All You Must Know About PUC Certificate for Cars

In India, all types of vehicles are required to go through emission tests to ensure they adhere to the emission norms laid down by the authorities. As per the Motor Laws, it has become mandatory for every car owner to carry a PUC certificate while driving on roads. Let us understand more about PUC certificate and how it can benefit you.

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What is a PUC Certificate of Vehicle?

Pollution Under Control, PUC, is a certificate that is provided to the vehicle owner stating the vehicle has passed a PUC test and thus, meets the pollution control standards as mandated by the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989. This certificate states that your car’s emissions are in alignment with the standard pollution norms and hence, not harmful to the environment. As per the law, it is mandatory for all types of vehicles plying on the Indian roads to have an updated PUC certificate.

The PUC certificate of vehicle has details about your car such as your vehicle registration number, date of the emission test, the serial number of the PUC, the test reading, and the validity date of the emission test.

How to get PUC Certificate?

PUC is an authorized certificate only granted to vehicles that pass the PUC test. You can get your car tested at any (authorized to test) petrol pumps. With the help of specific testing devices, the concerned person will scan the ejection pipe to check for the emission rate. After conducting the test, they will issue a certificate if passed, against a nominal fee.

To know the PUC centres in your city, visit the PUC certificate tab of the Parivahan official website. On the website, you will get the RTO-approved centre list along with their addresses.

How to get PUC Certificate Online?

Since a vehicle needs to pass the set emission levels, it is essential to get it checked at a fuel station. So, you cannot get a PUC certificate online as you are required to get it done physically.

However, you can easily download a soft copy of your car's PUC certificate online from the Parivahan website. Here are the steps for the same:

Step 1: Visit the official Parivahan website

Step 2: Select 'PUCC' from the 'Online Services' dropdown

Step 3: Now select the 'PUC certificate' option

Step 4: Enter your car's registration number, chassis number and Captcha

Step 5: Press 'PUC Details' button.

You can now view all the details of your PUC certificate and download it in soft copy.

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What is PUC Certificate Validity?

The validity of a PUC certificate for new car or a new bike is for 1 year after which it needs to be renewed. While renewing, the vehicle will have to pass through the PUC test once again after which it will be renewed.

Moreover, the validity of a renewed PUC certificate is 6 months after which you are required to get it re-tested for pollution levels.

PUC Test Percentage Criteria

PUC test checks the percentage of emission of CO and other Hydrocarbons in ppm. Your car would be considered eligible for the certificate as per the following criteria:

Apart from making you a law-abiding citizen, having a PUC certificate have certain benefits to vehicle owners as well. When you test your car every 6 months, not only you will become aware of the pollution levels of your vehicle but also get to know if it needs servicing before it becomes a larger problem. Another reason would be; it is an essential prerequisite for renewing your car insurance policy.

What Happens if your Vehicle fails the PUC Test?

If during the test, your vehicle is emitting more than the acceptable norms, the PUC certificate will not be issued and it will cause you to face the following problems:

• In case, your car is emitting pollution above the accepted levels and you are not getting it repaired to save on cost then your insurer will not be able to renew car insurance policy. It is because the renewal of the policy depends on the updated PUC certificate.
• As per the new notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, if the enforcement officer has a reason to believe the car’s emission level is more than the accepted emission standards, they may direct the vehicle owner to submit the car for conducting the test. Failure to do so will attract a penalty. In case the vehicle owner fails to comply with this, the concerned authority can suspend the certificate of registration of the vehicle until the vehicle owner submits a valid updated PUC.
• The car owner will be penalized for not carrying a third party insurance policy and PUC certificate. If it is your first-time offence of not carrying a PUC certificate, you will be charged with ₹1000 and on repetition, the amount can go up to ₹2000.

You May Also Read: How to Renew Your Lapsed Car Insurance Policy?

Wrapping Up!

Having a PUC certificate ensures that your car is emitting pollution which is under acceptable norms. Therefore, it is imperative you carry the PUC for your car at all times as failure to produce one could result in a fine by the concerned authorities. Moreover, having a PUC certificate is also mandatory while car insurance renewal.

Also, it is advisable before buying the best car insurance policy, to compare the benefits of each plan online to make an informed decision. And lastly, having a PUC shows you are conscious about the environment because vehicle emissions contribute heavily to air pollution.