Delhi Transport Minister Orders Strict Action Against Car Dealers Over RC Delays

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has ordered strict action against car dealers who delay giving registration certificates (RCs) to buyers on the day of vehicle purchase. This move follows numerous complaints from private vehicle buyers in Delhi about waiting to receive their RCs immediately, despite a mandate by the Delhi government.

In 2021, the Delhi government started a facility allowing car buyers to receive their RCs directly from the dealers, who have a self-registration system. However, many dealers have not been following this rule.

Gahlot recently held a meeting with senior officials of the Transport Department, directing them to take strict measures against non-compliant dealers, including suspending their trade licenses. He plans to meet with the dealers next week to address the issue.

"It is unacceptable that vehicle buyers are facing delays in receiving their registration certificates at the time of delivery of their purchased vehicle. The Delhi government has made provisions for same-day issuance of RCs, and any deviation from this must be addressed promptly. We will take strict action against any dealer found not following this mandate. Ensuring timely issuance of RCs is essential for the convenience of vehicle buyers and the efficiency of our transport system," Gahlot stated.

Last month, the transport department instructed all district offices to collect reports from vehicle dealers on the issuance of RCs every two weeks. This directive came after complaints about sellers not handing over RCs at the time of vehicle purchase.

The Delhi government began printing RCs through self-registration by dealers in March 2021, with the first RC issued on March 17, 2021. By September 2021, all self-registration dealers in Delhi were empowered to print RCs. This initiative aimed to eliminate long wait times and unnecessary visits to RTOs, ensuring hassle-free vehicle registration.

Despite this, recent observations by Gahlot showed that dealers were delaying RC issuance by two to three weeks, and in some cases, over a month. Delhi has 263 dealers authorized to print RCs, and about six lakh new vehicles are registered annually in the city.