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in short
- An e-way bill is needed when goods worth more than ₹50,000 move by a motor vehicle. Some states set a different limit for movement within the state.
- Validity is one day for every 200 km, or part of it, for normal cargo.
- You can cancel within 24 hours and extend close to expiry, but you cannot edit a wrong e-way bill.
- Most penalties come from simple errors: a wrong vehicle number, an expired bill or a missing Part B.
A vehicle stopped on the highway with a faulty e-way bill costs far more than the tax involved. The goods are held, the customer waits and the penalty is steep. Almost every such case comes from a small mistake that takes a minute to prevent.
This guide covers what you need to get right.
When You Need an E-Way Bill
You need one when goods with a consignment value of more than ₹50,000 move by a motor vehicle. That covers more than sales:
- A sale to a customer.
- A branch or godown transfer.
- Goods sent for job work or on approval.
- A purchase from an unregistered supplier, where you as the buyer generate it.
The value includes GST and leaves out any exempt goods on the same invoice.
Part A and Part B
An e-way bill has two parts.
- Invoice is readyOr a delivery challan
- Fill Part AParties, goods, HSN, value
- Fill Part BVehicle or transport document
- E-way bill numberCarry it with the goods
Part A holds the invoice details: who is sending, who is receiving, what the goods are, their HSN code and value. Part B holds the vehicle number, or the transporter’s document number for rail, air or ship.
The validity period starts only when Part B is filled. If the goods move less than 50 km within the state to reach the transporter, Part B is not needed for that leg.
How Long It Is Valid
Up to 200 km, the e-way bill is valid for one day. Every further 200 km, or part of it, adds one more day: 201 to 400 km is two days, 401 to 600 km is three days.
| Distance | Validity for normal cargo |
|---|---|
| Up to 200 km | 1 day |
| 201 to 400 km | 2 days |
| 401 to 600 km | 3 days |
| Every further 200 km or part | 1 more day |
Each “day” runs until midnight of the day after the bill was generated, so a bill made at 4 pm on Monday for 150 km is valid until midnight on Tuesday. Over-dimensional cargo gets one day for every 20 km.
If the vehicle is delayed, the validity can be extended on the portal within eight hours before or after it expires.
What You Can and Cannot Change
- Cancel: within 24 hours of generation, as long as it has not been checked in transit.
- Update the vehicle: Part B can be updated when goods shift to another vehicle.
- Reject: the recipient can reject an e-way bill raised in their name within 72 hours.
- Edit: not possible. A wrong e-way bill must be cancelled and made again.
Also note that an e-way bill cannot be generated on an invoice or challan that is more than 180 days old.
Mistakes That Get Vehicles Stopped
- Wrong vehicle number. One wrong digit makes the bill invalid for that vehicle.
- Expired bill. The truck broke down and nobody extended the validity.
- Part B left blank. The bill was started but never completed.
- Invoice and e-way bill do not match. Different quantity, value or HSN code.
- No e-way bill for returns or transfers. These movements need one too.
- Returns not filed. If GSTR-3B is not filed for two tax periods in a row, the portal blocks e-way bill generation.
Generate It From the Invoice
Typing the same details twice, once in the invoice and again on the portal, is where most mismatches begin. With the Saniiro E-Way Bill module, you generate the e-way bill from the invoice you have already made, so the parties, items, HSN codes and values carry over as they are. If you also issue e-invoices, see our guide to e-invoicing under GST.
This article is general information as of 7 October 2026, not tax or legal advice. GST rules, limits and due dates change by notification, so check the GST portal or ask your chartered accountant before you act on it.