Temporary permit guide for other-state trips on Vahan online permit
A temporary permit (TP) lets a transport vehicle such as a taxi, bus or truck run for a short period outside the area its regular permit covers, or meet a one-off need. Under Section 87 it lasts up to four months. Most states now issue it through the Vahan online permit and checkpost services, where you pick the state, enter the vehicle number, pay and print.
Key takeaways
- A temporary permit is for transport vehicles only; a private car used by its owner needs none.
- Section 87 caps it at four months, or one year for goods carriages in exceptional cases.
- Apply on the Vahan online permit or checkpost service before you reach the border, and choose the state you are entering.
- Each state sets its own charge, so read the amount on the portal; Puducherry lists ₹100 plus tax for its outward permit.
- Running without a valid permit can cost ₹10,000 under Section 192A, so keep the permit and receipt in the vehicle.
On this page · 43 sections
What is a temporary permit?
A temporary permit is short-term permission from a transport authority for a transport vehicle to run where its regular permit does not reach, or to meet a passing need. It is granted under Section 87 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and is usually bought online before a trip.
Why the permit exists at all
Section 66 says a transport vehicle may not be used in a public place without a permit from a Regional or State Transport Authority. A regular permit fixes the route or area. Once the vehicle leaves that area, it needs fresh cover, and a TP provides it.
What it does not replace
A temporary permit sits on top of the vehicle’s other papers. Registration, fitness, insurance, PUC and the home-state road tax must already be valid. Our road tax guide explains the home-state side.
What is the Vahan online permit service?
The Vahan online permit service is the part of the national vehicle registration database where permit applications, renewals and temporary permits are filed and paid. On Parivahan it sits under Online Services, then Vehicle Related Services, then Online Permit, where you choose the state that will issue the permit.
How you sign in
You do not need a username. The service asks for the registration number, the last five characters of the chassis number and an OTP sent to the mobile number on the RC. If that number is old, update it first.
What the service lists
Options differ by state. A typical list includes a fresh permit, permit renewal, duplicate permit, application status, print permit and temporary permit. If temporary permit is missing for your state, that state still handles it through its RTO or checkpost.
Which vehicles need a temporary vehicle permit?
A temporary vehicle permit is needed by any vehicle used for hire or reward that leaves its permitted area: taxis, maxi cabs, tourist buses, contract carriages, goods carriages and, in many states, auto rickshaws.
Passenger vehicles
Tourist taxis and buses on a state permit are the biggest users. A cab hired in Bengaluru for a Kodaikanal weekend leaves Karnataka’s area, so it needs cover from Tamil Nadu for the days it is there.
Goods vehicles
Trucks without a national permit take a TP for occasional runs into another state. Goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight up to 3,000 kg are exempt from the permit rule under Section 66(3), so small pick-ups often need none.
Vehicles the law exempts
Section 66(3) also exempts police, fire and ambulance vehicles, vehicles carrying a body and mourners, vehicles towing a breakdown, and vehicles driven empty to a repair place or to registration. A state can add its own exemptions.
When does the law allow a temporary permit?
Section 87 lets a Regional or State Transport Authority grant a temporary permit without the full permit procedure in four situations: carrying passengers for a special occasion such as a wedding or fair, seasonal business, a particular temporary need, and the gap while a renewal is being decided.
Special occasions and seasonal work
A wedding party travelling to another state, pilgrims going to a temple festival and a harvest season haulage job are textbook cases. The authority can attach any condition it thinks fit, such as a fixed route or a cap on passengers.
When regular permits are frozen
Section 87(2) adds one more case. If a court has stopped regular permits on a route, the authority can issue temporary ones for that period only, and for no more vehicles than those whose permits were stopped.
How long is a temporary permit valid?
A temporary permit can never run longer than four months. The only exception is a goods carriage, which can get up to one year when the circumstances are exceptional and the authority records its reasons in writing. Most tourist and wedding trips buy a few days or a week.
