{"id":508208,"date":"2024-06-22T08:39:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T03:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/?p=508208"},"modified":"2026-07-18T13:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:28:12","slug":"why-form-20-is-required-while-buying-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/why-form-20-is-required-while-buying-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is Form 20 Required While Buying a Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Purchasing a new car can be a hectic process, but before you can take your car out on the road, there&#8217;s an important thing that needs to be done \u2014 vehicle registration. That\u2019s where Form 20 applies. Form 20 is the key document for registration of a vehicle, and this serves as an official application by the owner to register the vehicle under the RTO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog, we will explain why Form 20 is needed when buying a car, its importance, how to apply for it along with documents needed for car registration. Keep reading for a detailed insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-is-form-20-required\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Form 20 Required?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All vehicles must be registered with the RTO to operate legally on Indian roads. This registration connects the car to you, proves the ownership of the vehicle, and records&nbsp; details such as the chassis number, engine number, fuel type, and the owner&#8217;s address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Form 20 is the official application form used for this registration. It is mandatory when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registering a brand-new vehicle purchased from a dealer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Re-registering a vehicle that has been bought from another state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transferring ownership of a used vehicle into your name.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Without Form 20, the RTO will not be able to release a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/rc-transfer-online-in-bangalore\/\">Registration Certificate (RC)<\/a> or permanent registration number for your car. In short, it is the first legal step that turns a vehicle purchase into a legally owned automobile on Indian roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-get-form-20\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Get Form 20?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Form 20 can be applied and downloaded in 2 ways, which are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>From the RTO<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You can visit your local Regional Transport Office (RTO) and request Form 20 from the registration counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Online Download<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Form 20 is available online, on the Parivahan Sewa website or the portal of your state\u2019s transport department. Here\u2019s how you can download it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/parivahan.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Parivahan<\/a> Website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to \u201cInformational Services\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on \u201cDownloadable Forms\u201d and select \u201cAll Forms\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0Go to \u201cForm 20\u201d in the vehicle-related category.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A new page will open, and you can download and print it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-is-form-20-issued\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When is Form 20 Issued?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Form 20 is not a certificate that is \u201cissued\u201d to you, but it is an application form you fill in when applying for vehicle registration. However, the requirement to use Form 20 arises at specific stages, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>When You Purchase a New Car: <\/strong>After you buy a new vehicle, it is the dealer or the buyer who has to submit Form 20 to the RTO to receive a permanent registration number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>During Transfer of Ownership: <\/strong>If you buy a used car, the new buyer must apply Form 20 and other transfer forms to update the owner details in the RTO database.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>During Inter-state Transfer: <\/strong>If you shift your car to another state, then you have to re-register it with the RTO of the concerned state with form 20, NOC and all other supporting documents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"parts-of-form-20\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Parts of Form 20<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Form 20 is sectioned to cover all information regarding the vehicle and its owner. The structure generally includes 4 main components, which are explained as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Section 1: Details of Applicant and Vehicle<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Full name, address and age of the applicant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Type of vehicle i.e. Car, Bike, Transport Vehicle etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether the vehicle is new, ex-army, or imported<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section 2: Technical and Vehicle Specifications<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Manufacturer and model name<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Type of body and fuel used<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chassis and engine number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of cylinders, seating capacity, wheelbase, horsepower, and unladen weight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section 3: Certificate of Inspection (if applicable)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To be completed by the inspecting officer having verified the vehicle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section 4: Endorsement by the Registering Authority<br><\/strong>Final approval with signature from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/rto-everything-you-need-to-know\/\">RTO<\/a> when all details are confirmed, and fees are paid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-fill-out-form-20\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Fill Out Form 20?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A proper application of Form 20 is essential, as even minor errors can delay your registration. Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enter Owner Details<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Step 1<\/strong>: Enter your complete name, but make sure to include your father&#8217;s\/husband\u2019s name along with your age, and complete address (temporary\/ permanent both).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 2<\/strong>: Please specify the period of time you have been staying at your current address.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enter Vehicle Purchase Details<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 3<\/strong>: Enter the name and address of the dealer, along with the purchase date and staple a copy of the sales receipt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fill up Vehicle Information<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 4<\/strong>: Enter vehicle details such as, class of vehicle, type of body, and manufacturer name, and other engine and fuel-related information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Input Ownership Type<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 5<\/strong>: Tick the relevant box if the car is under hire-purchase, lease, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/how-to-apply-for-vehicle-registration-hypothecation-removal\/\">hypothecation<\/a> (for financed vehicles). Proceed to add information about the funder or bank.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enter Insurance Details<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 6<\/strong>: List the name of the insurance carrier, policy number and dates of coverage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fill out Payment Details<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 7<\/strong>: Mention the details of the registration fee submitted with receipt, or challan number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add Signature<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 8<\/strong>: Finally, sign and date the form. If applicable, the financier also signs the form before it is submitted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"key-things-to-keep-in-mind\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Things to Keep in Mind<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Write neatly in block letters with blue or black ink.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Double-check all technical data on your purchase invoice or manufacturer sheet before you fill them in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not write over or leave mandatory fields blank \u2014 if a field does not apply, put \u2018N\/A&#8217;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retain a copy of the completed form with you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-documents-should-be-submitted-along-with-form-20-to-the-rto\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Documents Should Be Submitted Along With Form 20 to the RTO?