The Motor Vehicles Act requires specific forms to be filed whenever a vehicle is sold, transferred, or moved to a new state. Forms 28, 29, and 30 are the three forms that govern almost every used car transaction in India. They are not interchangeable — each has a precise legal purpose, a specific set of signatories, and a strict deadline. Understanding what each form does is the difference between a smooth RTO experience and a rejected application. Before you begin, it is worth running a Vahan Verify (₹49) to confirm the car's registration status and record are clean, so the transfer is not held up at the RTO.
At a Glance — Forms 28, 29, and 30 Compared
| Attribute | Form 28 | Form 29 | Form 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Application for NOC from Registering Authority | Notice of Transfer of Ownership | Application for Transfer of Ownership |
| Who Fills It | Vehicle owner (seller) | Seller only | Both buyer and seller |
| Who Signs It | Seller / registered owner | Seller only | Seller in Part A, buyer in Part B |
| Submitted By | Seller at original RTO | Seller at original RTO | Buyer at local RTO |
| When Required | Inter-state transfer / re-registration only | Every used car sale — same or different state | Every used car sale — same or different state |
| Deadline | Before or at time of sale (inter-state) | Within 14 days of sale date | Within 14 days (same-state) / 45 days (inter-state) |
| Result | RTO issues NOC — car cleared for inter-state transfer | Seller's legal liability for the vehicle ends | RC transferred to buyer's name |
Form 28 — No Objection Certificate Application
Form 28 — Application for No Objection Certificate
The form that clears a vehicle for inter-state transfer by confirming it has no outstanding dues, liabilities, or legal issues in its original state of registration.
When a vehicle registered in one state is sold to a buyer in a different state, the buyer needs to re-register the car in their home state. Before that can happen, the vehicle must be cleared by the original state's RTO — confirmed as having no pending challans, outstanding road tax, court orders, or hypothecation liens. Form 28 is the application the seller (or current owner) submits to their original RTO to request this clearance certificate, formally called a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Once the RTO processes Form 28 and issues the NOC, the vehicle is legally cleared to leave the state and be registered elsewhere. The buyer then uses this NOC as a key document in their new state's re-registration process.
When Is Form 28 Required?
- Selling a car to a buyer in a different state — seller must apply for NOC before or at the time of sale
- Owner is relocating to another state and wants to re-register the vehicle in the new state
- Buying an inter-state car — ask the seller to apply for Form 28 NOC as part of the sale process
- Vehicle was seized or has a court case — NOC confirms the slate is clean before transfer
Who Fills and Signs
- Registered vehicle owner (seller) fills the form
- Seller signs as the applicant requesting NOC
- Buyer's name and state are mentioned in the form
- Buyer does not sign Form 28
Where Submitted
- Submitted by the seller at their original state's RTO
- Online submission possible on parivahan.gov.in for many states
- NOC is issued by the RTO within 7–30 working days
- NOC validity is typically 6 months from issue date
Key Fields in Form 28
Common Mistakes with Form 28
- Skipping Form 28 entirely in inter-state sales — the buyer then cannot re-register the car in their home state
- Seller applies after the sale has already completed — create delays for the buyer waiting for NOC
- Not clearing pending challans before applying — RTO will not issue NOC until all dues are cleared
- Using an expired NOC — validity is typically 6 months; if the re-registration is delayed beyond this, a fresh NOC must be obtained
Form 29 — Notice of Transfer of Ownership
Form 29 — Notice of Transfer of Ownership
The seller's official notification to the RTO that the vehicle has been sold. Signed by the seller only — this is how the seller legally exits their ownership responsibility.
When a vehicle is sold, the registered owner (seller) has a legal obligation under the Motor Vehicles Act to inform the registering RTO that the vehicle has changed hands. Form 29 is this notification. By submitting Form 29, the seller is formally placing the RTO on notice that they are no longer the owner — which is important for their own legal protection.
Until Form 29 is submitted, the seller remains the registered owner in the government database. This means any traffic challans, court notices, or legal summons related to the vehicle after the sale date could still be directed at the seller. Submitting Form 29 promptly is the seller's primary legal protection after a sale.
Critical for sellers: If you sell a car and the buyer drives off and gets involved in an accident, hits-and-runs, or accumulates traffic challans — and you have not yet submitted Form 29 — you are still the registered owner. Authorities will come to you first. Submit Form 29 within 14 days of every sale, without exception.
When Is Form 29 Required?
- Every used car sale — same-state or inter-state — without exception
- Gifting or donating a vehicle to another person
- Transferring a vehicle to a family member
- Court-ordered or auction-based vehicle transfer
Who Fills and Signs
- Seller (transferor) fills the entire form
- Only the seller's signature is required
- Buyer does not sign Form 29 at all
- Get Form 29 signed on the day of sale — before handing over keys
Where and When Submitted
- Seller submits at the RTO where the vehicle is registered
- Must be submitted within 14 days of the sale date
- Can also be submitted online on parivahan.gov.in
- Seller retains a copy of the submitted Form 29 with RTO stamp
Key Fields in Form 29
Common Mistakes with Form 29
- Seller delays submitting Form 29 after the sale — leaves seller legally exposed during the gap period
- Buyer mistakenly signs Form 29 — only the seller should sign this form
- Sale date entered incorrectly — must match the date on the sale agreement exactly
- Seller provides wrong buyer address — must match the buyer's address proof submitted with Form 30
- Seller sells car "informally" without submitting Form 29 — creates serious problems if the buyer then sells again or if an accident occurs
Check the RC Record Before You Start the Transfer.