Choosing the period
Buy the days the vehicle will actually be in the other state, plus a margin for delays. Returning a day late can leave the vehicle with no cover. Most screens let you pick a start date and the number of days.
No renewal in the usual sense
A TP is not renewed like a five-year regular permit. If the trip runs longer, apply for a fresh permit for the extra days before the first one ends.
How do you apply for a temporary permit on Vahan?
You apply for a temporary permit on Vahan by choosing the state you are going to, selecting the permit service, letting the portal read your vehicle record, entering trip details and paying online. The whole process takes about ten minutes when your fitness, insurance and tax records are current.
- Choose the destination state. Open the online permit or checkpost service and select the state you are entering, not the state on your number plate.
- Pick the permit service. Choose temporary permit, special permit or tax only, depending on what the trip needs.
- Enter the vehicle number. The portal fetches registration, fitness and insurance details from Vahan. Check that they match your RC.
- Fill in trip details. Give the entry date, number of days, route or area, and seating capacity or load as asked.
- Pay and print. Pay by card, UPI or net banking, then download the permit and receipt and save them offline.
Before you start
Keep the RC, insurance policy and fitness certificate open on your phone. The portal checks these against the record, and a lapsed one stops the application before payment.
After you pay
Download the permit straight away. If the page times out, use the print or reprint option with the application number rather than paying again.
Which temporary permit services sit on the interstate tax screen?
The interstate tax screen on Vahan, often called the checkpost module, offers temporary permit, special permit and entry tax services side by side for many states. You pick the visiting state and service type, enter the vehicle number, calculate the amount, pay and print the receipt.
One session, two payments
Several states let you buy the TP and pay the tax for entering in one sitting. The receipt shows both heads separately. Keep both, since an officer may ask for either. Our check post tax guide covers the tax side.
States that are not listed
Only states that have joined the module appear. If yours is missing, ask the destination state’s transport office how it issues permits, or use its own portal.
Which documents do you need for a temporary permit?
For a temporary permit you need the registration certificate, valid insurance, a current fitness certificate, proof that home-state tax is paid, and the home-state permit if the vehicle has one. The driver needs a licence for the vehicle class.
Papers to carry on the trip
Carry the TP printout, the payment receipt, the RC, insurance, fitness, PUC and the driver’s licence. Digital copies in DigiLocker or mParivahan are treated as equal to originals.
How is the temporary permit fee worked out?
The temporary permit fee is set by the state that issues it, not by the Centre. It usually depends on the vehicle class, the seating capacity or gross weight, and the number of days or weeks. The portal works it out once you have entered the vehicle and trip details.
Fee versus tax
The permit fee pays for the permission itself. Many states also charge a tax for the days the vehicle is in the state. Both may appear on the same screen, so check which head each line belongs to.
Why this guide shows few rates
State rates change often, and the official sites could not be reached to confirm them for this update. Never pay an agent’s quote without seeing it on the official screen.
What is permit authorization?
A permit authorization is a document that extends a regular home-state permit so the vehicle can run across other states for a fixed period. National permit trucks and All India Tourist Permit vehicles both work this way. It is not a temporary permit, though people often mix the two up.
Authorisation for goods carriages
A truck with a home-state goods permit pays a consolidated fee of ₹16,500 a year for the authorisation that lets it run nationwide. Our national permit guide covers that scheme in full.
Authorisation for tourist vehicles
Tourist vehicles buy an All India Tourist Permit for 90 days or multiples of 90 days, up to five years, with fees set by seating capacity.
Permit authorization or temporary permit: which do you need?
Choose a permit authorization if the vehicle crosses state lines often, and a temporary permit if it does so a few times a year. An authorisation costs more upfront but removes the need to buy a new permit for every trip. A TP suits a single wedding run or a one-off haul.
| Point | Permit authorisation | Temporary permit |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | National permit trucks, AITP vehicles | Taxis, buses, trucks on state permits |
| Period | One year (goods) or 90 days to 5 years (tourist) | Up to four months |
| Cost basis | ₹16,500 a year for goods; AITP from ₹6,000 a quarter | State rate per vehicle class and days |
| Where valid | All states, except prohibited routes | Only the state or area that grants it |
| Best for | Regular interstate work | Occasional trips |
What is a TP permit?
