Traffic rules apply in Madhya Pradesh as they do in other parts of India. One of the prerequisites of driving is to carry a valid driving licence with you. Not having a licence while driving can lead to heavy penalties and challans issued against your vehicle. In some cases, it may also lead to vehicle seizure, court cases, and other punitive actions. In this blog, we will see how to avoid a driving licence in Madhya Pradesh. We will also explore how to clear the pending challan against your vehicle.
Table of Contents
What is a Licence Challan?
A licence challan is a legal document that shows that you’ve been caught driving without a licence. It is similar to the challan issued when you are unable to produce vehicle documents such as Registration Certificate, Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate (for vehicles older than 15 years), and a valid insurance.
To avoid a licence challan, you must keep your licence ready whenever you drive. Also, the licence must be renewed before it expires because driving with an expired licence also leads to a similar challan.
Following the traffic rules is important while driving. It not only safeguards your vehicle and keeps you safe but also protects the safety of others. Also, these days, CCTV cameras and speed guns are installed everywhere. So, skipping a penalty after violating a traffic rule is next to impossible. Instead, we recommend that you carry all the vehicle documents along with the licence to avoid the hefty penalties and challans.
What is the Fine for Driving without a License Challan in Madhya Pradesh?
The penalty issued for not driving with a driving licence varies state-wise. Do you live in Madhya Pradesh or happen to visit there for personal trips or business? If yes, you must be aware of the traffic rules and possible charges inflicted upon violating traffic rules. The penalty amount charged for the licence challan in Madhya Pradesh is given below:
| Offence | Fine |
| First-time offender | Rs. 5000 |
| Repeat offender | Rs. 10,000 |
As the traffic rules have become more strict, the traffic fines have also increased. Initially, only a meagre fee of Rs. 500 would be charged in most parts of India for not driving with a valid driving licence.
Now, the fine for not driving with a valid DL is different for different states. The fine for driving without a valid licence for the first time will be Rs. 5000. If you repeat this traffic rule in the future, you may be charged with a higher penalty of up to Rs. 10,000. In some cases, when you are unable to show other documents, your vehicles can be seized by the traffic police. In worst-case scenarios, you might be sentenced to jail for up to 3 months.
How to Pay a Challan for Driving Without a License in Madhya Pradesh?
Clearing a licence challan in Madhya Pradesh is quite easy. You can pay directly via cash, or when cash is not accepted, you can use the challan machine to make the payment. The challan machine accepts payment via credit card, debit card, and UPI.
You can also clear the challan later by using any of the available online methods. Here’s how you can clear the challan for driving without a licence in Madhya Pradesh online:
- Visit the official site of eParivahan. On the homepage, you will find an option called ‘check challan status’.
- Click on this option, and a new page will be opened. You can now proceed by entering your vehicle number or challan number. When you enter the challan number, only the particular challan will be shown on your screen. However, when you enter your vehicle number, all the challans imposed on your vehicle to date will be shown.
- Now, you can select the challan you want to pay against and proceed to make the online payment via net banking, UPI, credit card, or debit card. Don’t forget to save the payment receipt, as it will be useful later.
Spinny’s app or website also lets you pay for multiple e-challans at once. The process is similar to the one we have discussed with the eParivahan site. You can also download the payment receipt in PDF format to save it for later use.
Not clearing the challan within 90 days can lead to a penalty. Ignoring the challan payment may also lead to a court summons and vehicle seizure. We recommend that you clear the pending challan as soon as possible to avoid any legal troubles in the future.
How to Avoid Getting a Challan for Driving Without a Licence in Madhya Pradesh?
The insights below will guide you on how to avoid getting a challan for driving without a driving licence in Madhya Pradesh:
- Drive Responsibly
Driving with a licence is mandatory in all parts of the country. However, it is worth noticing that you don’t get pulled over by the traffic police for not having a licence. You get pulled over for not driving responsibly or not following the traffic rules. Therefore, it is your responsibility to drive cautiously and abide by the traffic laws while driving.
Avoid overspeeding, especially in crowded areas. In certain sections on highways, driving beyond a prescribed speed limit is not allowed. Speed guns are installed to catch such reckless drivers.
Even if you don’t get stopped for violating a traffic rule, the speed gun and CCTV will record your vehicle number, and an e-challan will be issued against your vehicle. Always wear a seatbelt while driving and ensure that you follow lane discipline. This will keep you and others safe on the roads.
- Carry The Digital Copies Of Documents
It is quite easy to carry digital copies of important documents such as your driving licence, RC, insurance, etc., in your phone these days. Apps like DigiLocker have made this process much easier. Showing a digital copy of your driving licence will help you avoid the licence challan when you forget to carry the original driving licence.
- The Licence Must Be Valid
Check the validity of your licence regularly and renew it before it expires. Driving with an expired licence will result in the same penalty and challan as driving without a licence does. Moreover, you will also have to check whether the driving licence you are carrying is appropriate for your vehicle or not.
For example, you cannot show a two-wheeler licence when asked for a licence while driving a car. Similarly, the licence for heavy motor vehicles like buses, trucks, etc are different from the licence for light motor vehicles like cars and jeeps. Therefore, you must keep these things in mind while driving in Madhya Pradesh.
- Cancel The Challan
You can also get the challan cancelled if it has been wrongly issued. For that, you must submit the necessary proof in the form of a photo or video to prove your innocence.
If you’ve been charged for driving without a licence, you can visit the nearest RTO and show your licence to get it cancelled. A small processing fee will be charged for this process but you will get saved from paying a hefty penalty.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve understood how important it is to drive with a valid licence in Madhya Pradesh. A driving licence can be obtained after clearing the RTO tests and exams. Once you obtain a licence, you must carry it at all times while driving. Also, following the driving rules and traffic laws is equally important. It will save you from paying a hefty penalty and keep everyone safe when you drive. Don’t forget to renew your driving licence before it expires. Also, carry a digital copy of the driving licence along with the digital copies of other important vehicle documents while driving in Madhya Pradesh.
FAQs
Q. Which is the best way to clear a licence challan in Madhya Pradesh?
Either clear it on the spot using the challan machine or you may also clear it online using eParivahan, Spinny, and a few other apps and websites.
Q. Can I clear two challans at once?
Yes, the Spinny app or website can be used to clear two challans at the same time.
Q. How to get a discount on a traffic challan?
You can get a discount on trivial traffic challans by attending a Lok Adalat. You can also clear multiple challans at once to get a reasonable discount on the overall challan amount.
Q. Can talking on the phone while driving lead to a challan?
As per the Motor Vehicle Act, talking on the phone while driving is a serious violation of the traffic rules. It can lead to hefty fines up to Rs. 5000 and even lead to imprisonment and licence suspension for repeat offenders.
