The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has officially notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025, introducing a seismic shift in the cost of mandatory Vehicle Fitness Tests. The amendment implements a massive hike in fees, particularly for commercial and private vehicles older than 10 years, in a clear move to accelerate the adoption of the Vehicle Scrappage Policy and boost road safety standards.
New Tiered Structure Penalizes Older Models
The 2025 rules establish a significantly revised, age-based fee system designed to make it financially prohibitive to maintain poorly kept older vehicles.
The 10-Year Threshold
Previously, fee hikes primarily targeted vehicles over 15 years. The new rules drop this to a 10-year threshold, with fees increasing progressively across the following brackets for all vehicle categories (LMV, HCV, etc.):
• 10 - 15 years old
• 15 - 20 years old
• Over 20 years old
This age-based classification applies to all major vehicle categories, including motorcycles, three-wheelers, quadricycles, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), and both Medium and Heavy Goods/Passenger Vehicles.
Dramatic Fee Increases
Owners of older vehicles, especially commercial vehicle operators, will face a drastic jump in compliance costs. In some categories, the fitness test fees for vehicles over 20 years old have increased by up to ten to fifteen times the previous rates.
For instance, a few notable changes (for over 20-year-old vehicles):
• Heavy Goods/Passenger Vehicles (Trucks/Buses): The fee has seen a sharp rise, potentially going up to ₹25,000.
• Light Motor Vehicles (Cars): The fee is also significantly higher, potentially reaching ₹15,000.
• Two-wheelers over 20 years old may face a fee of up to ₹2,000.
Even vehicles under the 15-year mark will see a revision in their base fitness test fees.
Policy Aims: Safety and Environment
This substantial fee restructuring is a strategic component of the government's dual-pronged objective:
• Accelerating Vehicle Scrappage: By increasing the operating cost for older vehicles, MoRTH aims to push owners towards the Voluntary Vehicle Scrappage Scheme, encouraging them to replace outdated models with newer, more compliant ones.
• Enhancing Road Safety: The financial disincentive complements the mandatory transition to Automated Testing Stations (ATS), ensuring that any vehicle remaining on the road undergoes a rigorous, transparent, and high-cost inspection, compelling owners to maintain superior mechanical standards.
The Central Motor Vehicles (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025, signal the government’s unwavering commitment to modernising India’s transportation sector, making compliance with safety and pollution norms a far costlier proposition for those clinging to ageing vehicles.
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