Driving Documents: There are many things to keep in mind while getting into your car and setting out for a trip. Apart from following traffic rules and driving safely, a car driver must always have certain important documents with him. Not carrying and presenting these documents when asked by the traffic police can lead to fines and other penalties. Also, if you are involved in an accident, the presence of these documents can make it easier for people around to help you. Let’s know which documents you should keep with you.
driving license
As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Central Motor Rules 1989, every person driving a vehicle on the road must have a valid driving license. This important document can serve as proof of your identity, nationality, age and more. It allows you to drive in civilian areas of the country without any special permit. Even if you move to another state or city in the country, your driving license will remain valid. Also, in case of an accident, it is mandatory to have your driving license with you. Without it, your motor insurance claim may get rejected.
Registration Certificate or RC
While driving a car, it is very important to have proof that the car is registered in the name of the buyer. The registration certificate or RC acts as proof and verifies to the traffic inspector that the car is registered with the respective RTO. The RC is an important document while making a car or bike insurance claim. It helps the insurer to prove the genuineness of the vehicle and the claim. The RC contains information like the vehicle registration number, owner’s address, manufacturing type and type of car, year of car production, registration date and expiry date, chassis number, engine number, etc.
Insurance
As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, if you are driving your car on Indian roads, it is mandatory for you to have a car insurance policy. This mandatory policy gives you third party insurance coverage, i.e. financial protection in case of damage to a third party person, vehicle or property.
pollution control certificate
The PUC certificate is a document confirming the carbon emission levels of your vehicle. The PUC certificate is introduced for vehicles due to rising pollution and the increasing impact of climate change, which are affected to some extent by vehicular emissions. The PUC certificate is proof that your car emits carbon within the prescribed limit and complies with other emission standards mandated by law. If a traffic inspector stops you and finds that you are driving without a valid PUC certificate, you can be fined up to Rs 10,000 or jailed for up to 6 months or both.
Identification documents
Although identity documents, such as Aadhaar card or PAN card, are not legally mandatory while driving, they can be helpful during various situations. You can use digital document storage platforms like DigiLocker and mParivahan app for this. If you have all these documents, no policeman can stop you on the road or issue a challan to you. These documents confirm that you are fully legally eligible to drive.
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