Sometime back, I had moved from Bangalore to Chennai, and I had taken an arduous task of re-registering my bike (Yamaha FZS) from Karnataka Registration to Tamil Nadu Registration. I was hell bent on not taking any agent’s help and doing it on my own. So, I was mentally prepared to face a lot of heat but surprisingly the process was quick, and I received my new RC smart card yesterday. I did make quite a few trips from my home to RTO office and most of them are due to my mistakes. Sharing my lessons here from the process, so it might be useful for someone in the future and will also save some time and money. 

Before kickstarting the process, keep these handy: 

1. Original RC book from Karnataka (I had missed my original, so had to get a duplicate copy. Sighhhh…) 

2. Get NOC from Bank, if you have got the vehicle on loan. (Always make it a good practice to get NOC from banks, as soon as you are done with your loan). 

3. Using the first two documents, apply for NOC from Karnataka RTO (where your vehicle was registered). Keep the address of the location to which your vehicle be registered in Tamil Nadu readily available.  

Once you have NOC from RTO from Karnataka handy (it took me 2 months to receive NOC). You can kickstart your registering process at Tamil Nadu. I registered the vehicle at Thambaram RTO, so I will share the procedure here. Before going to RTO, make sure you have following documents readily available with you:  

 1. NOC from the Commissioner office. It took me two days to receive the NOC. First day, I went with all the documents (RC original, License, address proof etc.,). Took a NOC form, filled it in, submitted with a fee of INR 20. In 24 hours, I was asked to call the office and enquire about the status. I did the same and I was asked to take the document from the office. It was hassle free and totally done in a great way by Commissioner office folks. They had a separate floor to deal with all citizen issues and have done a good job. 

2. Get a Notary Public Signature on 20 rupees undertaking form. The document should state that you have moved from Bangalore to Chennai and also should state that the vehicle is not part of any criminal activity. Give your current home address there.  

3. Original RC & 3 Copies Xerox. 

4. License Xerox – 3 Copies. 

5. Aadhar Xerox – 3 Copies.  

6. Pan Card Xerox – 3 Copies.

7. Bike invoice Xerox. (Lifetime Road Tax would be calculated based on this). 

8. Bike pollution control certificate. 

9. Bike Chassis Number Pencil Impression – Have at least 5 copies. Have a couple of blank A4 sheets and a sharpened pencil, as I was asked to take a pencil tracing there at RTO also once. 

10. NOC from Bangalore RTO.  

11. Form 20 Signed and filled – 3 copies (Can be downloaded online) 

12. Form 27 Signed and filled – 3 copies (Can be downloaded online) 

13. Form 28 Signed and filled – 3 copies (Can be downloaded online) 

14. Form 33 Signed and filled – 3 copies (Can be downloaded online) 

15. Insurance of the vehicle. (Make sure the insurance is active for at least a month while taking it to RTO).  

Please note that all the documents listed might not be needed. But its better to have more than not having enough. Now assuming you have all the documents ready. Its time for you to visit RTO with the registering vehicle. First thing to do after visiting RTO office is to take your bike in front of the office. Take a picture where, you and your vehicle are visible with a background of RTO office. Take a color printout of it nearby and keep that on top of the docs.  

Now you are ready with all the documents. Next is the procedure to get it registered. Visit the inspector at the RTO office, he will inspect your vehicle (tracing on vehicle chassis number would be done there). He would sign the document and send it to clerk. Wait and get the documents updated in the system by clerk. Next take it to Superintendent, who will review the document, update the system with required details. He asked to take a picture of the application number and asked me to pay the fees online. I took out my mobile, went to Parivahan site and paid the fees. When I asked nearby xerox shops to take a printout of the invoice copy, interestingly they denied. I drove a KM to find another xerox shop to take a print of this and submitted it back to the Superintendent. The process ended there.  They told I would receive a call in few days. After a week, I went to the office, signed a register and got my smart RC copy. Yipeee!! 

Vehicle Details & Total charges I paid at TN RTO: 

1. Vehicle – Yamaha FZS, 2012 registration.  

2. Police NOC – 20 INR.  

3. Notary Public – 350 INR.  

4. Lifetime tax – 3889 INR.  

Overall the process was quick in my opinion. It’s been ages since I have visited government offices and its a refreshing experience. Don’t let a agent fool you or scare you. Do it on your own.

Thanks for reading!!