Driving an unregistered vehicle (no RC): fine amount and rules
Last verified: 12 Aug 2026
What the law says
Section 39 forbids driving, or permitting the driving of, any motor vehicle in a public place unless it is registered under Chapter IV, its certificate of registration is neither suspended nor cancelled, and it carries a registration mark displayed in the prescribed manner. Section 192 punishes contravention of Section 39, and the court may impose a lesser punishment for reasons to be recorded. An Explanation inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 (in force 1-10-2020) deems use of a vehicle in contravention of Section 56 — the fitness certificate requirement — to be a contravention of Section 39, punishable in the same way.
Fine amounts
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| First offence | First offence: a fine of not less than ₹2,000 and up to ₹5,000 |
| Repeat offence | Second or subsequent offence: imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of not less than ₹5,000 and up to ₹10,000, or both |
| Licence impact | No licence disqualification is prescribed, but under Section 207 a police officer or authorised person who believes a vehicle is being used in contravention of Section 39 may seize and detain the vehicle, and the owner must apply with the documents to the transport authority for its release. |
| Payable online | Yes, on official e-challan portals |
States with different notified amounts
| State | Amount |
|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹5,000 for the first offence and ₹10,000 for a subsequent offence, listed as 'RC Violation — 39/192 MVA'; the same amounts apply to a defective, fancy or missing number plate under 50, 51 CMVR / 39 / 192 MVA |
| Gujarat | ₹1,000 two-wheeler, ₹2,000 three-wheeler, ₹3,000 four-wheel LMV, ₹5,000 other vehicles under s.192; a registration mark displayed in breach of rule 50/51 is ₹300 to ₹1,000 by vehicle type. |
| Karnataka | ₹2,000 for 2W/3W, ₹3,000 for LMV and ₹5,000 for MGV/MPV/HGV/HPV and others under s.192(1), instead of a single ₹5,000 slab. |
| Maharashtra | ₹2,000 first offence and ₹5,000 for a second or subsequent one (192(1)) — the repeat figure is ₹5,000, not the ₹10,000 the central section allows |
| Rajasthan | ₹2,000 for a two/three-wheeler or agricultural tractor-trailer and ₹5,000 for a passenger or goods vehicle on a first offence; ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 respectively on a repeat offence. |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹2,500 for the first offence and ₹5,000 for a second or subsequent offence under s.192(1). Merely failing to produce the RC on demand is a separate, lower ₹500 offence under s.177. |
Related
Frequently asked questions
Is not carrying the RC in the car the same as driving an unregistered vehicle?
No. Section 39 asks three things of the vehicle itself: that it be registered under Chapter IV, that the certificate of registration be neither suspended nor cancelled, and that the registration mark be displayed in the prescribed manner. Section 192 punishes breach of those. A registered vehicle whose driver simply cannot produce the paper on the spot is a different and far lighter matter.
Does an expired fitness certificate now count as no registration?
For commercial vehicles, yes in effect. The Explanation added to Section 192 by the 2019 amendment, in force from 1 October 2020, deems use of a motor vehicle in contravention of Section 56 (certificate of fitness) to be a contravention of Section 39 and punishable in the same manner as Section 192(1).
Can my vehicle be seized for having no valid registration?
Yes. Section 207 allows a police officer or an officer authorised by the State Government to seize and detain a vehicle he believes is being used in contravention of Section 39, and to hold it in temporary safe custody until the transport authority verifies the documents and orders release.
Sources
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28468§ionno=192&orderno=212
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28312§ionno=39&orderno=42
- www.indiacode.nic.in — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_30_42_00009_198859_1517807326286§ionId=28484§ionno=207&orderno=238
- 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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