E-way bill validity depends on distance. For normal cargo it is 1 day for up to 200 km and 1 more day for every further 200 km or part of it. For over-dimensional cargo it is 1 day per 20 km or part. The clock starts when Part B is first entered, and each day ends at midnight, so day one runs to midnight of the following date.
An e-way bill is not open-ended. It is valid only for a period worked out from the distance the goods will travel, and an expired e-way bill is treated much like no e-way bill at all. This guide explains the current validity rule, exactly when the clock starts and stops, and how to calculate the expiry date for any trip with worked examples.
If you are new to the topic, read what is an e-way bill first.
What is the validity period of an e-way bill?
The validity rule is in Rule 138(10) of the CGST Rules, 2017. It was amended by Notification 94/2020-Central Tax dated 22 December 2020, effective 1 January 2021, which doubled the distance per day for normal cargo from 100 km to 200 km.
| Type of conveyance | Distance | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Normal cargo (other than ODC or multimodal with a ship leg) | Up to 200 km | 1 day |
| Normal cargo | Every additional 200 km or part thereof | 1 additional day |
| Over-dimensional cargo (ODC) or multimodal shipment involving a ship | Up to 20 km | 1 day |
| ODC / multimodal with ship | Every additional 20 km or part thereof | 1 additional day |
Over-dimensional cargo means cargo carried as a single indivisible unit that exceeds the dimensional limits under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules — for example a transformer, a boiler or a large industrial machine on a trailer.
A note on old material: the e-way bill portal's own FAQ page still contains answers written on the old 100 km basis. The rule has been 200 km since 2021, and the portal computes validity on that basis.
When does the validity clock start?
Validity is counted from the relevant date, which is the date on which the e-way bill is generated with Part B. In practice:
- If you fill Part A and Part B together, the clock starts at generation.
- If you fill only Part A and the transporter adds the vehicle number later, the clock starts when Part B is first entered.
- Updating the vehicle number later (because of transhipment or a breakdown) does not reset validity.
This matters for goods that wait at a transporter's godown before loading. The Part A slip can sit unused; validity does not start until the vehicle is assigned. (The portal limits how long a Part A slip stays usable, so do not leave it for weeks.)
When exactly does an e-way bill expire?
Under the explanation to rule 138(10), a "day" means the period expiring at midnight of the day immediately following the date of generation. Each additional day adds 24 hours to that midnight.
So the first day is longer than 24 hours if you generate early in the morning and shorter if you generate late at night — it always ends at midnight at the close of the next calendar date.
| Part B entered at | Validity | Expires at |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 on 10 Nov | 1 day | Midnight at the end of 11 Nov |
| 23:30 on 10 Nov | 1 day | Midnight at the end of 11 Nov |
| 09:00 on 10 Nov | 3 days | Midnight at the end of 13 Nov |
The portal prints the exact "Valid Until" date and time on the e-way bill; always rely on that.
How to calculate e-way bill validity, step by step
- Find the approximate distance from dispatch PIN to delivery PIN. The portal suggests it automatically.
- Decide the cargo type: normal, or over-dimensional/multimodal with ship.
- Divide the distance by 200 (normal) or 20 (ODC).
- Round up any remainder to the next whole number — "or part thereof" means even 1 km over adds a day.
- Count days from the date Part B is entered; the first day ends at midnight of the next date.
Worked example 1: normal cargo, 520 km
A Ludhiana cycle-parts maker ships to a dealer in Jaipur, about 520 km.
- 520 ÷ 200 = 2.6 → rounded up to 3 days
- Part B entered at 14:00 on 3 November
- Day 1 ends midnight at the end of 4 November; day 2 at the end of 5 November; day 3 at the end of 6 November
The goods must reach Jaipur before midnight at the end of 6 November.
Worked example 2: exactly on the boundary
A Kolkata distributor sends goods 400 km. 400 ÷ 200 = 2.0 exactly, so validity is 2 days — there is no remainder to round up. At 401 km it would become 3 days.
Worked example 3: over-dimensional cargo
A fabrication unit in Vadodara moves a large pressure vessel (ODC) to a site 130 km away.
- 130 ÷ 20 = 6.5 → rounded up to 7 days
The low per-day distance reflects how slowly such loads travel, often with escort vehicles and night-only movement.
Quick reference
| Distance (normal cargo) | Validity |
|---|---|
| 1–200 km | 1 day |
| 201–400 km | 2 days |
| 401–600 km | 3 days |
| 601–800 km | 4 days |
| 801–1,000 km | 5 days |
| 1,001–1,200 km | 6 days |
| 1,801–2,000 km | 10 days |
How does validity work for multi-leg journeys?
