PUC or Pollution Under Control certificate is an official document issued by the Government of India which verifies that your vehicle follows the prescribed emission standards and pollution norms. If you don’t have the PUC certificate, you need to pay ₹1,000 for a first-time offence while ₹2,000 for a second-time violation. The IRDAI or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has also made it mandatory for all insurance providers to renew vehicle insurance only if the car owner shows a valid PUC certificate.
But an insurer cannot reject a claim in case of an invalid PUC. However, make sure not to drive a car with an invalid PUC as it is a punishable act by law. You must also renew your PUC certificate before its expiry date.
Validity and cost of the PUC certificate
In the case of a new car, the validity of the PUC certificate is one year. After that, your car will undergo mandatory emission tests at fixed intervals, and you will receive a new PUC certificate. For renewed certificate, the validity period is six months. However, if the PUC test shows adverse results, the certificate’s validity will be determined accordingly.
To obtain the PUC certificate, you must pay between ₹60-₹100. The charges depend upon the fuel type and model type.
What details are included in the PUC certificate?
Apart from a driving license, car Registration Certificate, and four-wheeler insurance policy, a vehicle owner should always carry the PUC certificate while driving the car. Just like third party insurance, PUC is mandatory, ensuring that your car is in good condition and doesn’t harm the environment.
Given below is the information present in the PUC certificate:
- Registration number of your vehicle
- PUC certificate number
- Date of PUC test
- The validity date of the PUC certificate
- PUC test reading
Importance of the PUC certificate
Control pollution
Air pollution is increasing at an alarming rate in the world’s biggest cities and has become a major concern for everyone. With the PUC certificate, you can keep your vehicle’s emissions in check with the standard pollution norms. If you don’t have a PUC certificate, you should get it soon and become an environmentally responsible citizen.
Meet the insurance requirement
You must possess the PUC certificate to avoid inconvenience while renewing your four-wheeler insurance policy. It is one of the compulsory certificates that is required for car insurance renewal.
Get awareness
The PUC certificate is essential in informing you of your car’s condition. Since it is required to be renewed after every six months, vehicle owners will get to know whether their car’s emissions levels are within the permissible limits or not.
Make you responsible
The PUC certificate is compulsory under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. Carrying the PUC certificate while driving a car fulfils the legal requirements and protects you from possible penalties. It also makes you a law-abiding and responsible Indian citizen.
What is the procedure to obtain the PUC certificate?
You can take your car to the nearest authorised petrol pump or other emission testing centres. Get your car’s ejection pipe checked to know the emission levels. Pay the fees as asked by the operator and get your PUC certificate. If you buy a new car, you can ask the auto dealer to arrange the PUC certificate.
You can also get the PUC certificate online by following the below steps:
- Visit Parivahan Sewa’s official website and navigate to the online services option.
- Choose the ‘PUC’ and then click on the PUC option.
- Enter registration number, chassis number, and captcha code.
- Press “PUC Details.”
- Download and print your PUC certificate.
Why has the PUC certificate been made mandatory by IRDAI?
In India, carbon emissions from vehicles and pollution levels have increased over time. It has taken a toll on the environment and subsequently the people, mainly those living in metropolitan and other big cities. An increasing number of people report issues such as chest congestion, allergies, asthma, and lung-related ailments. The situation particularly worsens around the start of winter in India around November.
To control this problem, the IRDAI has made the PUC certificate compulsory for renewing car insurance policies. The government took a big step that has shown positive results. Mandating PUC for vehicle insurance renewal has also impacted the policyholders and insurance providers as providers encourage people to get PUC for their vehicles before providing insurance. They only renew the clients’ insurance policy when they show a valid PUC.
In conclusion
As a vehicle owner, you must carry a PUC certificate and other documents while driving and renewing the four-wheeler insurance policies. It will not only make you responsible but will also protect you against traffic penalties. You should renew your PUC certificate from the authorized emission testing centers only before expiration.
also read:- Validity and cost of the PUC certificate
