RTO & Ownership Transfer

Form 26: How to Get a Duplicate RC for a Lost or Damaged Registration Certificate

By Bill My Car · Updated 29 June 2026 · 3 min read

Form 26 is the application for a duplicate Registration Certificate (RC) under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 [Rule 53(1)]. When the original RC book is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, you cannot legally drive, transfer or sell the vehicle until a duplicate is obtained. Form 26 initiates that process at the RTO.

A filled sample of Form 26 generated with Bill My Car. Sign in to BillMyCar.in and generate yours, auto-filled, in seconds.

When you need Form 26

• The original RC is lost or stolen
• The RC is so badly damaged or torn that the details are no longer legible
• The RC has been destroyed (fire, flood, other damage)
• The RC booklet is worn out and the pages have become illegible

If only certain pages of the booklet are damaged but the registration details are readable, check with your local RTO whether a duplicate is required or whether a partial replacement is possible.

Documents required for a duplicate RC

• Form 26, duly filled and signed
• First Information Report (FIR) from the local police station (mandatory for lost or stolen RC)
• Affidavit on stamp paper declaring that the original RC has been lost and is not intentionally suppressed
• Proof of identity and address (Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence)
• Vehicle insurance certificate (valid)
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate (valid)
• Applicable fees (varies by state, typically Rs 300 to Rs 500 per duplicate)
• If hypothecation exists: the bank's NOC or co-signature on the form

Step-by-step process

1. Lodge an FIR at the nearest police station reporting the loss or theft of the RC.
2. Give a public notice of loss in a local newspaper (some RTOs require this).
3. Prepare an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper.
4. Fill Form 26 with the vehicle details (use the chassis number and engine number, which appear on the insurance certificate and the sale letter).
5. Submit Form 26, the FIR copy, affidavit, insurance, PUC and ID at the RTO where the vehicle is registered.
6. Pay the prescribed fees.
7. Collect the duplicate RC when notified, or wait for postal delivery.

Selling a used car when the RC is missing

For dealers, a vehicle arriving in stock with a missing RC is a common problem. You cannot cleanly do the following without a valid RC:

• File Form 29 to notify the transfer of ownership
• File Form 30 to record the transfer at the new RTO
• Transfer insurance to the buyer

The safest course is to obtain the duplicate RC in the seller's name first, then proceed with the normal ownership transfer steps. Some dealers ask the previous owner to apply for the duplicate before completing the purchase.

Duplicate RC vs DigiLocker smart card RC

In several states, the RC is now issued as a smart card and linked to DigiLocker. If the physical card is lost but the DigiLocker copy is intact, many RTOs and traffic authorities accept the digital version for day-to-day verification. However, for transfer and hypothecation purposes, a physical duplicate may still be required. Confirm with your state RTO.

Fees and state variations

Duplicate RC fees differ by state and vehicle category. As a rough guide:

Check the exact fee schedule on your state's Parivahan portal or at the RTO counter.

Save time on the paperwork

Whether you are filing Form 26, Form 29 or Form 30, the details are the same: registration number, engine number, chassis number, owner name and address. Bill My Car keeps all of these in the invoice so you can generate any RTO form without copying information by hand.