Delhi Car Deregistration: Everything you need to know

In compliance with National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order, the Delhi Transport department will start deregistering 10 year old diesel and 15 year old petrol vehicles from January 1st, 2022. Owners of these vehicles can apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Transport department and re-register their cars in another state. If you are a current owner of an old vehicle, here is everything you need to know about the NGT order, how it affects you, and whether you will still be able to drive your car after the January 1st.

Why are old cars being deregistered in Delhi?

In 2014, the NGT issued an order stating that petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years will not be allowed to drive in Delhi. This ruling was earlier applied to BS1 and BS2 vehicles, but from 2022 onwards will be applied to ageing BS4 vehicles as well. The order is expected to affect more than 3 lakh diesel vehicle owners and more than 30 lakh petrol vehicle owners across Delhi, with 1 lakh vehicles already deregistered over the last few years. The implementation of this order is expected to affect private and commercial vehicle owners as they will be required to comply with the order and possibly scrap their vehicles, of their vehicles are not eligible for re-registration.

Options for deregistered cars

According to the order from the NGT and the Delhi Transport Department, current owners of 10 year old diesel vehicles will have three options to consider for their vehicles.

Scrap old vehicles

 

Any vehicles older than 15 years are required by law to be scrapped. With the implementation of the order, any vehicle, petrol or diesel, that is 15 years old will be deregistered and scrapped. Diesel vehicles older than 15 years will not be applicable to receive an NOC from the government to be eligible for re-registration in another state.

Re-register in different state

Vehicles that will be deregistered on or after January 1st, 2022, will be able to re-register in other states. The re-registration will be subject to the vehicle receiving an NOC, on the basis of satisfying certain criteria set by the NGT.

Conditions for re-registration NOC:

• No NOC will be issued for diesel vehicles older than 15 years old.
• NOC will be issued for diesel vehicles up to 10 years old and petrol vehicles up to 15 years old. These vehicles can be re-registered in any place in the country.
• NOC will be issued for diesel vehicles older than 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, but will only be re-registered in designated regions with high air dispersion and low vehicular density.

It is important to note that any deregistered vehicle that is re-registered in another state cannot be used long term in Delhi. Any such vehicle will have to be driven in the state it is registered in to avoid being impounded and scrapped by the authorities.

Convert to electric vehicle

Another option that owners can consider is to convert their old diesel and petrol vehicles into an electric vehicle using a conversion kit. According to the order by the NGT and Delhi Transport department, the conversion of old petrol and diesel cars is to be done by authorized EV retrofit manufacturers.

Selling a deregistered car

It is expected that many owners of cars will sell their cars to avoid taking a hit to their car’s resale value and avoid the hassles of dealing with re-registering the car in a new state. If you are planning to sell your car in response to the deregistration order, you should ensure that you acquire the necessary NOC in addition to the other registration documents. Informing the buyer of your car about the NOC and registration requirements will help ensure you can sell your car for its value while also helping the buyer apply for registration more conveniently.

Buying a used deregistered car

With the order coming into effect from January 1st, 2022, you should be wary of buying cars that are 10-15 years old. This means cars manufactured before 2010 should not be considered in 2022. These cars have reached or are about to reach their end of their life. You will also have to ensure that any used diesel car you buy has been registered for the region you will be driving in as well as having the necessary NOC to register the car in your region.

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FAQ about Car Deregistration

Can a 10 year old diesel car run in Delhi?

A 10 year old diesel car cannot be driven in Delhi as it will be deregistered after January 1st, 2022. Owners of these cars will have to apply for an NOC and register the vehicle in another state or convert the vehicle to an EV.

Will RC be valid for vehicles older than 15 years?

The RC of all vehicles is valid for 15 years after which the RC is to be renewed regularly after a fitness test. If the vehicle does not pass the fitness test, it will need to be scrapped.

What will happen after the RC validity expires after 15 years?

As a car owner, you will either have to scrap the vehicle, re-register in a state that allows older vehicles to be driven after a fitness test, or convert your car into an EV.

Can I convert my car into an EV from any vendor?

To be compliant and legally have your car registered as an electric vehicle, you will have to convert your car from government authorized EV retrofit manufacturers.