While driving, it is mandatory to keep a copy of a valid Driving License with you at all times 1, and present it to a police officer on demand 2. Now, you can also carry an electronic copy of your driving license in the DigiLocker or mParivahan app 3. If you hold a valid driving license but do not have it when an officer asks you to produce it, you may be punished with a fine between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 4. You may alternatively produce it to the officer/authority who has asked you for it, within a stipulated time period, which varies across states 5.
If your license has been submitted to or seized by, governmental authority or officer, then you must produce a receipt or any other form of acknowledgement, and produce the license within a stipulated time period that varies across states 2.
If you drive a vehicle and you do not possess a driving license or have not attained the required age to drive it, then your vehicle can be seized and detained by a police officer 6. Furthermore, you can be punished with a fine of Rs. 5,000 or with jail time of up to 3 months, or both 7.
The applicable fine amount might vary across states. Given below are the fine amounts of different offences for two states.
State | Type of Vehicle | Fine Amount (In INR) |
Delhi | Not applicable | 5,000 |
Karnataka | Two/Three-Wheeler | 1,000 |
Light Motor Vehicle | 2,000 | |
Others | 5,000 |
- Section 6(3), Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017.[↩]
- Section 130(1), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩][↩]
- Section 139, Central Motor Vehicles Rules,1989.[↩]
- Section 177A, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩]
- Section 130(4), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩]
- Section 207(1), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩]
- Section 181, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩]