, and Standards
CMVR Rule 95 requires tyres to be in good condition with adequate tread. The recommended minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. Retreaded tyres on the front axle of commercial vehicles are prohibited. Mismatched tyre sizes on the same axle are illegal.
₹500–₹1,000 (Sec
Mandatory Rear-View Mirrors
All four-wheelers must have at least one interior rear-view mirror and one exterior mirror on the right side. Two-wheelers must have at least one rear-view mirror (two recommended). Mirrors must provide clear rear visibility.
₹500 (Sec
Windshield and Window Visibility Rules
The Supreme Court of India (2012) banned all aftermarket window tinting/films. Factory-fitted tinted glass must allow at least 70% light transmission on the windshield and front side windows, and 50% on the rear. Any aftermarket sun film is illegal.
₹500–₹1,500 (Sec
Number Plate Display Rules (HSRP)
All vehicles must display High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) with standardised fonts, colours, and a chromium-based hologram. Fancy plates, sticker plates, plates with non-standard fonts, and obscured plates are illegal.
₹5,000 for no number plate (Sec