Road Tax Calculator
Estimate the lifetime road tax, RTO charges and full on-road price for a car or two-wheeler in any state.
- Free — no sign-up
- Instant, on-screen results
- Built by our CA · CS team
- Rules cited on the page
Enter your figures — the result on the right updates as you type.
On-road price breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|
Buying the vehicle in a company or firm's name?
Depreciation, GST input credit and the interest deduction all change — get the ownership structure checked by a CA before you book.
Disclaimer: Road tax is fixed by each state and is revised by notification, and several states levy on engine capacity, seating or kerb weight rather than price alone. The rates here are the commonly applied slabs and are indicative only. Your RTO's demand may also include a state cess, green tax, municipal parking charge or a differential rate for a second vehicle. Confirm the exact figure with the dealer's invoice or on parivahan.gov.in before you budget.
How road tax in India is worked out
Road tax — legally the motor vehicle tax — is levied by the state you register in, not by the Centre, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 read with each state's own Motor Vehicles Taxation Act. For a private car or two-wheeler it is almost always a one-time lifetime tax covering 15 years, charged as a percentage of the ex-showroom price. The percentage rises with the price of the vehicle, and most states load it further for diesel and reduce or waive it for electric vehicles. Because it is a state subject, the identical car can attract 6% in Chandigarh and over 15% in Karnataka — a difference of nearly a lakh on a ₹10 lakh car.
What the same vehicle costs across states
Indicative lifetime road tax for an individual buyer, on a ₹1,00,000 petrol two-wheeler and a ₹10,00,000 petrol car.
| State / UT | ₹1,00,000 bike | ₹10,00,000 car |
|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh | ₹3,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Himachal Pradesh | ₹6,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Gujarat | ₹6,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Jharkhand | ₹6,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Haryana | ₹6,000 | ₹80,000 |
| Delhi | ₹8,000 | ₹70,000 |
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹7,000 | ₹80,000 |
| Madhya Pradesh | ₹7,000 | ₹80,000 |
| Rajasthan | ₹8,000 | ₹90,000 |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹8,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Maharashtra | ₹11,000 | ₹1,10,000 |
| Kerala | ₹8,000 | ₹1,10,000 |
| Telangana | ₹9,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
| Karnataka (incl. 11% infrastructure cess) | ₹13,320 | ₹1,55,400 |
Worked example
A ₹10,00,000 ex-showroom petrol car, registered to an individual in Maharashtra, bought on a loan.
Things buyers get wrong
Lifetime tax means 15 years, not forever
The one-time tax covers the first 15 years from first registration. After that you re-register for 5 years at a time and pay the state's renewal tax plus, in many states, a green tax on older vehicles.
Moving states? You can claim a refund
On re-registering in a new state you pay its tax afresh, then apply to the original state for a proportionate refund of the unused years, using Form 16 with the NOC and the new RC. Most people never claim it.
The BH series avoids re-registration
Bharat Series (BH) plates let defence personnel, central and state government staff and employees of private firms with offices in 4 or more states/UTs move without re-registering. Tax is paid every two years at 8% / 10% / 12% of invoice price by slab, +2% for diesel and −2% for EVs.
EV exemptions are policy-driven, not permanent
Most states waive road tax on electric vehicles entirely under a time-bound EV policy. Those policies lapse and get renewed — check whether the waiver is still notified on your date of registration rather than assuming it.
Company registration costs more
Gujarat charges roughly double, Delhi about 25% more, and Maharashtra a flat 20% on company-owned cars. Weigh that against the depreciation and GST credit before putting the car in the company's name.
Ex-showroom is not invoice price
Some states levy on the invoice value, which includes GST and compensation cess but excludes insurance and registration. Where a dealer discount reduces the invoice, the tax base falls with it — ask for the tax to be computed on the actual invoice.
How the Road Tax Calculator works
4 steps, start to finish — the same order the tool follows.
- 01Pick the vehicle type and enter the ex-showroom price.
- 02Choose the fuel type — diesel usually costs more, EVs are often exempt.
- 03Select the state of registration and whether it is an individual or company.
- 04Read the road tax, all RTO charges and the full on-road price.
Questions people ask
Short answers on Road Tax Calculator. Tap a question to open it.
01How is road tax calculated in India?
Road tax — legally motor vehicle tax — is charged by the state you register in as a percentage of the ex-showroom or invoice price, in slabs that rise with the price. Most states also load the rate for diesel vehicles, waive it for electric vehicles under an EV policy, and charge more for company-registered vehicles.
02Which state has the lowest road tax?
Among the major registering authorities, Chandigarh is the cheapest at about 3% for two-wheelers and 6% for cars up to ₹20 lakh, with Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam also low. Karnataka is the highest, reaching 18% plus an 11% infrastructure cess on the tax itself.
03Does lifetime road tax mean I never pay again?
No. The one-time tax covers 15 years from first registration. After that the vehicle must be re-registered for 5 years at a time, and most states charge a renewal tax plus a green tax on older vehicles.
04Can I get a road tax refund if I move to another state?
Yes. After re-registering in the new state and paying its tax, you can apply to the original state in Form 16 with the NOC, the new RC and the original tax receipt for a proportionate refund of the unexpired years. Alternatively, a Bharat Series (BH) registration avoids re-registration altogether for those who qualify.
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Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.