The licence is the most important document while driving any vehicle. If you don’t have one, it is better to avoid driving the vehicle yourself. Kochi is the vibrant port city of Kerala. A famous tourist location, you will find the streets and roads of Kochi flooded with tourists for most parts of the year. Therefore, driving responsibly and following all the traffic rules is a must. Driving without a valid driving licence in Kochi may lead to a licence challan if the traffic inspector asks to show the driving licence. More details on the licence challan fine and how to avoid it are shared in the below sections.
What is a Licence Challan?
A licence challan is issued when you forget to carry the licence while driving. It may happen if you forget the licence at home or your licence has expired. Not having the right driving licence for your vehicle may also lead to a traffic challan.
You also need to carry documents such as the Registration Certificate or RC of the vehicle, vehicle insurance, and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for older vehicles. Not carrying any of these documents while driving may also lead to a traffic challan.
As the traffic police are present on most of the important junctures of the roads in Kochi, escaping the challan after breaking any traffic laws is almost impossible. Also, CCTV cameras, speed guns, and other technologies have been installed on the connecting highways and roads. Therefore, an e-challan may also be imposed on your vehicle for ignoring the traffic rules.
What is the Fine for Driving Without a License Challan in Kochi?
The fine for driving without a valid licence can be different for different states. The below table shows the details of fine applicable for a licence challan in Kochi:
| Offence | Fine |
| First time offender | Rs. 5000 |
| Repeat offender | Rs. 10,000 |
A penalty or fine of Rs. 5000 is charged if you are driving without a licence for the first time. For subsequent offences, you may be charged up to Rs. 10,000. If you are involved in other traffic violations which are severe in nature, your licence may be suspended or your vehicle can be seized by the traffic police. Therefore, while carrying a driving licence is essential, following the traffic rules and regulations is equally important.
If you forget to clear the licence challan by paying the challan fees, an additional penalty or late payment fees will be charged upon completion of 90 days from the date of challan issuance.
How to Pay Challan for Driving Without License Challan in Kochi?
Clearing a licence challan is quite easy and straightforward now. Most traffic inspectors have a challan machine. You can clear the challans using this machine via QR code scanner, credit card, or debit card. In case you don’t want to clear the challan offline or want to challenge it, you can visit the eParivahan site. Here, you get the option of clearing the challan or raising a complaint against it. The following steps will guide you for both these procedures:
- Step 1: Your first step will be to visit the eParivahan site. Here, you can click on the ‘check challan status’ page first. After that, you can enter the challan number directly and clear the payment via net banking, UPI, credit card, or debit card.
- Step 2: Alternatively, you can also enter your vehicle number and check all the pending challans against your vehicle. Once you clear a challan, don’t forget to save the payment receipt for future references.
- Step 3: To raise a complaint against a licence challan, you must use the ‘complaint’ section of the eParivahan site. Here, you can register your complaint number by providing the challan number, selecting the challan type, and explaining the reason why the challan has been wrongly issued against your vehicle.
- Step 4: Submitting photos, videos, or any evidence that supports your claim is equally important. Once you register a complaint, a tracking number will be provided to you. You can check the status of your complaint using this number.
You can also use the official site or app of Spinny to check and clear e-challans online. Once you clear the challan, you can download the receipt in PDF format for further use.
How to Avoid Getting a Challan for Driving Without a Licence Challan in Kochi?
If you follow certain things, you can avoid a licence challan in Kochi. These things are explained in detail below:
- Renew Your Licence On Time
It is important to keep renewing your licence before it expires. The licence for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) of private type are valid for 20 years or till 50 years whichever comes first. After that, you must regularly renew it every 5 years.
Transport and commercial vehicles require renewal after every 3 to 5 years depending upon the vehicle type. If you present an expired licence to the traffic inspector, a licence challan will be issued against your vehicle. If you don’t renew your licence within the grace period of 30 days, even a penalty fee will be charged when you renew it.
- Carry The Digital Copy Of Licence
Carrying the digital copy of licence might help you avoid a licence challan when the original licence is forgotten or goes missing. You can also store the digital copies of your RC, PUC certificate, and insurance to avoid any of the challans issued in the absence of these documents. Apps like DigiLocker can help you save the e-copies of these vehicle documents.
- Follow The Traffic Rules
Following the traffic rules helps to avoid a traffic challan. On most occasions, the licence is either asked during checking or when you violate any traffic law. By adhering to all the traffic rules, you indirectly avoid the licence challan as well.
At the same time, driving responsibly helps you avoid unnecessary challan imposed due to breaking traffic rules. Honking in the silent zones, parking your vehicle in the no parking zone, breaking the signal, speaking on the phone while driving, and overspeeding are some of the most common traffic violations. Breaking these rules not only leads to a traffic challan but also hampers your driving experience.
- Request For A Discount
You can also ask for a discount against the pending challan by visiting the Lok Adalat. You can close trivial traffic cases in Lok Adalat after getting a proper discount. Sometimes, especially if you are a first time offender, your licence challan may also be cancelled.
Conclusion
These were some things to follow to avoid a licence challan in Kochi. Kochi is a bustling city that remains crowded with locals and tourists for most parts of the year. While driving responsibly is a must, following the basic traffic hygiene like carrying the driving licence also matters a lot. You must keep the documents related to your vehicle including the driving licence in your vehicle itself. This will help you leave or forget any of the important documents at home. Also, carrying a digital copy of the driving licence can also help you avoid a driving challan that can be issued when you forget the licence at home.
FAQs
Q. How much penalty is charged for renewing the licence after the expiry?
A grace period of 30 days is provided to renew the driving licence. If you renew it before 30 days, no penalty is charged. However, post 30 days, a fee of Rs. 300 or more can be charged as a penalty. For renewing the licence after 1 year, a penalty of Rs. 1000 will be charged. If you avoid the renewal after 5 years, you will have to apply for a new driving licence.
Q. What is the licence renewal fee in India?
If you renew the licence within the grace period, a nominal fee of Rs. 200 will be charged.
Q. What is the maximum age limit to get a driving licence in India?
There is no maximum or upper age limit to apply for a driving licence in India. The only condition is that the person must be medically fit to drive with good eyesight and the person should not be colour blind either. However, the licence for people over 50 remains valid only for 5 years after which they will have to provide a medical certificate to renew it for another 5 years.
Q. Which cars require a fitness test certificate to be driven legally?
Cars older than 15 years require a fitness test certificate after every 5 years. In Delhi-NCR, the cars must pass the fitness tests after 10 years. Failing to pass the fitness test makes it illegal to be driven. In this case, you can scrap the vehicle and buy a new one.
Q. When to renew the RC of a private vehicle in India?
The RC remains valid for 15 years when the vehicle is first bought. After that, it needs to be renewed every 5 years after passing a thorough inspection or fitness test.
