How to Check Your Vehicle's RC Details Online (mParivahan Guide)

The RC (Registration Certificate) is the official proof that a vehicle is registered with the transport department, and its basic details — registration validity, fuel type, insurance status — are publicly checkable online with just the number plate. This is the single most useful check before buying a used vehicle.

Why check RC details online

• Before buying a used vehicle — confirm the registration is genuine, current, and not reported stolen or under a loan hypothecation you weren't told about.
• Confirming your own vehicle's records — checking that your registration, address, or ownership transfer was correctly updated after a recent change.
• Verifying insurance and fitness status — RC lookups typically show whether insurance and the fitness/PUC certificate are still valid.
• Checking before a loan or resale — banks and used-vehicle buyers alike want to confirm the RC is clean before financing or purchase.

Step-by-step: check RC details

1. Go to the official Vahan portal (vahan.parivahan.gov.in) or use the mParivahan app.
2. Select "Know Your Vehicle Details" and enter the vehicle's registration number.
3. Complete the OTP or captcha verification.
4. Review the details shown: registered owner's name (partially masked for privacy), registration date, vehicle class, fuel type, insurance validity, and fitness/PUC status.
5. Note down or screenshot the result if you need it for a records comparison later — before a purchase, keep this alongside the seller's physical RC copy.

If something doesn't match

If the online record's registration date, vehicle class, or fuel type doesn't match what the seller's physical RC shows, treat that as a serious red flag before proceeding — it can indicate an altered document, an unresolved ownership dispute, or a vehicle that hasn't been correctly re-registered after a previous sale. In that case, it's worth visiting the local RTO in person to confirm the record directly rather than relying only on the seller's paperwork.

Common mistakes

• Relying only on the seller's photocopy of the RC without checking it against the online record — photocopies can be outdated or altered.
• Not checking hypothecation status (an active loan against the vehicle) before buying — this can complicate ownership transfer significantly.
• Assuming a valid RC lookup means the vehicle has no other issues (e.g. pending traffic challans) — check e-challan status separately.