Without Licence Fine in Punjab

As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, driving without licence fine was set at ₹500 and/or imprisonment for 3 months until 2019.

However, on August 9, 2019, this act was amended, and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act was published, which increased the fine to ₹5,000 and/or imprisonment for three months.

This amendment act came into force on September 1, 2019 and from then, every offender is charged ₹5,000 if he is found driving without a licence in Punjab.

Section 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 discusses the conditions under which you are allowed to drive a vehicle. This section refers to Sections 3 and 4, which state:

• You are not eligible to drive a vehicle if you do not have a valid driving licence.

• You are not eligible to drive a vehicle if you are below 18 years of age.

• You can drive a motorcycle with an engine capacity of less than 50cc only, if you are between the age of 16 and 18.

• You are not eligible to drive a transport vehicle if you are below 20 years of age.

• You are not eligible to drive a transport vehicle (except motor cabs or bikes) unless your driving licence specifically qualifies you to do so.

• In case you are found driving in any of the conditions listed above, you will have to pay a driving without licence fine, and you may face the following consequences:

• Imprisonment of up to 3 months

• Insurance claim rejection

• Hike in bike insurance premium

If you have got a driving without licence challan in Punjab, you can either pay it online or offline. The three ways are as follows:

• Online Mode

• Through the e-Challan Portal

• Offline Mode

• Nearest Traffic Police Counter

• Traffic Police Officer

Process to Pay Without Licence Fine through the e-Challan Portal

• Visit the e-Challan portal.

• Click on “Get Challan Details” present at the left corner of the page to open the challan details page.

• Select the challan number, vehicle number or the DL number option, depending on the document you have.

• Enter the respective number and the given captcha, and click on “Get Detail”.

• Once you click, your challan details will be displayed. Verify the details and select “Pay Now”.

• Choose the preferred method of payment from the options given and make the payment.

• On successful payment, the payment receipt will be displayed. Download this receipt for future reference.

Process to Pay Without Licence Fine in Punjab at the Nearest Traffic Police Counter

• Go to the nearest police station to your place of residence with a copy of your challan, vehicle’s registration certificate, driving licence and other necessary documents.

• Talk to a police officer about the challan payment and share the challan details, DL number and other documents with him.

• Once the details are verified, pay him the challan amount either online or offline.

• Collect the payment receipt for future purposes.

Process to Pay Without Licence Fine in Punjab to a Traffic Police Officer

• Find a traffic police officer with an e-Challan machine.

• Provide him with licence challan details, driving licence number, etc.

• Pay the fine using a suitable mode of payment (online or in cash) and get the payment receipt.

Settling the challan issued in your name is compulsory; otherwise, you may face some other problems as well. In case you fail to pay the without licence fine within the due date:

An officer will pay a visit: An officer is sent to your home to collect the without licence challan. So, you can pay your fine to him if you want to.

The court will send a summon: You will be summoned to the court to explain the reason behind the non-payment of the fine and settle the challan at the same time.

DL suspension: In case you do not pay the fine even after appearing in court, your licence can be suspended.

To avoid penalties and to comply with the traffic rules, you need to have a valid driver's licence when getting behind the wheel.

You can get a driving licence by visiting the nearest Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Punjab. If you want to make the process easier and less time-consuming, you can apply for it online and then go to the RTO.

• Visit the Parivahan Sewa website.

• Open the “Online Services” tab and click on “Driving Licence Related Services”.

• On the new page displayed, select “Punjab” from the “Select State Name” dropdown menu.

• Click on “Apply for Driving Licence”.

• Read the instructions and click on the “Continue” button.

• Enter your learner’s licence number, date of birth and captcha and select “OK”.

• Upload the required documents in the given fields and choose the suitable appointment slot and the nearest RTO.

• Make the payment to book the appointment and download the receipt.

• On the selected appointment date, visit the RTO carrying the original documents and the payment confirmation receipt.

• Once you pass the driving skill test, your new driving licence will be issued and dispatched to your home.

• Open the Parivahan Sewa portal.

• From the “Online Services” dropdown menu select “Driving Licence Related Services” option.

