RTO Tax Calculator Telangana 2026

Vehicle Registration Process in Telangana

Telangana, India's youngest state formed in 2014, has a modern and progressive vehicle registration system managed by the Telangana Transport Department — notably called the Road Transport Authority (RTA) rather than RTO, a terminology difference from most other states. The major RTA offices include Hyderabad (TS 08, TS 09, TS 10), Cyberabad (TS 07), Warangal (TS 03), Nizamabad (TS 22), Khammam (TS 04), Karimnagar (TS 21), and Mahabubnagar (TS 19). The Hyderabad and Cyberabad RTAs together handle the largest share of new vehicle registrations in the state, reflecting the concentration of population and economic activity in the Greater Hyderabad region.

Telangana's vehicle registration system is fully digitised through the TSTS (Telangana State Transport) portal, which integrates with the national Vahan and Sarathi platforms. The state's Transport Department has been recognised for its efficient online services, including doorstep registration for select vehicle categories. Hyderabad's rapid urban expansion has led to a surge in vehicle registrations, with the city consistently ranking among the top cities in India for new car sales. The state also has a significant two-wheeler market, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where two-wheelers are the primary mode of personal transport.

1. Buy the vehicle and get a temporary registration. The dealer issues a temporary registration (application in Form 20) at the time of purchase. A temporary registration is valid for a maximum of one month (Rule 47, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989), within which the permanent registration must be completed.
2. Submit the registration application. Form 20 (application for registration), Form 21 (sale certificate from the dealer/manufacturer), Form 22 (certificate of roadworthiness), valid insurance, and proof of address and identity are filed — normally by the dealer for new vehicles.
3. Pay road tax, cess and fees. Road tax is a one-time payment at registration, along with the ₹5,000 Road Safety Cess. The registration fee under Rule 81 of CMVR 1989 is ₹300 for a motorcycle and ₹600 for a non-transport light motor vehicle.
4. Registration number is allotted. On verification of documents and tax payment, VAHAN allots a permanent number in the TS-XX-XXXX format and the RC is issued to the owner.
5. Get the HSRP fitted. New vehicles get the High Security Registration Plate fitted at the dealer point or RTA-approved vendor before delivery.

How Road Tax Is Calculated in Telangana

Telangana taxes private cars on a progressive slab basis under the Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1963. Following the slab revision under GO 53 (August 2025), the one-time road tax is 13% for cars up to ₹5 lakh, 14% for ₹5–10 lakh, 18% for ₹10–20 lakh, 20% for ₹20–50 lakh and 21% above ₹50 lakh (ex-showroom price). In addition, a fixed Road Safety Cess of ₹5,000 is charged on every new registration, on top of the ₹600 registration fee and ₹400 HSRP.

Examples:

• A car priced at ₹8,00,000 falls in the 14% band: road tax = ₹1,12,000, plus ₹5,000 cess + ₹600 + ₹400 = ₹1,18,000 total RTO cost.
• A car priced at ₹25,00,000 falls in the 20% band: road tax = ₹5,00,000, plus ₹5,000 cess + ₹600 + ₹400 = ₹5,06,000 total.
• An electric car pays 0% road tax but still pays ₹5,000 cess + ₹600 + ₹400 = ₹6,000.
• A two-wheeler at ₹80,000 pays 12% = ₹9,600, plus ₹300 registration fee and HSRP.

The Road Safety Cess is a fixed cost that affects all buyers equally and is a distinctive feature of Telangana's tax structure. Road tax is payable in full at registration for private vehicles.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Exemption Policy

Telangana currently grants a full (100%) road tax exemption to battery-electric vehicles — for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers — valid till December 2026 as per the state's current notifications. The exemption was reaffirmed alongside the GO 53 (August 2025) slab revision for conventional vehicles.

Note that the exemption covers only the road tax. The ₹5,000 Road Safety Cess, the ₹600 registration fee and the ₹400 HSRP still apply to EV registrations. Hyderabad has emerged as a major EV manufacturing hub, with several companies setting up production facilities in the state, making it an EV-friendly ecosystem for both manufacturers and consumers. Always confirm the current validity of the exemption on the official Telangana Transport Department portal before finalising a purchase.

Where to Pay Telangana Road Tax Online

You can pay road tax online on either of the two official portals:

1. VAHAN (vahan.parivahan.gov.in): Enter the vehicle registration number → Online Services → Pay Vehicle Tax → validate with the last 5 digits of the chassis number → enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number → update insurance details → review the fee panel → pay. A payment receipt is generated immediately.
2. Telangana Transport Department (transport.telangana.gov.in): The TSTS portal integrates registration, tax payment and other transport services; new-vehicle tax is collected at the dealer point or RTA during registration.

Required Documents for Vehicle Registration

• Form 20 (duly filled application form)
• Form 21 (Sale Certificate from authorised dealer)
• Form 22 (Certificate of Roadworthiness)
• Insurance Certificate (Third-party or Comprehensive)
• Address Proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, Utility Bill)
• Identity Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence)
• Original Invoice and Delivery Challan
• PUC Certificate
• Passport-size photographs (2 copies)

For vehicles financed through banks or NBFCs, the hypothecation agreement (Form 34) must be submitted. All documents must be self-attested and submitted online through the TSTS portal or in person at the RTA office.

Sources

• Telangana Transport Department: transport.telangana.gov.in
• Parivahan Sewa — VAHAN, tax payment and temporary registration: vahan.parivahan.gov.in
• GO 53 (August 2025) slab revision — verify the current notification on the Telangana Transport Department portal