TP permit is everyday shorthand for a temporary permit. Drivers, travel agents and RTO staff say “TP” for the short-term permit a transport vehicle buys before entering another state or area.
TP is not TR
Do not confuse TP with TR, temporary registration. A new car carries a temporary registration for one month under Section 43 before its permanent number arrives. That has nothing to do with permits.
What does T permit license mean?
T permit license is not a term in the Motor Vehicles Act, so the meaning depends on who is asking. Most people mean the temporary permit for a vehicle. Some mean a driving licence endorsed for transport vehicles.
The permit belongs to the vehicle
A permit is issued against the registration number. Selling the vehicle or changing its use affects the permit, not the driver.
The licence belongs to the driver
A driver of a taxi, bus or truck needs a licence covering that transport vehicle class. A roadside check looks at both the permit and the licence, and either one being wrong is an offence.
What is an auto TP?
An auto TP is a temporary permit for an auto rickshaw, usually so it can run outside the city or district its regular permit covers. Autos are tied tightly to their permit area, so a trip to a neighbouring town, a temple fair or an airport outside the limits can need one.
How autos usually apply
Many states handle auto permits at the local RTO or RTA rather than on the interstate screen, because the trip stays inside the state. Ask the office that issued the regular permit which area the TP will cover.
How does temporary permit online Tamilnadu work?
For a temporary permit online Tamilnadu application, an outside-state taxi, bus or truck uses the Vahan checkpost service with Tamil Nadu chosen as the visiting state. You enter the vehicle number, pick the service, set the entry date and period, pay and print. Tamil Nadu’s current rates could not be confirmed, so read them on the portal.
Who uses it most
Tourist taxis and buses from Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry going to Chennai, Madurai, Rameswaram, Ooty and Kodaikanal are the main users. Goods vehicles without a national permit also apply.
Pay before the border
Apply a day before travel. Signal is weak on some ghat roads into the Nilgiris, and paying at a crowded border point wastes time.
What is a TN permit?
TN permit is shorthand for any permit issued by Tamil Nadu’s transport authorities, from a regular stage or contract carriage permit to a temporary permit for an outside vehicle. When drivers say “take TN permit”, they nearly always mean the TP an other-state vehicle buys to run in Tamil Nadu.
Regular TN permits
Taxis, buses and goods vehicles registered in Tamil Nadu get their regular permits from the Regional Transport Authority. These run for five years under Section 81 and need renewal at least 15 days before expiry.
Short-term TN permits
Outside vehicles take a short-term permit for the days of the visit. Vehicles with an All India Tourist Permit do not normally need one.
Tamil Nadu permit for vehicles registered in the state
A Tamil Nadu permit for a TN-registered vehicle covers its home area. When that vehicle leaves for Kerala, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh, it needs a temporary permit from the state it enters, unless it holds a national or tourist permit. Permit services for TN vehicles run on Vahan with Tamil Nadu selected.
Renewals and duplicates
Renewal, duplicate permit and print permit options for Tamil Nadu sit on the Vahan online permit menu. If the vehicle’s permit record is not online, the issuing RTO has to update it first.
Leaving the state
Before a trip out, the TN operator applies to the destination state, not to Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu to Kerala permit online: paying before the trip
A Tamil Nadu to Kerala permit online is bought from Kerala, since Kerala is the state being entered. A TN-registered taxi or bus opens the checkpost or online permit service, chooses Kerala, picks the permit or tax service, enters the dates and pays. Kerala’s current rates were not confirmed here.
Common routes
Coimbatore to Palakkad through Walayar, Theni to Kumily, and Nagercoil to Thiruvananthapuram are busy entry routes. Each one passes Kerala border points where documents can be checked.
