Motor Vehicles Act Section 49 — Change of residence or place of business
CHAPTER IV REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) requires the owner of a motor vehicle to inform the registering authority about any change in their residence or place of business if it differs from the address recorded in the vehicle's registration certificate. This intimation must be made within thirty days of the change, in the form and with the documents prescribed by the Central Government. The owner must send this information to the authority that issued the registration certificate, or if the new address falls under another State's jurisdiction, to any registering authority in that State. The owner must also forward the registration certificate at the same time so that the new address can be entered into it.
Sub-section (1A) states that the intimation mentioned in sub-section (1) may be sent to the appropriate registering authority in electronic form, along with electronic versions of the required documents, including proof of authentication, in the manner prescribed by the Central Government.
Sub-section (2) provides that if the owner fails to intimate the new address to the concerned registering authority within the thirty-day period specified in sub-section (1), the registering authority may, considering the circumstances of the case, require the owner to pay an amount not exceeding five hundred rupees, as prescribed under sub-section (4), instead of taking any action against the owner under section 177. However, the proviso states that action under section 177 will be taken against the owner if they fail to pay this amount.
Sub-section (3) clarifies that once a person has paid the amount under sub-section (2), no action will be taken against them under section 177.
Sub-section (4) allows a State Government to prescribe different amounts for the payment under sub-section (2), depending on the period of delay in intimating the new address.
Sub-section (5) says that upon receiving the intimation under sub-section (1), the registering authority may, after making such verification as it thinks fit, cause the new address to be entered in the certificate of registration.
Sub-section (6) requires that if a registering authority other than the original one makes such an entry of the altered address, it must communicate this change to the original registering authority.
Sub-section (7) states that the requirement under sub-section (1) does not apply when the change of address is due to a temporary absence not intended to last more than six months, or when the motor vehicle is neither used nor removed from the address recorded in the registration certificate.
Official Text
(1) If the owner of a motor vehicle ceases to reside or have his place of business at the address recorded in the certificate of registration of the vehicle, he shall, within thirty days of any such change of address, intimate in such form accompanied by such documents as may be prescribed by the Central Government, his new address, to the registering authority by which the certificate of registration was issued, or, if the new address is within the jurisdiction of another 2[State, to any registering authority in that State], and shall at the same time forward the certificate of registration to the registering authority or, as the case may be, to the other registering authority in order that the new address may be entered therein. 3[
(1A) The intimation under sub-section (1) may be sent to the appropriate registering authority in electronic form along with the electronic form of such documents, including proof of authentication in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(2) If the owner of a motor vehicle fails to intimate his new address to the concerned registering authority within the period specified in sub-section (1), the registering authority may, having regard to the circumstances of the case, require the owner to pay, in lieu of any action that may be taken against him under section 177 such amount not exceeding 4[five hundred rupees] as may be prescribed under sub-section (4):
Provided that action under section 177 shall be taken against the owner where he fails to pay the said amount.
(3) Where a person has paid the amount under sub-section (2), no action shall be taken against him under section 177.
(4) For the purposes of sub-section (2), a State Government may prescribe different amounts having regard to the period of delay in intimating his new address.
(5) On receipt of intimation under sub-section (1), the registering authority may, after making such verification as it may think fit, cause the new address to be entered in the certificate of registration.
(6) A registering authority other than the original registering authority making any such entry shall communicate the altered address to the original registering authority.
(7) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply where the change of the address recorded in the certificate of registration is due to a temporary absence not intended to exceed six months in duration or where the motor vehicle is neither used nor removed from the address recorded in the certificate of registration.