Haryana Introduces New Age Limits for Tourist Vehicles in NCR

The Haryana government has introduced important new rules that set maximum age limits for tourist and other commercial vehicles operating within the National Capital Region (NCR) and beyond, under the updated Haryana Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2025. The move is part of a broader effort to improve road safety, reduce pollution, and modernize transport standards across the state. 

Under the amended rules, tourist buses and other vehicles holding All-India tourist permits will now face clear age restrictions depending on where they operate. Within the NCR, petrol and CNG-fuelled vehicles can remain in service for up to 12 years, while diesel-powered tourist vehicles are limited to just 10 years of operation. This distinction reflects a growing priority on cleaner fuels in pollution-prone regions. 

For vehicle operators outside the NCR, the rules are slightly more flexible: tourist vehicles of all fuel types including diesel are allowed to operate for up to 12 years. By offering this extended timeframe in non-NCR areas, the government aims to balance environmental goals with economic fairness for smaller transport businesses in rural and semi-urban districts. 

The new age limits are not just limited to tourist buses. Vehicles such as stage carriages, contract carriages, goods carriers, and school buses also fall under the updated regulations. In the NCR, vehicles using petrol, electric, or cleaner fuel technologies may run for up to 15 years, but diesel-powered vehicles in these categories are capped at 10 years. Elsewhere in Haryana, these vehicles of any fuel type can continue for up to 15 years.

Authorities say these changes are designed to ensure older, more polluting vehicles are retired from roads sooner, especially in the NCR, where air quality issues are a perennial concern. Local enforcement agencies are expected to monitor compliance and take action against vehicles that surpass the prescribed age limits. 

Transport industry stakeholders may need to adjust plans for fleet replacements and permits in light of these new regulations. For drivers and operators, this marks a significant shift toward prioritizing cleaner, safer road travel in and around Delhi and across Haryana.