• Enter “Punjab” in the “Select State Name” column.

• Click on “Apply for DL Renewal”, read the instructions and select “Continue”.

• Enter your driving licence number, date of birth and captcha and click on “Get DL Details”.

• Verify the information shown and ensure that it matches with your driving licence details and click on “OK”.

• Upload the documents and submit the form.

• Make the payment through the suitable mode of payment and download the receipt.

• Go to the nearest RTO with the receipt, driving licence and other necessary documents.

• Upon successful verification, a driving licence will be sent to your registered address.

• Keep a valid driving licence with you whenever you are driving. If your driving licence has expired or its expiry date is approaching, apply for its renewal beforehand.

• Carry hard or soft copies of other mandatory vehicle-related documents, such as a car or bike insurance policy, PUC certificate, vehicle registration certificate (RC), etc.

• Give free passage to ambulance and fire service vehicles.

• Do not drive a transport vehicle with a regular driving licence.

• Produce your driving licence on demand of the authorised officer.

Section 3: It specifies that a person without a valid driving licence cannot drive a vehicle in a public place. Plus, it also states that a person cannot drive a vehicle (other than a motorcycle or motor cab) if he does not have the required licence.

Section 4: It specifies that:**

A person below 18 cannot drive a vehicle.

A person above 16 and less than 18 can drive a motorcycle whose engine capacity is not more than 50cc.

A person below 20 cannot drive a transport vehicle.

A learner’s or driving licence cannot be issued to a person until or unless he satisfies the above-listed provisions.

Section 5: It specifies that no vehicle owner or person in charge shall allow a person to drive the vehicle until or unless he satisfies the provisions of **Section 3 and 4.

Section 6: It specifies that no person can hold a type of driving licence other than a learner’s or driving licence unless or until he satisfies the provisions of **Section 18 and 139.

Section 19: It specifies that the licensing authority can revoke or disqualify a driving licence for a specified period if he is charged with a serious offence. The list of offences is mentioned under Chapter II, **Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Section 181: It specifies the fines and penalties for not complying with the provisions of **Section 3 and 4. In this **Section, without a licence fine is fixed at ₹5,000 and/or confinement of up to 3 months.

A valid driving licence is not the only mandatory document for driving. A bike insurance policy holds the same importance as the driving licence.

If you are caught driving without bike insurance or with an expired bike insurance policy, you will be required to pay a fine. So, to ensure that you remain free from troubles on the road, Tata AIG brings bike insurance plans with an affordable premium to you.

Tata AIG insurance for two-wheelers not only saves you from fines but also provides compensation for expenses arising from road accidents and third-party injuries.

Another perk of buying bike insurance policies from Tata AIG is that it offers three different types of plans including standalone own damage bike insurance, third-party bike insurance and a combo of these two- comprehensive two-wheeler insurance.

So, are you ready to protect your pocket from unforeseen expenses? Consider Tata AIG and keep financial burdens at bay.

Driving without a licence is prohibited under the law and can have long-term effects. Anyone who commits this offence is required to pay a fine, serve jail time, face licence suspensions and even face legal consequences.

So, before starting a vehicle’s engine, always make sure that you have a valid driving licence with you, as failure to do so leads to chaos and unnecessary problems. Besides, if you have been fined for driving without a licence, clear the dues as soon as possible to avoid further difficulties.

How many RTOs are there in Punjab?

There are, in total, 94 regional transport offices (RTOs) in Punjab.

What is the validity of learner’s licence in Punjab?

The validity of a learner’s licence in Punjab is 6 months from the date of issue.

What is the validity of a driving licence in Punjab?

The validity of a non-transport driving licence in Punjab is 20 years from the date of issue or renewal or until the licence holder reaches the age of 50 years, whichever is earlier. After this, the licence will have to be renewed every 5 years.

What is the fee for renewal of a driving licence in Punjab?

The fee for renewing a driving licence in Punjab is ₹50.

What is the fee for issuance of a driving licence in Punjab?

The fee for the issue of a new driving licence in Punjab is ₹50 for each category of vehicle.