Vehicle document · Insurance
Motor insurance policy
Section 146 makes third-party insurance compulsory for every vehicle used in a public place.
- Issued by
- General insurer
- Validity
- Policy period
- Lapse penalty under
- Section 196
- Keep it
- In the cabin and the file
What it is
What the motor insurance policy proves
Section 146 makes third-party insurance compulsory for every vehicle used in a public place. A comprehensive policy adds cover for damage to the truck itself. The lapse that hurts most is a single uninsured day: if the truck has an accident on that day, the third-party liability for death, injury or property damage falls on the owner personally, and there is no claim for the truck's own damage either.
At a glance
- Issued by
- A general insurance company registered with IRDAI
- Validity
- The policy period printed on the schedule, usually one year
- Law
- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 146 (third-party insurance is compulsory)
- Where to keep it
- In the cabin and the file
How to renew
5 steps, in order
PRACHSO does not issue or renew any government document. These are the steps on the official service, or the ones your appointed agent follows.
- 1
Start 30 days before expiry. Collect quotes on the same vehicle class, gross vehicle weight, permit type and goods carried that appear on the RC.
- 2
Check the schedule before you pay: registration number, chassis and engine numbers, class of vehicle and the use (goods carriage, public or private) must match the RC.
- 3
Pay the premium so the new policy starts on or before the old one ends. A gap of even one day is a day without cover.
- 4
Download the policy, give the driver the copy for the Roadside Pack and keep the schedule in the vehicle file.
- 5
Check after a few days that the new policy shows against the vehicle's record. Carry the policy copy until it does.
Penalty for a lapse
Driving an uninsured vehicle is punishable under Section 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act: ₹2,000 for a first offence, and imprisonment is possible; ₹4,000 for a subsequent offence. States can set different compounding amounts. The larger cost is the uninsured accident, where third-party liability falls on the owner.
Challan guide: Driving without insurance
Common mistakes
Where fleets slip
- Renewing on the expiry day and letting the new policy start the next morning, leaving a gap.
- Buying a policy that lists the wrong vehicle class or use, which an insurer can raise when a claim comes in.
- Letting fitness or permit lapse while the policy is valid. An insurer can dispute a claim when the vehicle lacked a valid fitness certificate or permit on the day.
- Keeping the only copy in the office while the driver is stopped 800 km away.
How PRACHSO tracks it
The reminder goes to whoever has to act
PRACHSO reads the insurer, policy number and expiry from the vehicle's record and gives every policy a 30-day runway, with escalation to the owner if nobody has marked it done 7 days out. The renewal task records the insurer, premium and new policy, and the policy is added to the driver's Roadside Pack the day it is uploaded.
PRACHSO Reminders
to Gurpreet (owner) · English
Motor insurance policy: 15 days left
Truck PB 10 OI 4127 · Ludhiana branch
Payment needed before the expiry date. Tap Done once paid.
9:02 am
Questions about the motor insurance policy
Answers from the Motor Vehicles Act, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and the official renewal services. Last checked 12 Nov 2026.
Is third-party insurance enough for a truck?
Third-party cover is the legal minimum under Section 146. It does not pay for damage to your own truck. Most financed trucks are required by the lender to carry comprehensive cover.
What is the fine for driving without insurance?
Under Section 196, ₹2,000 for a first offence, with possible imprisonment, and ₹4,000 for a subsequent offence. States can set different compounding amounts.
Is the insurance policy in DigiLocker accepted at a checkpoint?
Yes. Insurance held in DigiLocker or mParivahan is accepted as valid under MoRTH's advisory on electronic documents.
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