Delhi Lifts Restrictions on Old Vehicle Deregistration, Aims to Unclog Roads

On October 31, 2025, the Delhi transport department announced a significant policy change to address citizen inconvenience and increasing pollution in the city. The department has lifted the one-year restriction on applying for no-objection certificates (NOCs) for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).

This decision, made by transport minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, is expected to bring relief to millions of vehicle owners whose diesel vehicles (over 10 years old) and petrol vehicles (over 15 years old) had been stuck in limbo following deregistration. Previously, vehicle owners had to apply for an NOC within one year of registration expiry, leading to many vehicles being stranded in Delhi without an option to either scrap or legally transfer them.

By removing the one-year limit, the transport department aims to help citizens move their old vehicles out of Delhi responsibly, easing congestion and improving air quality. Officials said the move came after a series of public representations and internal reviews revealed the impracticality of the one-year limit, as many residents were unable to re-register their vehicles elsewhere.

The notification is likely to take effect immediately, with officials estimating that millions of vehicle owners stand to benefit. Around six million ELVs have been deregistered till last year by the transport department, of which about six lakh are already scrapped, as per department estimates.