Last updated: September 2026 – checked against the current DigiLocker, mParivahan and Vahan services.
If you’ve left your RC at home, lost the smart card, or just want a copy on your phone, you can get a digital version of your vehicle’s Registration Certificate in a few minutes. This guide explains the official ways to download your RC, which digital copies are legally accepted at a traffic check, and what to do if your RC is lost rather than just misplaced.
What Is an RC Book?
The RC (Registration Certificate) is the document issued by the RTO that proves a vehicle is registered and shows who owns it. It lists the registration number, chassis and engine numbers, the owner’s name and address, the vehicle class and fuel type, and the registration validity. Older vehicles were issued a paper “RC book”; most RTOs now issue a smart card instead, but people still call it the RC book. Whatever the format, the record itself lives in the Vahan database, which is why a digital copy can be pulled directly from it.
Which Digital RC Is Legally Valid?
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways treats an RC shown through DigiLocker or the mParivahan app as equivalent to the original. Traffic police can verify these on the spot because they’re fetched directly from the Vahan database. A scanned image, a photo on your phone, or a printout of a PDF is useful as a reference, but it isn’t automatically accepted in place of the original at a traffic check. For everyday driving, the simplest option is to keep your RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
Method 1: Download Your RC From DigiLocker
The owner name linked to your DigiLocker account generally needs to match the name on the RC. If the fetch fails, check that your mobile number is registered against the vehicle on Vahan.
Method 2: Add Your RC to mParivahan
Method 3: Print Documents Through Vahan
Vahan’s online services include options to print documents linked to applications you’ve made, such as a receipt or a registration document after a completed service. The exact print options vary by state. This is useful for paperwork after a transfer or address change, but for a copy to carry while driving, DigiLocker or mParivahan is the better choice.
When a Digital RC Helps
Keeping Your Digital RC Up to Date
Because DigiLocker and mParivahan read your RC from the Vahan database, the digital copy reflects whatever is currently on record. After an approved change, such as a new address, removal of a loan, or a renewal, the updated details usually appear in the app once the RTO has processed the application. If the old details still show, remove the RC from the app and fetch it again. Also check your RC details from time to time: a lapsed registration, an old address, or a financier still listed after you’ve repaid a loan can all cause problems at a traffic check or when selling, and they’re easier to fix before you urgently need the document.
If Your RC Is Lost or Damaged
A digital copy lets you keep driving legally, but it doesn’t replace a lost physical RC for every purpose. Some RTO services and some buyers still ask for the card. If yours is lost, stolen or badly damaged, file a police report for loss or theft and apply for a duplicate RC through Vahan. If the details on your RC are out of date, for example after moving house, apply for a change of address so the digital copy shows the correct information too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee to download my RC?
No. Fetching your RC in DigiLocker or adding it to mParivahan is free.
Will traffic police accept a photo of my RC on my phone?
Not necessarily. The versions officially accepted are the ones shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan, since they can be verified against Vahan.
Is a DigiLocker RC valid in other states?
Yes. The RC comes from the national Vahan database, so it’s accepted across India, not just in the state where the vehicle is registered.
Why can’t I fetch my RC in DigiLocker?
Usually because of a typo in the registration or chassis number, a name mismatch with your DigiLocker account, or a mobile number that isn’t linked to the vehicle. Check each of these, or contact the Parivahan helpdesk.
Can I download someone else’s RC?
No. DigiLocker and mParivahan verify that the vehicle belongs to you. You can, however, look up basic details of any vehicle through RC status.
Related guides: Vehicle RC Status, Duplicate RC, Download Driving Licence PDF.