Driving uninsured vehicles is an offence under Section 196 of Motor Vehicle Act. The person found guilty of driving an uninsured vehicle can be punished with imprisonment of up to three months and/or penalty of ₹2000. A subsequent offence can lead to stricter punishment of imprisonment for 3 months or ₹4000 fine or both. This strict punishment regime is meant to act as a check against growing road mishaps in India and to ensure that people follow traffic rules. To avoid getting penalised, it is best to always keep your vehicle insured.
According to Section 196 of the new Motor Vehicles Act, driving an uninsured vehicle is a punishable offence, and thus attracts a penalty/imprisonment. The penalties under this section are as follows:
If you are found guilty of the offence under Section 196, you will have to undergo imprisonment of up to three months and/or have to pay a penalty of ₹2,000 for the first offence.
For a subsequent offence, you might be punished with imprisonment for three months or a ₹4,000 fine or both.
The new Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 has been introduced with harsher penalties to ensure that people follow the traffic rules strictly in a bid to bring down the rate of accidents in the country. Motor insurance is not only mandatory but also beneficial in dealing with third-party liabilities and unforeseen losses. So, instead of seeing it as an obligation, you must consider it to be a lucrative financial product that protects you against the uncertainties of owning a car/bike.
Section 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act has provisions for fines against people found to be driving a vehicle without a valid insurance plan.
You will have to pay a fine of ₹2,000 for driving without a valid insurance policy as per the updated Section 196 of the MV Act.
As per the new Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, the fine for driving without valid insurance was increased from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000.
You can find affordable motor insurance by comparing all the insurance plans available online and choosing the one that provides the most features under your budget.
The fine for driving without a helmet has been increased from ₹100 to ₹1,000 as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.
No. Buying a comprehensive motor insurance plan is optional. However, it is recommended to opt for a comprehensive plan to get extensive coverage against unforeseen perils.
Yes. You need to carry your car’s insurance policy documents while driving in India as per the law. You must also remember to carry your car’s RC book and PUC certificate as well.