What happens if I drive without a valid PUC?

Driving without a valid PUC is a violation under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019. It can attract a fine of up to Rs 10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months, with higher penalties for repeat offences.

Do EVs need a PUC certificate?

No. Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions, so they do not require a PUC certificate. The requirement applies to internal combustion engine vehicles.

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PUC CERTIFICATE

What is a PUC certificate?

A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is a government-issued document that proves your vehicle's emissions are within the limits set under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Every vehicle on Indian roads must carry a valid one, except electric vehicles.

A PUC certificate records your vehicle details, the emission test readings, the test date and the expiry date. You obtain it after a quick emission test at any authorised centre, and you must carry it whenever you drive.

New vehicles are exemptYou don’t need a PUC for the first year after buying a new car. Electric cars never need one.

Key details at a glance

6 -12 mo

Typical validity

₹60 - ₹100

Test fee

₹10,000

Fine if expired

5 -10 min

Test time

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Why a PUC certificate matters

It is more than a compliance formality - a valid certificate keeps you road-legal and flags engine trouble early.

Mandatory by law

Driving without a valid PUC certificate is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. Traffic police can stop and fine you.

Cleaner air

A valid PUC certificate confirms your vehicle is burning fuel cleanly and staying within the permissible pollution limits.

Vehicle health

Regular emission checks flag engine and fuel-system trouble early, before the fault becomes expensive to repair.

Smooth insurance renewal

Insurers ask for a valid PUC certificate when you buy or renew a motor policy. Without one, your claim can be held up.

Check PUC certificate by state

PUC certificate norms and authorised centres vary by state, so select your state to check status and find local details.

Andaman & Nicobar Island

Andhra Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

Assam

Bihar

Chandigarh

Chhattisgarh

Delhi

Gujarat

Haryana

Himachal Pradesh

Jammu and Kashmir

Jharkhand

Kerala

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Check PUC certificate in popular cities

Select your city to run a quick PUC certificate status check across major Indian cities.

New Delhi

Mumbai

Pune

Chennai

Ahmedabad

Kolkata

Jaipur

Lucknow

Gurgaon

Ghaziabad

Surat

Ernakulam

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Everything you Need to Know about a PUC Certificate

A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is a government-issued document certifying that your vehicle's tail-pipe emissions are within the limits set under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Every petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG vehicle on Indian roads must carry a valid one, while EVs are exempt. It records the registration number, engine and chassis numbers, emission-test readings for carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC), plus smoke density for diesel, along with the test and expiry dates.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about your PUC certificate, in one place.

PUC stands for Pollution Under Control. The certificate confirms that your vehicle's emissions are within the prescribed government limits.

Yes. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, a valid PUC certificate is mandatory for every vehicle, regardless of age, fuel type, or how often it is driven.

A PUC certificate is generally valid for 6 months. For a new vehicle, the certificate issued at purchase is valid for the first year.

Enter your registration number in the PUC certificate tool above. It fetches the latest certificate details and shows the current status and exact expiry date.

You can get a PUC certificate at any authorised PUC centre, including those at many petrol pumps. If your vehicle's emissions are within limits, the certificate is issued on the spot.

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