Pune RTO Issues New Driving Licence Rules, BH Series Tax Alert

Pune, 23rd July 2026: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has issued two important directives affecting driving licence applicants and Bharat (BH) Series vehicle owners. The Transport Department has made it mandatory for applicants to submit a government-issued Age, Nationality and Domicile Certificate while applying for a driving licence or permits related to public service vehicles. In a separate advisory, the Pune RTO has also urged BH Series vehicle owners to pay their motor vehicle tax within the prescribed timeline to avoid penalties.

According to the Transport Department, all driving licence applicants, vehicle owners, driver training institutes, and citizens applying for permits related to public service vehicles must now submit an Age, Nationality and Domicile Certificate along with the other required documents. The certificate must be issued by the competent authority as prescribed by the Maharashtra government.

Officials said the new requirement has been introduced to strengthen document verification and ensure uniform compliance with state regulations during the application process. The department has warned that applications submitted without the mandatory certificate may remain pending or be rejected.

The Pune Regional Transport Office has appealed to citizens to carefully follow the revised guidelines and ensure that all required documents are attached before submitting their applications. Authorities said incomplete applications often result in processing delays, causing inconvenience to applicants.

In a separate statement, the Pune RTO also reminded owners of Bharat (BH) Series vehicles to pay their motor vehicle tax on time. The BH Series registration system was introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) through a notification issued on August 26, 2021, to facilitate seamless movement of vehicles across states, particularly for individuals whose jobs require frequent transfers.

Under the BH Series registration scheme, motor vehicle tax is collected for an initial period of two years at the time of registration. Once this period expires, vehicle owners are required to renew their registration by paying the applicable tax within the stipulated deadline.

The RTO has cautioned that if the tax is not paid within seven days of the due date, a penalty of ₹100 per day will be levied until the outstanding amount is cleared. Officials have advised vehicle owners to complete the payment within the prescribed period to avoid additional financial burden.

The Pune RTO has urged both driving licence applicants and BH Series vehicle owners to comply with the updated regulations. Authorities said adherence to the revised documentation requirements and timely payment of motor vehicle tax will help ensure smoother processing of applications, prevent unnecessary delays, and avoid penalties.