NEW DELHI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Friday that his ministry had formalized the process of registering vintage motor vehicles in India, in order to promote and preserve the heritage of these vehicles.

In November last year, the Center said it intended to formalize the vintage motor vehicle registration process and invited public comment on the proposed rules on this matter.

“With the aim of preserving and promoting the heritage of vintage vehicles, MoRTH has formalized the process of registering vintage motor vehicles in India,” Gadkari said in a series of tweets.

In the absence of existing rules to regulate the registration process in different states, he said the new rules should provide a hassle-free process as well as important features such as keeping the old number for vehicles already registered. and a “VA” series (single brand registration) for new registrations.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) invited the public to comment on the proposed rules on the registration of vintage vehicles.

“The Department of Road Transport and Highways issued GSR 734 (E) dated November 25, 2020, soliciting comments and suggestions regarding the CMVR, 1989 amendment relating to vintage motor vehicles,” had- he declares.

CMVR stands for Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The draft rules define vintage motor vehicles as all vehicles with two and four wheels (for non-commercial and personal use) and which are more than 50 years old from the date of their first registration (including imported vehicles ).

There is one restriction in the definition – no substantial overhaul of vehicles which includes modification of the chassis or body and / or engine.

A vintage motor vehicle is allowed to travel on Indian roads only for the purpose of exhibition, technical research or participation in a rally of vintage cars, refueling and maintenance, exhibitions, rallies. era and back and forth to such an exhibition or car rally.

The government had stated that the goal is to preserve and promote the heritage of ancient vehicles in India.