It is a very simple process to get your RC cancelled to avoid any unnecessary troubles:
- You, or whoever’s name the vehicle is registered under, need to report the totally damaged condition of your vehicle to the State Regional Transport Office (RTO), within 14 days.
- After getting clearance from the police department, the RTO will start the process of cancelling your RC.
- Within four to five weeks, they will issue a certificate of non-utilization and the certificate will have been considered as cancelled.
If you have moved from one state to another, you should notify the registering authority within the jurisdiction of your residence and they will forward the RC to the original registering authority.
And the moment your RC is cancelled, your vehicle will be considered as scrap and it will no longer be registered to anyone.
Since this entire process is carried out by the State RTO, the fees and sales will vary from one state to another.
While there is no penalty for not cancelling your RC, the IRDAI is quite strict with its instructions to insurers to ensure it is done before you file a claim for total loss and before that claim is settled.
So, now that you know the importance of cancelling your RC within 14 days in case of total loss of your vehicle, remember to follow the correct procedure if you ever need to (and we hope that you don’t!).
As a vehicle owner, you must take this seriously and get your RC cancelled to ensure no serious crime is committed using your vehicle’s registration details and to avoid any legal trouble in the future.