RTO Tax Calculator Karnataka 2026
Rates verified August 2026
Calculate road tax, registration charges, and on-road price for vehicles in Karnataka. Updated August 2026.
Compare with Neighboring States
Click any state to compare rto tax rates side-by-side.
Karnataka RTO Road Tax Rates 2026
| Vehicle Type | Price Range | Tax Rate | Cesses | Reg Fee | HSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car (Petrol/Diesel/CNG) | Up to ₹5 Lakh | 13% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Car (Petrol/Diesel/CNG) | ₹5-10 Lakh | 14% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Car (Petrol/Diesel/CNG) | ₹10-20 Lakh | 17% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Car (Petrol/Diesel/CNG) | Above ₹20 Lakh | 18% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) | Up to ₹10 Lakh | 5% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) | ₹10-25 Lakh | 8% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) | Above ₹25 Lakh | 10% | 11% + ₹1,000 | ₹600 | ₹400 |
| Two-Wheeler | Up to ₹50,000 | 10% | 11% + ₹500 | ₹300 | ₹200 |
| Two-Wheeler | ₹50,000-1 Lakh | 12% | 11% + ₹500 | ₹300 | ₹200 |
| Two-Wheeler | Above ₹1 Lakh | 18% | 11% + ₹500 | ₹300 | ₹200 |
| Electric Two-Wheeler | All Prices | Exempt (0%) | — | ₹300 | ₹200 |
| Commercial (1-3 seats) | All | One-time ₹2,500 | — | — | — |
| Commercial (4-12 seats) | All | ₹1,500 per seat / quarter | — | — | — |
| Commercial (13-20 seats) | All | ₹1,500 per seat / quarter | — | — | — |
| Commercial (21+ seats) | All | ₹1,500 per seat / quarter | — | — | — |
* The 11% Infrastructure and Road Safety Cess is charged on the life-tax amount, and the Transport Workers Cess is a fixed charge (₹1,000 for four-wheelers, ₹500 for two-wheelers). The same cesses apply on EV life tax. Commercial vehicles pay quarterly per-seat tax, separate from the private-vehicle slabs above.
Use our interactive RTO tax calculator for Karnataka
Open Calculator →Vehicle Registration Process in Karnataka — Step by Step
Karnataka's vehicle registration is managed by the Karnataka Transport Department with RTO offices across the state. Major RTOs include Bengaluru (KA-01 to KA-05, KA-50, KA-51, KA-53), Mysuru (KA-09, KA-55), Mangaluru (KA-19), Hubballi (KA-22), Belagavi (KA-22, KA-23), and Davanagere (KA-17). Bengaluru alone has multiple RTO jurisdictions due to the city's massive vehicle population exceeding 1 crore.
The registration process follows the VAHAN portal framework. New vehicle buyers get temporary registration from the dealer valid for 30 days. Permanent registration requires submission of Form 20 and supporting documents. Given Bengaluru's high vehicle density, RTO appointments can have waiting periods. The RTO conduct physical verification of the vehicle before issuing a registration number in KA-XX-XXXX format. Karnataka has been at the forefront of RTO digitisation with most services available online.
Required Documents for Registration
- Form 20 (duly filled application form)
- Form 21 (Sale Certificate from Authorised Dealer)
- Form 22 (Manufacturer's Roadworthiness Certificate)
- Valid Insurance Policy (minimum 1 year third-party)
- Address Proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Rent Agreement, Utility Bill)
- Identity Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport)
- Original Vehicle Invoice and Delivery Challan
- PUC Certificate
- HSRP receipt
- Passport-size photographs (2 copies)
How Karnataka Road Tax is Calculated
Karnataka has one of the highest road tax structures in India. The state uses a slab-based system with rates starting at 13% for vehicles up to ₹5 lakh and going up to 18% for vehicles above ₹20 lakh. On top of these base rates, Karnataka levies an 11% Infrastructure and Road Safety Cess (computed on the tax amount) plus a fixed ₹1,000 Transport Workers Cess (₹500 for two-wheelers). This layered taxation makes Karnataka one of the most expensive states for vehicle registration.
Examples:
- Car at ₹10 lakh → 14% = ₹1,40,000 + 11% cess (₹15,400) + ₹1,000 → ₹1,56,400
- Car at ₹25 lakh → 18% = ₹4,50,000 + 11% cess (₹49,500) + ₹1,000 → ₹5,00,500
- EV at ₹15 lakh → 8% = ₹1,20,000 + 11% cess (₹13,200) + ₹1,000 → ₹1,34,200
The official slab structure for non-transport vehicles in Karnataka (one-time tax):
- Cars up to ₹5 lakh: 13%
- Cars ₹5-10 lakh: 14%
- Cars ₹10-20 lakh: 17%
- Cars above ₹20 lakh: 18%
- Two-wheelers up to ₹50,000: 10%
- Two-wheelers ₹50,000-1 lakh: 12%
- Two-wheelers above ₹1 lakh: 18%
All categories pay the 11% Infrastructure and Road Safety Cess on the tax and the fixed Transport Workers Cess on top.
EV Policy in Karnataka
Karnataka charges reduced slab rates for electric vehicles: 5% up to ₹10 lakh, 8% from ₹10-25 lakh, and 10% above ₹25 lakh — significantly lower than the 13-18% for ICE vehicles but not fully exempt. The 11% Infrastructure Cess and ₹1,000 Transport Workers Cess apply on top of the EV life tax. Electric two-wheelers are fully exempt from life tax. The Karnataka EV Policy aims to make the state a global EV manufacturing hub, leveraging Bengaluru's tech ecosystem, and offers incentives for EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure installation.
Two-Wheeler Taxation
Two-wheelers in Karnataka are taxed at 10% up to ₹50,000, 12% from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, and 18% above ₹1 lakh, plus the 11% Infrastructure Cess on the tax and a fixed ₹500 Transport Workers Cess. A ₹1.5 lakh bike would attract 18% (₹27,000) + 11% cess (₹2,970) + ₹500 = approximately ₹30,470 in total tax and cesses. Electric two-wheelers are fully exempt from life tax.
Commercial Vehicle Tax in Karnataka
Commercial vehicles in Karnataka are taxed on a seating basis: a one-time flat amount of ₹2,500 for vehicles up to 3 seats, and quarterly per-seat tax of ₹1,500 per seat for 4-12 seats, 13-20 seats and 21+ seats alike.
Sources
- Karnataka Transport Department — Tax on Vehicles: transport.karnataka.gov.in
- Parivahan VAHAN — Pay Vehicle Tax Online: vahan.parivahan.gov.in
- Parivahan Sewa — Vehicle Registration Services: parivahan.gov.in
- Seva Sindhu — Karnataka Government Services: sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in
- Karnataka RTO code list (reference): Wikipedia