Government of India Amends Central Motor Vehicles Rules to Strengthen User Fee Payments

No NOC for Vehicle Transfer, Fitness Renewal and Permits with pending toll dues.

Definition of “Unpaid User Fee”:
- Refers to toll charges recorded by the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system when a vehicle passes a National Highway toll plaza but the fee isn’t received.

Linking Services to Fee Clearance:
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) for transfer of ownership or interstate transfer will not be issued if toll dues are pending.
- Fitness Certificate Renewal will be denied until outstanding toll fees are cleared.
- National Permits for commercial vehicles will only be granted if no unpaid toll fees exist.

Form 28 Updates:
- Applicants must now disclose any pending toll fee demands.
- Relevant portions of Form 28 can be issued electronically via the designated online portal.

Digital & Future-Ready Tolling
- Supports the upcoming Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system, enabling barrier-less tolling across highways.
- Promotes transparent, technology-driven toll collection for better compliance and efficiency.

Background
- Draft rules were published on 11 July 2025 for public feedback.
- Final amendments notified on 20 January 2026, after stakeholder consultation.

✨ In essence, these amendments make toll fee payment non-negotiable by tying it directly to essential vehicle services, ensuring smoother revenue collection and paving the way for India’s next-gen tolling system.