Andhra, Kerala top ease of vehicle ownership index; UP, Bihar at bottom: Report

Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have emerged as the top-performing states in ease of vehicle ownership, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal rank at the bottom, reflecting wide disparities in procedures for transferring ownership of used vehicles.

The findings are part of the Ease of Vehicle Ownership Index (EVOI) 2026, prepared by Consumer Voice and Indiatech, which assessed systems and procedures across 15 major states and Delhi, covering more than 85% of India's organised pre-owned vehicle market. None of the states figured in the 'high ease' or excellent category, with Andhra Pradesh, the highest-ranked state, scoring only 5.9 on a scale of 0-10. Kerala scored 5.7, followed by Tamil Nadu and Delhi at 4.6 each. Karnataka (4.3), Gujarat (4.2), Madhya Pradesh (4.1), Maharashtra and Telangana (4.1 each) and Punjab (4) occupied the next positions. Rajasthan (4) and Haryana (3.9) were also in the lower half of the rankings, while West Bengal (2.6), Bihar (2.5) and Uttar Pradesh (2.5) brought up the rear.

The report comes as India's pre-owned vehicle market is expanding rapidly and is projected to grow from $36.4 billion in 2025 to over $73.5 billion by 2030. The market has overtaken new vehicle sales in volume. However, fragmented state-level rules, incomplete digitisation and cumbersome procedures continue to impede seamless vehicle ownership transfers.

The report, which also included interviews, found that 39% of citizens reported delays in receiving their registration certificates after completing vehicle transfers, while 61.5% were unaware of the requirement for a party-pusher until they reached the respective RTO.

As many as 63% could not accurately estimate the total cost of completing an ownership transfer, reflecting widespread opacity in transaction charges. Interestingly, all respondents said they relied on intermediaries or agents to complete ownership transfers because of administrative complexity. The report has called for a unified digital vehicle records system, standardised no-objection certificate procedures, real-time integration between banks and transport departments for automatic removal of hypothecation after loan repayment, and transparent, time-bound service delivery across RTOs.