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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(commercial vehicle permit,taxi permit India,auto rickshaw permit,goods carriage permit,stage carriage permit,contract carriage permit,State Transport Authority,STA permit 2026,parivahan permit,CMVR Rules permit,tourist permit,national permit,permit fee India,vehicle permit RTO,how to apply commercial permit)&metatag-description=(Step-by-step 2026 guide to applying for a commercial vehicle permit in India — taxi, auto, truck or bus. STA / RTA process, Form PCO/PStCC/PStSA, fees, surety, fitness, and what to do when the application sits idle. With escalation path: STA helpdesk → RTO grievance → CPGRAMS → RTI to STA Secretary.)}}
+====== How to apply for a commercial vehicle permit — complete 2026 guide ======
+{{ :social:auto:apply-vehicle-permit-commercial-2026.png?direct&1200 |How to apply for a commercial vehicle permit 2026 — RTI Wiki citizen guide}}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP info>
+**Quick answer.** A **commercial vehicle permit** is a written authorisation from the **State Transport Authority (STA)** or **Regional Transport Authority (RTA)** under **§66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988** that allows you to use a motor vehicle to carry passengers or goods for hire or reward. In 2026 you apply online at **parivahan.gov.in → Permit module** (or the Vahan portal of your state). Pick the right permit category — **Stage Carriage** (city bus on a notified route), **Contract Carriage** (taxi, tourist cab, charter bus), **Goods Carriage** (truck, tempo, mini-LCV), or **All-India Tourist Permit** — fill the relevant form (PStCC / PCO / PCG / PStSA), pay the fee + counter-signature charge + state tax, upload RC, fitness, insurance, PUC and driving licence of the operator, and appear before the STA on the hearing date. Decision normally within **30-60 days**. If silent beyond that, an RTI to the STA Secretary unblocks 80% of cases at a cost of ₹10.
+</WRAP>
+===== Suresh's story — "Taxi business in Bengaluru, permit in 35 days after one RTI" =====
+<WRAP center round box 80%>
+//Suresh Gowda, 38, ex-IT support engineer who took voluntary retirement in early 2026 and decided to start a small Karnataka tourist-taxi service from Bengaluru. Bought a second-hand Toyota Etios in February 2026, applied for a Contract Carriage permit at the Bengaluru Central RTO (Koramangala) on 2 March 2026.//
+> "I thought the hardest part would be financing the car. Wrong — it was the permit. I uploaded everything on Sarathi-Vahan: RC, fitness certificate, comprehensive insurance, PUC, my driving licence, my badge, an affidavit, and the surety bond. Paid ₹1,015 application fee + ₹2,500 permit fee + ₹2,000 counter-signature fee. The hearing was scheduled for 16 March. I went, the Senior Inspector signed off. Then — silence. Three weeks. The Vahan dashboard kept showing 'Under Process at STA Section'. I called the helpdesk twice — they said 'wait, file is with the Secretary'. On 6 April I sent a one-page RTI by Speed Post to the **PIO, Office of the State Transport Authority, Karnataka, M.S. Building, Bengaluru** — total cost ₹10 IPO + ₹52 Speed Post. I asked just three things: present status of permit application no. KA-XXX, name of officer holding the file, and date file was last moved. Reply came on 27 April (21 days). They wrote: 'File pending counter-signature of Joint Commissioner; cleared on 22 April; permit dispatched to applicant address on 24 April.' I got the printed permit by post on 30 April — exactly 35 days from applying, and 24 days after the RTI. **The travel agent who 'helps with permits' had quoted me ₹15,000 for the same.**"
+—Suresh, May 2026
+</WRAP>
+Karnataka's STA processes around **42,000 contract carriage permit applications a year**. According to the 2024-25 administrative report, the average disposal time was 47 days; about **18% of files** crossed the 60-day mark — and most of those moved only after a written grievance or an RTI.
