What Happens if You’re Caught Driving Without Car Insurance Policy?

All vehicle owners in the country must always have four documents when driving a vehicle. These include the driving license, vehicle registration certificate, PUC certificate, and a motor insurance policy. The registration certificate is a document that is valid for 15 years from its first registration, and hence, one need not worry much about frequently renewing it. The PUC is something that one needs to keep renewing periodically. But considering its inexpensive nature, there aren’t many people who default. While the majority of people comply with the first three documents, owing to different regulations, the motor insurance policy is what gets neglected. Many buyers believe it is an additional expense to the already existing compliances of registration and PUC. But that isn’t the case. Vehicle insurance is a legal requirement in the country following the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. Additionally, it provides financial coverage if the right type of insurance plan is bought. So, considering the dual benefits, one must not overlook the importance of a motor insurance cover. There are two categories of motor insurance policies—third-party cover and comprehensive cover. When you want to purchase a bike or car insurance online, these are the two alternatives to choose from. A third-party plan, as the name suggests, is a policy that covers legal liabilities. These liabilities may arise due to accidents injuring a third person or causing property damage. While it is the most basic type of insurance cover that you can buy, it provides legal coverage along with limited coverage for legal liabilities. The other type of insurance plan is a comprehensive policy that offers not just protection from third-party legal liabilities but also any damages to your vehicle too. Additionally, a comprehensive policy includes a personal accident cover for injuries to you, the owner-rider. *Standard T&C Apply Is there a fine for driving without insurance? Yes, it is an illegal, punishable offense to drive without insurance cover. These rules do not apply only to private vehicle owners, but also to vehicles with commercial registration. You need to at least carry a third-party plan for ensuring legal compliance, as discussed above. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, which came into force on 01^st September 2019 implements revised fines. These penalties were not just revised, but also stiffer. The steep increase in fines even saw some states put a hold on its implementation citing infeasibility but were enforced subsequently. A fine of ₹2000 is levied for not having a valid copy of the insurance policy. But in some cases, the fine is either replaced or comes in addition to an imprisonment tenure of three months. For repeated offences, the same fine increases to ₹4000 and/or imprisonment.

The Bottom Line

Whether you skip buying a car or bike insurance, these fines shall be levied. Instead of paying these hefty fines, it is best to avail yourself of an insurance cover that not just ensures legal compliance, but also financial coverage. Thus, make sure your insurance coverage is up to date to avoid a car or bike insurance fine. In case of an expired policy, view plans and buy vehicle insurance online before you take it for a drive.   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.