The Government of Telangana will impose a new Road Safety Cess on newly registered vehicles starting March 1. Motorists will have to pay an additional Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 at the time of vehicle registration, depending on the vehicle type.

What Is the New Rule?

The Telangana Transport Department has issued orders to levy a Road Safety Cess under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Applicable From: March 1, 2026
Applies To: Newly purchased vehicles at registration
Payment Mode: One-time payment during vehicle registration

Cess Amount by Vehicle Type

Vehicle Type	Road Safety Cess
Two-wheelers (bikes, scooties)	Rs 2,000
Cars	Rs 5,000
Passenger autos (4–7 seater)	Up to Rs 10,000
Goods vehicles	Up to Rs 10,000

This cess will be collected in addition to existing registration and lifetime taxes.

Key Changes

Three-wheeler goods vehicles previously under quarterly tax will now come under lifetime tax.
The cess applies only to new vehicle registrations.
Non-transport vehicle owners are also covered.

Exemptions

Agricultural vehicles such as tractors and trailers are exempted from the Road Safety Cess.

Why the Move?

The state government led by Revanth Reddy aims to generate funds under the road safety initiative. However, the move is seen as an additional financial burden on new vehicle buyers.

Key Entities

Government of Telangana – Introducing Road Safety Cess
Telangana Transport Department – Issued official order
Revanth Reddy – Head of state government

Final Verdict

From March 1, motorists in Telangana purchasing new vehicles will need to factor in an additional Road Safety Cess ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000. While aimed at strengthening road safety initiatives, the decision increases the upfront cost of vehicle ownership in the state.