RTO Fees for Electric Two-Wheelers in India
Electric Scooters
19 May 2026

RTO Fees for Electric Two-Wheelers in India

If you are buying a high speed electric scooter in India, the ex-showroom price is just the starting point. By the time the scooter is registered and ready to ride on public roads, you have also paid registration fees, road tax, insurance, and a few other charges. This blog breaks all of that down clearly so there are no surprises when you go to pick up your scooter.

Do All Electric Scooters Need RTO Registration?

No, and this is where most buyers get confused.

India classifies electric two-wheelers into two categories under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules:

Electric scooters with a motor power below 250W and a top speed below 25 km/h do not require RTO registration, a driving licence, or mandatory insurance. They are treated as non-motorised vehicles. Zelio’s Gracy i, EEVA, X-Men, and Legender fall in this category.

Electric scooters with a motor power above 250W or a top speed above 25 km/h are treated as motor vehicles. They need full RTO registration, a valid driving licence, and mandatory insurance. The Zelio Mystery falls in this category.

Everything below applies only to high-speed electric scooters.

To find the nearest Zelio dealer, visit zelioebikes.com or call 9254071391.

What RTO Fees Do You Actually Pay?

The total RTO cost is made up of several components, each charged separately:

Fee Component

Approximate Amount

Registration Fee

Rs. 300 to Rs. 500

Smart Card RC

Rs. 200

HSRP Green Number Plate

Rs. 400 to Rs. 500

Road Tax

0% to 12% of ex-showroom price (varies by state)

Hypothecation Charges (if on loan)

Rs. 1,500

Dealer Handling Charges

Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500

Third-Party Insurance (mandatory, 5 years)

Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 7,500

Road tax is the biggest variable here. It is calculated as a percentage of the ex-showroom price and differs from state to state. For electric two-wheelers, many states have waived road tax entirely, which is a significant saving compared to petrol scooters where road tax typically runs between 6% and 12% of the ex-showroom price.

Road Tax on Electric Two-Wheelers: State by State

State / Union Territory

Road Tax on Electric Two-Wheeler

Andhra Pradesh

100% exemption

Bihar

100% exemption

Chandigarh

100% exemption

Chhattisgarh

100% exemption

Delhi

100% exemption (Delhi EV Policy 2026-2030)

Gujarat

1% until March 2026; confirm current rate with local RTO as policy was due for review

Haryana

100% exemption for first 30,000 electric two-wheelers under EV Policy 2022; quota may be exhausted; confirm with local RTO

Jammu and Kashmir

100% exemption

Jharkhand

100% exemption

Karnataka

100% exemption for electric two-wheelers

Ladakh

100% exemption

Madhya Pradesh

4% (full exemption expired March 2026)

Maharashtra

100% exemption

Odisha

100% exemption

Punjab

100% exemption

Rajasthan

100% exemption

Tamil Nadu

100% exemption (until 2027)

Telangana

100% exemption (until December 2026)

Uttar Pradesh

100% exemption

Two states need a specific note. Gujarat’s 1% rate was confirmed valid only until March 31, 2026 and may have reverted to the standard 6% rate unless the state renewed the policy. Haryana’s exemption was capped at the first 30,000 electric two-wheelers registered under the 2022 policy. If that quota has been exhausted, the exemption no longer applies to new buyers. Always confirm the current rate with your nearest RTO or authorised dealer before purchasing.

Road tax policies change as states revise their EV incentive programs. The trend across the country is that states which currently offer full exemption are beginning to phase these out as EV sales grow. Karnataka ended its four-wheeler EV exemption in April 2026 but two-wheelers remain exempt for now. Madhya Pradesh ended its full exemption in March 2026. More states are likely to follow over the next couple of years. If your state currently offers full exemption, buying sooner means locking in that savings before the policy changes.

 

Documents You Need for EV Registration

The process is largely handled by the dealer today via the Parivahan portal. What you need to provide:

Form 20 (application for registration), Form 21 (sale certificate from dealer), Form 22 (manufacturer’s safety compliance certificate), purchase invoice, valid insurance certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, address proof, and passport-size photographs. For loan purchases, hypothecation details are submitted alongside these.

Once the RTO approves everything, you get a permanent Registration Certificate and a green number plate, which is mandatory for all EVs in India.

How the Registration Process Works

On the day of purchase the dealer issues a temporary registration number valid for 30 days, so you can ride legally while permanent registration is processed.

Within 30 days the dealer submits your documents to the local RTO via the Parivahan portal. Road tax and registration fees are paid at this stage.

Within 15 to 30 working days the RTO verifies the application and issues your smart card RC. In many states this RC is also available digitally on DigiLocker and the mParivahan app.

The green number plate is fitted at the dealership by an authorised HSRP vendor, usually within the same 30-day window.

What the On-Road Price Actually Looks Like

Here is a real example using the Zelio Mystery at Rs. 76,051 ex-showroom, registered in Delhi where full EV road tax exemption applies:

Component

Amount

Ex-showroom Price

Rs. 76,051

Registration Fee

Rs. 500

Smart Card RC

Rs. 200

HSRP Green Number Plate

Rs. 450

Road Tax

Rs. 0 (100% exemption)

Third-Party Insurance (5-year)

Rs. 5,500 (approx.)

Dealer Handling

Rs. 1,000 (approx.)

Estimated On-Road Price

Rs. 83,701

A similarly priced petrol scooter in a state charging 6% road tax would attract Rs. 4,410 in road tax alone at purchase, before you factor in fuel costs over time.

The Green Number Plate

All registered electric vehicles in India must carry a green number plate with white lettering. This is mandatory under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways rules. It helps traffic authorities identify the vehicle as an EV and may be required for access to EV-specific infrastructure that states are rolling out. The plate costs Rs. 400 to Rs. 500 and is part of the dealer’s registration package.

How EV Registration Policies Are Changing in 2026

The PM E-DRIVE scheme is now the central government’s EV incentive program, replacing FAME-II. Subsidies are applied upfront at the time of purchase for eligible models. Ask your dealer whether your chosen model qualifies.

Several states that previously offered 100% road tax exemptions are beginning to revise these policies. Karnataka ended its blanket exemption for four-wheelers in April 2026, though two-wheelers remain exempt for now. Madhya Pradesh let its exemption expire in March 2026. More states are likely to follow over the next couple of years. If your state currently offers full exemption, buying sooner means locking in that saving before the policy changes.

 

High Speed vs Low Speed: RTO Cost at a Glance

 

High Speed Electric Scooter

Low Speed Electric Scooter

RTO Registration

Mandatory

Not required

Road Tax

Applicable (often 0% with exemptions)

Exempt

Driving Licence

Mandatory

Not required

Insurance

Mandatory

Optional

Green Number Plate

Mandatory

Not required

Minimum Age

18 years

16 years

Registration Fee

Rs. 300 to Rs. 500

Nil

References

State-wise and Union Territory Two-Wheeler Road Tax in India 2026, Bike League India

RTO Road Tax by State in India 2026, MotoMotar

Delhi EV Policy 2026: Two-Wheeler Rules, Subsidy and 2028 Ban, Mover

Dheeraj

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