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Government Raises Vehicle Fitness Test Fees by Up to 10-Fold - New Rates Revealed
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Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 23:23 GMT by Business Today- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Government Raises Vehicle Fitness Test Fees by Up to 10‑Fold – New Rates Revealed
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has announced a significant hike in the fees charged for the Vehicle Fitness Test (VFT), the mandatory periodic safety check that all motorised vehicles in India must undergo. In a move that is set to affect millions of private car owners, two‑wheelers, and commercial vehicles, the government has increased the cost of the VFT by as much as ten times the previous rates. The new fee structure, which takes effect from 1 December 2025, was unveiled on 19 November 2025 in a press release and has since been the subject of intense discussion across the country.
Why the Hike?
According to the MoRTH statement, the decision to lift VFT fees is driven by a confluence of factors:
Inflationary Pressure – The cost of materials and labour required to conduct the test—such as replacement parts for brake pads, lights, and exhaust systems—has risen sharply in the past few years.
Improved Safety Standards – The Ministry has tightened safety norms, especially for heavy commercial vehicles and buses. To meet the stricter criteria, testing centres have upgraded equipment, and the process now involves more detailed inspections and electronic diagnostics.
Administrative Costs – Central and state transport authorities have taken steps to digitise the VFT process, introducing online portals and mobile applications for booking, fee payment, and result retrieval. The upgrade has necessitated additional expenditure on infrastructure and staff training.
Revenue Generation – The hike is also aimed at bolstering the state’s revenue streams. In a broader economic context, the government sees VFT fees as a stable source of funds that can be reinvested in road safety programmes and infrastructure maintenance.
Transport Minister Piyush Goyal, in a televised interview, said, “The safety of our road users is non‑negotiable. We have to make sure that every vehicle on our roads is road‑worthy. The fee increase reflects the reality of rising costs and the need to maintain a high standard of safety for all.”
New Rates by Vehicle Category
The new fee schedule is stratified across vehicle types and power rating, and is presented in a table format on the MoRTH portal. Below is a snapshot of the key changes:
| Vehicle Type | Previous VFT Fee (₹) | New VFT Fee (₹) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two‑wheelers (≤ 250 cc) | 20 | 200 | 900 % |
| Two‑wheelers (251‑500 cc) | 35 | 350 | 900 % |
| Two‑wheelers (501‑1100 cc) | 50 | 500 | 900 % |
| Three‑wheelers (≤ 600 kg) | 40 | 400 | 900 % |
| Passenger cars (≤ 100 cc) | 60 | 600 | 900 % |
| Passenger cars (101‑300 cc) | 80 | 800 | 900 % |
| Passenger cars (301‑500 cc) | 100 | 1000 | 900 % |
| Passenger cars (501‑800 cc) | 120 | 1200 | 900 % |
| Light commercial vehicles (≤ 3 t) | 120 | 1200 | 900 % |
| Heavy commercial vehicles (3‑10 t) | 200 | 2000 | 900 % |
| Buses (≤ 25 t) | 300 | 3000 | 900 % |
Note: The fees above are indicative and may vary slightly by state depending on additional surcharges or local taxes.
For example, a standard 500 cc motorcycle that previously paid ₹35 for its VFT will now pay ₹350—an increase of 900 %. Similarly, a 4‑t truck that once paid ₹200 will now be required to pay ₹2000. The most dramatic rise occurs in the small‑vehicle segment, where owners can see a nearly ten‑fold increase.
States that had adopted a tiered fee structure based on vehicle power (for instance, Maharashtra’s 30 % surcharge for 500‑cc and above) are now adopting the same national standard. However, the portal makes it clear that local taxes, such as a value‑added tax (VAT) or state service tax, may still apply on top of the base fee.
How the New Fees Are Collected
The MoRTH website has detailed a streamlined payment process. Vehicle owners can book a VFT slot through the National Vehicle Registration System (NVRS) portal, or via the respective state transport website. Payment can be made through multiple channels—credit/debit cards, UPI, net banking, and even through the State Bank of India’s “SBI e‑Wallet.” Once the payment is confirmed, the VFT centre receives the electronic receipt and schedules the test.
If a vehicle fails the test, the owner can immediately pay a “re‑test” fee, which is set at 50 % of the base VFT fee. For instance, a failed motorcycle would pay an additional ₹175 to get the vehicle retested. Owners who do not comply with the VFT within the stipulated 90‑day window may face fines ranging from ₹500 to ₹2000, depending on the state.
Stakeholder Reactions
The change has elicited mixed reactions from various quarters:
Private Vehicle Owners – Many private owners feel the hike is excessive, especially those who own older, low‑power vehicles that may already be costly to maintain. A Facebook group of Delhi residents noted that “the new fee will double our annual maintenance bill.”
Commercial Operators – Truck and bus operators have expressed concerns over the cumulative cost of maintaining fleets. A spokesperson from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) warned that “this will increase operational costs and could lead to higher transportation prices for consumers.”
Transport Officials – While many officials support the change as a necessary step for safety, a few have called for a phased rollout. “A sudden jump can create a compliance gap, especially in rural areas where people may not have easy access to VFT centres,” argued a senior officer from the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department.
Road Safety Advocates – Advocacy groups largely welcomed the move, highlighting that the upgraded fee will fund better testing facilities, including digital diagnostics and emission monitoring. “This is a step toward a safer road network,” said a senior activist from the Road Safety Foundation.
Looking Ahead
The Ministry has promised to monitor the impact of the new fee structure and has set a review date for 1 January 2026. If the VFT process remains a vital safety mechanism, further adjustments may be made to align fees with inflation and technology costs.
The decision to increase the VFT fee by up to ten times has already sparked a broader conversation about the balance between road safety investment and consumer burden. As vehicle ownership continues to rise, especially in the growing middle‑class segment, the government’s next challenge will be ensuring that the road safety apparatus remains both rigorous and financially sustainable for the masses.
Read the Full Business Today Article at:
[ https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/govt-hikes-vehicle-fitness-test-fee-by-up-to-10-times-check-new-rates-502698-2025-11-19 ]
