GOOD MOTORING
Licence to confuse
H. Kishie Singh

A trip to the licencing and registration authority is a nerve-racking experience. It’s like having a sauna bath in an ill-kept hall. The floor is littered, the walls dirty. The glass partition smudged.

However it’s the writing on the windows that confuses the applicant. Counter No. 9 reads: DL, Fresh, Dup, REN, ENDERS, VEH, REGN, Fresh, Dup, TFR, NOC, HPA, HPT, Re-Assignment, Sr Citizen, Phy Handicapped, Defence Personnel.

The person behind the counter is not at eye level. So to speak to a official, a "Sr citizen" or "Phy handicapped" has to bend double to talk. Not easy for those suffering from arthritis.

Wondering about the writing on the window, should you be foolish enough to ask what it means, the grouch behind the counter is likely to tell you, "This is not an enquiry counter."

There is a proforma you have to buy for Re 1. It lists the documents required for a transaction. A very strange demand is "pencil print of engine number and chassis number." This involves tracing the numbers onto a piece of paper. Why? No one knows. This was not required a couple of years ago. So much information is required about the car when all that you want is to have the address changed on the RC.

There are different sets of documents for different transactions. After preparing the file, you are supposed to put them in a file cover, sold at the gate for Rs 5. Then you stand in a queue behind 20 or more people.

It wasn’t a long wait, for almost everyone was turned away by the clerk, who raised some objection or the other.

My documents were complete as per the proforma, which I had kept in the file. But it was not good enough. The objection: The photocopies had to be attested. Even though I had my original passport, it was not good enough. The proforma however had not mentioned attested copies. It seems the babu makes their own rules.

This meant a quick trip to the courts to have the necessary attestation.

Coming back to the licencing office, you stand in the queue again and finally submit the file. All is well. Incidentally, the fee for change of address on an RC is Rs 220. The Motor Vehicle Act stipulates Rs 20.

Finally you are told, "Collect the RC after 3 pm."

A whole day is required to sort out a routine matter. After having spent a whole day at the licencing office, one does pick up nuggets of information.

Everyone should know that it is illegal to change your petrol engine into a diesel engine. You must get prior permission from the authorities concerned.

Did you know that you also cannot change the colour of your car? Information regarding fuel and colour is contained in your smart card RC. If you change from a petrol engine to a diesel engine and repaint the car into another colour, the description on the RC will not match the car.

It is very important to have in order all your documents: the RC, driving licence and, of course, the insurance papers. Also keep in mind that the address on the RC and your driving licence has to be the same.

If you live in Panchkula, you cannot own a car with a Chandigarh number. It must be transferred to Haryana. Chances are you may have to pay the tax all over again.

Happy motoring.

This feature was published on September 18, 2004