Updated 11 November 2026: Delhi-NCR moved to GRAP Stage III on 6 November. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars now cannot be driven in Ghaziabad, Noida or Delhi until it is lifted. Details are below.
If your car is registered in Ghaziabad or Noida and does not meet BS-VI emission norms, you cannot drive it into Delhi until 31 January 2027. The Delhi government’s winter action plan bars vehicles registered outside Delhi that are below BS-VI, while electric and CNG vehicles are exempt. If you need a car that can cross the border, Shiva Mahindra in Ghaziabad can value your old car for exchange.
The rule at a glance.
What: vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission norms cannot enter Delhi.
When: 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Exempt: electric vehicles, CNG vehicles and essential services, as announced.
Announced by: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on 20 October 2026, as part of Delhi’s Winter Action Plan 2026-27.
GRAP Stage III: which cars are banned in Ghaziabad and Noida.
Under GRAP Stage III, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars cannot be driven in Ghaziabad or Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), or in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect on 6 November 2026, when Delhi’s average AQI was 382. CAQM’s website still listed it as in force on 11 November.
Banned under Stage III: BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars and other light motor vehicles, in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Exemption: persons with disabilities may use these cars if they are adapted for them and used only for their personal travel.
Goods vehicles: diesel light and medium goods vehicles of BS-IV or older, registered outside Delhi, cannot enter Delhi.
Not covered by Stage III: BS-IV petrol, BS-VI, CNG and electric cars. Delhi’s separate entry rule still keeps non-BS-VI cars from outside Delhi out of the city until 31 January 2027.
How long: until CAQM lifts Stage III. If air quality gets worse, it can move to Stage IV.
If you own a BS-IV diesel car registered in Ghaziabad or Noida, it has to stay off the road until Stage III is lifted. CAQM added Sonipat to the list of districts when it revised the GRAP schedule on 29 September 2026.
Does it affect your car?
Check the emission norm on your registration certificate or in your vehicle’s record on the Parivahan website. BS-VI became compulsory for new vehicles sold in India from 1 April 2020, so most petrol and diesel cars registered before then are BS-IV or older.
Cars registered in Delhi are not covered by this entry rule. They still have to follow Delhi’s own age limits, GRAP restrictions and PUC rules.
Two-wheelers and goods vehicles.
Reports differ on two-wheelers. Outlook India, quoting the revised rules, reported that two-wheelers and commercial goods vehicles are exempt from the bar on outside-registered vehicles, while other reports do not mention two-wheelers at all. Goods vehicles also face separate directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Check the latest Delhi Traffic Police advisory before you travel.
How the rule is enforced.
According to Outlook India, cameras at Delhi’s entry points read number plates automatically, non-compliant vehicles get e-challans, and they can be impounded. Inside Delhi, fuel stations will not sell petrol, diesel, CNG or LPG to vehicles without a valid PUC certificate, and fees at authorised municipal car parks have been doubled.
GRAP Stage III has been in force across Delhi-NCR since 6 November 2026, with Stage I and II measures continuing alongside it. The Stage III section above explains which cars it keeps off the road.
Your options with a BS-IV car.
Leave the car outside Delhi: use the Metro or an electric or CNG vehicle for trips into Delhi until 31 January 2027.
Exchange it: trade it in for a BS-VI petrol or diesel car, or an electric one. Mahindra’s electric SUVs include the BE 6, XEV 9e, XEV 9S and XUV 3XO EV.
Get an exchange valuation at Shiva Mahindra.
Shiva Mahindra is part of Shiva Group, the Delhi NCR automotive dealer group. Its showrooms are at C-22, Lohia Nagar, near the Old Bus Stand, Ghaziabad, and at Plot A-16/1 and 16/17, Site-IV Industrial Area, Sahibabad. Bring your car for an exchange valuation and test drive a BS-VI or electric Mahindra. Finance and exchange values are explained in writing before you commit. Get directions to the showroom.
Frequently asked questions.
Can I drive a BS-IV diesel car in Noida or Ghaziabad now?
Not while GRAP Stage III is in force. It bars BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars in Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar, as well as in Delhi.
When will GRAP Stage III be lifted?
CAQM decides based on air quality and forecasts, and it has not given a date. Check the current GRAP stage on CAQM’s website before you drive.
Can a BS-IV car from Ghaziabad enter Delhi now?
No. From 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, vehicles registered outside Delhi that are below BS-VI cannot enter Delhi. Electric and CNG vehicles are exempt.
Are CNG cars from Noida and Ghaziabad allowed?
Yes. CNG vehicles are exempt under the announced rules.
Are two-wheelers from outside Delhi allowed?
Reports differ. Outlook India reported that two-wheelers are exempt, but check the latest Delhi Traffic Police advisory before you ride in.
When does the entry ban end?
On 31 January 2027. Delhi’s wider Winter Action Plan runs until 28 February 2027.
How do I check whether my car is BS-VI?
The emission norm is shown on your registration certificate and in your vehicle’s record on the Parivahan website.
Sources.
Autocar India, 22 October 2026: Non-BS6 vehicle entry ban in Delhi from November 1
Outlook India, 1 November 2026: Can Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad vehicles enter Delhi from November 1?
Business Today, 3 November 2026: GRAP Stage II in Delhi: which vehicles are allowed
CAQM, GRAP schedule revised on 29 September 2026: Graded Response Action Plan for the NCR
CAQM website, current GRAP stage, read on 11 November 2026: caqm.nic.in
News On AIR, 6 November 2026: CAQM invokes Stage-3 of GRAP with immediate effect
About Shiva Group
Shiva Group is a family-owned automotive retail group with a legacy since 1928 and in automotive retail since 1972. Headquartered in Delhi NCR, the Group is an authorised sales and service partner for nine brands across two-wheelers, cars and SUVs, and commercial vehicles — Bajaj, Chetak, KTM, Triumph, Mahindra, Land Rover, MG Select, Bajaj Three-Wheelers and Mahindra Commercial — with a network across Delhi NCR and North India.
