Loading...
Loading...
Calculate exact expiry date and time for your e-way bill. Enter distance, transport mode, and generation time to know precisely when your e-way bill expires and whether you can extend it.
| Cargo Type | Validity per Unit | Example (500 km) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal cargo (road/rail/air) | 1 day per 200 km | 3 days (72 hours) |
| Over-dimensional cargo (ODC) | 1 day per 20 km | 25 days (600 hours) |
| Ship / vessel transport | 1 day per 200 km + 2 extra days | 5 days (120 hours) |
| Multimodal (road + rail) | 1 day per 200 km (longer route) | 3 days (72 hours) |
The validity period starts from the date and time of generation mentioned on the e-way bill, not from the date of the invoice or the date of actual dispatch. If you generate the bill at 3:00 PM on January 1st and the validity is 1 day, it expires at midnight on January 2nd (i.e., 11:59 PM of the next day).
Understanding e-way bill validity is critical because transporting goods with an expired e-way bill is treated the same as transporting without one — the goods and vehicle can be detained under Section 129 of the CGST Act. Here is what you need to know:
Validity is calculated in days, not hours
Even though the formula gives you a number of days, each "day" means 24 hours from the time of generation. So if you generate at 2:30 PM, the first day expires at midnight the following day — giving you roughly 33.5 hours for a 1-day validity.
Part distance counts as full
If the distance is 250 km, you get 2 days (not 1.25 days). The calculation uses ceiling division — any fraction rounds up to the next whole day. This is in your favor.
Distance is approximate — not exact
The e-way bill portal uses NIC-calculated distance based on PIN codes. If you feel the distance is wrong, you can enter the actual distance, but it must not differ by more than 10% from the NIC distance.
Validity cannot be reduced
Once generated, the validity period is fixed. Even if goods arrive early, the e-way bill remains valid until expiry. You do not need to cancel it upon delivery.
If your consignment cannot reach the destination within the validity period due to transit delays, accidents, vehicle breakdowns, or natural calamities, you can extend the e-way bill. The rules are strict:
Extension Window:
8 hours before expiry → Expiry time → 8 hours after expiry
You have a total 16-hour window to extend (8 hours on each side of the expiry time)
To extend, go to the e-Way Bill portal → Extend Validity → Enter e-way bill number → Select reason → Enter new vehicle number (if changed) → Submit. The system generates a new validity period from the current time.
Important: Extension is available only to the generator (consignor or consignee) or the transporter. The extension adds another validity period based on the remaining distance. You can extend multiple times if needed, but each extension must be within the window.
If goods are found being transported with an expired e-way bill during a roadside inspection, the consequences under Section 129 and Section 130 of the CGST Act are severe:
| Situation | Penalty | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Owner comes forward | 200% of tax payable OR ₹25,000 (whichever is higher) | Section 129(1)(a) |
| Owner does not come forward | 50% of value of goods OR 200% of tax (whichever is higher) | Section 129(1)(b) |
| Repeated offense / intent to evade | Confiscation of goods + vehicle | Section 130 |
The goods and vehicle are detained until penalty is paid or security is furnished. The detention period typically lasts 7-14 days. During this period, perishable goods may get damaged — an additional financial loss beyond the penalty.
Last updated: May 2026 | Based on Rule 138(10) of CGST Rules and CBIC circulars