The Meghalaya government has notified the Meghalaya Rent a Motor Cab Operational Rules, 2025, aimed at licensing and regulating motor cab rental services within the state. According to the notification, the rules shall apply to all motor cabs holding tourist permits issued under sub-section (9) of Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Under the new rules, no person shall engage in the business of renting out a motor cab without obtaining a valid licence.
Applications for the grant or renewal of such licences must be submitted in Form 1 to the licensing authority having jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence or principal place of business, along with a fee of Rs 10,000. A licence granted or renewed under Paragraph 6 will remain valid for a period of five years from the date of issue or renewal. The notification further specifies that every licence holder must maintain a register with separate pages for each vehicle, recording the particulars prescribed in Form 5.
In cases where a motor cab is hired by a foreign national, the details must additionally be entered in Form 6. Moreover, the licence holder is required to display prominently inside each motor cab the contact details of the licensing authority, local emergency services, and a helpline number. It is also mandated that the licensee and their staff are trained in basic emergency response procedures.