A PUC Certificate is abbreviated as the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). It is a certification provided to vehicles whose emission levels are within the permissible limits stated under The Central Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

The regulation on pollution control was introduced to find the vehicles that contribute to emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere and penalise them for reducing air pollution.

The Pollution Under Control Certificate will be issued to the vehicles after inspecting and verifying the emission levels at an authorised emission testing centre.

The information contained in the vehicle's PUC Certificate is as follows:

• Vehicle's registration certificate

• Serial number of the PUC Certificate

• Date when the emission test was done

• PUC Certificate expiry date

• Recorded emission level details

With the extent of usage and ageing, the emission levels vary for four-wheeler vehicles. Therefore, the Government set mandatory guidelines for getting the vehicles checked at periodic intervals and obtaining the Pollution Under Control Certificate.

PUC validity means the time period for which the certificate remains legally acceptable. The validity of the PUC Certificate for new and old vehicles is stated as follows:

New vehicle PUC validity: The PUC validity for a new car is one year. After one year, it is subject to regular renewals. In some states, you are allowed to drive a brand-new car for the first six months of buying it without any PUCC.

Old vehicle PUC validity: The PUC validity for old cars is six months. Therefore, after one year of purchase and subsequent years, the vehicles must be checked for emission levels every six months to obtain the PUC Certificate. In adverse scenarios, the validity period can be even lesser depending on the recorded emission levels.

Maintaining a new car's pollution certificate validity is crucial for vehicle owners. Here are some of the reasons why PUC validity for cars is important.

Legal Mandate

One reason for having a car pollution certificate validity is to comply with the law. Traffic authorities can ask for it at any time, and if it has expired or is missing, you may face hefty fines. Staying compliant with the law helps ensure your car meets emission norms and is road-legal.

Environmental Protection

Another reason why having a pollution certificate validity for cars is crucial for better environmental health. Vehicles emit harmful gases that harm the environment and public health. If the PUC level is under control for the vehicle, then it would lead to better air quality.

Vehicle Health

Regular emission checks can reveal early engine or exhaust issues. If your car fails the PUC test, it is a sign that something needs attention. Fixing these problems on time keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently.

Insurance Renewal

A valid PUC certificate is often required during car insurance renewal. Without it, your insurer may decline to renew the policy or settle claims. Keeping it updated ensures continuous protection and hassle-free claim support.

Also Read: PUC is Mandatory for Insurance Renewal

Regularly checking the PUC validity is critical to remaining compliant with the law. You can easily check PUC validity online and offline. Here is how you can do a pollution certificate validity for a car check easily.

Step 1: Go to Parivahan Sewa Portal

To check the PUC validity, open the Parivahan Sewa website. You can also download the Sanchar Sathi mobile application.

Step 2: Look for PUC Section

Look for the Pollution Under Control (PUC) services option on the homepage.

Step 3: Provide Vehicle Details

Provide your vehicle registration number and the last five digits of the chassis number. Ensure that all the
information entered is correct.

Step 4: Enter Captcha Code

Verify the captcha code shown on the screen.

Step 5: View Details

Once you submit, you will see your PUC status, validity date and certificate details on the screen.

Vehicle owners can also check PUC validity offline by visiting PUC centres. Here is how you can check the validity offline.

Step 1: Find and Locate a PUC Centre

The first thing vehicle owners need to do is find a PUC centre in the nearby area. You can use the official website to locate the PUC centre.

Step 2: Take Your Vehicle

Once you have found the PUC centre, take your vehicle there along with the required documents, such as your
vehicle registration, driving licence, etc.

Step 3: Provide vehicle Details

After reaching the PUC centre, you need to provide the vehicle details to the authorities. The authorities will check the vehicle's PUC details in their system.

Step 4: Know the Validity

After checking the information, the authorities will provide the car pollution validity of the vehicle. If the PUC has expired, they will ask you to renew it promptly to avoid complications.

Also Read: How to Check the Status of Your PUC Online?

According to Section 190(2) of The Central Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, having a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate is mandatory. Vehicles not having a valid PUC Certificate will be liable to pay the applicable penalties as follows:

• ₹1000 if identified for the first time.

• ₹2000 if identified repeatedly

It can also lead to imprisonment of up to 3 months in adverse cases.

The Government has eased the process of obtaining and ensuring PUC Certificate validity for the vehicles and introduced options to download the certificate online. Here are a few necessary steps to help you with the process.

Steps To Obtain The PUC Certificate

• Take your four-wheeler to an emission test centre. There are fuel stations with emission test centres throughout the country. In addition, there are standalone licenced emission testing centres and other authorised centres with computerised emission testing equipment. Here is a link to the PUC Centre List.

• The testing centre operator will examine your vehicle and the exhaust system to find the emission levels. The limits are specific to every State.

• Upon successful examination, the operator will get the PUC Certificate generated.

• Pay the required fees and get the PUC Certificate.

• If your vehicle does not comply with the required standards, you will receive a rejection slip. You will have to find the reasons and take the necessary actions on your vehicle to get the PUC Certificate.

• The cost for obtaining a PUC Certificate can range from ₹60 to ₹100 for a four-wheeler.

Steps To Download PUC Certificate Online

• Visit the Parivahan website for the PUC Certificate and related online services managed by The Ministry Of Road Transport And Highways.

• Click the option "PUC Certificate".

• Provide the Registration Number, the last 5 characters of the Chassis Number, and the code below.

• Click the option for "PUC Details". You can check the validity of the PUC Certificate for your new car with the expiry date.

• Download or print the PUC Certificate.

Knowing the PUC validity of a new car is crucial to staying compliant with the law. Driving without a PUC certificate can invite fines and penalties. Due to this reason, it is crucial to check PUC validity online at regular intervals. If the PUC validity has expired, you can renew it without any hassle.

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