Delhi's old vehicle ban: Step-by-step guide to using 13 approved scrapping centres

Representative photo

As the ban on old petrol and diesel vehicles takes effect in Delhi from July 1, the government has launched a streamlined process for residents to scrap their end-of-life vehicles without stepping out of their homes.

Starting today, petrol pumps across Delhi will also refuse fuel to vehicles that have exceeded their permissible age, as authorities ramp up efforts to curb pollution under directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The Transport Department, along with the Traffic Police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi, has formed 350 teams to enforce the ban, deploying personnel at fuel stations to identify and seize non-compliant vehicles.

However, owners of deregistered or ageing vehicles in Delhi-NCR can now use a dedicated government portal to schedule the scrapping of their vehicles through one of 13 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) authorised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, according to a Daily Jagran report.

These RVSFs are based in neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as the Delhi government had revoked scrap licences of all local units nearly four years ago due to environmental concerns. Under the updated guidelines, scrapping facilities are only allowed to operate in the same state in which they are licensed.

• The government’s scrapping system is accessible via the portal https://vscrap.parivahan.gov.in, where users can follow a step-by-step process:
• Visit the portal and select an RVSF from the listed options.
• Fill in vehicle details, including registration number and supporting documents.
• (Optional) Upload a vehicle photo to get an estimated scrap price.
• Confirm the booking. The company will schedule a pickup.
• Doorstep pickup of the vehicle is arranged by the selected RVSF.
• Receive an official scrapping certificate once the vehicle has been dismantled.

Although scrapping facilities are not physically located in Delhi, most have liaison offices in the city and maintain contact numbers available on the government website. Vehicle owners can also call these helplines for assistance or to clarify the process.

Scrap prices are standardised and fixed by the Central Government. While uploading a vehicle photo may help in generating a price estimate, several owners have noted that these official rates are often lower than what the open market offers.

As per Daily Jagran, due to the stringent air quality and environmental regulations in the Capital, scrap yards and facilities are currently banned from operating within Delhi. The absence of any locally licensed unit means that only facilities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are currently handling the dismantling of Delhi’s banned vehicles.

For owners unwilling to scrap their vehicles, there is an alternative. Vehicles that are no longer road legal in Delhi due to age restrictions may still be registered and used in other states, where they are allowed under local transport laws. A Delhi Transport Department official confirmed that vehicle owners may apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for such transfers.