Vehicle document · PUC
PUC certificate
The PUC certificate says the vehicle's exhaust was tested and found within the emission limits for its norm.
- Issued by
- PUC centre
- Validity
- Printed, by emission norm
- Lapse penalty under
- Section 190(2)
- Keep it
- In the cabin and the file
What it is
What the PUC certificate proves
The PUC certificate says the vehicle's exhaust was tested and found within the emission limits for its norm. It is cheap and quick to renew, which is exactly why it lapses: nobody books it, the truck is on the road, and the date passes. Some cities now match camera-read number plates against vehicle records, so a lapsed PUC can bring a challan without the truck ever being stopped.
At a glance
- Issued by
- An authorised pollution under control testing centre
- Validity
- Depends on the vehicle and emission norm under CMVR rule 115: commonly one year for BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles and six months for others. The expiry date is printed on the certificate
- Law
- Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, rule 115; Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 190(2)
- Where to keep it
- In the cabin and the file
How to renew
4 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
Read the expiry date on the current certificate, not from memory. The validity period depends on the emission norm.
- 2
Take the truck to an authorised PUC centre before the expiry date. Many fuel stations on highways have one.
- 3
Get the test done, pay the fee and collect the certificate. Check that the registration number and the expiry date are printed correctly.
- 4
Photograph or upload the certificate the same day so the office file and the driver's Roadside Pack both have it.
Penalty for a lapse
Driving without a valid PUC certificate is punishable under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act: up to ₹10,000. States can set different compounding amounts.
Challan guide: Driving without a valid PUC certificate
Common mistakes
Where fleets slip
- Assuming every PUC lasts a year. Validity depends on the vehicle's emission norm, so read the printed date.
- Planning the PUC around the fitness test and letting it lapse in between.
- Keeping the PUC in the office file while the truck is on a long trip.
How PRACHSO tracks it
The reminder goes to whoever has to act
PRACHSO reads the PUC validity from the vehicle's record and reminds the driver, not the office, because the driver is the one who can pull into a testing centre on the route. The reminder goes on WhatsApp in his language with the truck number and the expiry date, and he replies with a photo of the new certificate.
PRACHSO Reminders
to Salim (driver) · English
PUC certificate: 15 days left
Truck PB 10 OI 4127 · Ludhiana branch
Please get this done on your route this week and send a photo of the new paper.
9:02 am
Questions about the PUC certificate
Answers from the Motor Vehicles Act, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and the official renewal services. Last checked 12 Nov 2026.
How long is a PUC certificate valid for a BS-VI truck?
Under CMVR rule 115, commonly one year for BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles and six months for others. The exact expiry date is printed on the certificate.
What is the fine for driving without PUC?
Up to ₹10,000 under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act. States can set different compounding amounts.
Can a PUC be done in any state?
Yes. Authorised PUC centres test vehicles from any state, and the certificate is valid across the country for its printed period.
Track every PUC certificate on one calendar.
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