+===== What this is — and who needs a permit =====
+A **commercial vehicle permit** (also called a **transport permit**) is the legal licence under the **Motor Vehicles Act, 1988** that allows a vehicle to carry **passengers or goods for hire or reward**. Without it, the vehicle is a "private" vehicle — using it commercially attracts seizure under **§192A** (penalty up to ₹10,000 + jail up to 6 months) and the insurance becomes void.
+You need a permit if you are:
+  * Running a taxi, tourist cab, ride-hailing fleet (Ola, Uber, Rapido cars), tempo traveller, or chartered bus.
+  * Operating an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw on hire in a city/town.
+  * Plying a city bus on a fixed route (stage carriage).
+  * Using a truck, tempo, pickup, mini-LCV or refrigerated vehicle to carry goods for any other person.
+  * Running a school bus, staff bus, or ambulance owned by an institution carrying outsiders for fee.
+The legal anchors are **§66 (necessity of permit), §72 (stage carriage), §73 (contract carriage), §74 (private service), §79 (goods carriage), §88 (validation in other states)** of the **Motor Vehicles Act, 1988**, read with the **Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVR)** and your **State Motor Vehicles Rules** (e.g., Karnataka MV Rules 1989, Maharashtra MV Rules 1989).
+===== Step-by-step process =====
+==== Step 1 — Decide the permit category ====
+Picking the wrong category is the most common reason an application is rejected at first hearing — you then have to re-apply and re-pay.
+  * **Stage Carriage Permit (§72):** Bus on a notified route with fixed timings, stages and fares. Issued under Form PStSA. Usually granted to STUs (KSRTC, MSRTC etc.) or via auction/route-rationalisation; very limited for private players.
+  * **Contract Carriage Permit (§73):** Taxi / tourist cab / chartered bus / luxury coach hired as a whole, no intermediate fare collection. Form PCC. Most common for ride-hailing fleets.
+  * **All-India Tourist Permit (§88(9), Tourist Vehicle Rules 2023):** A contract carriage that can ply across states. Fee is high but avoids per-state counter-signature.
+  * **Goods Carriage Permit (§79):** Truck/tempo/LCV. Form PCG.
+  * **Private Service Vehicle Permit (§74):** Bus used by an institution (school, factory) for own staff/students only.
+  * **Special Permit (§87):** Short-duration permit for a fair, election, festival, or pilgrimage trip. 7-day to 4-month validity.
+==== Step 2 — Make sure your vehicle is "transport class" ====
+Apply only after the vehicle is registered as a **transport vehicle** (yellow number plate for passenger / goods). If you bought a private car (white plate) and want to convert, first apply for **conversion of registration** under §52 of MV Act, then get a **fitness certificate** from the RTO/ATS — a mandatory pre-condition for any permit.
+  * Conversion fee + fresh RC: ₹600-₹1,500.
+  * Fitness certificate: ₹600 (LMV passenger) to ₹1,500 (HMV) — see [[:apply-vehicle-registration-rc-new-2026|RC new application guide]] for the registration mechanics.
+==== Step 3 — Log in on Parivahan / Vahan ====
+  * Open https://parivahan.gov.in → "Online Services" → "Vehicle Related Services" → choose your state → "Permit".
+  * Direct link in most states: https://vahan.parivahan.gov.in
+  * Login with your registered mobile number — OTP-based.
+  * If first-time, click "Sign Up" → enter Aadhaar + DL number → verify.
+==== Step 4 — Fill the relevant permit form ====
+  * **Form PCC** — Contract Carriage Permit application.
+  * **Form PStSA** — Stage Carriage Permit application.
+  * **Form PCG** — Goods Carriage Permit application.
+  * **Form PCO** — Counter-signature application (for plying in another state).
+  * **Form PSp** — Special Permit (short term).
+Fields you'll fill: vehicle registration number, chassis/engine number, owner name + Aadhaar, route/area requested, seating/load capacity, badge number of driver(s), name of operator/firm, surety details.
+==== Step 5 — Upload supporting documents ====
+  * Registration Certificate (RC) — both sides, transport class.
+  * Fitness Certificate (Form 38).
+  * Comprehensive insurance (commercial — //not// private car policy; Act-only is //not// enough for permit).
