Old vehicles in Delhi-NCR: the rules, the risk and the Certificate of Deposit
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
What counts as an end-of-life vehicle
In Delhi-NCR, which includes Ghaziabad. Age counts from first registration.
Where the rules stand now
| Emission standard | Past the age limit |
|---|---|
| BS-III or older | Can face action now |
| BS-IV or newer | No action on age alone Supreme Court order, 17 December 2025. It can change. |
Based on a 2015 NGT order upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Still being argued in court, so check before you rely on it.
Is your vehicle past the NCR age limit?
Green: within the limit. Amber: close. Red: past the age limit, which does not mean illegal. Emission standard and current enforcement decide that. CNG or other fuel? Call us. Indicative only, not legal advice.
What happens if an ELV is impounded
Delhi Transport Department guidelines, 20 February 2024. Other NCR districts vary and can change at short notice.
An ELV found driven or parked in a public place.
Rs 10,000 (four-wheeler) or Rs 5,000 (two-wheeler), plus towing and parking, and an undertaking to remove it from Delhi.
Not released. Diesel transport vehicles over 10 years are not released at all.
A vehicle disposed of by the authorities earns you no scrap value, no Certificate of Deposit and no new-vehicle savings. A vehicle you scrap yourself pays you.
Some owners transfer an ELV outside NCR with a No Objection Certificate. If your vehicle has real resale value elsewhere, that is a fair option. If not, scrapping pays more.
How a Certificate of Deposit saves you money
When you deposit your vehicle with us, we issue a Certificate of Deposit (CoD). Present it when you buy your next vehicle.
Road tax concessions are notified by each state, and many states require the new vehicle to be in the same category and class as the one you scrapped. Manufacturer discounts are voluntary, differ by brand and may run for a limited period. Confirm both before you buy.
Scrap value on top
You also get paid for your old vehicle, immediately.
Use it or pass it on
Use the CoD yourself or transfer it to another person, subject to the rules.
Example: on a Rs 10 lakh vehicle, a 5% manufacturer discount is up to Rs 50,000. We issue the CoD. The road tax concession comes from the state Transport Department and the discount from the manufacturer.
Sources
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021, G.S.R. 653(E), 23 September 2021.
- Press Information Bureau: MoRTH on the Vehicle Scrapping Policy and Certificate of Deposit incentives.
- Supreme Court order of 17 December 2025 on end-of-life vehicles in Delhi-NCR, as reported by LiveLaw.
- Delhi Transport Department, Guidelines for Handling End of Life Vehicles in Public Places of Delhi, 20 February 2024 (official PDF).
Not sure where your vehicle stands?
Send your registration number. We will tell you what applies and what it is worth.