Old Cars Restrictions: What You Can and Can't Do in India Today

When you own an old car, a vehicle typically over 15 years old that’s still on the road. Also known as vintage car, it may hold sentimental value—but in India, it’s also caught in a web of legal limits, pollution rules, and regional bans. The government isn’t just pushing for cleaner air; it’s reshaping how we treat aging vehicles. What used to be a simple ride to work is now a legal puzzle: Can you still drive it? Will it pass inspection? Can you sell it outside your state? These aren’t just questions—they’re daily realities for thousands of owners.

The vehicle scrapping policy, a national initiative to retire old, polluting vehicles and recycle their parts. Also known as Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Program, it’s the backbone of today’s restrictions. Cars older than 15 years (for petrol) or 20 years (for diesel) face stricter checks, higher fees, and in some cities, outright bans from city centers. Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru don’t just discourage old cars—they actively block them. Meanwhile, states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have started offering cash incentives to scrap them, turning your old sedan into a small payout instead of a liability. This isn’t just about pollution. It’s about safety. Older cars often lack airbags, ABS, or crash structures. Insurance companies now charge more—or refuse coverage—for vehicles over 15 years old. And if you’re thinking of selling it to a scrapyard, you’ll need a No Objection Certificate from the RTO, proof of tax clearance, and a physical inspection. Skip one step, and your paperwork stalls.

There’s also the emission norms, India’s official standards for exhaust pollutants like CO, NOx, and particulate matter. Also known as BS-VI norms, they’re the reason your 2005 Maruti 800 can’t legally be re-registered in most places today. Even if your car runs fine, the pollution test will fail. Retrofitting old engines to meet BS-VI isn’t practical or legal—so the only real option is to scrap or upgrade. But here’s the twist: classic car collectors with vehicles over 50 years old can apply for a special ‘heritage’ registration. That’s your loophole—if you’re willing to drive it only on weekends, keep it garaged, and avoid highways. The rules aren’t the same everywhere. In rural areas, old cars still roll freely. In metro cities, they’re parked, not driven. And if you’re planning to move your car across state lines? You’ll need a No Objection Certificate, and even then, some states won’t accept it.

What you’ll find below are real stories and facts from owners who’ve navigated these rules—how one man turned his 1980s Ambassador into a weekend showpiece, how a family in Jaipur lost their car to a ban, and why scrapping isn’t always the end—it can be the start of something new. These aren’t theoretical guides. They’re lived experiences. Whether you’re holding onto an old car, thinking of letting it go, or just trying to understand why the rules keep changing, the posts here cut through the noise. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to do next.