Last updated: September 2026
A duplicate RC in Kerala costs Rs.150 for a two-wheeler and Rs.300 for a car (non-transport LMV). That is the official fee under Rule 53(2) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, which sets the duplicate RC fee at half of the registration fee for each vehicle class. Verify everything on parivahan.gov.in before you pay, because fees change without notice.
These numbers come straight from the Fees and User Charges page on parivahan.gov.in, checked in September 2026. Many articles still floating around in search results show rates that are years old, some quoting a flat Rs.100. Use the table below instead.
| Vehicle class | Duplicate RC fee |
|---|---|
| Invalid carriage | Rs.25 |
| Motorcycle (two-wheeler) | Rs.150 |
| Three-wheeler, quadricycle or LMV (non-transport) | Rs.300 |
| LMV (transport) | Rs.500 |
| Medium goods vehicle | Rs.500 |
| Medium passenger motor vehicle | Rs.500 |
| Heavy goods vehicle | Rs.750 |
| Heavy passenger motor vehicle | Rs.750 |
| Imported motorcycle | Rs.1,250 |
| Imported motor vehicle | Rs.2,500 |
| Any other vehicle not listed above | Rs.1,500 |
Two add-ons worth knowing: if your RC is a smart card (Form 23A), Parivahan lists an additional Rs.200. All fees above are exclusive of GST. What I could not verify: whether Kerala RTO counters add any state-level user charges on top of the central table. The official fee page does not list any Kerala-specific additions.
The fee pays only for the issue of the duplicate certificate. It does not clear pending traffic challans, unpaid tax, or an expired insurance policy. The RTO checks that your insurance and PUC are valid during the application, so renew them first if they have lapsed. If the vehicle is still under a bank or finance-company loan, you will need the financier's NOC or loan closure papers; the bank's paperwork takes as long as the bank takes, so start that process before filing the duplicate RC application. Our duplicate RC service page carries the same fee table with the steps.
Online vs RTO visit: the whole flow above is online. You visit the RTO in person only if the portal asks you to bring originals for physical verification, which usually happens with hypothecated vehicles or records that do not match. Anyone offering to handle this for you is selling assisted service; treat their price as a service charge on top of the official fee above, and ask for an itemised quote.
I could not verify a current timeline from an official source. The RTO verifies your documents after payment, then prints and dispatches the duplicate. Track your application number on parivahan.gov.in to see its status.
Yes. A digitally signed RC in DigiLocker or the mParivahan app is accepted as a valid document during traffic checks, so keep the digital copy handy while the duplicate is processed.
Use only the newest RC. Once the duplicate is issued, the original is no longer valid for official use, including ownership transfer or insurance updates.
The police report is for lost or stolen RCs. If the original is damaged but still in your hands, Form 26 asks you to enclose the written-off, soiled, torn or mutilated certificate instead.
Do the change-of-address application first or alongside, because the duplicate will carry the address on record. See the change of address guide for that fee and process.
Fees and rules change without notice. Verify all fees and rules on parivahan.gov.in before applying.
Keralam Transport