Kerala Two-Wheeler Road Tax & RTO Charges — 2026 Rates

A petrol two-wheeler in Kerala attracts road tax of 8% of the ex-showroom price under the KL RTO, with no price banding. On a ₹1,20,000 two-wheeler that is ₹9,600. On top of that you pay a ₹600 registration fee and ₹1000 for the HSRP plate — ₹1,600 in fixed charges — plus ₹1500 for hypothecation if the vehicle is financed, and a ₹200 state cess.

No — Kerala does not offer a blanket EV exemption. Electric cars are taxed at 0% at this price against 16% for petrol, so the saving is real but partial. Registration and HSRP charges apply unchanged.

Kerala makes no distinction — petrol and diesel cars are both taxed at 16% at a ₹12,00,000 ex-showroom price. Several states do load diesel higher as an emissions measure, but Kerala is not one of them.

Yes. Road tax is a state levy, so re-registering a vehicle in Kerala means paying Kerala road tax on the vehicle's depreciated value, and claiming a refund of the unused portion from the state you left. Apply through the KL RTO with Form 28 (NOC), Form 27 and the original registration certificate. Budget several weeks — the refund from the origin state is usually the slow half.

Yes, through the central Vahan portal (vahan.parivahan.gov.in), which handles KL RTO payments. For a new vehicle the dealer normally pays road tax on your behalf and builds it into the on-road price — worth checking the breakup line by line, because it is the single largest addition over ex-showroom.