The Government of India has introduced a significant new rule aimed at enforcing toll tax payments more strictly on national highways. Under the recently notified Central Motor vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, vehicle owners with outstanding toll tax dues will face restrictions on several important services related to their vehicles until the dues are cleared.
🔍 What the New Rule Says
According to the amended rules, a vehicle will not be eligible to receive key clearances or certificates from transport authorities if it has unpaid toll charges, also referred to as “unpaid user fees” (toll dues recorded by the electronic toll system but not paid).
Here’s what this means in practice:
- No No Objection Certificate (NOC): Vehicle owners will not receive an NOC required for transferring vehicle ownership or moving a vehicle to another state unless all pending toll dues are paid.
- No Fitness Certificate: vehicles with unpaid toll dues will not be allowed to renew or obtain a Certificate of Fitness, which is essential for legally operating a vehicle on indian roads.
- No National Permit for Commercial Vehicles: commercial vehicles seeking a national permit will have to clear all outstanding toll amounts before approval.
These changes are intended to encourage timely payment of toll fees, reduce evasion, and support the ongoing rollout of barrier‑free tolling and electronic toll collection across the country.
🚗 Why This Matters to Motorists
Under the new rule:
- Vehicle owners cannot finalize ownership transfer or interstate registration if toll dues are outstanding.
- Owners who wish to renew a vehicle’s fitness certificate — required for legally driving older vehicles — must first clear their toll payments.
- For commercial vehicles (such as trucks and buses), national permits will be withheld until all toll charges are settled.
Transport officials have also updated Form 28, which is mandatory for applying for an NOC, to include details about unpaid toll dues. This makes toll payment status an integral part of vehicle documentation.
📈 Government’s Objective
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways says the amendments aim to:
- Improve compliance with toll payments on national highways.
- Promote efficient electronic toll collection systems and reduce manual toll evasion.
- Support the transition to barrier‑free tolling — a system where vehicles pass through tolls without stopping, relying on wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital payment mechanisms.
These changes come as the government pushes forward with modernization plans for highway infrastructure and tolling technology nationwide.
🧠 In Summary
If you have outstanding toll tax dues recorded against your vehicle on national highways, you will not be eligible for:
- A No Objection Certificate (NOC) for ownership transfer,
- A Certificate of Fitness or its renewal,
- Or a National Permit — until all dues are cleared.
These measures are part of the government’s broader effort to ensure fair and efficient toll collection and to integrate toll compliance with essential vehicle regulatory services.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
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