Is It Legal To Drive Left Hand Drive Vehicles in India? (2024)

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Is legally allowed left hand-side vehicle use in India? Or need any special permission.

No. It is illegal to drive LHD vehicle in India.

Actually you can't register a LHD vehicle in India. However if you have an old LHD vehicle which was registered some years ago, it's perfectly legal to drive it. Also if you bring in a car under the Carnet scheme and it's a LHD, you can drive it.

Normally manufacturers can import them for specific purposes such as testing after appropriate approval from Govt. of India.

That's correct. These cars are usually run on temp plates or on the plates from their country of origin.

Is It Legal To Drive Left Hand Drive Vehicles in India? (2024)

FAQs

Is It Legal To Drive Left Hand Drive Vehicles in India? ›

Left-hand drive cars are illegal to drive in India. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, LHD vehicles cannot be registered. New Delhi, the national capital in India, is all set to host the upcoming G20 Summit in September. Hundreds of foreign delegates from 18 countries will arrive in the city in the coming days.

Are left-hand drive cars legal in India? ›

India Code: Section Details. No person shall drive or cause or allow to be driven in any public place any motor vehicle with a left-hand steering control unless it is equipped with a mechanical or electrical signalling device of a prescribed nature and in working order.

Can I import a left-hand drive vehicle to India? ›

Can left-hand drive vehicles be imported to India? It is possible to get a left-hand drive vehicle imported to India, however mostly a vehicle manufacturer has the permission to do so. The car should be used only for testing and research purposes.

Is it illegal to drive LHD vehicles in India what unique problem is going to be faced by Delhi traffic police when some G 20 heads use LHD vehicles in India? ›

“This is because India drives on the left side of the road. The use of LHD cars is not permitted in India as they can cause visibility issues and make it difficult for the driver to overtake other vehicles safely, which can lead to accidents and pose a risk to public safety.

Can I drive others car in India? ›

Yes, car insurance in India generally provides coverage if someone else is driving the insured vehicle, but there are certain conditions and limitations to consider. Most car insurance policies extend coverage to other licensed drivers with the owner's permission.

Can I ship my car to India from USA? ›

When shipping a car to India from the USA, there are two main shipping options: Roll on Roll off (RoRo) and Container Shipping. RoRo Shipping: RoRo shipping involves loading the vehicle onto a specialized ship that is designed to transport vehicles.

How can I convert left-hand drive to right in India? ›

How to convert a vehicle from left-hand drive to right-hand drive?
  1. Dismantling of the entire dashboard, including everything below it. ...
  2. Replacement of the existing RHD steering rack assembly with the LHD.
  3. Repositioning of the pedal assembly. ...
  4. Repositioning and realigning of the brake master cylinder.

Can I buy a car from another country and drive in India? ›

Conditions to abide by for importing new cars

The car must be manufactured or at least assembled outside India. It must only be imported from the country where it was built. It must not be previously sold, loaned, registered, or leased. It must have a right-hand drive.

Can you convert LHD to RHD? ›

To convert to RHD, the old LHD dashboard will need to be cut out and replaced with one where the instruments and glovebox are on the correct side. While RHD dashboards are plentiful, it's not a particularly easy task taking the old dash out – specialists tend to use a spot weld drill and an angle grinder.

How do I import a left-hand drive car? ›

What Paperwork Do I Need For A Left-Hand Car? If you are looking to import a left-hand drive car into the UK, you will need to make certain that it has been registered with HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) and the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). You'll also need vehicle approval.

Which vehicle is banned in India? ›

The cars with Bharat Stage III petrol and Bharat Stage IV diesel are prohibited in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. BS 3 and 4 refer to emission standards set by the government to regulate the pollutants emitted by vehicles.

What is wrong side driving in India? ›

Fine for driving on the wrong side of the road include the following: Driving on the wrong side of the road attracts penalties or fines of ₹500- ₹1000. Imprisonment of up to 3 months can also be a consequence of wrong-side driving in India.

Is it illegal to have 6 passengers in a 5 passenger car in India? ›

It violates the permit provided by the regional Road Transport Office (RTO). You have a copy for that along with the registration fee receipt even if you have a smart card for car registration. Both - the paper permit and smart card - have seating capacity of the vehicle mentioned.

Can I drive my wifes car in India? ›

Legally too, you are in the clear for driving your wife's car. For minor matters, the car owner need not be present. Only the driving license of the driver is sufficient. Only for severe insurance claims, the owner may come into the picture.

Can a car have 2 owners in India? ›

Originally Answered: Can there be a 2 owners of one vehicle in India? No, you cannot register a vehicle on the name of two different persons. You can register a vehicle on a company name with multiple partners but that is totally a different case as the company would be the owner of the vehicle.

Can 2 people own a car in India? ›

It is legal to purchase a car in partnership in India. However, that partnership in the car needs to be documented in a separate agreement, as any vehicle's registration papers in India will have only one owner. So in the RTO vehicle registration records, the car will be recorded as being owned by any...

Is it right-hand or left-hand drive in India? ›

Most other countries that drive on the left-hand side are former British colonies, including Australia, India, South Africa and the Caribbean nations.

Which cars are not street legal in India? ›

18 Banned Supercars Car Enthusiasts Will Never Drive
  • 14 TVR Cerbera.
  • 15 TVR Sagaris. ...
  • 16 TVR Tuscan. ...
  • 17 Lamborghini Strosek Diablo. ...
  • 18 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. ...

Can I bring my car from Dubai to India? ›

Importing a vehicle must have been manufactured or assembled overseas, and it should be right-handed if you are importing a car. For imported cars, they can enter legally through one of three naval docks, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai, as long as the vehicle has not been rented, used, or leased previously.

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