Cameras on the border
Kerala’s GST department runs ANPR cameras at 22 border points, and the Motor Vehicles Department plans virtual check posts that link those cameras to Vahan. A vehicle without a valid record may be flagged without being stopped.
Karnataka to Tamil Nadu permit: what to arrange
For a Karnataka to Tamil Nadu permit, a Karnataka taxi or bus buys a temporary permit from Tamil Nadu for the days it will spend there. The application is made online with Tamil Nadu as the visiting state. The vehicle’s Karnataka permit, fitness and tax must be current.
Hosur and the Attibele side
Most traffic crosses at Attibele and Hosur on the Bengaluru to Krishnagiri highway. Karnataka’s own check post at Attibele was still operating in late 2024, when the Lokayukta inspected it.
Coming back
The return leg needs no permit from Tamil Nadu, but Karnataka checks its own vehicles’ papers, so keep the home permit and tax receipt to hand.
What happens at a TN check post?
At a TN check post, transport staff check that an outside vehicle has a valid permit for Tamil Nadu and has paid any tax due. They look at the RC, insurance, fitness, licence and the TP receipt. A vehicle without papers may have to pay on the spot or face action.
Why the check may be quick
If the permit and tax are paid online, staff can check the record by vehicle number. Show the receipt on your phone or on paper and keep moving.
Check posts may change
In May 2026 the All India Motor Transport Congress asked the Centre to remove transport check posts in 13 states, Tamil Nadu among them. Our check post guide tracks what has changed state by state.
How does Andhra Pradesh temporary permit online work?
Andhra Pradesh temporary permit online applications from outside vehicles go through the Vahan checkpost or permit service with Andhra Pradesh chosen as the visiting state. AP runs its RTA services on Vahan and Sarathi, so the flow is the standard one: vehicle number, service, period, payment and print.
AP’s own citizen portal
Andhra Pradesh also runs a citizen services site at aprtacitizen.epragathi.org. Some state-specific services start there, so check both if the Vahan menu does not show what you need.
What are Andhra Pradesh temporary permit charges?
Andhra Pradesh temporary permit charges depend on the vehicle class, seating capacity or weight, and the number of days. The state sets them in its own rules, and the portal shows the total before you pay. Current AP rates could not be checked for this update, so do not rely on figures from forwarded messages.
What changes the amount
A larger bus pays more than a small taxi, and a longer stay costs more than a short one. The portal may also add a tax for the period, shown as a separate line.
A history of entry charges
After the state split, Telangana began levying entry tax on AP-registered transport vehicles from 1 April 2015, and Andhra Pradesh responded from 25 April 2015.
AP permit online for AP-registered vehicles
AP permit online services for vehicles registered in Andhra Pradesh include fresh permits, renewals, duplicates and permit prints on Vahan with AP selected. When an AP vehicle goes to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Telangana, it applies to that state instead.
Telangana trips
Telangana removed its transport check posts in 2025 and moved temporary permits and tax payments online through its Transport Department portal or Vahan. AP vehicles heading to Hyderabad should pay before they set off.
What is an Andhra permit or AP permit?
An Andhra permit or AP permit is a permit issued by Andhra Pradesh’s transport authorities. It can be a regular permit for an AP vehicle or a temporary permit an outside vehicle buys to enter the state. Searches for either usually mean the short-term permit for a trip to AP.
What an Andhra Pradesh permit covers
An Andhra Pradesh permit covers only the area named on it. A regular permit for one region needs countersigning before use in another, unless it is a national, tourist or special permit.
Andhra permit online for visiting vehicles
Andhra permit online for a visiting vehicle means a temporary permit, and often tax, bought for Andhra Pradesh before entry. Taxis and buses from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana apply through the online service, choose AP and set the dates of the stay.
Which state to choose
If the route passes through two states, each one may need its own permit. A Bengaluru to Vijayawada run crosses only into AP, but a Chennai to Visakhapatnam bus trip stays in AP once across.
How does Kerala permit online payment work?
