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State rules · PB · Last checked 12 Nov 2026

Punjab: road tax and permits for trucks

Punjab has a large transport business built around Ludhiana's industry, grain movement from the mandis and long hauls to every part of India. Road tax is charged under the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924.

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At a glance

Punjab for fleet owners

Goods vehicles pay tax under the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924 and the rules framed under it. The schedule distinguishes vehicle classes by weight.

This page describes how the tax is structured. It does not quote rates, because they change with each budget and notification. The current schedule is published by the state; the sources are listed below.

RTO code
PB
Region
North
Road tax charged under
Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924
Transport portal
punjabtransport.org
Last checked
12 Nov 2026

The rules

Tax, permits, testing and the practical side

Road tax for goods vehicles

  • Goods vehicles pay tax under the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924 and the rules framed under it. The schedule distinguishes vehicle classes by weight.
  • Punjab has moved some goods vehicle classes between one-time and periodic tax by notification. Check the mode on each truck's VAHAN record and the current notice before paying.
  • The State Transport Commissioner, Punjab publishes notices on punjabtransport.org. Tax for PB vehicles is paid through Parivahan vehicle services.

Fitness testing

  • MoRTH is moving fitness testing of transport vehicles to registered automated testing stations (ATS) in phases, and the deadlines have been extended before. Before booking, check whether an ATS has been registered for your RTO area or whether the RTO's motor vehicle inspector still conducts the test.
  • Check the State Transport Commissioner's notices for ATS centres approved in Punjab, and confirm whether your RTO still offers manual inspection for your vehicle class.

Fitness due date calculator

Permits

  • Home-state goods carriage permits are issued by the Regional Transport Authority.
  • A national permit is issued by the home-state transport authority. The national permit authorisation that lets the truck run across India is paid online on the Parivahan national permit service, and its annual renewal date is separate from the permit's own validity. Track both dates.
  • Ludhiana and Jalandhar long-haul fleets run almost entirely on national permits. The authorisation renewal is the date most often missed, because it falls on a different day from the permit itself.

Practical notes for fleets

  • PB 10 is Ludhiana, PB 08 is Jalandhar, PB 02 is Amritsar. A fleet in one city often buys trucks registered elsewhere, so the RTO for each renewal can differ.
  • Long hauls to the south and east bring challans from many states. One daily check across all vehicles catches them before they pile up.
  • Drivers on Punjab fleets often carry licences issued in other states. SARATHI holds every licence, whichever state issued it, so the licence check does not depend on the truck's state.

Where it is published

Where to read the current Punjab notification

If a notification is dated after 12 Nov 2026, the notification wins over this page.

Sources for Punjab goods vehicle rules
What you needWhere to find it
Road tax schedule and late-payment penaltyPunjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924, and the department's notifications on punjabtransport.org
Paying road tax onlineVehicle services for Punjab on parivahan.gov.in
National permit authorisationParivahan national permit service, paid annually online
Automated testing stations for fitnessDepartment notices on punjabtransport.org, and the RTO for your area
E-challans against your trucksParivahan e-Challan, searched by vehicle number

Other states

Questions about Punjab

Ask the team

Where do I find the current goods vehicle tax rates for Punjab?

Road tax in Punjab is charged under the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924. The current schedule is published by the state transport department; start at punjabtransport.org. Rates change with the state budget and notifications, so read the version in force on the day you pay.

Does a PB-registered national permit truck pay tax in other states?

It pays road tax to Punjab as its home state, and an annual national permit authorisation fee online through Parivahan. The authorisation lets it run across India. Track the tax date and the authorisation date separately.

Where is fitness tested in Punjab?

MoRTH is moving fitness testing of transport vehicles to registered automated testing stations in phases, and deadlines have been extended before. Check the department's notices for the stations that serve your RTO, or ask the RTO whether it still inspects your vehicle class.

What is the penalty if the tax lapses?

Punjab sets its own grace period and penalty for late payment under the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924. The penalty is charged on top of the tax, so the paid-up date on VAHAN is the one to watch.

Every PB truck's dates, without typing one.

PRACHSO reads tax, permit, authorisation, fitness, insurance and PUC dates from VAHAN for every truck, whichever state it is registered in, and reminds the right person on WhatsApp 30 days ahead.

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