Delhi RTO Starts De-Registering 10 Year Old Diesel Cars
Cyrus Dhabhar
1 min read
Nov 28, 2016, 03:31 PM
Key Highlights
- These include diesel vehicles both in the private and public sectors
- Will also include domestic or imported cars that run on diesel fuel
- No formal scrappage scheme yet in the near future
Two years ago, the National Green Tribunal or NGT passed a resolution to ban all petrol and diesel cars that were 15 years or older to ply on the Delhi/NCR roads. The order sparked huge furore and outrage, especially from the classic and vintage car community that united to fight against the order through the courts. Although the order did change in favour of petrol powered cars, diesel cars came under even heavier scrutiny from the NGT and a second order banning any diesel vehicle that was 10 years or older from the Delhi/NCR street was brought forth.
Following up on that order which was originally passed April 7, 2015, the NGT issued another order that directed the Delhi and NCR RTOs to deregister diesel vehicles that are 10 years or older with immediate effect. Although the order seemed to be just on paper to begin with, we have received word that the Delhi RTOs have started the process to deregister these said cars. These include diesel vehicles both in the private and public sectors (including busses and trucks) that are older than the age limit and will also include domestic or imported cars if they run on diesel fuel.
Although many cities and countries in the world have adopted such laws in cities in order to reduce pollution and cut down on congestion, these countries have also brought in these changes gradually and not arbitrarily and without any warning like the NGT has managed to. The NGT has also not provided any solutions to deal with these de-registered cars and considering the fact that a formal scrappage scheme is not on the cards in the near future, there will be a growing number of cars that will be parked (illegally) on the streets of Delhi/NCR that cannot be officially used on the road.
Of course, owners of these cars can choose to sell them to out of state buyers but whether or not the Delhi/NCR RTOs will provide these cars with a no-objection certification (which is needed for an interstate transfer) is uncertain.
With the levels of pollution in cities like Delhi, a ban on old and polluting diesel vehicles might look like a good short term solution. That said, the authorities must ensure that it is not just the private vehicle owner that are affected by the rule but also the commercial vehicles that in reality, pollute a lot more. The government must also ensure a more mass market push towards real hybrid vehicles and electrification with an impetus towards building an ecosystem to support future electric mobility solutions.
Following up on that order which was originally passed April 7, 2015, the NGT issued another order that directed the Delhi and NCR RTOs to deregister diesel vehicles that are 10 years or older with immediate effect. Although the order seemed to be just on paper to begin with, we have received word that the Delhi RTOs have started the process to deregister these said cars. These include diesel vehicles both in the private and public sectors (including busses and trucks) that are older than the age limit and will also include domestic or imported cars if they run on diesel fuel.
Although many cities and countries in the world have adopted such laws in cities in order to reduce pollution and cut down on congestion, these countries have also brought in these changes gradually and not arbitrarily and without any warning like the NGT has managed to. The NGT has also not provided any solutions to deal with these de-registered cars and considering the fact that a formal scrappage scheme is not on the cards in the near future, there will be a growing number of cars that will be parked (illegally) on the streets of Delhi/NCR that cannot be officially used on the road.
Of course, owners of these cars can choose to sell them to out of state buyers but whether or not the Delhi/NCR RTOs will provide these cars with a no-objection certification (which is needed for an interstate transfer) is uncertain.
With the levels of pollution in cities like Delhi, a ban on old and polluting diesel vehicles might look like a good short term solution. That said, the authorities must ensure that it is not just the private vehicle owner that are affected by the rule but also the commercial vehicles that in reality, pollute a lot more. The government must also ensure a more mass market push towards real hybrid vehicles and electrification with an impetus towards building an ecosystem to support future electric mobility solutions.
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Feb 6, 2026Indian Motorcycle Parts Ways With PolarisAs America’s first motorcycle brand prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary, Indian Motorcycle has parted ways with former parent Polaris to become an independent company.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 6, 2026BMW F 450 GS Based Sportbike Spotted On TestThe upcoming supersport machine is expected share the same parallel-twin engine with the upcoming BMW F 450 GS.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 6, 2026Tata Sierra Bookings Cross 1 Lakh Mark; Production Ramped UpWith bookings now in six-digit territory, Tata Motors is moving ahead with a phased ramp-up in production, while working through supplier-related constraints.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 6, 2026Mahindra To Set Up Its Biggest Automobile Plant In Nagpur; Production To Begin In 2028The new facility will support next-generation platforms from the brand and will be capable of manufacturing multiple powertrains including ICE, EV & future technologies1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 5, 2026Honda Dio 125 X-Edition, Shine 125 Limited Edition LaunchedBoth special editions get a variant-specific colour scheme and graphics.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Feb 5, 2026Tata Punch EV Facelift To Be Launched On February 20The electric version of Tata’s SUV-esque hatchback will be launched on February 20, 2026, and, like the petrol-powered version, it will receive a range of visual and feature upgrades.2 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Feb 4, 2026Volkswagen Tayron R-Line Review: Sensible Flagship For IndiaVolkswagen has introduced a made-in-India flagship SUV that offers space, comfort, performance, and German driving finesse in a practical three-row package. But is the Tayron R-Line good enough?6 mins read
Preetam Bora | Feb 2, 2026TVS NTorq 150 Road Test Review: Bigger, Better & More Efficient!We test the new TVS NTorq 150 out in the real world to get a sense of what it offers in terms of performance, dynamics and fuel economy.7 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Jan 21, 2026Tata Punch Facelift Review: New Turbo Engine; Same Old SoulWith the update, the Tata Punch facelift retains its character of being a healthy runabout, which is perfect for Indian roads. But have these changes made it any better?7 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Jan 17, 2026Bajaj Chetak C25 First Ride Review: Basic, Likeable E-Scooter For First-Time RidersThe Chetak C25, in quite a few ways, is poles apart from the larger and more powerful 30 and 35 Series models, but in its mannerisms, it is very much a Chetak.8 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Jan 9, 2026Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder: 10,000 km Long-Term ReviewAfter spending over three months and 10,000 km with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid, we were impressed by its real-world mileage, seamless hybrid, practical comfort, and Toyota reliability. Is it the best C-SUV then?5 mins read