Chennai is one of the most humid places in India. The weather and humidity add an extra burden on the driver, especially while driving on busy streets and roads. While driving smoothly through traffic can be challenging, you must also follow the basic rules of the road. One of the most basic rules is to carry a valid driving licence while driving. If you don’t have a licence, you shall be eligible for a licence challan in Chennai. More details on the licence challan penalty and how to avoid it are shared in this article.
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What is a Licence Challan?
A licence challan is an official document that is issued against your vehicle if you drive it without a valid licence. The licence challan is similar to the challans issued when you are unable to produce a Registration Certificate (RC), insurance document, and other important documents, such as a Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate. However, the charges for each of these challans are different.
The strict traffic rules in Chennai make it essential for you to carry a licence every time you venture out. If you forget to carry the original copy of the licence, at least produce the digital copy saved on your phone. Similarly, you can also carry the digital copies of your RC, PUC, insurance, and other important documents in apps like DigiLocker.
CCTV cameras and speed guns are installed at most of the important junctures of the roads and highways in Chennai. An e-challan might have been issued against your vehicle without your notice while breaking the speed limit and other traffic rules. You can now check the licence challan and other pending challans issued against your vehicle through numerous platforms like eParivahan. More details on how to clear the pending challans online have been provided in the sections below.
What is the Fine for Driving Without a License in Chennai?
Before travelling to any city or state, you must have some idea of the traffic rules and fines applicable there. The traffic rules and penalties applicable in Tamil Nadu apply in Chennai as well. Therefore, if you are a resident of Chennai or happen to visit there for business or a trip, you need to carry a valid driving licence. Failing to do so might lead to a licence challan. The penalty charges applicable to this type of challan in Chennai are mentioned below:
| Offence | Fine |
| First-time offender | Rs. 5000 |
| Repeat offender | Rs. 10,000 |
At the first instance of driving without a licence in Chennai, you shall be charged with a penalty of Rs. 5000. Consequent challans for the same reason will lead to a penalty of Rs. 10,000. In some cases, you might also be asked to appear before a court, or your vehicle might get impounded. To avoid these issues, you must always clear the pending challans on time.
How to Pay a Challan for Driving Without a License in Chennai?
Follow the steps below to clear a pending challan for driving without a licence in Chennai:
- Step 1: If you have been pulled over by the traffic inspector for driving without a licence, you can pay it immediately using the challan machine. The penalty amount can be settled via UPI, net banking, credit card, or debit card. You can also settle the bills later by using the online methods.
- Step 2: You can settle an e-challan by using the eParivahan portal. For that, simply visit their official site and click on the ‘check e-challan status’ option.
- Step 3: After that, you must enter the challan number in the designated field. If you don’t have the challan, you can also enter your vehicle number and proceed to check the pending challan issued against your vehicle.
- Step 4: Here also, you can pay against the challan using UPI, net banking, credit card, or debit card. You may also settle multiple challans at once by using Spinny’s e-challan page. The process is similar to that shared above, and you also get the payment receipt in PDF format for future reference.
Note: Settling a challan within 90 days after it is issued is mandatory. Failing to do so will lead to more penalty charges pressed against your vehicle. You can also be summoned to the court or your vehicle could be seized by the RTO. Therefore, it is recommended that you clear the challans on time to prevent any legal troubles in the future.
How to Avoid Getting a Challan for Driving Without a Licence in Chennai?
Some insights on how to avoid getting a challan for driving without a licence in Chennai are given below:
- Abide By The Traffic Laws
The traffic laws are meant to be followed religiously, especially when you drive in a metropolitan city like Chennai. If you don’t follow the traffic laws, you will get pulled over by the traffic police.
The first question they will ask will be to show your driving licence. If you don’t produce a valid licence, a driving licence challan will be issued against your vehicle. Therefore, following the traffic laws will indirectly help you avoid a licence challan in Chennai.
- Save The Licence On Phone
You can save a digital copy of your driving licence using apps like DigiLocker. This will protect you from unnecessary fines when you forget to carry the original licence with you. Similarly, you can also save the digital copies of RC, insurance, and other important documents of your vehicle.
You can also get the licence challan cancelled within 15 days by submitting your licence to your nearest RTO. Only a nominal processing fee of Rs. 100 has to be paid to complete this process. Yet, it saves you from paying the hefty penalty of the licence challan.
- Pleading Innocence At The Court
If you feel that the challan has been issued by mistake, you can challenge it in the traffic court. Producing the necessary photographic or videographic evidence to prove your innocence becomes essential at this stage. Installing a dashcam in your vehicle can be crucial not only for collecting evidence but also for safety reasons.
- Get The Traffic Fines Reduced
If multiple challans are issued against your vehicle, you can visit the nearest RTO and request that they reduce the challan. However, to avail a discount, you will have to clear all the pending challans at once.
Similarly, you can visit the Lok Adalat and get the challan settled. You can also request a discount for trivial offences such as breaking a signal or a co-driver not wearing a seatbelt. Lok Adalat is organised to clear trivial traffic cases and challans. So, there is a high chance that you will get a good discount for clearing the pending challan.
- Renew The Licence Regularly
Driving with an expired licence is a traffic violation of the same level as driving without a licence. To avoid this challan, you must renew your driving licence before it expires. Also, you must use the driving licence that is valid for your vehicle type.
The driving licence for light motor vehicles, such as cars, is different from the driving licence for heavy motor vehicles like trucks. Therefore, you must only use the licence that is appropriate for your vehicle.
Conclusion
These were some insights on how to drive without a licence challan in Chennai. First of all, you must drive only when you acquire a permanent driving licence. If you forget to carry the original licence, at least keep a virtual or digital licence on your phone. Finally, follow all the traffic rules to avoid traffic challans and drive safely to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
Also Check: Red Light Jumping Challan
FAQs
Q. Can a traffic challan be cancelled in Chennai?
Yes, a traffic challan can be cancelled if you submit enough evidence to prove your innocence. For that, you need to submit these proofs to the traffic court.
Q. How much fine is charged for driving without an RC in Chennai?
A fine of up to Rs. 5000 can be charged for not being able to produce the RC book when asked by the traffic inspector. For the first instance, the penalty can be as low as Rs. 2000. The fines get higher if you keep repeating the same offence in the future as well.
Q. What is the maximum fine for driving without a licence in Chennai?
The maximum fine for driving without a licence in Chennai is Rs. 10,000. This fine is charged for repeat offenders, and the traffic police might also impound your vehicle for repeating this traffic violation.
Q. I’m 16 years old. Can I drive in Chennai?
If you are under 18 years of age, you can drive an e-scooter or gearless scooters weighing less than 50 cc in Chennai.
Q. How much penalty is charged if a minor is found driving a four-wheeler?
A minor, i.e., one who is under 18 years, cannot drive geared motorcycles or four-wheelers of any kind. If they are found driving, a fine of Rs. 5000 will be charged, with or without a jail sentence for up to 3 months.
