MoRTH proposes 5-year age extension for EV, hydrogen, CNG commercial vehicles
Synopsis
India's road transport ministry wants green commercial vehicles — EVs, hydrogen, and CNG — to stay on the road five years longer than their conventional counterparts. The draft amendment raises age caps to 17 and 20 years, signals a deliberate policy tilt toward clean fleet retention, and pairs it with a digitisation push that could cut annual permit paperwork for thousands of operators.
Key Takeaways
MoRTH has proposed a five-year age extension for battery-electric, hydrogen, and CNG commercial vehicles under the national permit system.
Age limits would rise from 12 to 17 years and 15 to 20 years — applicable only to green-fuel vehicles, not conventional ones.
National permit holders may opt for a five-year authorisation at ₹82,500 (₹16,500/year), replacing annual renewals.
The VAHAN database is proposed to be used to reduce paperwork and digitise permit processes.
Temporary registration for a chassis without a body will be valid for six months , extendable in 30-day increments ; fully built adapted vehicles get 45 days .
Public objections and suggestions are open for 30 days from the date of notification.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed extending the permissible operational age of battery-operated, hydrogen fuel-based, and natural gas-driven commercial vehicles under the national permit system by five years, according to a draft amendment notification issued on 18 August. The move is positioned as part of a broader push to promote cleaner commercial transport across India.
Key Proposed Changes to Age Limits
Under the current national permit framework, commercial vehicles face age caps of 12 years and 15 years depending on category. The draft amendment proposes raising these limits to 17 years and 20 years respectively — but exclusively for vehicles running on battery electric, hydrogen, or compressed natural gas (CNG) powertrains. Conventional diesel and petrol commercial vehicles would not benefit from this extension.
Streamlined Permit Authorisation and Digital Push
The draft also proposes allowing national permit holders to opt for a five-year authorisation instead of the existing annual renewal cycle. The fee structure remains unchanged at ₹16,500 per year, making the consolidated five-year fee ₹82,500. The ministry has also proposed leveraging the VAHAN database to reduce paperwork and digitise permit processes — a step that could ease compliance burdens for fleet operators nationwide.
Revised Temporary Registration Rules
The proposed amendments also overhaul temporary registration norms. A chassis without a body would receive temporary registration valid for six months from the date of issue. If the chassis remains in a workshop beyond six months — for body fitting or due to circumstances beyond the owner's control — the registering authority may extend validity in 30-day increments on application and payment of the prescribed fee.
For fully built vehicles being converted into adapted vehicles, or those registered in a state different from the dealer's state, temporary registration would be valid for 45 days.
Public Consultation Open for 30 Days
MoRTH has invited objections and suggestions on the draft amendments for 30 days from the date the notification is made available to the public. The draft also proposes collecting additional information in vehicle registration and permit forms. Industry stakeholders and fleet operators are expected to closely study the proposed changes, particularly the age-limit extension, which could significantly alter fleet replacement cycles for green commercial vehicle operators. How the ministry addresses feedback during the consultation window will shape the final contours of the amendment.
Point of View
And operators need longer payback windows to justify the higher upfront cost of EVs and hydrogen trucks. But the policy works only if the vehicles remain roadworthy; the amendment is silent on mandatory periodic fitness standards that would ensure older green fleets don't become safety liabilities. The five-year authorisation window is a genuine administrative relief, yet the fee structure offers no discount — it is simply a prepayment. The real test of this draft's ambition will be whether the final notification includes enforceable fitness benchmarks alongside the extended age limits.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has MoRTH proposed for EV and CNG commercial vehicles?
MoRTH has proposed extending the permissible operational age of battery-electric, hydrogen, and CNG commercial vehicles under the national permit system by five years. Age caps would increase from 12 to 17 years and from 15 to 20 years for eligible green-fuel vehicles.
Does the age extension apply to all commercial vehicles?
No. The proposed extension is limited to battery-operated, hydrogen fuel-based, and natural gas-driven commercial vehicles under the national permit system. Conventional diesel and petrol commercial vehicles are not covered.
What changes are proposed for national permit authorisation?
The draft proposes allowing permit holders to opt for a five-year authorisation instead of renewing annually. The fee remains ₹16,500 per year, making the five-year total ₹82,500, with no additional charge for the multi-year option.
What are the new temporary registration rules proposed?
A chassis without a body would get temporary registration valid for six months, extendable by 30 days at a time if the chassis remains in a workshop beyond that period. Fully built vehicles being converted or registered in a different state from the dealer get 45-day temporary registration.
How can stakeholders respond to the draft amendment?
MoRTH has opened a 30-day public consultation window from the date the notification is made available, during which objections and suggestions can be submitted. The final rules will be shaped by the feedback received in this period.
