Chandigarh and Punjab keep the 100% road-tax exemption on electric two-wheelers in 2026

Electric two-wheelers continue to attract a 100% road-tax exemption across the Tricity in 2026: both Chandigarh and Punjab waive road tax on EVs. The practical effect is that an electric scooter pays ₹0 road tax in Chandigarh and Mohali — even when it is registered. (Panchkula buyers should confirm the current Haryana position with their local RTO, as state treatment can differ.)

What this changes — and what it doesn’t

The exemption matters most for buyers of registered electric two-wheelers: the higher-speed EVs that do go through the RTO. For them, the waiver is a real, confirmable saving.

For a licence-free low-speed scooter, it changes nothing — because that scooter never pays road tax in the first place. A model that meets both conditions under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules — a top speed of 25 km/h or less AND a continuous motor of 250W or less — is exempt from RTO registration entirely. No registration, no green number plate, no road tax to begin with.

So if a salesperson presents the “100% road-tax exemption” as a special reason to buy a low-speed scooter, treat it with care: your road tax was already nil. The genuine recurring saving on a licence-free scooter is the mandatory insurance you skip (~₹1,500–3,000 a year) plus low running costs — not road tax or registration fees.

What it means for a Tricity low-speed EV buyer

• Buying licence-free (≤25 km/h, ≤250W): you already pay ₹0 road tax and skip registration — the 2026 exemption doesn’t change your maths.
• Buying a registered/faster EV: the 100% road-tax exemption is a real saving worth confirming at your RTO.
• Either way: confirm the motor is rated ≤250W (continuous) and the top speed ≤25 km/h on the dealer’s spec sheet before assuming a scooter is licence-free.

Sources

• Chandigarh and Punjab EV policy / state transport notifications — 100% road-tax exemption on electric two-wheelers, 2026.
• Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) — low-speed exemption (top speed ≤25 km/h AND motor ≤250W, both required); cross-verified across multiple sources, June 2026.