Many consignments change vehicles at a transporter's hub. Each time the goods move onward, the transporter updates Part B with the new vehicle number. The original validity continues — changing trucks does not give you extra days.
When a hub sends many consignments in one truck to the next branch, the transporter may generate a consolidated e-way bill (Form EWB-02). According to the official FAQ, the consolidated e-way bill has no independent validity: each consignment must still reach its destination within the validity of its own e-way bill. More on that in the consolidated e-way bill guide.
For short local legs — goods moving within the same state up to 50 km from your place to the transporter's godown, or from the transporter to the consignee — Part B is not required. Validity starts only when Part B is entered for the main leg. See Part A and Part B for details.
What happens when an e-way bill expires during transit?
If goods are still on the road after expiry, they are in the same position as goods without an e-way bill. An officer can detain the vehicle and goods under Section 129 of the CGST Act, with release only after paying a penalty. See e-way bill penalty for the amounts.
You have two ways to avoid this:
- Extend the validity. The portal allows extension in a window from 8 hours before to 8 hours after expiry. The person in charge of the conveyance enters the current location, remaining distance and a reason (natural calamity, law and order, transhipment, accident or others). Validity is extended based on the remaining distance. GSTN has capped total extensions at 360 days from the original generation date. Full steps are in extend e-way bill validity.
- Generate a fresh e-way bill if the extension window has passed, using the same underlying document if it is within the 180-day document-date limit.
How does validity work for rail, air and ship?
The distance formula applies to every mode, but Part B differs. For rail, air or ship you enter the transport document number and date — railway receipt, airway bill or bill of lading — instead of a vehicle number. Validity still runs from when Part B is first entered.
Multimodal shipments where at least one leg is by ship are treated like over-dimensional cargo for validity: one day per 20 km or part. This recognises how slowly sea legs move. In practice, many such shipments start with a road leg to the port; the road leg can use its own Part B details, and the transporter updates Part B as the goods change mode.
Planning dispatches around validity: a practical checklist
- Use realistic distance. Accept the portal's PIN-to-PIN suggestion unless the actual route is longer for a genuine reason, such as a diversion.
- Fill Part B close to loading time. If goods will sit at your dock overnight, let the transporter enter Part B when the truck is actually loaded.
- Avoid late-evening generation for short trips. A bill generated at 11 pm for a 150 km trip still expires at midnight of the next date, which leaves about 25 hours; plan night departures accordingly.
- Note the "Valid Until" time on the dispatch register so whoever tracks the shipment knows when an extension might be needed.
- Brief the transporter. If a transporter is assigned, they — not you — usually handle extensions.
- Watch hubs. Goods that wait at a transport hub for days are the most common cause of expired e-way bills.
Worked example 4: late-night generation
A Chennai spice exporter sends a consignment 180 km to Puducherry for consolidation. Part B is entered at 22:45 on 14 November. Validity is 1 day, ending at midnight at the end of 15 November — just over 25 hours. If the truck leaves at 06:00 on 15 November, there is ample time; if loading slips to the evening of 15 November, the transporter should either update Part B later (if not yet entered) or be ready to extend.
Common mistakes with e-way bill validity
- Using the 100 km rule. Old guides and some printed FAQs still show 100 km. The current rule is 200 km per day for normal cargo.
- Assuming 24 hours from generation. Day one runs to midnight of the next date, not 24 hours.
- Inflating distance. Entering 900 km for a 300 km trip to buy extra days is a misstatement, and the portal restricts entries well beyond the PIN-to-PIN distance.
- Forgetting the clock starts with Part B. If your transporter fills Part B a day late, the goods also get that extra day — but if Part B is filled immediately and loading is delayed, you lose time.
- Missing the extension window. More than 8 hours after expiry, you can no longer extend; you will need a new e-way bill.
- Treating ODC as normal cargo. Large indivisible loads must use the 20 km per day standard.
Billing Software by Betterwork fills the distance and Part B from the dispatch details on the invoice, so the validity shown on the e-way bill matches the trip you actually planned.
Key takeaways
- Normal cargo: 1 day per 200 km or part; over-dimensional cargo: 1 day per 20 km or part (rule 138(10), since 1 January 2021).
- Validity starts when Part B is first entered; changing vehicles does not reset it.
- Each day ends at midnight; day one ends at midnight of the date after Part B is entered.
- Consolidated e-way bills have no validity of their own.
- If transit runs late, extend within 8 hours either side of expiry, up to the 360-day overall cap.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. Rules last checked on 20 October 2026; confirm with your tax professional for your situation.