Get a Rickshaw or Qingqi Route Permit in Punjab: Rs 600 a Year
Rickshaw or qingqi route permit in Punjab: the Rs 600 yearly fee, the six papers, the VICS fitness test, online apply on PDTG and the Rs 300 late fee. Read now.
A rickshaw or qingqi (motorcycle rickshaw) route permit in Punjab costs Rs 600 a year under the Transport Department's fee notification, plus a Rs 650 application fee. You apply to the District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) in your district, or online on the Punjab Digital Transport Governance portal, with a fitness certificate, insurance and token tax proof.
A route permit is the paper that lets a passenger vehicle carry fares on the road. Without it, a rickshaw is a private vehicle doing commercial work. The Transport Department's own answer is short: a route permit is needed for every public service vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 and its rules.
We read the department's procedure page, its FAQs and the fee notification on 1 October 2026, and opened the online portal the same day. The notification is a scanned image, so we read it page by page.
Punjab rickshaw route permit fees in 2026
The fee for a motorcycle rickshaw (qingqi) is Rs 600 for one year, valid within the district's DRTA limits on specified routes. A motor cab rickshaw also pays Rs 600 a year. The same notification lists a Rs 650 application fee for grant or renewal.
These figures come from the Transport Department's notification of April 2021, which amended the Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules 1969. The department still links it as its fee structure on the route permit page today. Here are the lines that matter to a rickshaw owner:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee, grant or renewal | Rs 650 |
| Motorcycle rickshaw (qingqi), one year | Rs 600 |
| Motor cab rickshaw, one year | Rs 600 |
| Late fee for renewal | Rs 300 |
| Transfer of route permit | Rs 600 |
| Duplicate route permit | Rs 500 |
| Hearing fee for a transport appeal | Rs 500 |
Read on its face, the notification charges the Rs 650 application fee on top of the Rs 600 permit fee, which makes Rs 1,250 for a first year. The department's procedure page mentions only "a fee of PKR 650" for renewal. Ask the DRTA counter which total applies before you pay, and keep the receipt.
Papers you need for a rickshaw route permit
You need six papers: an affidavit on stamp paper, a copy of your CNIC, the vehicle's registration book, proof that token tax is paid, a valid fitness certificate, and third party risk insurance. The application goes on the prescribed form.
- Affidavit. The department publishes a sample on stamp paper.
- CNIC copy of the owner.
- Registration book as proof of ownership. If you bought the rickshaw second hand, transfer the ownership into your name first.
- Token tax paid. Unpaid tax blocks the permit, and Punjab has started penalties and road checks for token tax defaulters from 1 October 2026.
- Fitness certificate from a vehicle inspection station.
- Third party risk insurance. The department posts a sample of this too.
A passenger guarantee is also on the list, but the department says it is only for intercity stage carriages such as buses and wagons. A rickshaw does not need it.
Get the fitness certificate first
Book the fitness test before anything else, because the permit needs it. The Transport Department says all public service vehicles registered in Punjab, rickshaws included, need a fitness certificate. Book through the VICS website or the UAN 042-111-678-711.
VICS stands for Vehicle Inspection and Certification System. It runs the testing stations. When you book, give the station you want, the registration number, the vehicle type and your name. On the day, bring the original registration book, the driver's CNIC and driving licence, and the inspection fee in cash.
Take the rickshaw in empty, with no fluid leaks and no loose or hanging parts or wires. A vehicle that fails must be repaired and tested again. The department says commercial vehicles are tested every six months, so the certificate will need renewing more often than the permit. The wider rules are set out for commercial vehicle fitness in Punjab.
How to apply for a rickshaw route permit, step by step
Get the fitness certificate and insurance ready, then apply at your district's DRTA office or on the Punjab Digital Transport Governance portal. Pay the fee by bank challan at the National Bank, over the counter through GoPb Biller, or through any bank's app.
- Pay token tax and keep the proof.
- Book and pass the VICS fitness test.
- Buy third party insurance for the rickshaw.
- Make the affidavit on stamp paper.
- Apply. Either visit the Secretary DRTA's office in your district, or sign up on the online portal as an individual and add your vehicle.
- Pay the fee by challan at any National Bank branch, at a bank counter through GoPb Biller, or through internet or mobile banking.
- Collect the permit and keep it in the rickshaw.
We opened the online portal at pdtg-transport.punjab.gov.pk on 1 October 2026. It loaded a login page with separate sign ups for individuals and companies. We did not create an account, so we cannot say how long an online application takes to clear. The Transport Department has posted short video guides on making an account, adding a vehicle and applying for a digital route permit.
Air conditioned vehicles go to the Provincial Transport Authority in Lahore instead. That does not apply to rickshaws.
Renew one month before the permit expires
A rickshaw route permit lasts one year. Apply for renewal one month before it expires, paying the Rs 650 fee, to avoid the late fee. The late fee is Rs 300 for each month or part of a month that you are late.
So a permit renewed two weeks late costs Rs 300 more, and one renewed six weeks late costs Rs 600 more. The fitness certificate and insurance must also be valid at renewal, so check their dates first.
Common questions
How much is a qingqi route permit in Punjab?
Rs 600 for one year, under the Transport Department's notification. The same notification lists a Rs 650 application fee, so confirm the total with your DRTA before paying.
Where do I get a rickshaw route permit in Punjab?
From the District Regional Transport Authority office in your district, or online on the Punjab Digital Transport Governance portal.
Does a rickshaw need a fitness certificate in Punjab?
Yes. The Transport Department says all public service vehicles registered in Punjab, including rickshaws, need one. Book the test through VICS.
How long is a rickshaw route permit valid?
One year. The department lists motor cab taxis, rickshaws and motorcycle rickshaws as contract carriage permits granted for one year and renewable.
What is the late fee for renewing a route permit?
Rs 300 for each month or part of a month after expiry. Apply one month before expiry to avoid it.
Can I drive my qingqi in another district on the same permit?
The motorcycle rickshaw fee covers routes within the limits of your own DRTA. For anything wider, ask the DRTA before you drive there.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 1 October 2026. We read the Transport Department's route permit procedure, its FAQs and fitness certificate page, and its route permit fee notification of April 2021, a two page scan we read as images. We opened the online portal but did not apply. The department has not published a newer fee notification on the route permit page that we could find. If the DRTA counter quotes a different amount, the counter's receipt is the figure that counts.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
