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Driving a vehicle without a PUC Certificate

Last updated on Apr 8, 2022

It is mandatory for all motor vehicles, except motorcycles of engine capacity less than 70 cc, to have a Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) 1. This certificate indicates that the emissions from your vehicle are under control, and in accordance with the law. This PUC certificate can be easily obtained from any certified pollution check centre, which is present at petrol pumps and car repair shops.

You must get a PUC Certificate for your vehicle within a year of the registration 2 of that vehicle, and it is mandatory to carry this certificate in your vehicle, and must be presented when asked for by a police officer 2. A PUC Certificate is only valid for a limited period of time, and it is important that you renew your PUC certificate before it expires, otherwise, you will be fined.

If you do not have a PUC certificate, you will be punished with a fine of at least Rs. 500 for the first offence, and a fine of at least Rs. 1,500 for every subsequent offence 3. The applicable fine amount might vary across states. 

Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

 

State Frequency of Offence Fine Amount (In INR)
Delhi First offence 500
Any subsequent offence 1,500
Karnataka First offence 500
Any subsequent offence 1,000
  1. Section 115(1)(7), Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.[↩]
  2. Section 115(7), Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.[↩][↩]
  3. Section 177, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[↩]

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