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several supporting documents are also required for Form 20. These papers establish your identity, confirm that you own the car, and verify that you carry insurance as it relates to your vehicle. They are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identity Proof: Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID or driving licence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proof of Address: Utility bill, rent agreement, Aadhaar card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PAN Card or Form 60 \/ Form 61 (as applicable if PAN not available).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dealer Invoice indicating the purchase of the car.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary Registration Certificate (if issued).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insurance Certificate of valid third-party or comprehensive insurance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for used cars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customs clearance certificate for imported vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fitness Certificate (for commercial vehicles).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photograph of the owner (passport-sized).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the documents are validated, the RTO conducts a physical inspection of the vehicle. When confirmed, a unique registration number is made and the Registration Certificate (RC) is conveyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/how-to-add-your-vehicle-registration-certificate-rc-in-digilocker-and-mparivahan\/\">How to Add Your Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC) in DigiLocker and mParivahan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-documents-needed-for-registering-a-new-vehicle\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the Documents Needed for Registering a New Vehicle?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you buy a new car, you or the dealer must register it within a specific time period (usually 7\u201330 days). The following documents are typically required:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Form 20: Application for registration of a new vehicle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Form 21: Sale certificate from the vehicle dealer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Form 22: Roadworthiness certificate issued by the manufacturer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Form 34: In the case of a financed vehicle, hypothecation details with the bank\u2019s signature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sales Invoice: Given by the dealer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insurance Certificate: Evidence of current vehicle insurance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Address and Identity Proof of the Owner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PAN Card or Form 60\/61.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Road tax certificate: Evidence of payment for state road tax.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary Registration Certificate (if applicable).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photograph of the Owner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Most authorised car dealers handle this process for you, submitting all forms and fees directly to the RTO. However, if you are registering independently (for example, for a self-imported vehicle), you must ensure every document is valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-documents-required-for-vehicle-reregistration-when-transferred-between-states\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the Documents Required for Vehicle Re-registration When Transferred Between States?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you move to another state or buy a used car from another state, you must re-register it under the new RTO jurisdiction. This ensures the car has a valid local registration number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the required documents as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Form 20<\/strong>: Application for registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Form 27<\/strong>: Application for assignment of a new registration mark<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Form 28<\/strong>: No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the previous RTO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Original Registration Certificate (RC)<\/strong>: From the previous state<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Valid Insurance Certificate<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PAN Card or Form 60 \/ 61<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Address Proof<\/strong> in the new state<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Road Tax Receipt<\/strong>: Proof of payment of the new state\u2019s road tax<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fitness Certificate<\/strong> (for transport or commercial vehicles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passport-sized photographs<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"other-important-points\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Important Points<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The NOC from the RTOs is only mandatory; failure to produce it under the new RTO will result in incomplete registration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You may be required to pay road tax again in the new state (although some states will refund a portion of your old road tax upon request).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the chassis and engine numbers are correct, the car will likely require an on-site inspection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once your new registration has been approved, you will get a new RC card with the updated registration number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your car registration is an important step that establishes your ownership of the vehicle and ensures it meets roadworthy standards. Among all the paperwork involved, Form 20 provides a backbone to the procedure. It serves as the application for registration, collecting important information about the vehicle and its owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By submitting a properly filled-out Form 20 along with the required documents, you ensure a quicker process of vehicle registration, avoiding any penalties or delays. Once registered, you receive your permanent registration number and RC, marking the completion a crucial step in car ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faqs-about-why-is-form-20-required-while-buying-a-car\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQs about Why is Form 20 Required While Buying a Car<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"saswp-faq-block-section\"><ol style=\"list-style-type:none\"><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h5 class=\"saswp-faq-question-title \"><strong>Q. What is Form 20?<\/strong><\/h5><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">Form 20 is the application form for vehicle registration in India. It has information on the vehicle and the owner, and is required both for new registrations as well as renewing one.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h5 class=\"saswp-faq-question-title \"><strong>Q. Can I get Form 20 online?<\/strong><\/h5><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">Yes, you can get the same from Parivahan Sewa website or your state\u2019s transport department portal under the section \u201cVehicle Registration Forms.\u201d<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h5 class=\"saswp-faq-question-title \"><strong>Q. Can a dealer submit my Form 20?<\/strong><\/h5><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">Most authorised dealers handle the vehicle registration process for new cars, including completing and submitting Form 20 and other necessary documents to the RTO.<\/p><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><h5 class=\"saswp-faq-question-title \"><strong>Q. What if I fail to register my car?<\/strong><\/h5><p class=\"saswp-faq-answer-text\">You are not allowed to drive an unregistered vehicle in India, and you also have hefty fines, seizure of the vehicle involved or both if you are caught. Registration provides legal acceptance and roadworthiness standards under the Indian law.<\/p><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore why Form 20 is required while buying a buy, how to apply for it, and what documents you need for new car registration or re-registration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":508222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"Why is Form 20 Required While Buying a Car?","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5087],"tags":[5194],"class_list":["post-508208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-documents","tag-form-20"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/spn-sta.spinny.com\/blog\/20230209225417\/Form-20-part-A-jpg.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508208"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":532487,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508208\/revisions\/532487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/508222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=508208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spinny.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=508208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}