How to Check Vehicle Registration Details (RC) Online Safely

By / February 15, 2026

Who Needs This Service?

Any vehicle owner in India can check Registration Certificate details online through official government portals. You need this service if you want to:

  • Verify your own vehicle’s registration status and details
  • Check RC details before buying a used vehicle to prevent fraud
  • Download a digital copy of your RC for carrying on your phone
  • Verify insurance validity, PUC status, and registration expiry date
  • Check ownership transfer status or pending applications

Required Documents and Information

To check vehicle RC details online, you need:

  • Vehicle Registration Number (e.g., DL-1AB-1234 or MH-01-AB-1234)
  • For downloading digital RC: Last 5 digits of Chassis Number
  • For downloading digital RC: Last 5 digits of Engine Number (or full engine number)
  • Mobile number linked with your vehicle registration (for OTP verification)
  • Aadhaar number (only for DigiLocker registration)

Note: For basic RC detail checks, only the vehicle registration number is required. Additional details are needed when downloading or adding virtual RC to apps.

Check Vehicle RC Details Online India - Official Guide

Online Process to Check Vehicle RC Details

Method 1: Check RC Details via Parivahan Website

The official Parivahan Sewa portal (https://parivahan.gov.in/) provides access to vehicle registration details.

Step-by-step process:

  1. Visit the official portal: Go to https://parivahan.gov.in/
  2. Navigate to vehicle services: Click on “Online Services” dropdown at the top of the page, then select “Vehicle Related Services”
  3. Select Know Your Vehicle Details: Click on “Know Your Vehicle Details” option from the menu
  4. Registration/Login:
    • If you are not registered, click Register and create an account using your mobile number and email address
    • If already registered, login with your mobile number and password
    • You will receive an OTP on your mobile for verification
  5. Enter vehicle details:
    • Enter your vehicle registration number in the correct format (e.g., DL-01-AB-1234)
    • Enter the captcha code shown on screen
    • Click “Search Vehicle” or “Get Details”
  6. View RC details: The system will display:
    • Owner name (partially masked for privacy)
    • Vehicle make and model
    • Registration date
    • Vehicle class and category
    • Chassis number
    • Engine number
    • Insurance validity
    • Fitness validity (for commercial vehicles)
    • PUC certificate status

Alternative direct link: You can directly access the Vahan search page on the Parivahan website for quicker access.

Method 2: Download Digital RC via DigiLocker

DigiLocker is an official government platform that allows you to download and store your virtual RC, which is legally valid across India.

Step-by-step process:

  1. Download the app: Download DigiLocker from Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS), or visit https://digilocker.gov.in/
  2. Create account/Sign in:
    • Sign up using your mobile number and complete the Aadhaar verification process
    • Enter your Aadhaar number and verify via OTP
    • Set up your account with a username and password
  3. Search for RC document:
    • Click on “Search Documents” option and type “Registration Certificate” in the search box
    • Alternatively, go to Categories > Transport > Ministry of Road Transport and Highways > Registration of Vehicles
  4. Select your state: Choose your state’s transport department from the list
  5. Enter vehicle details:
    • Your name will be automatically picked from your Aadhaar details and must match the owner’s name on the RC
    • Enter your vehicle registration number
    • Enter the complete chassis number (17 characters)
  6. Fetch document:
    • Check the consent box
    • Click on “Get Document” and the virtual RC will be available under the “Issued” tab on the home screen
  7. Download RC: You can download a PDF copy and store it on your phone for offline access

Method 3: Download Digital RC via mParivahan App

The mParivahan app is the official mobile application from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Step-by-step process:

  1. Download the app: Download “mParivahan” from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
  2. Create account:
    • Register using your mobile number
    • Keep in mind that the name you enter while creating the account should be the same as on your Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration Certificate
    • Verify via OTP
  3. Add virtual RC:
    • On the homepage, tap on “My Virtual RC” option
    • Fill in your vehicle number, last five digits of your chassis number, and the last five digits of your engine number
    • Click “Add My Vehicle(s)”
  4. Verify and access:
    • Complete OTP verification if prompted
    • To access your virtual RC, go to the homepage and tap on “Virtual Documents”
    • Your virtual RC will be available under “My Virtual RC(s)” column
  5. Use virtual RC: You can directly use the RC from the mParivahan application, which is equivalent to the physical RC

Offline Process to Check RC Details

Visit Regional Transport Office (RTO)

If online methods are not accessible or you need official verification:

  1. Locate your RTO: Find the RTO where your vehicle is registered
    • Vehicle registration number’s first two letters indicate the state
    • The next two digits indicate the RTO district code
  2. Required documents to carry:
    • Vehicle registration number or RC book
    • Identity proof (Aadhaar card, PAN card, or Driving License)
    • Vehicle insurance copy (if available)
  3. Submit application:
    • Visit the information counter at the RTO office
    • Request for RC details verification
    • Submit the required documents
    • Pay nominal fees if applicable (usually ₹50-100)
  4. Obtain information: RTO staff will provide vehicle registration details or a printout
  5. For duplicate RC: If you need a duplicate RC, file an FIR at the nearest police station, obtain NOC from the bank if vehicle is on loan, visit the RTO and submit Form 26 along with required documents

