I lost or damaged my bluebook. How do I get a duplicate?

• Vehicle owners whose bluebook (vehicle registration book) is lost, stolen, torn or soaked.

• Traffic police letter for a lost bluebook

  Not needed if the bluebook is damaged but you still have it.

  Official

• Original citizenship certificate of the owner

  Official

• Passport-size photos

  Gurjudhara asks for three.

  In practice

• The damaged bluebook, if you have it

  The vehicle number and main details must still be readable.

  Official

• Vehicle tax paid up to date

  Any unpaid tax has to be cleared before the duplicate is issued.

  Official

In practice items aren't in the official rules but are commonly asked for at the counter.

1. 1

   Ask the traffic police for a lost-document letter

   For a lost bluebook, apply on the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office's lost document portal (ldims.nepalpolice.gov.np). Choose BLUE_BOOK and enter the vehicle number with the owner's name, phone number and address. Upload your citizenship, licence or passport as a PNG or JPG under 1 MB. Outside the valley, ask your district traffic police office how they issue the letter.

2. 2

   Wait for the SMS and print the letter

   Checking usually takes 12 to 72 hours and at most about seven days. You get an SMS when the letter is ready. Download and print it.

3. 3

   Go to the transport office where the vehicle is registered

   Only that office can issue the duplicate. A bike registered in Banepa gets its duplicate in Banepa, for example. Bring the police letter (or the damaged bluebook), your original citizenship and photos.

4. 4

   Fill in the duplicate form and pay

   Clear any unpaid vehicle tax first, then pay the duplicate fee. The office usually issues the new bluebook in one to two hours once your papers are in. A damaged bluebook is kept by the office.