Importance of PUC Certificate

While vehicles make our daily journey easier, they are also one of India's largest contributors to air pollution. With this in mind, the Indian government has made the PUC certificate mandatory for cars. The step also connects with the United Nations' climate action goals. While vehicles make our daily journey easier, they are also one of India's largest contributors to air pollution. With this in mind, the Indian government has made the PUC certificate mandatory for cars. The step also connects with the United Nations' climate action goals. While vehicles make our daily journey easier, they are also one of India's largest contributors to air pollution. With this in mind, the Indian government has made the PUC certificate mandatory for cars. The step also connects with the United Nations' climate action goals.

 

The Central Motor Vehicles Rule of 1989 makes a PUC certificate mandatory. Let's look more deeply into the meaning and importance of a PUC certificate. Also, find out how to get PUC certificate online, its procedure, and what it includes. makes a PUC certificate mandatory. Let's look more deeply into the meaning and importance of a PUC certificate. Also, find out how to get PUC certificate online, its procedure, and what it includes.

 

What Is a PUC Certificate?

PUC is an abbreviation for pollution under control. The certificate shows that your vehicle's emissions are under the allowable level specified by the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. All vehicle owners in India with a valid driver's license and third-party car insurance coverage are required to get the PUC certification for their vehicle by mandate. For the certificate issue, your vehicle will be thoroughly checked for pollution.

 

The certificate includes:

• License of your vehicle 

• Serial number of PUC certificate

• Date of the test

• Emission test reading with units of emission your vehicle has.

• PUC test validity

 

Why Is a PUC Certificate Important?

Every vehicle emits smoke, so the government has made the PUC certificate mandatory, which validates that vehicle emissions are under control. This is made mandatory because vehicles emit carbon dioxide, which causes air pollution. A PUC is a validity certificate that ensures that your car's emissions are within permissible limits. A PUC certificate is absolutely necessary for all vehicle owners:

 

Fines

A PUC certificate is a necessary legal requirement for all vehicles operating on Indian roads. If you are caught without one, you will have to pay a fine. If you don't have a PUC certificate for the first time, you will be charged Rs.1000, which will rise to Rs.2000 if you repeat it. In some states like Delhi, the fine can be as high as Rs.10,000, with imprisonment for up to six months. Vehicle owners will also be banned from having a driver's license for three months.

 

Reduces Air Pollution

As a responsible citizen, getting a PUC certificate ensures that your role in air pollution is low. . Getting a PUC certificate is taking one step to becoming a responsible person. The test allows you to know your vehicle's emission level, and you can take necessary actions to lessen carbon pollutants from your vehicle.

 

Ensures That Your Vehicle Is Well-Maintained

You should renew your PUC certificate every six months. If you do, you will get to know if your vehicle is in good condition. If you don't maintain your vehicle, it emits more pollutants. So, to maintain it, you should have your vehicle serviced and repaired on a regular basis.

 

For Insurance Renewal

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued a circular in July 2018 urging all insurers to renew vehicle insurance policies. Since insurance renewals are only provided if the vehicle owner has a valid PUC certificate, they have become absolutely necessary documentation.

 

What Is the Process of Getting a PUC Certificate?

The steps below will help you to obtain a PUC certificate.

• Take your vehicle to the pollution testing centre, a local RTO, or a gas station with a testing centre.

• The authorised testing person will take the test by checking the emission level from the car/bike's ejection pipe.

• Next, they will ask you to turn on the vehicle's ignition and speed the engine for the inserted device to know the carbon emissions.

• The readings will be displayed on the computer screen once the testing has been completed.

• The vehicle's registration number plate will be photographed afterwards.

• You will be required to pay. The PUC or pollution certificate will be given to you once you make the payment.

• For diesel vehicles, they will ask you to press the accelerator and fully repeat the operation five times. The final reading is calculated by taking the average of all readings.

• For petrol vehicles, your car will be left idle without using the accelerator. Only one reading is designated as the final reading.

 

How to Get a PUC Certificate Online?

If you buy a new car, the auto dealer will give you a PUC certificate that is valid for one year. After that, you will have to renew it every six months. To renew, you can take your vehicle to any authorised petrol pump or PUC centre for testing. After passing the required tests, they will give you an official certificate for a low fee.

 

You can also download your PUC certificate online by the steps mentioned below:

 

• Go to the Parivahan Seva website.

• Click on the PUC certificate button.

• Enter your vehicle's registration number and the last five characters of your chassis number. Then, enter the Captcha code.

• Your PUC certificate should appear on the screen.

• Take a printout of the document or save it as a soft copy for future reference.

 

Conclusion

A PUC certificate is not unlike a driver's license, a registration certificate, or an insurance policy. It is a necessary legal document. The implementation of PUC certification is a measure taken in order to reduce pollution caused by cars, especially since increasing carbon emissions in India have created a significant threat to the environment lately.

 

As specified by the Motor Vehicles Act of 1989, all vehicle owners are required to have a PUC certificate in order to comply with the regulations set by the pollution control board. Not only this but a PUC certificate is also required when you need to renew your vehicle insurance. Having a PUC certificate not only helps you determine the overall health of the vehicle but also ensures that it does not pollute the environment.

 

Besides the PUC certificate, it is mandatory to keep all the necessary documentation for your vehicle intact, including insurance, registration certificate, etc., to avoid unnecessary fines.

 

FAQs

1. What is a PUC certificate, and why is it important?

A PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate is a document that is meant to prove that your vehicle's emissions meet the standards permitted by the Indian government. PUC certification is an important measure against air pollution created by vehicles. This means that not having a valid PUC certificate could land you a fine. Since it is a required document for insurance, it could result in your insurance renewal being denied.

 

A PUC certificate is also a manner of ensuring that your car is running efficiently.

 

2. How often do I need to renew my PUC certificate?

Typically, a PUC certificate is valid for six months. After which, it will need to be renewed. This helps in keeping a check on whether your vehicle's emissions are within permissible limits at regular intervals.

 

3. Where can I get a PUC certificate?

PUC certificates are offered at authorised testing centres, local RTO offices, and at some petrol or gas stations that have testing facilities. The test involves a quick measurement of your vehicle's emissions, which will need to be within acceptable standards.

 

4. Can I get a PUC certificate online?

No, a new PUC certificate cannot be generated online. Your vehicle will be required to undergo the necessary test. However, if your vehicle has been tested recently and you have your certificate number, you can download a soft copy of the certificate.

 

5. What happens if I don't have a PUC certificate?

A PUC certificate fine will be issued in case you are caught driving without a valid PUC certificate can lead to. The amount of this fine depends on your location, but it can be quite high. In some cases, your license may be suspended.