Do electric vehicles pay less BH road tax?

Yes. Electric vehicles get a 2% lower rate, while diesel vehicles pay 2% more. So a sub-Rs 10 lakh EV is taxed at 6% and a diesel at 10%, against 8% for petrol or CNG.

Who is eligible for a BH series number plate?

Central and state government employees, defence personnel, employees of banks and PSUs, and private-sector employees whose employer has offices in four or more states or union territories. The benefit is moving between states without re-registering.

What happens to BH road tax after 14 years?

BH tax is collected in two-year cycles for the first 14 years. From the 15th year onwards it is generally charged annually. You also continue paying the two-year cycles only while you remain eligible for the BH scheme.

BH Series Road Tax Calculator 2026 — Bharat Series Registration Cost

Q: How is BH series road tax calculated in 2026?

BH road tax is 8%, 10% or 12% of the vehicle's ex-GST invoice price depending on the price slab, with +2% for diesel and -2% for electric vehicles. Instead of paying for 15 years at once, you pay every two years using the formula invoice x rate% x 1.25 x 2 / 15.

Q: What are the BH series registration fees?

The main cost is the BH road tax computed above. On top of that you pay the standard RTO registration charges (a registration fee, smart-card and number-plate fees), which are the same small amounts as a normal registration. The large variable component is the road tax, which this calculator works out.

Q: Is BH series road tax paid for 15 years at once?

No. Unlike normal registration where road tax is paid up front for 15 years, BH series tax is paid in two-year blocks, which keeps each payment smaller and avoids paying a state for years you may not stay there.

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BH Series Road Tax Calculator (2026)

Vehicle invoice price — ex-GST (₹) Fuel type

Applicable tax rate—

15-year equivalent tax—

Tax payable (2 years)—

Illustrative. BH rates and rules can change — confirm the current figure with your RTO.

What the BH series number plate is — and why the tax is different

The Bharat (BH) series number plate lets eligible people move their vehicle from one state to another without re-registering it and without the usual road-tax refund headache. The trade-off shows up in how you pay road tax. A normal registration charges you 15 years of road tax in one lump sum at purchase. A BH-series vehicle instead pays road tax in two-year blocks, at a rate based on the vehicle's invoice price excluding GST. The calculator above gives you the rate and the two-year amount in one click; the rest of this page explains exactly how that number is built and what else BH registration costs.

The BH road tax rate slabs (2026)

Invoice price (ex-GST)	Base rate
Below ₹10 lakh	8%
₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh	10%
Above ₹20 lakh	12%

Fuel adjustment: diesel vehicles pay 2% more, electric vehicles pay 2% less. Petrol and CNG take the base rate. So a sub-₹10 lakh car is taxed at 6% (EV), 8% (petrol/CNG) or 10% (diesel). The invoice figure that matters is always the price before GST — if you only have the on-road or GST-inclusive price, work backwards with our GST calculator first.

The two-year formula, in plain terms

The two-year BH tax is:

2-year BH tax = (invoice × rate% × 1.25 × 2) ÷ 15

It looks fiddly, but the idea is simple: it spreads the 15-year tax across two-year cycles, with a small loading factor, so you pay a manageable amount every two years for up to 14 years instead of a big bill on day one. The calculator does this for you, but it's worth seeing it work on real numbers.

Worked example 1 — ₹10 lakh petrol car

Slab rate 10%. 15-year equivalent = ₹10,00,000 × 10% = ₹1,00,000. Two-year tax = (1,00,000 × 1.25 × 2) ÷ 15 = about ₹16,667 every two years.

Worked example 2 — ₹18 lakh diesel SUV

Slab 10% + 2% diesel = 12%. 15-year equivalent = ₹18,00,000 × 12% = ₹2,16,000. Two-year tax = (2,16,000 × 1.25 × 2) ÷ 15 = about ₹36,000 every two years.

