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States Split on New Vehicle Fitness Fees: Kerala Enforces, Uttarakhand Defers

The Centre’s age-based overhaul raises charges sharply to discourage older, high-emission vehicles.

Overview

  • MoRTH’s November 11 notification introduced three age slabs—10–15, 15–20, and over 20 years—shifting higher-fee applicability from 15 to 10 years.
  • Charges for the oldest vehicles rose steeply, including ₹25,000 for heavy trucks and buses, ₹20,000 for medium commercial vehicles, ₹15,000 for light motor vehicles, and ₹2,000 for two-wheelers.
  • Kerala’s Motor Vehicles Department began applying the revised rates on November 17 and directed that owners who paid earlier but skipped tests before that date must pay the new amounts.
  • Uttarakhand issued a notification deferring the increased fees for 15-year-old commercial vehicles until November 21, 2026.
  • Kerala is seeing statewide protests from bus operators, autorickshaw drivers and used-vehicle dealers who say the higher fees impose an unfair burden on lower-income groups.