Purchasing a new car is a significant investment and involves emotional and financial commitment. After all the research, when you finally choose or buy your dream car, the task just doesn’t end here. The next thing that comes up is choosing from the various car insurance.
To drive a car legally without any chaos, you need to buy car insurance to make it eligible to run on public roads. Car dealers help their customers find cheap car insurance in India with maximum benefits and low premiums.
Apart from car insurance, you must apply for a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. To make yourselves aware of everything related to the PUC Certificate, read further.
What is a Pollution Under Control(PUC) Certificate?
A PUC is a document that informs and approves that a vehicle’s carbon emissions are under permissible limits. With the increase in pollution in India, the government has made it mandatory for every car owner to have a valid PUC certificate.
The Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) is issued to vehicles, both old and new, after conducting proper inspection at an authorised centre. The car’s emission levels are checked and verified at these centres and a certificate is issued.
A PUC Certificate contains the following details:
- Car’s registration details
- PUC Certificate serial number
- PUC Certificate expiry date
- Date of the emission test
- Recorded emission level details
The Importance of PUC Certificates for New Cars
The government has taken steps to control pollution or carbon emissions in the air. Hence, they came up with PUCC that informs whether the carbon emissions are under control. However, if a car does not pass the emission test then it means that the particular car has high carbon emissions that are harmful to the environment. In such cases, the owner of the vehicle has to pay the penalty for not obeying the government guidelines.
- The Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is a mandatory document for all vehicles, including new cars, as per the Motor Vehicles Act in India.
- A valid PUC certificate indicates that your car’s engine is in good condition and functioning efficiently.
- It is mandated by IRDAI to have a valid PUCC to purchase or renew a bike or four-wheeler insurance policy.
- Failure to produce a valid PUC certificate to traffic authorities when asked to produce can result in fines and penalties.
- By obtaining and renewing your PUC certificate, you contribute to reducing environmental pollution and promoting cleaner air.
Hence, by keeping your PUC certificate updated, you can avoid these inconveniences and ensure a hassle-free driving experience.
New Car PUC Validity
If any car does not certify to pollution under control or PUC, then the owner will be subject to pay the penalty.
However, in case of a new car, the owner gets a ready-made PUC certificate that is valid for one year from the date of registration. Post which the owner needs to renew the certificate in intervals of 6 months. This also means that the car should be checked regularly to keep pollution levels in control.
How to Obtain and Download a PUC Certificate?
Getting a PUC Certificate
Obtaining a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for your vehicle is a simple and hassle-free process. Here are a few simple steps to follow:
- Locate a certified or authorised PUC testing centre. These are usually located at petrol pumps, service stations or designated centres.
- Take your vehicle to the selected PUC testing centre.
- Get the emission check conducted by the technician at the centre.
- If your vehicle’s emission levels are within the prescribed limits, the testing centre will issue a PUC certificate. The four-wheeler pollution certificate validity is 1 year for new vehicles and 6 months for subsequent tests.
- Pay the fee, which may vary depending on the type of vehicle and the testing centre.
Downloading a PUC Certificate
You can download the PUC certificate online through the Parivahan website. Follow the below easy steps
- Visit the Parivahan website and navigate to the section for PUC Certificate services.
- Select the “PUC Certificate” option
- Enter the required details, including the Registration Number, Chassis Number, and the verification code provided.
- Click on the “PUC Details”
- Proceed to download or print the PUC Certificate
Consequences of an Expired Car PUC Validity
However, if someone gets laid back and does not renew their PUC validity for car then they may face the following consequences.
- As per the law, every vehicle must have a PUC certificate. Not having this document at the time of checking may lead to penalties. It is ₹1000 in case of first-time offence and ₹2000 for repeated offence. In some cases, it may also result in 3 months of imprisonment.
- Four-wheeler insurance purchase and renewal depend upon valid PUC; failing to provide this may restrict you from renewing your bar insurance.
Conclusion
All new car owners get the PUCC from the dealer, which is valid for one year. After one year, the PUCC needs to be renewed, along with the four-wheeler insurance. Not only does a PUCC help in adhering to legal requirements, but it also promotes a cleaner environment and ensures the optimal performance of your vehicle. The car’s PUC validity should be checked regularly to ensure compliance with emissions regulations.
