Importance of PUC certificate

Posted on: Jun 17, 2019 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Importance of PUC certificate

PUC certificate stands for ‘Pollution under Control’ and states that the vehicle is safe to drive on Indian roads and does not contribute to the rising pollution rates.

Apart from ensuring that you insure your vehicle with a car or bike insurance policy, it is mandatory for you to carry a PUC certificate when driving on Indian roads as per the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. PUC certificate is granted to a vehicle that has passed the PUC test. The test is conducted to check if the vehicle emissions are in compliance with the air pollution norms. This certificate is required for every vehicle type including LPG/CNG/diesel and others. You can get your vehicles PUC tested at any petrol pump or independent PUC testing centre in your vicinity.

What is a PUC Certificate?

The PUC Certificate or Pollution Under Control is a document which certifies that the emissions from your vehicle are below the legally permissible limit. It is an effort to reduce pollution overall and to ensure that all vehicles’ emissions are under a controllable limit and are not above the legally mandated limit that has been prescribed. There are several reasons why the PUC Certificate is important.

Why is a PUC Certificate Important?

• Under the Motor Vehicles Act, having a PUC certificate is compulsory, just the way having valid insurance for your car, the registration certificate and a driving license are vital.

• Furthermore, a mandate by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has made having a PUCC compulsory for vehicle owners wanting to buy or renew a bike or car insurance policy.

• Without a valid PUCC, under Section 190 (2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, you could be prosecuted. If you do not have this document with you, a first-time offence will attract a fine of ₹1000/- while you will have to pay ₹2000/- for a second-time offence. However, the purpose of introducing the PUCC as an important document is to ensure that vehicle owners are more aware of environmental issues and contribute towards reducing them.

Validity of PUC certificate

PUC certificate issued for a new car, post which the test has to be done every 6 months. Post that, the validity of the PUC certificate is decided on the basis of the readings shown in the test. In case the vehicle emissions are found to be hazardous, then the in charge of the PUC testing centre intimates the RTO about the same and also submits your vehicle registration number.

What is the PUC Test Procedure?

The procedure to obtain PUC is as follows:

• If case of new vehicle, the motor dealer will arrange for the PUC certificate.

• For renewal, you will have to take the vehicle to any authorised petrol pump.

• They will scan the ejection pipe to check for the emission rate.

• A certificate will be issued to you after you pay the fees.

Why you should carry your PUC certificate with you?

Every motor vehicle owner in India is required to carry the PUC certificate with him at all times and produce the same on demand by any office not below the rank of of Sub-Inspector of Police or the Inspector of Motor Vehicles. In case if you do not carry your PUC certificate, then you will be liable for prosecution under Section 190(2) as per the Motor Vehicles Act. In some cases, you can also be charged penalty of Rs. 1000/- can be charged for first offender and Rs. 2000/- for subsequent offences.

Contents of the PUC certificate

A PUC certificate contains the below information:

• The PUC certificate serial number

• Vehicle’s license plate number

• The date of the PUC test

• The expiry date of the PUC Certificate

• Vehicle emissions

What is the cost and validity of PUC Certificate?

• The validity of the PUC Certificate for the new car or a bike is 1 year. The certificate will be renewed at regular intervals.

• The validity of the renewed certificate is 6 months for both cars and bikes. In case, the reading is adverse, the validity of the certificate will depend on the reading.

The cost to obtain the Pollution Under Control Certificate varies from Rs.60/- to Rs.100/-. The fuel type also influences the cost.

What are the penalties for not obtaining a PUC Certificate?

You will have to pay a fine for not carrying a PUC Certificate. Under section 190 (2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, you will be liable for prosecution, if you fail to do so.

Other than this, a fine of Rs.1000/- will be charged for the first time offence. But if you repeat it, a fine of Rs.2000/- is to be paid.

Conclusion

Ideally, you should have the PUC certificate before you purchase a car insurance policy. It is also desirable that you always maintain a valid certificate by getting your car tested every 6 months. While the certificate is a mandatory document, the role of the PUC certificate helps in being more aware about the environment and the damage caused by the rising pollution levels.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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