Pune RTO to EV Owners: Ignore SMS Asking for Tax Payment
Pune, 25th March 2026: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) of Pune, has asked electric vehicle (EV) owners in the district to ignore SMS alerts seeking payment of motor vehicle tax, stating that the messages were issued in error.
In an official statement on Wednesday, the RTO clarified that several EV owners had received bulk SMS notices demanding tax payment due to a glitch in an outsourced messaging system.
The RTO officials said that under the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, in force from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2030, electric vehicles are fully exempt from motor vehicle tax. The policy extends earlier incentives aimed at promoting adoption of non-polluting vehicles in the state.
“EV owners who have received such messages need not make any payment,” the RTO said, urging citizens to be aware of the exemption.
Officials said the error likely occurred when EV owners were inadvertently included in a mass communication intended for conventional fuel vehicle owners with pending tax dues. Similar instances have been reported in other regions as well. Vehicle owners can approach the RTO office for clarification, officials said, reiterating that compliant EVs currently have no tax liability under the prevailing policy.