+  * Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
+  * Operator's driving licence with **transport endorsement** (heavy/passenger badge).
+  * **Driver's badge** issued by RTO (separate from DL — for taxi/auto operators).
+  * Aadhaar + PAN of applicant (firm: GST + partnership deed / incorporation certificate).
+  * **Affidavit on ₹100 stamp paper** declaring no other permit in same category in same area (state-specific).
+  * **Surety bond** (Form PCB) — usually ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000 depending on category and state.
+  * No-objection certificate from financier (if vehicle is hypothecated).
+  * Tax-paid receipt (one-time motor vehicle tax + road tax if applicable).
+==== Step 6 — Pay fees online ====
+Fee structure varies by state and category — see the table below. The Vahan portal generates a **GRN (Government Reference Number)** receipt — keep it; you'll need it at the hearing.
+==== Step 7 — Attend the STA / RTA hearing ====
+  * On submission, the system schedules a **hearing date** (usually 15-30 days out) before the Secretary STA / Senior Inspector RTA.
+  * Carry originals of all uploaded documents + a printed copy of the application.
+  * In contested categories (stage carriage routes, auto unions in some cities) there may be **objections from existing operators** — you have a right to be heard and rebut.
+  * If the hearing is positive, a permit is granted **conditionally** pending counter-signature / Secretary's approval.
+==== Step 8 — Receive the permit + activate on Vahan ====
+  * The printed permit (Form PStSA / PCC / PCG) reaches you by post or is downloadable from Vahan within 7-15 days of hearing.
+  * Permit details auto-link to your RC on Vahan — police checking via mParivahan app sees a "Permit Active" tag.
+  * Validity: **5 years for contract/goods carriage**, **5 years for stage carriage** (renewable), **3 months / 1 year / 5 years** for tourist permits depending on tier, **1 day to 4 months** for special permits.
+  * **Renew at least 15 days before expiry** — late renewal attracts 1/12th of permit fee per month + ₹100/day in some states.
+===== Sample fee + eligibility + timeline table =====
+<code>
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Contract Carriage (taxi, cab,  | Application fee: ₹500-₹1,000            |
+| tourist car) — §73             | Permit fee: ₹2,000-₹3,500               |
+|                                | Counter-signature (per state): ₹2,000   |
+|                                | Validity: 5 years                       |
+|                                | Eligibility: any individual/firm with   |
+|                                | transport-class RC + fitness + commerc. |
+|                                | insurance + PSV badge driver            |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Stage Carriage (city/town bus  | Application fee: ₹1,000-₹2,000          |
+| on notified route) — §72       | Permit fee: ₹3,500-₹7,500/year of valid.|
+|                                | Validity: 5 years                       |
+|                                | Eligibility: typically auctioned /      |
+|                                | route-rationalised; private operators   |
+|                                | need bus body code AIS-052 + ABS + GPS  |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Goods Carriage (truck/tempo/   | Application fee: ₹500                   |
+| LCV) — §79                     | Permit fee: ₹1,500-₹2,500               |
+|                                | Validity: 5 years                       |
+|                                | Eligibility: GVW ≤ 7,500 kg generally   |
+|                                | exempt under §66(3) but registration as |
+|                                | transport vehicle still needed          |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| All-India Tourist Permit       | Tier-based annual fee:                  |
+| (§88(9), Tourist Vehicle Rules | - Up to 6 seats: ₹15,000                |
+| 2023)                          | - 7-13 seats: ₹25,000                   |
+|                                | - 14-23 seats: ₹40,000                  |
+|                                | - 24-35 seats: ₹70,000                  |
+|                                | - 36+ seats: ₹1,00,000                  |
+|                                | Validity: 1 year (renewable)            |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Special Permit (fair, election,| ₹50-₹500/day depending on category      |
+| festival) — §87                | Validity: up to 4 months                |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Permit renewal (any category)  | Renewal fee = original permit fee       |
+|                                | Late surcharge: 1/12th per month delay  |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| Auto-rickshaw permit (city)    | ₹500-₹1,500 + state-specific badge fee  |
+|                                | Often capped by city quota — waitlist   |
+|                                | of 1-3 years in Mumbai/Delhi/Bengaluru  |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| RTI to STA / RTA on permit     | ₹10 by IPO. BPL = free.                 |
+| delay                          |                                         |
++--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
+</code>
+===== Common reasons your permit application gets stuck =====
+  * **Wrong category chosen.** Applied for Contract Carriage when route plying was actually Stage Carriage — file rejected at hearing, fee not refunded.
