Riding without a helmet: fine amount and rules
Last verified: 12 Aug 2026
What the law says
Section 129 requires every person above four years of age who drives, rides or is carried on a motorcycle in a public place to wear protective headgear conforming to standards prescribed by the Central Government, with an exemption for a Sikh wearing a turban. Section 194D punishes riding or allowing a motorcycle to be ridden in contravention of Section 129. The penalty is not only monetary: the section itself directs a three-month disqualification from holding a licence, and Section 206(4) obliges the officer to seize the driving licence and forward it to the licensing authority.
Fine amounts
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| First offence | ₹1,000 fine and disqualification from holding a driving licence for three months |
| Repeat offence | ₹1,000 — Section 194D fixes a single amount and does not prescribe a higher figure for repeat offences; the Delhi Traffic Police schedule likewise shows ₹1,000 for first and subsequent offences |
| Licence impact | Section 194D expressly disqualifies the rider from holding a licence for three months, and Section 206(4) requires the police officer to seize the driving licence and send it to the licensing authority for disqualification or revocation proceedings under Section 19. |
| Payable online | Yes, on official e-challan portals |
States with different notified amounts
| State | Amount |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | ₹1,035 for riding a motorcycle without protective headgear (s.194D) — AP police charts show ₹1,035 as payable, ₹35 above the ₹1,000 statutory figure. |
| Gujarat | ₹500 under s.194D. Gujarat's notified schedule lists no repeat-offence figure and no licence disqualification. |
| Karnataka | ₹500 for the rider and ₹500 for the pillion under s.194-D, half the ₹1,000 central figure. The central three-month licence disqualification still applies. |
| Maharashtra | ₹500 + 3-month licence disqualification (194D, state-notified; some official charts show the ₹1,000 statutory figure — the e-challan states the payable amount) |
Related
Frequently asked questions
Does the pillion rider also get fined for not wearing a helmet?
Yes. Section 129 applies to every person above four years of age driving, riding or being carried on a motorcycle, so a pillion rider without a helmet is covered. A separate provision, Section 194C, punishes violation of the safety measures in Section 128 with ₹1,000 and a three-month licence disqualification — Delhi books triple riding on a two-wheeler under that section.
Is a Sikh wearing a turban exempt from the helmet rule?
Yes. The first proviso to Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 states that the section does not apply to a person who is a Sikh if, while driving or riding a motorcycle in a public place, he is wearing a turban.
Can I be challaned if my helmet is not BIS-certified or the strap is loose?
Yes. Section 129 defines protective headgear as a helmet that both affords a reasonable degree of protection by its shape, material and construction and is securely fastened to the head by straps. Delhi's published schedule lists 'Helmet w/o strap or strap not tied' and 'Defective helmet (not conforming BIS)' as separate ₹1,000 offences under Section 194D.
Sources
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=49504§ionno=194D&orderno=220
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28402§ionno=129&orderno=139
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=49502§ionno=194C&orderno=219
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28483§ionno=206&orderno=237
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28477§ionno=200&orderno=231
- traffic.delhipolice.gov.in — https://traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/traffic-offences
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