How to Check RC Application Status Online

If you have applied for new RC, RC transfer, or duplicate RC:

  1. Visit Parivahan portal: Go to https://parivahan.gov.in/
  2. Navigate to status check: Click “Online Services” > “Vehicle Related Services” > “Application Status”
  3. Enter details:
    • Enter your Application Number (from acknowledgment receipt)
    • OR enter Vehicle Registration Number
    • Enter the captcha code
  4. View status: The system will show status such as Application Submitted, Under Scrutiny, Approved, Printed, Dispatched, or Rejected
  5. Track delivery: Once dispatched, you can track RC delivery through India Post tracking service using the reference number provided

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Vehicle Details Not Found

Symptoms: Error message “Vehicle not found” or “No records found”

Solutions:

  • Recheck the registration number format and ensure it matches exactly as on your RC
  • If the vehicle is newly registered, details may take 24-48 hours to update in the system
  • Try removing hyphens or spaces in the registration number
  • Verify you are selecting the correct state
  • If the issue persists, contact your RTO to update vehicle records in the VAHAN database

Problem 2: OTP Not Received

Symptoms: OTP does not arrive on registered mobile number

Solutions:

  • Check mobile network connectivity and SMS inbox capacity
  • Ensure your mobile number is active and has SMS facility enabled
  • Check spam or blocked messages folder
  • Wait 5-10 minutes and try requesting OTP again
  • Try again after a short interval or use an alternative mobile number
  • If mobile number is not linked with your vehicle, visit RTO to update it

Problem 3: Incorrect Chassis or Engine Number Error

Symptoms: System shows “Details do not match” or “Invalid information”

Solutions:

  • Ensure the last five digits of chassis and engine numbers are correct when asked
  • Verify from your physical RC book or vehicle insurance documents
  • Check for confusion between letters and numbers (O vs 0, I vs 1)
  • Some older vehicles may have different character lengths – enter as per RC
  • For complete chassis number, all 17 characters must be entered accurately

Problem 4: Portal Not Loading or Timeout Errors

Symptoms: Website shows error, takes too long to load, or times out

Solutions:

  • Attempt accessing the portal during non-peak hours (early morning or late evening)
  • Retry using an alternative browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Check your internet connection
  • Heavy traffic on portals may cause downtime – in such cases, try the mParivahan app
  • Try accessing from mobile app instead of website

Problem 5: DigiLocker or mParivahan App Not Showing RC

Symptoms: RC not appearing in issued documents or virtual RC section

Solutions:

  • Use “Fetch from Issuer” option in DigiLocker or try again later
  • Ensure Aadhaar name matches exactly with RC owner name
  • Check if your vehicle’s RC has been issued (temporary RC cannot be fetched)
  • Update mParivahan app to latest version or reinstall the application Parivahan Sewa
  • For old vehicle records missing from system, visit RTO once to update records if needed
  • Wait 24-48 hours if RC was recently issued

Official Helpline Numbers and Contact Information

National Transport Helpline

Email Support

State RTO Contacts

For state-specific issues, contact your local RTO:

  • Find RTO contact details on the official Parivahan website under “Contact Us”
  • Each state transport department has dedicated helplines
  • Visit https://parivahan.gov.in/ and navigate to “State Services” for state-wise RTO contacts

Alternative Contact Methods

  • mParivahan Support: For app-related issues, email support can be accessed through the app’s help section
  • DigiLocker Helpline: Visit https://digilocker.gov.in/ for support contacts
  • Physical Visit: Visit your local RTO office during working hours (typically 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday)

Important Safety Tips

Protect your personal information:

  • Only use official government portals (parivahan.gov.in, digilocker.gov.in)
  • Never share OTP with anyone claiming to be from RTO or Parivahan
  • Avoid third-party websites promising “instant RC download” without verification
  • Avoid pages that promise instant RC PDF without OTP or verification, as they may collect personal data Parivahan Sewa

Verify authenticity:

  • Check website URL starts with “https://” and shows lock icon
  • Government portals will never ask for payment via third-party gateways for basic checks
  • The Parivahan portal uses encrypted systems to protect your data.

Digital RC validity:

  • Virtual RC from DigiLocker and mParivahan is legally recognized and accepted by traffic police nationwide.
  • Always keep both digital and physical RC copies when possible
  • Digital RC is valid for all purposes including traffic checks, insurance, and verification

This information is from official sources as of February 2026. Always verify on the official Parivahan portal (https://parivahan.gov.in/) or contact your local RTO for the latest updates and state-specific procedures.

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