Power to fix the age limit of motor vehicle
Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with power to fix the age limit of motor vehicle. The Central Government may, having regard to the public safety, convenience and objects of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the life of a motor vehicle reckoned from the date of its manufacture, after the expiry of which the motor vehicle shall not be deemed to comply with The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
(1) The Central Government may, having regard to the public safety, convenience and objects of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the life of a motor vehicle reckoned from the date of its manufacture, after the expiry of which the motor vehicle shall not be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Act and the rules made thereunder:
Provided that the Central Government may specify different ages for different classes or different types of motor vehicles.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, having regard to the purpose of a motor vehicle, such as, display or use for the purposes of a demonstration in any exhibition, use for the purposes of technical research or taking part in a vintage car rally, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt, by a general or special order, subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notification, any class or type of motor vehicle from the operation of sub-section (1) for the purpose to be stated in the notification.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 56, no prescribed authority or authorised testing station shall grant a certificate of fitness to a motor vehicle in contravention of the provisions of any notification issued under sub-section (1).
1[(4) The Central Government may, having regard to the public safety, convenience, protection of the environment and the objects of this Act, make rules prescribing the manner of recycling of motor vehicles and parts thereof which have exceeded their life.]
Section 59, 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.
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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Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A vehicle is a motor vehicle under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 if it is mechanically propelled and adapted for use upon roads, regardless of its primary purpose or actual use. The test is the vehicle's suitability for road use and mechanical propulsion, not whether it is primarily used for agriculture or other purposes. Accordingly, Jugaads are motor vehicles subject to all provisions of the Act including registration, insurance, and driver licensing requirements, unless specifically exempted by state notification for vehicles exclusively used for agricultural purposes with appropriate specifications. This classification is enforceable through statutory authority actions, and the Supreme Court may issue directions to ensure compliance with existing law to address public safety concerns and legislative gaps.
On this section: State authority to fix age limit of vehicles; relevant to road safety considerations
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.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Section 61 of the Motor Vehicles Act specifically deals with the question whether trailers require registration. Under Section 61, the provisions of the chapter shall apply to the registration of the trailers as they apply to the registration of any other motor vehicle. Under Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act subject to the provisions of Sections 59 and 60, a transport vehicle shall not be deemed to be validly registered for the purpose of Section 39 unless it carries a certificate of fitness. So, when a trailer is to be registered, then naturally Section 59 also will come : 2 : into …
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 2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 59
What have the courts held on Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: State authority to fix age limit of vehicles; relevant to road safety considerations.
How do I find court cases under Section 59 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 59, section 59 MV Act, section 59 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 Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013).
What should I read with Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 56 (Certificate of fitness of transport vehicles), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently draft GSR 192(E) 10th March, 2022 RVSF amendment (2022).
When did Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 59, 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.