The Bagmati Province government has officially started registering motorcycles and scooters used for ride-sharing as public vehicles. The Transport Management Office in Gurjudhara, Kathmandu, has already processed the first batch of five motorcycles under this new system.
Under this policy, individual owners cannot register their vehicles for commercial use directly. Instead, they must be affiliated with a registered ride-sharing company that handles the conversion process. Vehicles must also meet specific age and technical standards to qualify for the black plate.
Key requirements for registration include:
- Mandatory technical inspection (jaanchpass) and emission testing.
- Proof of valid passenger insurance.
- Payment of a Rs 1,000 registration fee.
Once registered, these motorcycles will receive a route permit similar to metered taxis. Operators are also subject to a Rs 3,000 annual income tax and a 5 percent tax on each ride-sharing transaction. This move brings ride-sharing services into the formal commercial transport sector, replacing the previous practice of using private red-plate vehicles for commercial trips.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