+  * **Vehicle still on private (white) RC.** Permit cannot be granted to a private-class vehicle. Convert RC to transport class first.
+  * **Insurance is "Act-only" or private-car policy.** Permit office insists on **commercial comprehensive insurance** with the right Insured Declared Value.
+  * **PSV badge missing** for the operator-driver. Even if you have a valid LMV/HMV licence, you need the **PSV (Public Service Vehicle)** badge endorsed at RTO.
+  * **Fitness certificate expired or vehicle older than 8 years** for passenger / 15 years for goods (some states cap permit issue at age limit).
+  * **Surety bond is unstamped or stamped under wrong article** of the State Stamp Act — common reason for office return.
+  * **Objection from existing operators' union** — particularly auto unions in Tier-1 cities. You have the right to be heard but the file moves slowly.
+  * **Counter-signature pending** when you applied for permit in one state and want to ply in another. File PCO separately in each destination state.
+  * **City auto/taxi quota cap reached.** Many cities have a frozen number of permits — your application sits in a waitlist managed by lottery or auction.
+  * **Police verification pending** — some states refer the operator's antecedents to local police; a ₹50 nudge to the beat constable can take weeks.
+===== If stuck — the escalation ladder =====
+==== Rung 1 — Helpdesk at the RTO / STA office ====
+  * Walk in with the GRN receipt and the Vahan dashboard screenshot.
+  * Speak to the **Section Officer (Permits)** — most files sit on a clerk's table waiting for a one-line note.
+  * Ask politely for the **file movement register** entry.
+==== Rung 2 — Online grievance on Parivahan ====
+  * https://parivahan.gov.in → "Grievance" → register with mobile + GRN.
+  * **15-day SLA**, but compliance is mixed — useful trail for higher escalation.
+==== Rung 3 — CPGRAMS ====
+  * https://pgportal.gov.in → "Ministry of Road Transport and Highways" → "State Transport Department".
+  * Tickets land at the State Transport Commissioner's desk; visibility is high.
+==== Rung 4 — State Transport Commissioner / Secretary STA ====
+  * Every state has a Transport Commissioner reachable by email and post (Karnataka: transcom@nic.in, Maharashtra: transportcommr@gmail.com).
+  * A polite letter quoting MV Act §66 + your hearing date + Vahan reference often works in 7-10 days.
+==== Rung 5 — Right to Information (RTI) ====
+The STA / RTA / Transport Department is a **public authority** under §2(h) of the RTI Act 2005.
+**RTI helps here when:**
+  * Your file has been "under process at STA" for more than 30 days post-hearing — RTI extracts the **file movement register**, the name of the officer holding it, and the noting (if any).
+  * Your application was rejected without a reasoned order — RTI to the Secretary STA for a **certified copy of the speaking order under §86** and the inspector's note.
+  * A counter-signature application is pending in another state — RTI to the destination state's Transport Commissioner.
+  * Your hearing was conducted but no order communicated — RTI for the order copy + dispatch register entry.
+  * You suspect an existing operator has been illegally granted a permit on your route — RTI for a list of permits granted on the route in the last 12 months and the route-rationalisation order.
+See the dedicated guide: [[:rti-for-vehicle-rc-noc-delay|RTI for vehicle RC / NOC / permit delay — copy-ready template]].
+**RTI does NOT help here when:**
+  * You applied last week — wait at least the 30-day SLA before filing. PIOs treat premature RTIs as misuse.
