/newsfirstprime/media/agency_attachments/2025/07/28/2025-07-28t111554609z-2025-07-23t100810984z-newsfirst_prime_640-siddesh-kumar-h-p-1-2025-07-23-15-38-10-2025-07-28-16-45-54.webp)
Follow Us
/newsfirstprime/media/media_files/2025/08/09/meter-haaki-autos-2025-08-09-17-06-54.jpg)
Bengaluru auto owners shocked as fitness certificate fees spike from Rs1,000 to Rs9,200 for older vehicles, with no prior notice given
Autorickshaw owners in Bengaluru are reeling from a dramatic increase in fitness certificate (FC) renewal charges, with fees for vehicles older than 15 years jumping nearly tenfold — from Rs 1,000 to as high as Rs 9,200. The sudden revision has left many drivers struggling to cope, with several claiming they received no prior notice before being charged the revised amount.
Long-serving drivers are among the worst affected. Those who have operated autorickshaws for two to three decades say the hike is particularly harsh given their financial limitations. Many older drivers face difficulty securing bank loans for new vehicles, making it nearly impossible to upgrade to a newer model and avoid the steep charges tied to ageing ones. For these drivers, the steep FC fee creates a difficult bind — they cannot easily afford the new charges, nor can they switch to a newer vehicle without reliable financing.
Even electric vehicle conversions have not shielded owners from the increase. Drivers who had converted their older autos to EVs, previously paying a modest combined fee of around Rs 800, now find themselves paying the same elevated rates as conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
Also Read: 39 years later at Wankhede: India and England clash again in T20 World Cup semi-final
According to the Autorickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), the revised fee structure is tiered — new vehicles are charged Rs 800, rising to Rs 1,000 after eight years, approximately Rs 4,500 for vehicles over 15 years, and Rs 9,200 for those exceeding 20 years. The union argues that the hike was implemented without following due process. Under the provisions cited by transport officials themselves, any such revision must first be deliberated at the state level, formally notified in the public domain, and objections invited before enforcement.
The transport department reportedly announced the revised rates on September 18, attributing them to central government directives. However, affected drivers and union representatives contend that citing central guidelines does not bypass the mandatory state-level consultation and public notification process.
Attempts to get an official response from the transport department have so far gone unanswered, leaving auto drivers with growing frustration and little clarity on a potential rollback or review.
