**Executive Summary**
The Government of India has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules via the 'Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026'. These amendments, effective from January 20, 2026, aim to improve user fee compliance, enhance electronic toll collection, and discourage fee evasion on National Highways. A key change is linking the clearance of unpaid user fees with vehicle-related services. The rules were finalised and notified after considering feedback received from stakeholders and the public following draft rules issued on July 11th 2025 and the public was notified on July 14th 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Definition of 'Unpaid User Fee':**
* Introduces a new definition of 'unpaid user fee', referring to fees payable for National Highway use recorded by Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems but not received.
* **No Objection Certificate (NOC) and Vehicle Services:**
* NOC for vehicle transfer (ownership or interstate) will not be granted without clearing unpaid user fees.
* Renewal or generation of a Certificate of Fitness is not permitted with outstanding user fee dues.
* Commercial vehicles applying for National Permits must have no unpaid user fees.
* **Form 28 Amendments:**
* Applicants for ‘Form 28’ must disclose any pending demands for unpaid user fees at toll plazas, along with relevant details.
* The rules enable electronic issuance of relevant portions of ‘Form 28’ through the designated online portal.
* **Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) System**
* The ammendments will enable easier tolling on the National Highway network, especially after implementation of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system
**Impact Analysis**
**Vehicle Owners/Operators**
* **Impact:** Vehicle owners, especially commercial vehicle operators and those seeking to transfer ownership or renew fitness certificates, will be directly affected.
* **Action Required:** Clear all outstanding user fee dues before applying for vehicle transfer, renewal of fitness certificate or a national permit. Disclose any pending demands for unpaid user fees at toll plazas when filling out ‘Form 28’.
**National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** NHAI will benefit from improved user fee compliance and reduced fee evasion.
* **Action Required:** Ensure seamless implementation of the amended rules, particularly in relation to ETC systems and digital processes. Foster transparent and technology-driven tolling systems for sustained development and maintenance of the National Highway network across the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026: The updated regulations for user fee payment compliance on National Highways, amending the 1989 rules.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: The original rules being amended by the 2026 amendment.
National Highways Act, 1956: The Act under which user fees on National Highways are collected.
Form 28: A form for No Objection Certificate (NOC) applications that now requires information on unpaid user fees.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The ministry responsible for notifying the amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Government of India Amends Central Motor
Vehicles Rules to Strengthen User Fee Payments
No NOC for Vehicle Transfer, Fitness Renewal and Permits
with pending toll dues
प्रव तथ: 20 JAN 2026 6:09PM by PIB Delhi
In order to strengthen compliance towards user fee payment at the toll plazas on National Highways, the
Government of India has notified the ‘Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026’,
introducing key changes to the ‘Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989’. These amendments are aimed at
improving user fee compliance, enhancing efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection and discouraging user
fee evasion on National Highways.
Under the amended rules, a new definition of ‘unpaid user fee’ has been introduced and it refers to the user
fee payable for the use of a National Highway section, where Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system has
recorded the vehicle’s passage, but the applicable fee has not been received in accordance with the
National Highways Act, 1956.
The amendments link the clearance of unpaid National Highway user fee with vehicle-related services. As
per the provisions, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for transfer of ownership or transfer of a vehicle
from one State to another shall not be granted until any unpaid user fee is cleared. In addition, renewal or
generation of a Certificate of Fitness for vehicles will not be permitted unless outstanding user fee dues
have been paid. For commercial vehicles seeking a National Permit, the amended rules make it mandatory
that the vehicle must not have any unpaid user fee.
Corresponding changes have also been made to ‘Form 28’ which now requires applicants to disclose
whether any demand for an unpaid user fee at a toll plaza is pending against the vehicle, along with
relevant details. Promoting digital processes, the rules also enable the electronic issuance of relevant
portions of ‘Form 28’ through the designated online portal. ‘Form 28’ is application for a No Objection
Certificate (NOC), a key document required for transferring vehicle ownership to another state or district
confirming the vehicle has no pending taxes, challans, or legal issues. These Amendments will also help in
user fee collection after the implementation of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system, that will enable
barrier less tolling on the National Highway network.
The amendments have been issued following publication of draft rules on 11th July 2025 vide a Gazette
Notification, which invited suggestions from stakeholders and the general public. Copies of the draft
notification were made available to the public on 14th July 2025. After careful consideration of the
feedback received, the Government of India has finalized and notified the amended rules.
These amendments will help NHAI in fostering transparent and technology-driven tolling systems for
sustained development and maintenance of the National Highway network across the country.
***GDH/SJ
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2216507) आगंतुक पटल : 925
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