Vehicle Scrappage Policy 2026: The 20-Year Fitness Test Rule Explained
India's Vehicle Scrappage Policy requires private cars older than 20 years to pass a mandatory fitness test at an Automated Testing Station.
News · 1 min read · Published 24 July 2026
Written by Arjun Malhotra, Cars Editor
Highlights
- Private cars older than 20 years must pass a mandatory fitness test at an Automated Testing Station
- Commercial vehicles face a lower threshold of 15 years
- The policy aims to phase out old, polluting and unfit vehicles from Indian roads
India's Vehicle Scrappage Policy, announced in 2021 and progressively implemented through 2024-2026, aims to phase out old, polluting and unfit vehicles from Indian roads. For private car owners, vehicles older than 20 years must pass a mandatory fitness test at an Automated Testing Station, while commercial vehicles face a lower threshold of 15 years.
The fitness test requirement, rather than an outright ban, gives owners of well-maintained older vehicles a path to keep them on the road legally, shifting the emphasis toward actual roadworthiness rather than age alone.
Owners approaching the 20-year mark on a private vehicle should plan ahead for the fitness test process, since failing it can mean the vehicle must be scrapped regardless of how well it otherwise runs.