Overloading of Vehicles — Passengers and Goods
Carrying more passengers or goods than the registered capacity is illegal and dangerous.
Vehicles must not carry more passengers or goods than their registered capacity. Overloaded trucks face ₹20,000 + ₹2,000 per extra tonne. Overloaded buses with passenger deaths face criminal charges.
Penalty Under Law
Passenger overloading: ₹200 per extra passenger (Sec. 194A). Goods overloading: ₹20,000 + ₹2,000 per extra tonne (Sec. 194). Vehicle detained.
Legal Source
MV Act Sec. 128, 194; CMVR Rule 93; Motor Transport Workers Act 1961
What the Law Says
Section 128 MV Act: No person driving a transport vehicle shall carry passengers exceeding the capacity mentioned in the registration certificate. Section 194 MV Act: Goods vehicle overloading beyond GVW — ₹20,000 + ₹2,000 per extra tonne. The 2019 amendment significantly increased these fines from the previous ₹2,000 to ₹20,000. The vehicle must be off-loaded before it is permitted to continue.
💡 Why This Rule Exists
Overloading reduces braking effectiveness (heavier vehicle takes longer to stop), causes tyre failures (overinflation under excess load), increases rollover risk, and damages road surfaces. Overloaded buses and trucks are over-represented in fatal accident statistics. Overloaded goods vehicles cause an estimated ₹50,000 crore in road damage annually in India.
Key Facts
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Passenger vehicle: seating capacity listed in RC — includes driver.
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Standing passengers in buses: only permitted if the vehicle's RC authorises standing capacity.
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Goods vehicle GVW = vehicle tare weight + maximum permitted load.
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Overloaded vehicles must off-load before continuing — police cannot simply fine and release.
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Weigh bridges on highways monitor trucks — a vehicle detected overloaded multiple times can be impounded.
⚠️ Common Violations
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Private cars carrying 6–7 people in a 5-seat vehicle.
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Auto-rickshaws carrying 5–6 passengers in a 3-passenger body.
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Trucks systematically exceeding GVW to maximise single-trip revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Two-Wheeler Specific Prohibitions
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