Documents to Carry While Going for a Long Drive / Road Trip

Every motorist must carry certain vehicle documents if driving on public roads, whether on road trips or not. The Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 prescribes these documents. Not carrying these vehicle documents is a punishable offence, and you may be penalised by law enforcement officers if they deem fit.

Here is what a vehicle document checklist for a road trip should include:

1. Driving Licence

Every state has a separate rule regarding fines to be imposed on people who drive without a valid driving licence authorised by the state government of any state. Therefore, to avoid penalties like heavy fines, you must have your driving licence, all the time. You should ensure that your driving licence is valid and not expired.

Driving without a valid licence can draw a hefty penalty of up to ₹5000 or can also be awarded a jail term of up to three months. Repeat offenders might have to bear both the penalty and jail term.

2. Registration Certificate of Your Car

The RC of the car is one of the important car papers that proves that your car is registered with the relevant RTO. It contains necessary information about the car, such as the owner's name and address, the registration and chassis number of the car, etc.

In unfortunate incidents such as accidents, the RC of your car helps the rescue team or the police identify your vehicle and make contact with your family members with the information on the RC. If you are caught driving without an RC, you may have to pay a fine of ₹2000 to ₹5000 for the first offence.

3. Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certification

The Pollution Control Certificate or PUCC is one of the important car papers, for it certifies your vehicle’s pollution levels. To obtain a PUCC, you need to bring your car to a testing facility (petrol pumps, in most cases), where a professional tests your car’s pollution levels. He or she only issues the PUC certificate upon satisfactory results. A valid PUCC means your vehicle is not emitting harmful air pollutants.

4. Insurance Certificate of the Car

The Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 requires every vehicle to carry a valid car insurance certificate while driving. It is one of the essential car documents that should always be with you. Police personnel can ask to see if you have insurance for your car. Failing to produce the insurance certificate when asked for it can make you liable for a fine of up to ₹4000 or jail time.

You can also carry a copy or a digital copy of your motor insurance policy while leaving the original document home.

5. Adhaar Card

If you have planned a cross-country road trip, make sure you have brought your Aadhaar card with you. It may be required for identification in other states, particularly for hotel booking.

6. Passport

In case you are going to cross international borders, your Passport is one of the most important documents that you must include in your vehicle documents checklist.

7. International Driving Licence

International road trips would also require you to have an international driving licence.

8. Permits

Many places in India, and probably in other countries as well, require special permits for private vehicles to enter. So, make sure you apply for the permits before starting your trip, or at least keep the documents ready for offline application. Get all the documents and receipts printed out and also saved in digital format.

In addition to all the documents mentioned above, it is also important to carry a few copies of passport-size photographs of you and all other individuals.

Long drives on long stretches of roads are liberating; do not let the hassles barricade your fun. Carry all the documents mentioned here to avoid any administrative hassles en route to your destination. Also, do not forget to buy a car insurance policy. It will help you tackle the expenses of repairs and liabilities if the insured car gets into an accident at all. In case you have existing insurance for your car, consider renewing it from Tata AIG.

Car insurance renewal online from Tata AIG is simple and easy. Also, if you ever need to file a claim, our team of experts will help you in the process. We have 24/7 customer service and a network of more than 3300 cashless garages, which can be very helpful on your trip.