Production of vehicle at the time of registration
Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with production of vehicle at the time of registration. Subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government in this behalf, a motor vehicle sold by an authorised dealer shall not require production before a registering authority for the purposes of registration for the first time. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
1[44. Production of vehicle at the time of registration.-- (1) Subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government in this behalf, a motor vehicle sold by an authorised dealer shall not require production before a registering authority for the purposes of registration for the first time.
(2) Subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the State Government, a person in whose name a certificate of registration has been issued shall not be required to produce the vehicle registered or transferred before a registering authority.]
Section 44, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Commissioner of Com. Taxes, Tvm vs Ktc Automobiles
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
In the case of motor vehicles, although registration is technically a post-sale event, in practical terms the sale is co-terminus with registration because the dealer cannot lawfully deliver possession to the purchaser until the vehicle reaches the registering authority's office for inspection and registration. Motor vehicles remain unascertained goods until appropriation occurs at the registration office. Therefore, the situs of sale of a motor vehicle is at the location of the registration authority where the vehicle is registered, not at the location of the dealer's office. Property in the motor vehicle passes to the buyer when possession is handed over at or near the registration office in a deliverable and registrable state. For purposes of sales tax, the sale is deemed to occur at the place of registration.
On this section: Requires vehicle to be produced before Registering Authority for inspection prior to registration
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 44
What have the courts held on Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
Commissioner of Com. Taxes, Tvm vs Ktc Automobiles (29 Jan 2016) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Requires vehicle to be produced before Registering Authority for inspection prior to registration.
How do I find court cases under Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 44, section 44 MV Act, section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Commissioner of Com. Taxes, Tvm vs Ktc Automobiles (29 Jan 2016).
What should I read with Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently 6th G.S.R 240(E) dated 31.03.2021 Committe A licensing of drivers (2021).
When did Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 44, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.