MoRTH Proposes 5-Year Age Limit Extension For EVs, Hydrogen & CNG Commercial Vehicles

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed a five-year age limit extension for battery-operated, hydrogen fuel-based and natural gas-driven commercial vehicles under the national permit system. The draft amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 also proposes longer permit authorisations and wider use of the VAHAN database.

The changes fall under Rule 88, which governs age limits for vehicles registered under the national permit system. The ministry has invited objections and suggestions on the draft for 30 days from the date of public notification.

Age Limit Extension For National Permit Vehicles

Commercial vehicles covered by the national permit system currently face age limits of 12 years and 15 years, depending on category. The draft amendment proposes raising these to 17 years and 20 years respectively, but only for battery, hydrogen and natural gas vehicles.

The extension would not apply to diesel or petrol commercial vehicles operating under the national permit system. The draft notification was issued on August 10, and the proposed amendments take effect only after being finalised and published in the Official Gazette.

The draft also proposes making national permit authorisations valid for up to five years at a time, instead of the current annual renewal. The fee structure stays unchanged at Rs 16,500 per year, meaning a five-year authorisation would cost Rs 82,500 upfront.

Form 46 applications and Form 47 authorisations would be processed electronically under the new rules, with electronic payment receipts accepted as valid proof. The ministry has also proposed deeper integration with the VAHAN database, allowing details in Forms 16, 46 and 48 to be fetched automatically once dealership or registration information is entered. Applicants would only need to fill in details not already available on the portal.

Temporary Registration Rule Changes

The draft amendment revises how temporary registration is handled for vehicles awaiting final registration. A chassis without a body would receive temporary registration valid for six months from the date of issue.

If the chassis remains in a workshop beyond six months for body fitting, or due to circumstances beyond the owner's control, the registering authority could extend the validity by 30 days at a time on application and payment of the prescribed fee. Fully built vehicles being converted into adapted vehicles, or registered in a state different from where the dealer is located, would get a temporary registration valid for 45 days.

The amendments also propose collecting additional information in vehicle registration and permit application forms, part of the ministry's broader push to simplify and digitise the national permit process.