No Valid PUC Certificate
Written and checked byManju Shekhar· Motor Law & Compliance
Driving a vehicle without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
Fine (1st)
Up to ₹10,000 + 3-month licence disqualification
Repeat Fine
Up to 6 months imprisonment and/or up to ₹10,000
Imprisonment
Repeat offence only (up to 6 months)
What the Law Says
All motor vehicles registered in India must carry a valid PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate. PUC tests measure exhaust emissions to ensure they are within permissible limits. The certificate's validity depends on the vehicle's emission norm and is printed on it. The certificate must be shown on demand to a police officer. Invalid PUC is increasingly enforced in metro cities as part of anti-pollution drives.
"Any person who drives or causes or allows to be driven, in any public place a motor vehicle, which violates the standards prescribed in relation to road safety, control of noise and air-pollution, ..." — Sec. 190(2), MV Act 1988. As substituted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (in force 15 August 2026), a vehicle that violates the standards "(i) in relation to road safety or control of air-pollution, shall be liable for the first contravention with penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for a period of three months and for any second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both".
Consequences
- First offence: a penalty of up to ₹10,000 and three months' disqualification from holding a licence — no jail term since 15 August 2026
- Repeat offence: up to 6 months imprisonment, or a fine of up to ₹10,000, or both
- In Delhi-NCR, petrol pumps refuse fuel to vehicles without a valid PUC (CAQM Direction 101)
How to Avoid This Violation
- ✓PUC tests are available at most petrol pumps — takes 5 minutes
- ✓Set a phone reminder for PUC renewal
- ✓Regular vehicle servicing reduces emissions and helps pass PUC
What to Do If Caught
- 1.Pay the fine and get the PUC done immediately at the nearest authorised centre
- 2.PUC can also be done digitally — results are linked to your vehicle's Vahan account
Key Facts
₹10,000
maximum penalty for a first offence
3 months
licence disqualification on a first offence
Legal Reference
Section 190(2), MV Act
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 190(2), as substituted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026; Central Motor Vehicle Rules, Rule 115
Information sourced from Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 190(2), as substituted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026; Central Motor Vehicle Rules, Rule 115. For awareness only — consult a legal professional for specific advice.