What is a PUC? Do you need it for a two-wheeler?

Posted on: Feb 9, 2022 | | Written by:

What is a PUC? Do you need it for a two-wheeler?

Published on February 8, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

It is no secret that the air quality all around the world has seen a major degeneration over the last decades. But the threat of air pollution in India is particularly eminent. This has been visibly evident in the poor Air Quality Index (AQI) in most cities across India. The effect of poor air quality on India’s public health has also been widely talked about.

And today, with the ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads the situation is only getting worse. Probably the most noticeable example is the smog covering Delhi and its intense impact on people’s lives. It was with this agenda of controlling pollution, that the Central Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 made the Pollution Under Control certificate (PUC) a must have for all drivers. Here is all you need to know about it.

What is the PUC?

The PUC certificate stands for the Pollution Under Control certificate. It contains information like serial number, date of last PUC test, the date upto which it is valid, test readings and the vehicle registration number. It is mandatory for all motor vehicles - two, three or four-wheelers - and drivers are required to carry it at all times. Traffic guards are authorized to ask for it and charge hefty fines when one fails to produce it. The PUC certifies if a vehicle is good enough to be driven on the roads and specifies the carbon emissions from the respective vehicles. It is also necessary to produce a PUC certificate in order to get a two-wheeler insurance or renew one.

Pros of having a PUC certificate

● Necessary as per the law: Carrying a PUC is mandatory by law and a traffic guard may ask a driver to produce it at any point. If a driver fails to show a PUC certificate the first time, he is likely to be charged a fine of INR 1000 while repeat offenders may be charged a sum of INR 2000.

● To insure the vehicle: The IRDAI has made it mandatory to produce a PUC certificate in order to procure or renew insurance. All major insurance companies like HDFC ERGO which provide two-wheeler insurance require the customers to produce the same.

● To keep a tab on pollution: A PUC certificate declares that the emissions from your vehicle are under control and it plays a major role in the protection of the environment.

● Acts as an indicator of the vehicle’s health: An up to date PUC certificate is a good indicator of how your two-wheeler is working. If the bike fails to pass the PUC test, it signifies that there is something wrong and it may be time to take it for servicing.

Criteria to be met to get a PUC certificate

If you are getting a bike or any other two wheeler tested, the criteria that your vehicle’s emission must meet are as follows:

● For a Two Wheeler produced before 31st March, 2000 (2 or 4 stroke):

● Desired Carbon Monoxide Percentage- 4.5

● Desired Hydrocarbon (parts per million) - 9000

● For a Two Wheeler produced after 31st March, 2000 (2 stroke):

● Desired Carbon Monoxide Percentage - 3.5

● Desired Hydrocarbon (parts per million) - 6000

● For a Two Wheeler produced after 31st March, 2000 (4 stroke):

● Carbon Monoxide Percentage - 3.5

● Hydrocarbon (parts per million) - 4500

Procedure of obtaining a PUC certificate, its validity and cost

● For a new vehicle: In case you have just bought your bike, then the dealer is to arrange for the PUC certificate which will remain valid for 1 year.

● For renewing the PUC: You need to take your two-wheeler to an authorized petrol pump. Here, the designated personnel will insert a testing tube in the exhaust pipe of your bike to check the emissions. Upon meeting the criteria, you will be provided with an electrically generated PUC certificate. A renewed PUC is valid for 6 months.

The entire cost of obtaining a PUC certificate can range from INR 50 to INR 100.

Conclusion

To put it into a nutshell, having a PUC certificate is a win-win situation for all parties. It makes sure that your vehicular emissions are under control. This not only helps protect the environment but also gives a clear indication of the vehicle's health. The procedure to obtain the certificate is easy and cheap. With all these factors in place, any good citizen is expected to procure and carry the certificate for everyone’s benefit.

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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