Ahmedabad is one of the busiest cities in India due to flourishing industries and trade in the region. Traffic rules in Ahmedabad have to be followed diligently to avoid any fines or penalties. One of the most common challenges is driving without a licence in Ahmedabad. To avoid this challan, you must always drive with a valid driving licence. More details on the applicable penalty and charges for driving without a licence in Ahmedabad are provided in the sections.
Table of Contents
What is a Licence Challan?
Licence challan means that a challan is generated for driving without a valid driving licence or DL. It acts like a notice or bill issued for violating the traffic rules. Other traffic violations, as per the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 also lead to fines issued through their respective challan.
When the challan is issued in person, it is mostly a physical slip that contains details such as vehicle number, challan number, reason for issuance, date of issuance, and other details.
An e-challan might also be issued for breaking traffic rules. This type of challan is usually triggered if you are found overspeeding, breaking traffic lights, and violating other traffic rules while driving. These actions are typically recorded through a CCTV camera, speed gun, and other digital devices or gadgets. Therefore, you must adhere to all the traffic rules to avoid any type of penalty or challan while driving in Ahmedabad.
What is the Fine for Driving Without a License in Ahmedabad?
The traffic penalties in India vary from one state to another. As Ahmedabad is a part of Gujarat, the traffic fines applicable in Gujarat apply in the city as well. Initially, the fine was much lesser but as the traffic rules have become more stringent now, the fines have also increased. The below table shows important details regarding the same:
| Offence | Fine |
| First time offender | Rs. 5000 |
| Repeat offender | Rs. 10,000 |
The fine for the first offence is Rs. 5000. For a repeat offence, a fine of Rs. 10,000 could be charged along with vehicle seizure or imprisonment for up to 3 months. Your insurance premium will also be increased from the next term onwards if you are found violating the traffic rules consistently.
How to Pay a Challan for Driving Without a License in Ahmedabad?
There are various ways of paying a challan for driving without a licence in Ahmedabad. It includes offline and online methods of payment. The breakdown of each of these payment methods is given below:
- Offline Challan Payment
If the traffic inspector has issued a challan to you in person, ask him if he has a challan payment machine. If yes, you can pay directly via UPI, net banking, credit card, or debit card. Cash payment is usually not accepted these days. Don’t forget to get the receipt of payment after clearing the challan.
- Online Challan Payment
Online challan payment refers to the digital payment of a challan. You can do it via the official eParivahan site or third-party apps such as Spinny, PhonePe, or Google Pay. The process for each is similar and is explained stepwise below:
- Step 1: Open the eParivahan website first. Go to the page where you can check the status of the e-challan online. Enter the challan number in the designated field.
- Step 2: If you don’t have the challan number, you can simply enter the vehicle number and view the pending challan against it.
- Step 3: Click on a particular challan to pay against it. You can use any of the online payment methods, including UPI, net banking, credit card, or debit card, as per your convenience.
- Step 4: Don’t forget to save or download the payment receipt after clearing the challan. Apps like Spinny offer quick and easy ways to check and clear multiple challans at once. You also get to download the payment receipt in PDF format on this app. Save the receipt for future reference.
A court summons to seize your vehicle can be sent if you don’t clear the challan within 90 days after it is issued. Therefore, you must keep checking the challan issued against your vehicle from time to time. Also, avoid driving a vehicle when you don’t have a valid licence.
Don’t allow your friends or relatives who don’t have a valid driving licence to drive your car. Follow all the traffic rules to avoid any challan and carry all your documents, such as RC, vehicle insurance, and Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate (if your car is older than 15 years). Drive responsibly and ensure your own and others’ safety while driving.
How to Avoid Getting a Challan for Driving Without a Licence in Ahmedabad?
Here are a few ways to avoid paying a challan for driving without a valid DL in Ahmedabad:
- Get a Valid Licence
If you don’t have a permanent licence yet, avoid driving a vehicle. Get the licence from the nearest RTO after clearing all the tests. Also, the licence must be valid and applicable to your vehicle.
For instance, the licence for a two-wheeler cannot be used while driving a four-wheeler. Similarly, different types of licences are issued for different types of vehicles. A light motor vehicle licence is different from a heavy motor vehicle licence. Therefore, to avoid getting a challan, you must also ensure that you are driving with the right kind of licence that is applicable for that vehicle.
- Don’t Violate the Traffic Rules
The traffic inspector asks you to show the licence only when you violate any traffic rules. Therefore, you must abide by the laws of traffic at all times to avoid the challan. Drive in your lane, follow the traffic signals, avoid overspeeding, wear a seatbelt/helmet while driving, and get acquainted with all the rules of traffic. This will help you avoid any penalty or challan in the long run.
- Challenge the Challan
If you feel that you’ve been issued a challan for driving without a licence wrongly, you can challenge it in court. Gather all the required evidence, including photos and videos that prove your innocence.
Present the evidence in the court and get your challan reversed with the due permission of the judge. You may also attend a Lok Adalat and get your challan settled or revoked as per the requirements.
- Keep Your Licence & Documents Up-To-Date
Renew your licence regularly to keep it updated. This is because an expired licence will also lead to a challan which is equal to the challan levied for driving without a licence.
Also, keep your documents and licence updated to avoid any fines while driving in Ahmedabad. The important documents you must carry in your vehicle while driving include the Registration Certificate or RC, a valid insurance, and a Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate if your vehicle is older than 15 years.
Along with DL, you must also renew your insurance from time to time to avoid any fine or penalty.
Conclusion
The importance of driving with a valid driving licence in Ahmedabad has been emphasised in this blog. We hope you follow all the traffic rules and drive responsibly to ensure your safety on the roads. It is also essential to carry all the documents while driving. Renewing your licence from time-to-time also matters as an expired licence also attracts the same penalty as driving without a licence. Finally, you must obey all the traffic laws to avoid getting pulled up by the traffic police.
FAQs
Q. Can I be fined for driving without a licence multiple times in a single day?
Yes, each instance of driving without a licence can lead to the issuance of a separate challan. Also, the fine will be charged separately for each of the challans. You may even have to pay higher penalties from the second time onwards for repeating the offence.
Q. What is the highest penalty for driving without a licence in Ahmedabad?
The highest penalty for driving without a licence in Ahmedabad is Rs. 10,000. This would be charged for repeating the offence of driving without a valid DL.
Q. How much jail imprisonment can one suffer for driving without a licence?
Repeat offenders can be sentenced to imprisonment of up to 3 months as per the court’s decision.
Q. How many challans can be issued against my vehicle in one day?
There are no limits on the number of challans that can be issued for your vehicle in one day. It depends on the number of times you have violated or broken the traffic rules and regulations.
Q. How to reduce traffic challan fines in Ahmedabad?
For minor violations such as parking in a no-parking zone, you can request the traffic police to cancel or reduce your challan. If not guilty, you can also challenge the challan in court and plead to reduce the challan, especially if multiple challans are issued against your vehicle and you want to settle them all at once.
