It is required to understand the legal process of transfer of ownership of the vehicle while selling or buying a vehicle in India. Submission of form no 29 & 30 is the most important job of the process. Both forms are required to rightful transfer of the registration certificate (RC) as well as seller’s liability to the buyer. Not submitting these forms or even not submitting them can lead to penalty and further trouble.
Here, we are going to address why you need to submit Form 29 and 30, what will happen if you do not submit them, and how you may submit them online using the RC transfer online service. Now let us proceed to the process details, default penalties, and how you can avoid them.
What Are Vehicle Transfer Forms No 29 and 30?
Form 29 and Form 30 are the forms under which the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) instructs to be filed for the purpose of facilitating change of ownership of a vehicle from an individual to another.
Form 29: It is the transfer of ownership notice. The seller of the vehicle needs to fill this and submit it to the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Form 29 is filed so that the RTO is informed that the vehicle is transferred to the other individual by the seller.
Form 30: It is a transfer of ownership form and needs to be completed by the buyer. It is being used for the purpose of providing an appropriate application for alteration in ownership in the RC of the vehicle. It is to be signed by the vendor and the buyer.
These forms are submitted jointly to enable the RTO to update details of the vehicle and confirm the new owner according to law. These forms have to be submitted at the RTO along with other documents such as the original RC of the vehicle, identification and residence proof, and insurance.
Why Is It Important to Submit Forms 29 and 30?
Transfer form no 29 & 30 filing is a legally enforceable procedure to make sure that the car ownership and registration goes through in the correct manner. Not doing this can lead to ownership of the car remaining with the former owner, which could raise a variety of issues:
Legal Responsibility: If the new owner does not fill up the transfer forms, he/she will be held responsible for any traffic violation or accident the car gets itself involved in.
Transfer or Sale Problems: If you intend selling the vehicle at a later time in your life, you will be having issues if the RC has not been filled up with the correct information about the ownership.
Insurance Issues: If the car is not registered in the name of the new buyer in RTO records, the customer may land in trouble when he or she wants to claim or renew the policy.
Therefore, it is equally advantageous for both the seller and buyer to submit these forms within time and follow up the process in the correct manner.
If You Don’t Submit Forms 29 and 30
Failure to file the required form of car transfer no 29 & 30 can be very complicated. The following are the key penalties and consequences:
1. Penalty for Delayed Submission
If the forms are not received before the time period (usually within 14 days of selling the car), RTO will charge a penalty. You pay how much as a penalty varies from state and location, but usually, a fine that you have to pay prior to the transfer being executed is presumed. That will result in additional bureaucratic hassle and cost.
Penalty Amount: The penalty amount may vary, but in most cases, it may range from INR 500 to INR 1,000 or more, subject to your state’s RTO policy.
Increased Processing Time: Holding back the submission will also hold up the processing time for the RTO, with the consequence that your future use of the vehicle will be legally behind time.
2. Legal Liability for Traffic Offences
If you are not in a location to transfer the documents required, the earlier owner is still listed as the owner of the car with RTO records. It means that under law, the earlier owner is still the owner of the car. If the car is used for traffic offence, accident, or otherwise illegal purpose, the earlier owner can still be charged with the offence although he is no longer in possession of the car.
This can lead to stringent legal problems, like fines and even criminal offenses in very serious cases, based on the degree of the accident.
3. Problems relating to Insurance Claims and Renewal
Insurance companies make use of RTO documents to verify the vehicle owner’s information. The buyer will face an issue when he is trying to renew the car insurance or make a claim in case the car is damaged during an accident, if the RC is not validated with the new buyer’s name. The new buyer is hence accountable for the expenses and damages incurred due to the accident in the car.
4. Cannot Resell or Transfer the Car in the Future
If form no 29 & 30 is not submitted, the ownership details will be of the previous owner. It is an issue as it will be an issue for the new owner to sell or transfer the vehicle in future again. If the vehicle’s ownership is not updated in the database of RTO, then the selling individual will be unable to suggest a sale or transfer the vehicle’s ownership to any other buying party.
How to Transfer Forms 29 and 30 without Penalty
For relief from penalty and for easy change of ownership, vehicle transfer form no 29 & 30 have to be filed on time after selling or buying the vehicle. The good news is now it can be easily done because there are online facilities available.
RC Transfer Online
Most of the RTOs have introduced the facility of RC transfer online in the last two to three years whereby the seller and buyer can easily fill the forms to be transferred without visiting the RTO in person. Below is how you can utilize the facility of RC transfer online to submit the forms:
Steps for Online Submission
Go to Official RTO Website: Search the official state RTO website or the transport portal of the central government.
Register/Login: Register for new account or log in to previous account on the website.
Fill Out Forms 29 and 30: Complete the online forms for vehicle transfer form no 29 & 30. You’ll be asked to enter the vehicle’s details (such as make, model, registration number) and personal details of both the buyer and the seller.
Upload Required Documents: You’ll need to upload scanned copies of documents such as the vehicle’s original RC, proof of identity, proof of address, and any other documents specified by the RTO.
Pay the Fees: Some RTOs may charge a fee for the processing of the transfer. Make sure to pay the fee online through the secure payment gateway.
Submit and Track the Application: On submitting the forms, you receive an acknowledgment receipt. You can see the status of your application online.
By online submission of form no 29 & 30 for vehicle transfer, you avoid waiting in long queues outside the RTO, save time, and reduce the chance of any clerical error.
Conclusion
Submission of form no 29 & 30 for vehicle transfer is required procedure to sell or buy a vehicle in India. It is lawful transfer of vehicle ownership, which protects the seller and buyer against future legal issues and liability. Delay or failure to submit the forms entails penalty, legal issues, and insurance or vehicle transaction issues in the future.
In order to avoid such fines, you need to complete the process of transfer as soon as possible and with maximum accuracy. The better news in this context is that the online introduction of RC transfer has accelerated the process and made it even more accessible. In case you complete the aforementioned procedures, you may be able to complete a hassle-free and smooth transfer of ownership.
Don’t wait — file form vehicle transfer no 29 & 30 today to avoid fines and legal problems.
