5 Must-Have Documents to Carry While Driving to Avoid Traffic Challans

There are a host of things one must keep in mind when stepping into their car and heading out for the day. Besides abiding by traffic rules and practising safe driving, a car owner-driver must also have certain mandatory documents at the ready. Failure to possess and produce these documents when the authorities demand them may lead to fines and penalties including imprisonment. Furthermore, if you were to get involved in an unfortunate accident, the presence of these documents can make it easier for bystanders to take helpful steps. From car insurance papers to the registration certificate of your car, here is a list of documents you should carry when driving to avoid traffic challans:

Driver’s license 

As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and the Central Motor Rules 1989, every individual driving their vehicle on the road must have a valid driver’s license. The importance of carrying a driver’s license when driving your car cannot be underestimated. This vital document can serve as proof of your identity, nationality, age, and more. It allows you to drive across the length and breadth of the civilian areas of the country without requiring any special permit. If you were to move to another state or city within the country, your driving license would still be valid. In the case of an unforeseen accident, it is imperative that you have your driver’s license. In its absence, your motor insurance claim may get rejected.

Registration certificate 

When driving a car, it is vital to have proof of the fact that the car has been registered in the buyer’s name. The registration certificate or RC serves as proof and verifies to the traffic inspector that the car has been registered with the relevant authority. The RC is another important document required when filing for a car or bike insurance claim. It helps the insurer establish the genuineness of the vehicle and the claim. The RC also provides a host of information in the event of severe damage to your car, such as its registration number, the owner’s address, manufacturer’s class and type of car, the year of the car’s production, registration date and expiration date, chassis number, engine number, and so on.

Third-party insurance 

According to the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, it is mandatory to have a car insurance policy if you are driving your car on Indian roads. This mandatory policy provides you with third-party insurance coverage, i.e., financial protection in the event of damages to a third-party individual, vehicle, or property. Third-party car insurance may be mandatory as per the law and to avoid traffic challans; however, it has limited coverage and may not be helpful to cover damages to your car during an accident. A comprehensive policy that provides financial protection against natural disasters, manmade calamities, fire, theft, and so on, would be a better option. * If you have queries regarding the premium of a comprehensive policy, then you should check out a car insurance premium calculator . This nifty tool provides premium estimates based on multiple factors that you enter, such as age, gender, lifestyle habits, and so on.

Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

The PUC certificate is a document verifying your vehicle’s carbon emission levels. Due to rising pollution and the growing impact of climate change, which are affected by vehicle emissions to a certain extent, relevant authorities have introduced the PUC certificate for vehicles. The PUC certificate serves as evidence that your car emits carbon under the prescribed limit and follows other emission standards mandated by the law. If a traffic inspector were to pull you over and found you to be driving without a valid PUC certificate, then you could be fined up to Rs 10,000 or imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Furthermore, a PUC certificate is also required if you have to buy or renew car insurance policies.

Identification documents 

Even though identification documents, such as an Aadhaar card or PAN card are not specifically mandated by the law while driving, they may be helpful during various situations. This may include verifying the information on your driver’s license or RC, as well as serving as an identification backup in case of accidents or other incidents. As per the latest amendments in driving rules, an individual no longer needs to carry physical copies of these mandatory documents while driving. A digital copy of these documents may also work. You may make use of digital document storage platforms such as DigiLocker and mParivahan app to store these documents digitally. Ensuring that you have these documents when you set out to drive your car, whether in a physical format or a digital one, can not only help you stay on the right side of the law, but also prove as vital support during emergency scenarios. * Standard T & C apply. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.