Know whether PUC Certificate is Mandatory for Vehicle Insurance
In India, over the past couple of decades, the number of bikes and cars plying on the road has increased
exponentially. While driving your own vehicle is convenient, and it facilitates easy commuting, you must know
that these vehicles also contribute to environmental pollution. The carbon emission from your vehicle is
detrimental to nature.
With the growing concerns about the rising pollution index, the IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority), has mandated all bike and car owners in India to get an active PUC (Pollution Under Control)
certificate from a recognised and government-approved emission centre. Further, as per IRDA directives, you must
have this certificate to renew motor vehicle insurance. However as per the circular issued by
the regulator on August 2020, not having a PUC doesn’t mean you cannot file a claim, and neither can the insurer
reject your claim.
What is a PUC certificate?
A pollution under control or PUC certificate is an important document that the government issues to all car and
bike owners after thoroughly verifying their vehicle’s emission levels. It is an approval that the emission from
your vehicle is under the pollution norms and under control. As a vehicle owner, you must get this certificate
since it is now a mandatory document to carry while driving.
If you don’t have a PUC certificate for your vehicle, you are liable to pay a fine of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000 for
every subsequent offense under Section 190 (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. Hence it is important that you
get your vehicle tested for PUC and obtain the certificate. This not only helps you be legally compliant but it
also is an excellent way to contribute to the betterment of our mother earth and protecting the environment.
Contents of PUC certificate
The PUC certificate for two-wheelers or cars contains following information:
• The PUC certificate serial number.
• Your vehicle’s registration number
• The date when you took the PUC test
• The date till the PUC test is valid
• The reading of the PUC test
For how long is the PUC certificate valid, and what is the cost?
For a new car and bike, the PUC certificate is not required and must be taken after 1 year from the date of
vehicle registration. After that you must renew it at regular intervals. The validity of the renewed certificate
for both bikes and cars is six months. If the reading of your vehicle is adverse, the validity of the
certificate will depend on the reading.
The cost to get your vehicle PUC tested and get the certificate varies from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 based on the type
of fuel it uses.
What are the benefits of getting a PUC certificate?
Air pollution has a terrible impact on the global environment. So, by getting a PUC certificate, you can ensure
that your vehicle emissions are under control and within the prescribed limits, and contribute to keeping the
pollution under control.
A valid PUC certificate is a critical document that you must have while buying a vehicle insurance online or offline or renewing your existing policy.
The Government of India has made it mandatory for all bike and car owners in India to get their vehicles PUC tested and have a valid PUC certificate. If you don’t have it with you while driving, you may incur a penalty.
When you get your vehicle PUC tested and get the PUC certificate, you can know about the condition of your vehicle and whether it needs servicing or not. If there are any issues, you can get it repaired immediately before it becomes a serious issue.
Final Word
Having a PUC certificate is definitely recommended in order to keep pollution under check. If you have recently purchased a two wheeler or a four wheeler, you can buy an insurance from Kotak General Insurance. Visit the website to know more about the policy.
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Disclaimer: The content provided is for education and informational purpose only, none of the information contained in our blog amounts to any form of opinion or advice. Please go through policy related documents carefully or consult an expert before making any insurance-related decisions.