Temporary vs permanent registration for a new car in Maharashtra
By Arjun Ramanarayanan, IndiCar · Published 30 October 2026 · Tips
Temporary registration lets a new car run legally until its permanent number is issued. Guides put its Maharashtra validity between 7 days and one month, and one source reports the permanent number within 2 working days.
Temporary registration lets you drive a new car legally from the day you take it, before permanent registration is complete. Permanent registration gives the car its permanent number and leads to the registration certificate (RC) smart card. In Maharashtra the dealer assigns the temporary registration, and published accounts put its validity anywhere from 7 days to one month. One source says the permanent number is issued within 2 working days once the papers are uploaded.
What temporary registration does
A Temporary Registration Certificate makes a newly bought vehicle legal to use while permanent registration is still being processed. Without it, the car would have no valid registration between invoice and RTO approval.
In Maharashtra, the dealer always assigns the temporary registration certificate when a new vehicle is bought. You do not apply for it yourself. Authorised dealers generally process it through the Vahan portal, the same system used for the permanent registration that follows.
How long a temporary number lasts in Maharashtra
The answer depends on which account you read. Three versions are in circulation:
- One month.
- 7 days initially, extendable to no more than 30 days for non-transport vehicles.
- 7 days only.
Tata AIG says owners must complete permanent registration within the temporary validity period. It also describes temporary registration as generally not renewable, which sits awkwardly with the account that allows an extension.
With the sources split this way, the shortest reading is the cautious one, and an extension should not be assumed.
What temporary registration costs
The fee figures differ as widely as the validity periods.
- Rs 15 for temporary registration or its extension, under Rule 89 of the APMV Rules, unless exempted.
- Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, listed as applying only where a temporary number is issued first.
The first figure is the statutory fee; the second is a charge range reported for cases where a temporary number comes before the permanent one. Whatever applies to your car should appear as a line in the written on-road breakup, which IndiCar gives you before you book.
How permanent registration happens
Permanent registration runs on paperwork the dealer files. Form 20 is the form used for RTO registration of a new vehicle, and the selling dealer has to provide it. The sequence:
- The dealer prepares Form 20 and the supporting documents, which include Form 21, the Vehicle Sale Certificate.
- The dealer uploads Form 20 and the documents to the Vahan portal.
- The RTO verifies them and assigns a permanent registration number.
MotoMotar says that last step takes within 2 working days. This is a single-source estimate, so actual timing may differ.
What registration adds to the on-road price
Road tax is the largest part of registration charges. The rest is a Rs 600 registration fee, number plate and smart card charges, and a Rs 1,500 hypothecation fee if the car is bought on a loan. Every state sets its own road tax rates, so the same car costs a different amount to register in different states.
You can work out registration and insurance for a specific model with the on-road price calculator.
When the smart card RC arrives
The permanent number is reported to come quickly; the physical card does not. Estimates for the smart card RC vary:
- 7 to 30 days for dispatch by Speed Post.
- 8 to 15 working days in total for a dealer-handled new registration.
- 30 to 60 days from the date of registration.
In 2023, Maharashtra centralised the printing of names and addresses on smart cards at the Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur RTOs, with the stated aim of speeding up issuance. Even so, the spread in the estimates means you should expect the card some weeks after the number, not with the car.
What to plan for in delivery week
The two registrations do different jobs on different clocks. Temporary registration covers the first days and is the dealer's to assign. Permanent registration starts with Form 20 on the Vahan portal. The smart card follows later.
The shortest validity on record is 7 days, the extension is uncertain, and the permanent number has to be in place before the temporary one runs out.
Sources: RC Status Maharashtra - Check RC Application Online, Car Registration Charges in 2026. Latest RTO Road Tax ..., Maharashtra RTO Code List: Check RC Status, Vehicle Registration Process & Fees
Buying a new car through IndiCar
IndiCar arranges new-car purchases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. You book a new car on IndiCar at the on-road price shown on its car page, with the full price breakup: ex-showroom, RTO registration, insurance, TCS and FASTag. You book online with a refundable reservation, and IndiCar sources the car from partner dealer stock and handles the registration, insurance, paperwork and delivery.
You deal only with IndiCar from quote to delivery. Your phone number is never passed to a dealer, and you do not need to take the quote to a showroom to negotiate. See on-road prices and book or get a WhatsApp quote on +91 85916 41004.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues temporary registration for a new car in Maharashtra?
The dealer. In Maharashtra a dealer always assigns the temporary registration certificate when a new vehicle is bought, and authorised dealers generally process it through the Vahan portal.
How long is temporary registration valid in Maharashtra?
Accounts differ. One gives one month, another gives 7 days extendable to no more than 30 days for non-transport vehicles, and a third gives 7 days only.
Can temporary registration be renewed?
Tata AIG describes it as generally not renewable, and says permanent registration has to be completed within the temporary validity period. One account allows an extension up to 30 days for non-transport vehicles, so do not rely on one.
What does temporary registration cost?
The fee under Rule 89 of the APMV Rules is Rs 15 for temporary registration or its extension, unless exempted. A range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 is also listed, applying only where a temporary number is issued first.
How long does the permanent registration number take?
After the dealer uploads Form 20 and the documents to the Vahan portal, the RTO verifies them and assigns a permanent number, which MotoMotar says takes within 2 working days.
When will the RC smart card reach me?
Estimates range from 7 to 30 days for Speed Post dispatch, 8 to 15 working days in total for dealer-handled registration, and 30 to 60 days from the date of registration.
Tags: car registration, maharashtra rto, temporary registration, rc smart card