Road Tax Calculator India 2026 — State-wise RTO & Registration
Calculate road tax, registration fee, HSRP, and hypothecation charges for your car or bike in any Indian state — with 2026 rates and EV exemptions.
Price before registration charges
Enter the vehicle price to calculate road tax and registration charges
Financing your car? Optimize your home loan EMI first
A lower home loan rate can save you ₹5,000–15,000/month — enough to comfortably fund your car EMI. Get a free home loan audit from Ekatra.
→ Get Free AuditHow This Calculator Works
The Road Tax & Registration Calculator helps you understand all the charges you'll pay when registering a new vehicle in India. Road tax — technically called "motor vehicle tax" — is a state-levied one-time tax collected at registration, and it varies dramatically across India.
Road Tax: This is the primary charge and varies by state, vehicle type, fuel type, and ownership type. The calculator uses verified 2026 rates from official state government schedules. For example, the same petrol car costs 7% in Delhi but 14% in Karnataka — a difference of over ₹84,000 on a ₹12 lakh car. The calculator shows you how your state compares to neighbors.
Registration Fee: A flat ₹600 mandated by the central government under the Motor Vehicles Act, standardised across all states and vehicle categories. This fee was significantly reduced from older rates to simplify the process.
Hypothecation: When a vehicle is purchased with a loan, the bank holds a legal lien through hypothecation — recorded in the Registration Certificate. This costs ₹1,500 as a government fee. Once the loan is repaid, you need to apply for hypothecation removal to get a clean RC. If buying without a loan, you can skip this charge.
HSRP (High Security Registration Plates): Mandatory under a Supreme Court order, HSRP plates include a unique laser code, hot-stamped colour-coded sticker, and snap lock for tamper resistance. Dealers are required to fix HSRP plates before delivery. The charge is standardised by the central government and ranges from ₹900–1,200 for cars.
EV Exemptions: Most states have waived road tax for electric vehicles as part of their EV adoption policies. The calculator automatically shows the EV Road Tax Exempt badge when your state offers this benefit. In states like Maharashtra and Delhi, buying an EV instead of petrol saves you ₹84,000–1,32,000 in road tax alone on a ₹12 lakh vehicle — a significant incentive.
The neighboring state comparison is particularly useful for buyers near state borders who might consider registering their vehicle in a neighboring state with lower taxes. However, always check residency requirements, as most states require proof of address for registration within that state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Road tax in India is calculated as a percentage of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle, and varies by state, vehicle type, and fuel type. For example, a petrol car in Maharashtra attracts 11% road tax, while in Karnataka it's 14%. Some states add a surcharge for company-owned vehicles. EV owners get complete or partial exemption in most states. The tax is paid at the time of registration and is a one-time lifetime payment for private vehicles.
For private vehicles, road tax in India is a one-time lifetime payment, collected at the time of registration. For commercial vehicles and some state-specific categories, a separate annual tax may apply. When you re-register a vehicle after moving to a new state, you may need to pay road tax in the new state (minus credit for what was paid in the original state, depending on the duration). Lifetime road tax rates range from 6% to 15% of ex-showroom price.
For a petrol car priced at ₹12 lakh ex-showroom in Maharashtra, the road tax is 11% = ₹1,32,000. For a diesel car, it's 13% = ₹1,56,000. EV cars are exempt from road tax. Add registration fee (₹600), hypothecation fee (₹1,500 if loan-financed), and HSRP charges (₹1,100 for cars). Total on-road price additions beyond ex-showroom are approximately ₹1.35–1.60 lakh for petrol/diesel cars in Maharashtra.
Most major states exempt electric vehicles from road tax as part of their EV adoption policies. Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, and several other states offer full EV road tax exemption. Karnataka charges 5% for EVs (reduced from the 14% petrol rate). West Bengal, MP, and Kerala do not currently offer EV exemptions. Always check the latest state EV policy as exemptions are subject to revision.
HSRP (High Security Registration Plate) is the tamper-proof number plate that's now mandatory for all new vehicles under a Supreme Court directive. It includes a unique laser-etched identification code and hot-stamped Indian flag for security. The charge ranges from ₹900 to ₹1,200 depending on vehicle type and state. HSRP must be fitted before the vehicle leaves the dealership for new vehicles registered after 2019.
Hypothecation is the process of pledging your vehicle as collateral when you take a car loan — the bank has a legal lien on the vehicle until the loan is repaid. The hypothecation entry in the RC (Registration Certificate) costs ₹1,500 as a one-time government fee. Once your loan is repaid, you must apply for hypothecation termination (Form 35) and get the RC updated. Vehicles purchased without a loan do not require hypothecation.
The central government-prescribed registration fee for new cars is ₹600, standardised across India since the Motor Vehicles Act amendment. This is separate from road tax (which is state-determined and the largest component). Additional charges include smart card/RC book fee, HSRP, and hypothecation fee if applicable. The total non-road-tax registration charges typically amount to ₹3,000–5,000 for a standard car loan purchase with HSRP.
Yes, road tax can be paid online through the Vahan portal (vahan.parivahan.gov.in) in most states. Dealers typically handle new vehicle registration including road tax payment on the buyer's behalf. For re-registration after moving states or for commercial vehicle renewals, you can pay online through the Vahan portal or the respective state RTO portal. Parivahan.gov.in is the central MoRTH portal for all vehicle-related services including tax payments.
Related Calculators
Reviewed by Ekatra's experts • Updated May 2026