Kerala permit online payment for an outside vehicle is made on the Vahan checkpost or permit service with Kerala chosen as the state. You enter the vehicle number, select the permit or tax service, choose the period and pay by card, UPI or net banking. Save the receipt before closing the page.
If the money leaves your account
Do not pay again at once. Wait, then check the transaction status. A double payment is slow to refund.
Temporary permit online Kerala: who needs it?
A temporary permit online Kerala application is needed by outside-state taxis, tourist buses, contract carriages and goods vehicles without a national permit that will run in Kerala. Kerala’s own vehicles do not need one to move within the state if their regular permit covers the area.
Vehicles that skip it
A tourist vehicle with a valid All India Tourist Permit does not normally need a Kerala TP. Private cars used by their owners need none.
Kerala temporary permit for tourist taxis and buses
A Kerala temporary permit for a tourist taxi or bus is priced by the state on seating capacity and period. Operators from neighbouring states buy it for a few days to cover a group tour to Munnar, Alappuzha or Wayanad. The permit lists the vehicle, period and any conditions.
Group tours with several stops
If the tour goes from Kerala into Tamil Nadu and back, the Tamil Nadu leg needs its own permit. One state’s TP does not cover another state.
Show it on request
Kerala’s MVD squads do roadside checks. Keep the permit printout and RC together on the dashboard, not in luggage.
What is a Kerala permit?
A Kerala permit is any permit granted by Kerala’s Regional or State Transport Authority: a stage carriage permit for buses on fixed routes, contract carriage permits for taxis and tourist buses, goods carriage permits, and temporary permits for outside vehicles.
Kerala’s regular permits
Regular permits last five years. Kerala buses on fixed routes have strict timing conditions, so changes go through the RTA.
What is a Karnataka permit?
A Karnataka permit is a permit issued by Karnataka’s transport authorities. For outside vehicles, it usually means the temporary permit and tax a taxi or bus from another state pays to run in Karnataka. Karnataka-registered vehicles handle their own permits on Vahan with Karnataka selected.
Karnataka’s tax on tourist vehicles
Karnataka has charged other-state tourist vehicles an annual entry tax since 2013, payable for the whole year however short the stay, according to a 2016 report.
Tourist permit vehicles
Vehicles with an All India Tourist Permit argue that the 2023 rules and a MoRTH circular rule out extra state levies. Karnataka’s position has been disputed, so check before travel.
How does temporary permit online Maharashtra work?
A temporary permit online Maharashtra application from an outside vehicle uses the Vahan checkpost or permit service with Maharashtra as the visiting state. The steps match other states: choose the service, enter the vehicle number, set the period, pay and print. Maharashtra’s current rates were not confirmed here.
Border check posts in Maharashtra
Maharashtra decided in March 2025 to close its 22 RTO border check posts. A December 2025 report said they were still working, so expect checks at entry points from Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
How does Pondicherry temporary permit online payment work?
Pondicherry temporary permit online payment for outside vehicles is made through the Vahan route for Puducherry, or at the Gorimedu checkpost for goods vehicles. Puducherry’s transport department says goods vehicles from other states can get a temporary permit there with their RC, insurance, fitness, tax proof and primary permit.
Why Puducherry is different
Puducherry’s mainland region is surrounded by Tamil Nadu, and Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam are enclaves in other states. A vehicle often crosses two borders in one short trip, so check which territory each stretch falls in.
Paying before you reach Gorimedu
Where the online route is open for your vehicle type, paying before arrival saves time at the counter. Keep the receipt ready for the officer.
Pondicherry permit online payment for Puducherry vehicles
Pondicherry permit online payment also covers Puducherry vehicles going out. The department lists a temporary permit for another state for up to 30 days on a fee of ₹100 plus tax. The destination state may then charge its own permit or tax on entry.
| Permit item | Who it is for | Amount or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Puducherry TP for another state | Puducherry vehicles going out | ₹100 fee plus tax, up to 30 days |
| Temporary permit, any state | Transport vehicles | Up to four months (Section 87) |
| Goods carriage TP, exceptional | Goods vehicles | Up to one year with reasons recorded |
| Using a vehicle without a permit | Owner | Fine of ₹10,000, first offence |
Fee and tax are separate
The ₹100 is the permit fee. Tax is added on top, worked out on the vehicle and period, so the total will be higher.
