AIS-140 Rules Explained: What Every Fleet Owner Needs to Know
The AIS-140 rules can decide whether your bus, taxi or school vehicle gets its fitness certificate and permit renewed. This guide explains the standard, the vehicles it covers, what a compliant fitment looks like, and how state RTOs check it.
By GPSBULL · Updated 2026-08-15 · Manufacturer of AIS-140 certified VLT devices, New Delhi
What are the AIS-140 rules?
AIS-140 is an Automotive Industry Standard published by ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Its full title is Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - Requirements for Public Transport Vehicle Operation. In everyday use, the AIS-140 rules mean the requirement that certain vehicles carry a certified Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with one or more emergency (panic) buttons.
The legal hook is Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, inserted by MoRTH notification G.S.R. 1095(E) of November 2016. As notified, it requires public service vehicles to be fitted with a vehicle location tracking device and one or more emergency buttons, with the device conforming to AIS-140:2016 as amended from time to time.
How the timeline evolved
- As originally notified, the rule was to apply from 1 April 2018. MoRTH later deferred it to 1 April 2019 because many states did not yet have a command-and-control centre to receive the data.
- MoRTH then notified (S.O. 5454(E) of October 2018) that public service vehicles registered on or after 1 January 2019 must have the VLTD and emergency button fitted at the time of registration.
- For public service vehicles registered up to 31 December 2018, each State or Union Territory notifies its own compliance date, which is why retro-fitment deadlines differ from state to state.
The standard has since been amended (Amendment 1 in 2017 and Amendment 2 in 2018), and states keep issuing their own SOPs and phase-wise notifications. Always confirm the current position with your state transport department or RTO before buying or fitting a device.
Which vehicles must comply with AIS-140?
Rule 125H applies to public service vehicles as defined in Section 2(35) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: any motor vehicle used, or adapted to be used, for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward. That definition expressly includes a motor cab, a maxi cab, a contract carriage and a stage carriage.
In practical terms, that usually means
- City and inter-city buses (stage carriages)
- Contract carriages, tourist buses and staff or employee transport buses
- Taxis, cabs and maxi cabs, including app-based and radio taxis
- School buses and educational institution vehicles, where notified by the state (several states treat them as a priority category)
Who is exempt under the central rule
- Two-wheelers, three-wheelers and e-rickshaws
- Transport vehicles for which no permit is required under the Motor Vehicles Act
The net is wider than passenger transport alone. State SOPs also cite a separate MoRTH notification covering national permit goods vehicles, and some states have extended the requirement to ambulances, oxygen tankers and even all goods carriers in phases, so goods operators should check their own state notification too. If you run school transport, our guide to school bus GPS trackers covers the extra expectations schools and parents add on top of the rule.
What a compliant AIS-140 fitment includes
Compliance is more than buying a box that says "AIS-140" on it. State SOPs describe a chain of requirements, and the vehicle passes only when every link is in place.
| Component | What the rules expect |
|---|---|
| Certified VLTD | AIS-140 type approval from a testing agency notified under Rule 126 of the CMVR (for example ARAI or ICAT), plus valid Conformity of Production (CoP), tested yearly after first certification. ARAI publishes the list of models with valid TAC and CoP. |
| Satellite positioning | GNSS receiver supporting IRNSS (NavIC) alongside GPS; the current ARAI list is specifically for GPS + IRNSS devices under AIS-140:2016 with Amendments 1 and 2. |
| Connectivity | Cellular data link with an embedded SIM (eSIM); state SOPs typically ask the manufacturer to manage the SIM subscription and confirm renewals. |
| Emergency buttons | One or more hard-wired panic buttons placed where the driver and passengers can reach them, wired as per AIS-140, usually with a hooter or buzzer. |
| Backend reporting | Location, health and alert data sent at regular intervals to the state monitoring centre and the manufacturer backend; panic alerts forwarded to the emergency response system (ERSS / 112) where the state has integrated it. |
| Vahan linkage | Device IMEI and ICCID registered on the VAHAN VLTD maker portal and tagged to the vehicle's engine and chassis number; activation confirmed with an OTP to the owner or permit holder; fitment certificate generated. |
Panic button placement in practice
State SOPs (West Bengal's fitment SOP is a good example) are specific: at least one button per passenger row plus a dedicated driver button in a car; in a bus, buttons visible and reachable throughout the seating area, roughly every 2 metres on both sides, with dedicated buttons for rows reserved for women; and one driver button in national permit trucks and other commercial vehicles under the rule. Our panic button device page shows typical wiring layouts.
The VLTD itself is mounted where passengers cannot easily reach it, with no metal cover and the IMEI clearly visible for inspection. As a manufacturer example, the GPSBULL AIS-140-4G (model TRP-4G) holds ARAI type approval TAC AS9026, works on GPS + GLONASS + IRNSS (NavIC), uses 4G LTE with a dual-network embedded SIM, and supports SOS panic buttons, tamper and over-speed alerts and remote immobilization in an IP68 housing.
How enforcement works: Vahan, fitness and permits
The enforcement design is simple: the AIS-140 device is linked to the vehicle record in VAHAN, and the RTO checks that record whenever it processes the vehicle. State SOPs put it plainly: fitment and functional status of the device are enforced at the time of registration, permit issuance or renewal, and fitness check.
Where you will feel it
- New registration. For public service vehicles, the VLTD must be fitted, activated and tagged before the RTO approves registration.
- Fitness certificate (CF). Once the device is activated on the state backend, its status appears in the VAHAN VLTD module, which the RTO uses to verify functional status at CF issue or renewal.
