Also read |Ayushman Card: Free Treatment Limit, Eligibility, and Benefits.

If you jump straight to the RTO, they’ll send you right back out the door. The process is now heavily digitized via the Parivahan portal, but that police complaint is non-negotiable.

Here is the essential, messy list of steps you need to take:

Step-by-Step: Getting a Duplicate Vehicle RC

Phase 1: The Initial Paperwork (Pre-Application)

1. File a Police Complaint (FIR): Do this immediately. You must report the loss at the nearest police station. Provide all the critical details: the vehicle registration number, chassis number, and engine number. The FIR copy is mandatory for the entire process.

Also read |Ayushman Card: Free Treatment Limit, Eligibility, and Benefits.

1. Get an Affidavit: This is a notarized legal document on stamp paper. It basically states the RC is genuinely lost and hasn’t been recovered or suspended.

2. Check Vehicle Particulars: You might need to get an extract of your RC details from the RTO (Regional Transport Office), or you can often download these details from the Parivahan portal.

Phase 2: The Application and Document Submission

The core of your application relies on Form 26.

1. Download Form 26: Get this application form from the Parivahan website. Fill it out accurately.

Also read |Ayushman Card: Free Treatment Limit, Eligibility, and Benefits.

1. Gather the Docs (The Checklist): This is where most people fail—missing a crucial piece.

   • Signed Form 26.

   • Copy of the FIR.

   • The notarized Affidavit.

   • Copy of your valid Vehicle Insurance.

   • Valid PUCC (Pollution Under Control Certificate).

   • Passport-sized photos.

   • Chassis number tracing on A4 paper (This is a physical pencil print often required by the RTO).

   • NOC from the Financier: If your vehicle has an active loan (hypothecation), you absolutely need a No Objection Certificate from the bank or loan company.

   • Identity and Address Proofs (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.)

2. Submit & Pay: You can submit the application packet (Form 26 and all documents) online via the Parivahan Sewa portal. You pay the required fees digitally right then. Alternatively, you can submit the physical file and pay the fee at your local RTO office.

Phase 3: The Wait and The Follow-Up

The RTO process can take anywhere from 15 to 30 days depending on the state and the efficiency of the RTO.

• Tracking: Use the Parivahan website’s “Application Status” section to track the progress using your application number. Don’t trust the status blindly; follow up if it seems stuck.

• The Digital Backup: Once your application is approved, the duplicate RC (often a Smart Card) will be mailed to your registered address. In the meantime, you can use the mParivahan app or DigiLocker to download a soft copy of the RC, which is legally valid.

Also read |Ayushman Card: Free Treatment Limit, Eligibility, and Benefits.

The post Lost RC? Duplicate Vehicle RC Guide: FIR, Form 26, & Online. first appeared on Rightsofemployees.com.