Ramnagar: Buying a new car, motorcycle or other vehicle during the upcoming festive season will now require buyers to complete the registration process before taking the vehicle home. The Uttarakhand Transport Department has ordered strict enforcement of Section 39 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, under which vehicles cannot be driven on public roads without registration.
The department has directed vehicle dealers across Kumaon to ensure that permanent registration is completed before handing over new vehicles to customers. This means buyers will no longer be able to take an unregistered vehicle out of a showroom and complete the registration process later.
The rule has been in place for decades, but its enforcement has remained inconsistent. According to transport officials, some dealers had been releasing vehicles without registration, while registration was completed afterwards.
The department has now decided to stop the practice, particularly ahead of the festive season when vehicle sales generally increase.
Action Against Dealers and Vehicle Owners
The Transport Department has warned that action will be taken against both showroom operators and vehicle owners if new vehicles are found being driven without registration.
Under the applicable provisions, a showroom operator may face a penalty of up to 15 times the tax applicable to the vehicle for violating the rules. The vehicle can also be seized.
Ramnagar ARTO Surendra Singh Kapkoti said vehicles were previously released from showrooms before registration and registered later. That practice will now be stopped.
Haldwani RTO Gurudev Singh said the requirement to complete registration before taking a vehicle out of the showroom already exists under the law. Following directions from the Kumaon Commissioner, officials and dealers have been instructed to strictly follow the provision.
Festive Season Sees Sharp Rise in Vehicle Sales
The enforcement comes ahead of festivals such as Raksha Bandhan, Navratri and Diwali, when vehicle purchases typically increase across Uttarakhand.
Around 42,000 to 43,000 vehicles were sold in Uttarakhand during Diwali in 2025, compared with approximately 20,000 vehicles during normal periods.
During last year’s festive season, around 3,900 to 4,300 vehicles were sold in the Haldwani RTO area, while the Ramnagar ARTO area recorded around 700 to 800 vehicle sales.
With registration now required before vehicles leave showrooms, customers planning festive-season purchases will have to factor the registration process into their delivery plans.
The Transport Department’s latest instructions are aimed at ensuring that newly purchased vehicles do not enter public roads without valid registration and that dealers comply with the long-standing legal requirement.