- Permit issue and renewal. Permit holders are the accountable party in most SOPs; some states require them to be alerted by SMS if the device stops sending data.
- Physical inspection. Motor Vehicle Inspectors check mounting, wiring and the number and position of panic buttons, then verify live location and data freshness before approving or rejecting the fitment.
- Ongoing monitoring. The state monitoring centre runs health checks and reports vehicles whose device has been silent beyond a defined number of days.
Penalties fall under the Motor Vehicles Act and state enforcement drives; amounts and intensity of checking vary by state, so treat your local transport department as the final word.
Common mistakes that get vehicles rejected
- Buying a cheap tracker that is not AIS-140 type approved. Ordinary GPS trackers cannot be registered on the VAHAN VLTD portal, so the vehicle cannot be tagged. This is the most common and costliest mistake.
- Certified device, but not enlisted in your state. Most states empanel manufacturers and models separately; an ARAI-approved model still has to be on your state's list, with its backend integrated with the state monitoring centre.
- Lapsed Conformity of Production. CoP is tested and renewed periodically; a device from a batch whose CoP has lapsed can be refused at tagging.
- Panic buttons missing or wrongly placed. Too few buttons, or buttons passengers cannot reach, fail the physical inspection.
- Fitted but never activated. The device must be tagged to the chassis and engine number and activated with the owner's OTP; otherwise VAHAN shows nothing.
- SIM lapsed, device silent. If the eSIM subscription expires, the vehicle looks non-compliant at the next fitness check even though the hardware is fine.
In short: an ordinary 4G GPS tracker solves a business problem (where is my vehicle), while an AIS-140 VLT device solves a regulatory one (proving to the RTO that the vehicle is tracked and passengers can raise an alarm). Only the second satisfies Rule 125H.
How to get compliant, step by step
- Confirm your category and deadline. Read your state transport department's notification or SOP, or ask the RTO, and note whether retro-fitment of older vehicles has been notified and by when.
- Shortlist devices that are on both lists. The model should appear on ARAI's list of valid AIS-140 type approvals and CoP, and on your state's enlisted or empanelled manufacturer list.
- Check the manufacturer's support footprint. States typically ask for authorised fitment centres, a helpline, warranty and an escalation process. GPSBULL, for example, is a GPS tracker manufacturer in India whose AIS-140 device holds ARAI type approval; it designs and builds devices locally, works to ISO 9001:2015 and CMMI Level 3 certified processes and runs 24/7 device support.
- Get the fitment done by an authorised installer. Mounting, wiring and panic button placement are inspected physically.
- Complete tagging and activation. The installer registers IMEI and ICCID on the VLTD portal, links them to your engine and chassis number, completes OTP activation and gives you the fitment certificate. Keep a copy in the vehicle file.
- Keep it alive. Renew the eSIM on time, watch for device-offline alerts and fix faults quickly. Many operators also feed the same data into a fleet management platform for route history, geofences and driver behaviour, so the mandated device earns its keep beyond compliance.
Still comparing models? Our AIS-140 GPS tracker page lists what to look for in a certified device, and the guides section covers speed governors, school bus tracking and more. Rules and deadlines change; re-check with your state RTO at every permit or fitness renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Is AIS-140 mandatory for all commercial vehicles?
Under CMVR Rule 125H it is mandatory for public service vehicles (passenger vehicles for hire or reward such as buses, taxis and maxi cabs), excluding two-wheelers, three-wheelers, e-rickshaws and vehicles that need no permit. National permit goods vehicles and, in some states, ambulances and other categories have been brought in through separate notifications, so check your state transport department's notification.
Which authority certifies an AIS-140 device?
Testing agencies notified under Rule 126 of the CMVR, such as ARAI and ICAT, issue type approval and Conformity of Production for AIS-140 VLT devices. ARAI publishes an updated list of models with valid approvals.
Can I use a normal GPS tracker instead of an AIS-140 device?
No. Only an AIS-140 type-approved VLTD can be registered on the VAHAN VLTD portal and tagged to your vehicle, and only that tagging is checked at registration, fitness and permit renewal.
How many panic buttons does a vehicle need?
The rule says one or more. State SOPs typically ask for a driver button plus one button per passenger row in cars, and buttons spaced roughly every 2 metres on both sides of a bus with dedicated buttons for women's seats. Follow your state's fitment guideline.
What happens if my AIS-140 device stops working?
The state monitoring centre flags devices that stop reporting, and the vehicle can be treated as non-compliant at the next fitness or permit check. Get it repaired or replaced through the manufacturer and ensure it is re-activated on the backend.
Does AIS-140 require NavIC (IRNSS)?
In practice, yes. ARAI's current list of valid AIS-140 type approvals is specifically for GPS + IRNSS (NavIC) devices under AIS-140:2016 with Amendments 1 and 2, so a device without NavIC support is unlikely to be accepted for tagging.
Questions about your fleet? Talk to the manufacturer.
Speak directly with the manufacturer — device specifications, state-wise compliance guidance, dealer pricing and bulk quotes. Office: Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–7 PM IST. Device support: 24/7.
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Official sources & further reading
- PIB / MoRTH: GPS Tracking System for Vehicles (Rule 125H, G.S.R. 1095(E), S.O. 1663(E), S.O. 5454(E))
- Transport Department, West Bengal: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for VLTD Fitment and Tagging (AIS-140)
- Transport Department, Puducherry: SOP on Enlistment of VLT Devices (AIS-140 Compliant) Manufacturers with Emergency System
- ARAI: Status of Valid Type Approval / CoP for VLT Devices (GPS + IRNSS/NavIC) as per AIS 140:2016 with Amendments 1 and 2