Whether you are the buyer or the seller, confirm owner count, registration status, NOC and insurance validity and any blacklist or challan flags before filing Form 28, 29 or 30 — so the transfer goes through cleanly.
Form 30 — Application for Transfer of Ownership
Form 30 — Application for Transfer of Ownership
The buyer's formal application to have the RC transferred to their name. Both buyer and seller sign this form — it is the core document of the entire ownership transfer process.
Form 30 is the buyer's side of the ownership transfer equation. While Form 29 is the seller notifying the RTO that the car has been sold, Form 30 is the buyer formally asking the RTO to update the RC to show them as the new registered owner. Both forms are required — one without the other will result in a rejected application.
Form 30 has two distinct sections: Part A is filled and signed by the seller (transferor), providing details of the sale. Part B is filled and signed by the buyer (transferee), providing their personal details and formally applying for the transfer. Both sections must be completed before the form is submitted.
When Is Form 30 Required?
- Every used car purchase — same-state or inter-state — the buyer must submit this
- Receiving a vehicle as a gift from a family member or third party
- Court-ordered or auction-based vehicle transfer to the buyer
- Transfer to legal heirs in case of the registered owner's death
Who Fills and Signs What
- Part A — Seller fills in and signs (vehicle details, sale date, buyer details)
- Part B — Buyer fills in and signs (buyer's personal details, address, declaration)
- Both sections must be complete before submission
- Get both signatures on the day of sale — before money changes hands
Where and When Submitted
- Buyer submits at the RTO where vehicle is registered (same-state) or buyer's local RTO (inter-state)
- Within 14 days of sale for same-state transfers
- Within 45 days for inter-state transfers
- Online submission via parivahan.gov.in (physical visit still required for verification)
Key Fields in Form 30 — Part A (Seller) and Part B (Buyer)
Common Mistakes with Form 30
- Only buyer signs — seller's Part A signature is missing, causing RTO rejection
- Buyer's address on Form 30 does not match the address proof submitted — must be identical
- Sale date on Form 30 does not match the sale agreement date — causes inconsistency in records
- Chassis or engine number entered incorrectly — must match the RC and the physical numbers on the car exactly
- Buyer submits Form 30 without Form 29 — both must be submitted together (or Form 29 submitted by seller separately within the deadline)
- Missing supporting documents at submission — RTO will return the application and the deadline clock keeps running
Which Forms Do You Need? — Scenario Guide
Use this guide to quickly identify which forms apply to your specific transaction type.
* In case of death of owner, Form 31 is typically used alongside Form 30. Form 29 cannot be completed as the seller is deceased.
Do I Need Form 28? — Quick Decision Guide
Is the car currently registered in a different state from where the buyer lives?
Form 28 IS required. Seller must apply for NOC at their original state's RTO before or shortly after the sale. Buyer cannot re-register in their home state without this NOC.
Form 28 NOT required. Proceed with Forms 29 and 30 only. Same-state transfers do not require an inter-state NOC.
Seller is in the same state but plans to move to another state after the sale — is Form 28 needed?
Form 28 NOT required. What matters is whether the buyer intends to re-register the vehicle in a different state. The seller's future relocation has no bearing on the forms required for this sale.
Form 28 will be needed when the buyer applies for re-registration in their new state — but this is a separate process handled then, not at the time of this sale.
Where to Download Forms 28, 29, and 30
All three forms are available free of charge on the official Parivahan portal and can also be collected in person at any RTO office across India.
Final Checklist — Forms 28, 29, and 30
- Same-state sale: get Form 29 signed by seller + Form 30 signed by both — on the day of sale
- Inter-state sale: additionally ensure seller has applied for or already has Form 28 NOC from their original RTO
- Seller submits Form 29 at their RTO within 14 days of sale — do not delay
- Buyer submits Form 30 within 14 days (same-state) or 45 days (inter-state) of sale
- Buyer's address on Form 30 must exactly match their address proof document
- Sale date on both forms must exactly match the sale agreement
- Chassis and engine numbers must be filled from the RC — then physically verified on the car
- Download all forms free from parivahan.gov.in — never pay for blank government forms
- Keep photocopies of all submitted forms — the RTO acknowledgement receipt is your proof of application
Final Thoughts
Forms 28, 29, and 30 are not complicated once you understand what each one does. Form 28 clears the car to leave a state. Form 29 releases the seller from ownership responsibility. Form 30 transfers ownership to the buyer. Together they create a complete, legally documented chain of custody for the vehicle — which protects both parties and makes the ownership history clear for every future buyer.
The most common failure point is not the forms themselves but timing: sellers who delay Form 29 submission and buyers who lose contact with sellers before getting Form 30 Part A signed. Solve both problems by handling all signatures on the day of sale, before keys and money change hands. Everything else is straightforward paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Confirm the RC Record Before the Transfer.
A Vahan Verify pulls the car's full registration record — owner count, registration status, NOC and insurance validity, blacklist and challan flags, and vehicle age — so you start the Form 28, 29 or 30 paperwork knowing it will not be rejected.