A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate proves your vehicle's emissions meet legal standards and is mandatory for petrol, diesel and CNG vehicles. This guide explains PUC validity periods, renewal cost, where to test, the EV exemption, and the ₹10,000 fine for driving with an expired certificate.
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A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate proves your vehicle's exhaust emissions meet CMVR standards. It is mandatory for all petrol, diesel and CNG vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act — the fine for driving with an expired PUC is ₹10,000 (or up to 6 months imprisonment), and traffic police check it routinely at checkpoints. Electric vehicles are exempt because they have zero exhaust emissions.
Always check the expiry date printed on your certificate. Exact fees vary by state and fuel type, but PUC remains one of the cheapest mandatory compliances at any authorised centre.
Older vehicles frequently fail the emission test. A basic engine service — cleaning or replacing the air filter, cleaning fuel injectors, and tuning the engine — usually resolves it, after which you retest. CNG vehicles must be tested at CNG-specific centres, as not every petrol-pump station is equipped for them.
Enter your vehicle number on RC search to see PUC validity alongside registration details. A valid PUC is also required when buying a used car and for RC transfer. Understand the penalty side in the traffic challan guide, and find authorised centres through the RTO finder.
For most vehicles it is valid for 6 months. New BS6-compliant vehicles in their first year get a certificate valid for 1 year, after which they revert to 6-month validity. Always check the expiry date printed on the certificate.
At any authorised emission testing centre — most petrol pumps have an in-house PUC station marked with a green board. You can also find nearby centres on the VAHAN portal (vahan.parivahan.gov.in) or your state transport app.
Driving with an expired PUC carries a fine of ₹10,000 (or up to 6 months imprisonment) under the amended Motor Vehicles Act. Traffic police check PUC routinely at checkpoints, so keep it current.
No. Electric vehicles are exempt from the PUC requirement because they have zero exhaust emissions. This is a legal exemption under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
You cannot get the certificate until the issue is fixed. A basic engine service — cleaning or replacing the air filter, cleaning injectors, and tuning — usually resolves most failures, after which you retest.