Worked example 3 — ₹15 lakh electric car

Slab 10% − 2% EV = 8%. 15-year equivalent = ₹15,00,000 × 8% = ₹1,20,000. Two-year tax = (1,20,000 × 1.25 × 2) ÷ 15 = about ₹20,000 every two years.

BH series "registration fees" — what you actually pay

People often search for a "BH series registration fees calculator," so it's worth being clear about what registration costs. Your total BH registration cost has two parts:

BH road tax — the two-year amount the calculator above gives you. This is the large, variable part that depends on your invoice price.
Standard RTO charges — the registration fee, smart-card fee and number-plate (HSRP) charges. These are the same modest fixed amounts as an ordinary registration and do not change because it's a BH plate.

So when budgeting, the figure that moves the needle is the road tax. Get that right with the calculator, add the small fixed RTO charges your dealer or RTO quotes, and you have your true BH registration cost.

How to get a BH series number — eligibility and steps

BH series isn't open to everyone. You qualify if you are:

a central or state government employee, defence personnel, or a bank/PSU employee; or
a private-sector employee whose employer has offices in 4 or more states/UTs.

The application runs through the Vahan / Parivahan portal, usually at the time of buying the vehicle:

Step 1 — Confirm eligibility

Government employees use their official ID; private employees need Form 60 (the working-certificate proof that the employer operates in 4+ states/UTs).

Step 2 — Apply during registration

Your dealer or you, through Vahan, select the BH series option and submit the invoice and eligibility proof.

Step 3 — Pay the two-year tax

Pay the BH road tax for the first two-year block (the figure from the calculator) plus the standard RTO charges.

Step 4 — Renew every two years

Pay the next two-year block online before it lapses. You stay on BH only while you remain eligible.

BH series vs normal registration — which is cheaper?

BH is not always "cheaper" overall — over a full 15 years the loading factor means you can pay a little more than a single state's lump sum. What BH buys you is flexibility and cash flow: smaller payments spread over time, and no re-registration or road-tax refund hassle when you move states. If your job moves you across states, BH usually wins on convenience and avoided refund losses. If you'll keep the car in one state for its whole life, a normal registration may be marginally cheaper. Planning the purchase on a loan? Estimate the monthly outgo with our EMI calculator alongside the road tax.

Before you drive off: insurance

Road tax registers the vehicle; insurance protects it. A new car needs at least third-party cover by law, and most buyers add own-damage too. If you're weighing the two, our partner site Finance Guided breaks down third-party vs comprehensive car insurance so you don't over- or under-insure a brand-new BH-series vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

How is BH series road tax calculated in 2026?

It is 8%, 10% or 12% of the ex-GST invoice price by price slab, with +2% for diesel and −2% for EVs, paid every two years using invoice × rate% × 1.25 × 2 ÷ 15.

What are the BH series registration fees?

The main cost is the BH road tax above. On top sit the standard RTO charges — registration fee, smart card and number-plate fees — the same small amounts as a normal registration.

Is BH series road tax paid for 15 years at once?

No. It is paid in two-year blocks, unlike normal registration where 15 years is charged up front.

Do EVs pay less BH road tax?

Yes — electric vehicles get a 2% lower rate; diesel pays 2% more; petrol and CNG take the base rate.

Who is eligible for a BH number plate?

Government, defence and bank/PSU employees, and private employees whose employer operates in 4 or more states/UTs.

What happens after 14 years?

BH tax is collected in two-year cycles for the first 14 years; from the 15th year it is generally charged annually, and only while you remain eligible for the scheme.

About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT, with 5+ years in accounts, GST and compliance. ComplyKraft makes free calculators and plain-language guides for Indian citizens and everyday tasks.

Disclaimer: Educational information only, not professional advice. BH-series rates, the calculation factor and eligibility are summarised for 2025-26 and can change. The calculator's result is indicative — confirm the exact tax, fees and eligibility with your RTO or on the Parivahan portal before paying. Source: Ministry of Road Transport BH-series rules.