How to Get PUC Certificate Online?

To tackle the rising air pollution in the country, the Government of India has laid down standardised rules for allowing emission levels from motor vehicles. Under this rule, all motor vehicles in India have to mandatorily undergo an emission test and if their emission levels comply with the norms, a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is awarded to them.

This is done to ensure that every vehicle is safe to run on roads, without creating much air pollution. Different classes of vehicles have different emission levels and it is compulsory for every vehicle in India to have a valid PUC certificate. Non-adherence to this rule may attract traffic fine or imprisonment or both.

In this article, we will tell you more about a PUC Certificate and you will also get to know how to get PUC certificate online as well as offline for your vehicle. Continue reading.

What is a PUC Certificate?

A PUC certificate, also known as the Pollution Under Control certificate, is a Government-issued document that is awarded to a vehicle if its emission levels are found to be within the permissible limits. As per the Central Motor Vehicles Act, a valid PUC certificate must be present with every vehicle on the road at all times.

The PUC certificate of a vehicle contains the following information:

• Vehicle’s registration number
• Serial number of the PUC certificate
• Date of the emission test
• Validity date of the PUC certificate
• Reading of the emission level of the vehicle

The PUC certificate can be obtained by a vehicle owner by paying a nominal fee which ranges between ₹ 60 to ₹ 100.

What is the validity of a PUC certificate?

For new cars and two-wheelers, the PUC certificate is provided by the dealer itself and is valid for one year from the date of registration of the car. Post that, the PUC certificate of the vehicle needs to be renewed as per the Government’s guidelines. For vehicles that are more than 5 years old, the PUC certificate comes with a validity of six months.

However, in case of adverse readings, the time frame for the validity of a PUC certificate will depend upon the recorded emission levels.

How to obtain a PUC certificate?

The PUC certificate for new vehicles are provided by the dealer and it comes with a validity of one year. Post that, you need to follow the steps mentioned to get a PUC certificate for your vehicle:

Step 1 – Find a PUC centre near you. It could be a petrol pump or a government-licensed auto emission testing centre or a private emission testing centre.

Step 2 – Get the exhaust pipe of your car or two-wheeler scanned by the testing executive at the PUC center. The emission levels of your vehicle will get recorded.

Step 3 – You will be required to pay a requisite fee to the testing executive. If the emission levels of your vehicle are within the authorised limits, you will be provided with a PUC certificate containing your vehicle’s emission readings.

Can I get a PUC certificate online?

Till now, only the authorised emission testing centres and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) can provide a PUC certificate. It means that it is not possible to get a new PUC certificate online. However, you can check the status of your existing PUC certificate, validity, expiry date etc. by visiting the “Parivahan Seva” portal. You can also download your existing PUC certificate by visiting this portal.

Below are the steps to do so:

Step 1 – Visit the Parivahan Seva website

Step 2 – Click on the PUC certificate section

Step 3 – Enter the registration number of your vehicle and last 5 digits of its chassis number

Step 4 – Fill in the captcha code

Step 5 – You will be redirected to a page where you can view, print, or download your vehicle’s PUC certificate.

How to find your nearest PUC centre?

You can find your nearest PUC centre or emission testing centre by visiting the Parivahan Seva website. All you need to do is just follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1 – Visit the PUC section of the Parivahan Seva website

Step 2 – From the navigation menu, choose “PUC Centre List”

Step 3 – Select your state and district and you will be able to view all RTO approved emission testing centres near you. You will also find complete address of the PUC centre, types of vehicle they test, and their contact details.

What is the penalty for not obtaining a PUC certificate?

As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, it is mandatory for every vehicle owner in India to have a valid PUC certificate along with other documents like motor insurance policies including car insurance or bike insurance, registration certificate, driving license, and tax token. Not having a PUC certificate will get you booked under Section 190(2) of the MV Act and will attract a penalty of ₹ 1,000 fine if you’re a first-time offender.

For subsequent or repeat offences, you will have to pay a fine of ₹ 2,000 every time.

To conclude

As a law-abiding citizen of this country, you should take your vehicle to an emission testing centre and get a PUC certificate before it expires. If the emission levels of your vehicle are found to be higher than the permissible limit, you should get it checked with a mechanic. It’s important to get your vehicle serviced at regular intervals to keep its emission levels within the limits.