What is checkpost tax Haryana?
Checkpost tax Haryana is the tax an outside transport vehicle pays to run in Haryana, collected online or at entry points under the Haryana Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 2016. Current rates were not confirmed for this update.
How Haryana collects it
Payments run through Vahan and, for some heads, Haryana’s e-GRAS treasury gateway. Haryana-registered vehicles pay their own state tax through a separate link on the transport department’s site.
TP and tax together
An outside vehicle without an all-India or national permit may need a Haryana TP as well as the tax. Choose both services if the screen offers them.
How to download permit online?
To download permit online, open the Vahan permit or checkpost service for the state that issued it, choose the print or reprint option, and enter the vehicle number or application number. The permit and receipt open as PDFs you can save and print. Our online permit download guide covers every permit type in detail.
When the print option fails
If the PDF will not open, try another browser or turn off pop-up blocking. Keep the application number from the payment page; you will need it to reprint.
How do you show a temporary permit at the border?
Show the temporary permit as a clear printout or a saved PDF, together with the payment receipt and the RC. An officer can confirm the record by vehicle number, but a printout avoids delay where mobile signal is weak.
Keep the papers together
Put the TP, receipt, RC, insurance, fitness and PUC in one folder in the cab. The driver should know where it is when the owner is not on board.
Permit near me: where can you apply in person?
For permit near me help, go to the RTO or Regional Transport Authority office for your area, or to the destination state’s transport office or border counter where one still works. Most states prefer online applications, and some border counters have closed, so check before driving to one.
RTO offices
Your home RTO handles regular permits and can explain which online service fits your trip. It cannot issue another state’s TP.
Help desks and agents
Authorised help desks at some RTOs can file online for you. If you use an agent, check the amount on the official screen and get the official receipt.
What if a temporary permit payment fails?
If a temporary permit payment fails, do not pay again straight away. Wait for the bank to settle, then check the transaction status on the same service with the vehicle number or reference. If the money left your account, the permit usually appears within hours or the amount is returned.
When to pay again
Pay again only when the status shows the first payment as failed and no permit was issued. Paying twice for the same period means waiting for a refund.
Who to contact
Contact the destination state’s transport department with the bank reference, date and vehicle number. Your home RTO cannot fix another state’s payment.
What is the penalty for running without a temporary permit?
Using a transport vehicle without a valid permit is an offence under Section 192A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The first offence carries a fine of ₹10,000 and up to six months in jail. A repeat offence can bring up to one year in jail and the same fine. The vehicle can also be detained.
Expired permits count too
A TP that ended yesterday gives no cover today. Officers treat an expired permit like no permit.
Do AITP vehicles need a temporary permit?
A tourist vehicle with a valid All India Tourist Permit does not normally need a temporary permit, because the AITP lets it carry tourists across all states. The 2023 rules require only that tax due to the home state is paid. Our all india tourist permit guide explains how to get one.
The dispute over extra charges
In August 2023 MoRTH asked states not to levy passenger, border or check post tax on AITP vehicles. In 2024 the Supreme Court left those disputes to the High Courts, so some state demands continue.
When an AITP vehicle still needs a TP
If the AITP has expired, or the vehicle carries passengers in a way the AITP does not allow, it needs a state permit like any other vehicle.
Do private cars need a temporary permit?
No. A private car or bike used by its owner is not a transport vehicle, so it needs no permit, temporary or otherwise, to enter another state. It does need valid registration, insurance, PUC and a licence. A stay of more than 12 months in another state brings re-registration rules into play.
When a private car becomes a taxi
Carrying paying passengers in a private car is using it as a transport vehicle without a permit. That can attract the Section 192A penalty and insurance trouble.
