Car Validity Calculator (Delhi NCR)

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đź“ť Note: Most Petrol cars in Delhi NCR have a 15-year validity due to pollution norms.

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What “Car Expiry under Indian Pollution Norms” Means ?

If you own a car in India, you must have heard people saying, “Diesel cars expire after 10 years,” or “Petrol cars can run for 15 years only.”
But what does that really mean? What exactly is car expiry under Indian pollution norms?
Let’s understand it in simple words.

The Reason Behind Car Expiry Rules

The Indian government, along with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), introduced these rules to reduce air pollution from old vehicles.
As cars age, their engines emit more harmful gases, even if the vehicle is well maintained.

To control pollution and keep emissions under limits, the government fixed how long a vehicle can stay registered and be used on public roads.

What “Car Expiry” Actually Means

When a car “expires,” it doesn’t mean the car stops working.
It simply means that, according to RTO and NGT rules, the car is no longer legally allowed to run on public roads after a certain number of years from its registration date.

Once your car crosses that age limit:

  • The Registration Certificate (RC) becomes invalid.

  • You cannot renew its fitness certificate or insurance in most cases.

  • Driving an expired car can lead to heavy fines or even vehicle seizure by authorities.

The Current Expiry Rules in India

The expiry period is based on the fuel type:

  • Petrol cars are generally allowed to run for 15 years from the date of registration.

  • Diesel cars are allowed for 10 years, especially in Delhi NCR where rules are stricter because of higher pollution levels.

In some other states, diesel cars may still be allowed for up to 15 years, but it depends on the local RTO and pollution control board.

The Role of Pollution Norms (BS4, BS6, etc.)

You may have heard of BS4 or BS6 engines. These are Bharat Stage emission standards that set limits on how much pollution a vehicle can produce.
Even though BS6 cars are cleaner than older ones, the expiry rules still apply.
For example, a BS6 diesel car in Delhi NCR will still have to stop running on roads after 10 years unless the government changes the rule.

How to Check Your Car’s Expiry Date

To make it easier for car owners, we built the Car Expiry Calculator.
You just need to enter your car type (petrol or diesel), registration year, and city — and it will instantly show your car’s expiry year and validity status.

You can try it now at Carexpirycalculator.com.

What You Can Do After Expiry

If your car has reached its expiry date, you still have options:

  1. Sell it to an authorized scrapping centre and get a scrap certificate.

  2. Transfer it to another state where local laws may still allow it.

  3. Use it privately on private property such as a farm or campus (not on public roads).

Why a 15-Year-Old Diesel Car in Delhi NCR Must Be Scrapped as per NGT Guidelines ?

If you live in Delhi NCR and own a diesel car that’s more than 10 or 15 years old, you’ve probably heard about the NGT (National Green Tribunal) order that bans old vehicles on the road. Many people still wonder — why can’t I use my car if it’s in good condition?

Let’s understand what these rules actually mean, why they were introduced, and what you can do if your vehicle has reached its expiry age.

 

Understanding the NGT Guidelines

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a government body that deals with environmental protection and pollution control.
In 2015, NGT passed a crucial order for Delhi NCR, stating:

  • Diesel vehicles older than 10 years and

  • Petrol vehicles older than 15 years

cannot run on the roads of Delhi NCR.

This rule was introduced because Delhi had reached extremely high pollution levels, and old vehicles were one of the major contributors to rising PM (Particulate Matter) emissions.

 

Why Diesel Cars Were Targeted First

Diesel engines emit more nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter compared to petrol engines.
Even if a diesel car is well maintained, its emissions tend to increase with time. Studies showed that older diesel cars pollute several times more than newer BS6-compliant models.

That’s why NGT decided to strictly limit their road life to 10 years in Delhi NCR.

 

The 15-Year Rule and Vehicle Scrapping

Many car owners still believe that a diesel car can run for 15 years — but that applies only to petrol vehicles in NCR.
Diesel vehicles have a shorter allowed life span of 10 years, and once that period ends, they must be deregistered and scrapped.

Scrapping means the car’s registration is permanently cancelled, and it can no longer be driven or transferred. The vehicle owner receives a scrap certificate, which can later be used to get benefits while purchasing a new vehicle.

 

What Happens If You Still Drive It

Driving an expired or banned diesel car in Delhi NCR can lead to:

  • Heavy fines (up to â‚ą10,000 or more)

  • Vehicle seizure by traffic or pollution control authorities

  • Deregistration of your RC

The Delhi Transport Department has also been using automatic systems to identify and fine such vehicles through number plate scanning.

 

What You Can Do Instead

If your diesel car has crossed 10 years, here are a few legal options:

  1. Sell it outside Delhi NCR – Many states still allow diesel vehicles up to 15 years old.

  2. Get it scrapped – At an authorized scrapping centre and collect your scrap certificate.

  3. Convert to electric – If possible, retrofitting to electric may extend usage, though it depends on approval.

 

How to Check Your Car’s Expiry Year

To make it easier for car owners, we built the Car Expiry Calculator.
You can simply enter your car type, registration year, and location, and find out whether your vehicle is still valid or needs to be scrapped.

Visit Carexpirycalculator.com to check instantly — no registration, no confusion.

Testimonials

I recently bought a used car and wanted to check how many years were left before it expires. The Car Expiry Calculator made it super easy — just entered a few details and got the result instantly. Really helpful tool!

Rohan Sethi, New Delhi

I used the calculator right after buying my car to see how long I can legally drive it in Delhi NCR. Got the answer instantly without any confusion. Highly recommend it to every car owner.

Harsh Verma, Noida

I was confused about how long my newly bought diesel car would be valid in NCR. This website explained everything so clearly and gave me the exact expiry year in seconds. Simple and accurate!

Priya Arora, Gurugram

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