Kamal Ghorui
If you are planning to sell your vehicle or move it to another state, a new government rule could put those plans on hold if there are unpaid toll charges linked to your vehicle. The Centre has tightened regulations around toll payments on National Highways. The amendment makes it compulsory to clear any pending toll dues before carrying out vehicle-related processes. Under these changes, a clear definition of “unpaid user fee” has been added, which refers to toll charges that remain unpaid even though the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system has recorded the vehicle using a National Highway stretch.
What will happen if your vehicle has pending toll fees?
The most significant impact of this amendment is on vehicle documentation and approvals. Under the new rules, you will not get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to sell your vehicle or move it to another state unless all pending toll dues are paid. In simple terms, if there are unpaid toll charges, the vehicle cannot be sold or re-registered in a different state.
In addition, vehicles with outstanding toll charges will not be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a Certificate of Fitness, a mandatory requirement for older vehicles and commercial vehicles to remain legally roadworthy. For commercial vehicles applying for a National Permit, the rules now clearly state that there must be no unpaid toll fees linked to the vehicle.The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also updated Form 28, which is used to apply for an NOC. Therefore, moving forward, applicants will now have to state whether there are any unpaid toll charges against their vehicle and share the related details.