Self-drive rental cars
A self-drive rental car runs under the rental operator’s own registration and permit terms. Ask the operator before driving it into another state.
Which temporary permit mistakes should you avoid?
The commonest temporary permit mistakes are choosing your own state instead of the destination, entering the wrong dates, guessing the seating capacity, paying twice after a slow payment and using unofficial links.
Wrong state or service
Pick the state you are entering and the permit service, not tax only, if the vehicle needs a TP. A tax receipt alone does not prove a permit.
Fake portals and agents
Use only official Vahan, Parivahan or state transport addresses. Pages that ask for card details on other domains are not official.
Outdated papers
An expired fitness certificate or insurance policy blocks the application. Renew them a few days before the trip.
Temporary permit, special permit or AITP: how do they compare?
A temporary permit covers a short stay in one state or area. A special permit covers a public service vehicle hired as a whole for a group trip, valid across states without countersignature. An AITP covers tourist vehicles across India for 90 days to five years. Pick the one that matches the job.
| Permit | Legal basis | Who uses it | Typical period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary permit | Section 87 | Any transport vehicle with a short need | Days to four months |
| Special permit | Section 88(8) | Bus or cab hired as a whole for a group | The trip |
| All India Tourist Permit | AITP Rules, 2023 | Tourist taxis and buses | 90 days to five years |
| National permit | Section 88(12) | Goods carriages | Five-year permit, yearly authorisation |
| Regular state permit | Chapter V of the Act | Buses, taxis, trucks at home | Five years (Section 81) |
Countersignature
A regular permit from one state is not valid in another unless countersigned there, under Section 88(1). The temporary, special, tourist and national permits avoid that step.
Official links
Vahan checkpost (temporary permit and entry tax)vahan.parivahan.gov.in/checkpost ↗Vahan citizen services (permit services)vahan.parivahan.gov.in ↗Parivahan Sewaparivahan.gov.in ↗AP Transport citizen servicesaprtacitizen.epragathi.org ↗Puducherry Transport Departmenttransport.py.gov.in ↗Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (India Code)indiacode.nic.in ↗Temporary permit questions
Can I apply for a temporary permit after crossing the border?
Do not plan on it. Many states expect the permit and tax before entry, and some no longer have counters at the border. Apply online before you set off.
Is a temporary permit the same as border tax?
No. The permit is permission to run as a transport vehicle in that area. Entry tax is a separate levy, although many states collect both in the same online session.
Does an own-board private car need a TP for a holiday in Kerala or Tamil Nadu?
No. A private car used by the owner is not a transport vehicle, so it needs no permit. Carry the RC, insurance, PUC and licence as usual.
How long does a temporary permit last?
Up to four months under Section 87. Goods carriages can get up to one year in exceptional cases. Most tourist trips buy only the days they need.
Can I use one temporary permit for two states?
Usually not. Each state you enter grants its own permit for its own area, so a trip from Karnataka through Tamil Nadu into Kerala may need two.
Where do I find the temporary permit charge?
On the portal, after you enter the vehicle and trip details. Rates depend on the state, the vehicle class, seats or weight and the period.
What if my vehicle details do not load?
Check the registration number for typing mistakes, then confirm that fitness and insurance are current on Vahan. If the record is still missing, contact your home RTO.
Can I show the permit on my phone?
Many officers accept a clear digital copy, but phone signal is poor near some borders. Save a PDF offline and keep a printout as a backup.
Do I need a temporary permit if I hold an All India Tourist Permit?
Normally no. The AITP itself covers tourist trips across states, though some states still raise extra demands that are being argued in court.
Can an auto rickshaw get a temporary permit for another district?
Yes, where the state allows it. The RTO or RTA that covers the area decides, and conditions are often attached.
Is this website the official permit portal?
No. This is an independent guide. Permits are issued only by state transport authorities through Vahan and their own portals.
Parivahan Sewa (parivahansewa-in.com) is an independent information website and is not affiliated with MoRTH, Parivahan or any state transport department. Confirm fees and rules on the official portal before you pay or apply.