Smooth Rides Ahead: A Guide to Seamless Bike Ownership Transfer

Learn the ropes of hassle-free bike ownership transfer. Navigate paperwork, legalities, and tips for a seamless transition. Your guide to a smooth handover

In 2022, an astounding 18 million two-wheelers were sold in the Indian market. The numbers are enough to gauge the enormous potential of the two-wheeler industry in the country, which is now the biggest in the world. And with that, it is also growing as one of the fastest-used 2-wheeler markets globally.

With millions of buyers and sellers searching for used bikes or scooters, transferring ownership is an important step that ensures proper registration, documentation, and establishing the legal rights of the new owner. Follow the easy steps below for a hassle-free ownership transfer.

Documents Required for Bike Ownership Transfer

First of all, gather all the necessary documents for the process. You will need:

Original Registration Certificate (RC) as proof of ownership. Ensure the RC is in the seller's name and free from legal disputes.

Active Insurance Certificate.

A legally binding sale agreement stipulating all the necessary terms and conditions, including date, sale price, etc.

Copy of valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate.

Identity proof such as an Aadhar card, driver's license or passport of both the buyer and the seller.

Properly filled and signed Form 28, which is the NOC (No Objection Certificate).

Properly filled and signed Form 29, the notice of bike ownership transfer to the RTO.

Properly filled and signed Form 30, which intimates the RTO or concerned authorities about the transfer of bike ownership.

How to Transfer Bike Ownership – The Offline Method

Visit the local RTO after gathering all these necessary documents. Book an appointment beforehand to avoid unnecessary delays. Follow the below steps:

Get the ownership transfer form from the RTO and fill it out correctly. You can also generate it online.

Submit all the required documents and the ownership transfer application form to the RTO officer.

Pay the applicable fee, which should be Rs. 30-35, varying from state to state. The RTO may also levy a smart card fee of Rs. 200.

Verification of the documents, followed by physical inspection of the bike, will be done to ensure its integrity and compliance with the safety standards.

Those selling their bike to a person in another state must obtain an NOC from the RTO confirming there are no pending dues or legal obligations.

Once all this is completed, the RTO will issue a new Registration Certificate in the new buyer’s name. Make sure all the details are correct before leaving the RTO office.

How to Transfer Bike Ownership – The Online Method

Most people prefer to conduct the transfer process online, at least in the initial phase. Here is the step-by-step guide to transferring bike ownership online:

Visit the official website of Parivahan Sewa.

Click the Online Services tab on the home page and choose the ‘vehicle-related services’ option.

Selecting your state will show you two options to seek info, either by ‘Vehicle Registration No.’ or ‘Registering Authority’.

Click on any of these options and be directed to the Online Services page.

Find the Transfer of Ownership link, and you will be asked to fill in the necessary details of the bike.

Now proceed to the payment section and complete the required fee for transferring ownership.

After you complete the payment, you will get Form 29 and Form 30.

Both parties must sign hard copies of both these forms.

Submit these forms and necessary documents, such as the original RC, insurance policy, pollution certificate, etc., to the RTO office by personally visiting or emailing.

After verifying all these documents, the RTO will issue a new registration certificate (RC) in the new owner’s name.

Bottom line

The seller remains the legal owner of the bike until it is transferred in the buyer’s name. Therefore, before buying a used bike, it is important to get the ownership and insurance policy transferred to your name to prevent yourself from any legal issues later. Buyers can safeguard their interests and fulfil their legal obligations by following all the necessary steps.

For more information about buying and selling used bikes, visit BikeDekho, the most trusted source for two-wheelers.