+  * You disagree with a substantive rejection on merits (e.g., fitness failed, insurance lapsed) — fix the underlying defect and re-apply, or file an appeal under **§89 to the State Transport Appellate Tribunal** within 30 days.
+  * You want the STA to grant you a route in a saturated city — that's a policy decision under §72; RTI cannot create rights.
+  * You want a fee refund — that's a Treasury matter, governed by Financial Code; RTI can extract the refund order but not order one.
+===== FAQs =====
+**Q. Do I need a permit if I drive my own car as Uber/Ola?**\\
+Yes — even if it's your own car. Aggregator drivers must hold a **Contract Carriage permit** (or All-India Tourist Permit) and the car must be transport-class with yellow plate, commercial insurance and PSV badge. Aggregator licence under the **Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020** is on the company; the //operator-driver// permit is on you.
+**Q. My truck is below 7,500 kg — do I still need a permit?**\\
+Under §66(3) of MV Act, **goods vehicles up to 7,500 kg GVW are exempt** from permit requirement. You still need transport-class registration, fitness, commercial insurance, PUC. Many states have additionally exempted these from National Permit fee under the 2007 amendment.
+**Q. I want to ply my Karnataka taxi to Goa — separate permit?**\\
+Either get the destination state to **counter-sign** your KA permit (Form PCO) on payment of border tax + counter-signature fee, **or** get an **All-India Tourist Permit** (one-time annual fee, no per-state counter-signing).
+**Q. Permit got rejected. Can I appeal?**\\
+Yes — under **§89 of MV Act** to the **State Transport Appellate Tribunal (STAT)** within **30 days** of the order. Court fee ₹100-₹500. The tribunal can confirm, modify or set aside.
+**Q. How long is a tourist permit valid in 2026?**\\
+Under the **All-India Tourist Vehicle Rules 2023**, the permit is valid for **1 year** (renewable). The earlier 4-month/yearly tier system has been simplified into seat-tier-based annual fees (see fee table above).
+**Q. Can I transfer my permit to the buyer if I sell my taxi?**\\
+Yes — under §82 of MV Act, with permission of STA. Apply within 30 days of vehicle transfer along with **Form 29 + 30** (RC transfer) and Form PTRA (permit transfer). Fee ₹100-₹500 + counter-signature charges. See [[:transfer-vehicle-ownership-rc-2026|Transfer vehicle ownership RC 2026]].
+**Q. What is "counter-signature"?**\\
+A permit issued in State A is not automatically valid in State B. State B's STA "counter-signs" the permit on payment of border tax + countersign fee — confirming State B accepts the permit on its roads. Tourist Permit operators are exempt from per-state counter-signature.
+**Q. Auto union in my city refuses new permits — what can I do?**\\
+The cap is set by the State Government / Municipal Authority — not the union. RTI the **Transport Commissioner** asking for the current cap, last revision date, and number of vacant permits. If a vacancy exists and the union is blocking via political pressure, you can write to the State Human Rights Commission citing **right to livelihood under Article 21**.
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:rti-for-vehicle-rc-noc-delay|RTI for vehicle RC / NOC / permit delay — full template]]
+  * [[:apply-vehicle-registration-rc-new-2026|How to register a new vehicle (RC) — 2026 guide]]
+  * [[:transfer-vehicle-ownership-rc-2026|How to transfer vehicle ownership (RC) — 2026 guide]]
+  * [[:apply-fastag-2026|How to apply for FASTag — 2026 guide]]
+  * [[:rti-for-beginners|RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers]]
+  * [[:helplines:start|All Indian government helplines — one master directory]]
+//Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. Permit fees, counter-signature charges and category caps vary by state and change with annual MV Tax Notifications — verify on parivahan.gov.in or your State Transport Department site, or write to admin@bighelpers.in if you spot a stale figure.//
+{{tag>commercial-vehicle-permit taxi-permit auto-permit goods-carriage-permit stage-carriage contract-carriage tourist-permit motor-vehicles-act state-transport-authority parivahan vahan rti-vehicle-permit citizen-guide help-first 2026}}

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