Driving Without Insurance Fine 2026: ₹5,000 Penalty & Rules
The short answer
A repeat offence costs Second or subsequent contravention: a penalty of five times the vehicle's base third-party premium (Section 147(2)) or ₹10,000, whichever is higher — no imprisonment applies since the 15 August 2026 rewrite. No automatic licence action. Section 196 is not among the offences listed in Section 206(4) for which the officer must seize the driving licence, and the section itself orders no disqualification.
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What does the law say about driving without insurance?
Section 146 makes it unlawful to use, or to cause or allow another person to use, a motor vehicle in a public place unless a policy of insurance complying with Chapter XI is in force in relation to that use. Section 196 penalises driving, or causing or allowing a vehicle to be driven, in contravention of Section 146. Until 15 August 2026 this carried a flat ₹2,000 fine (₹4,000 for a repeat offence), with up to 3 months' imprisonment as an alternative. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act 2026 replaced that wording outright with effect from 15 August 2026: imprisonment no longer applies at all, and the penalty is now tied to the vehicle's own insurance premium — three times the vehicle's base third-party premium (the amount fixed under Section 147(2)) or ₹5,000, whichever is higher, for a first contravention; five times that base premium or ₹10,000, whichever is higher, for a second or subsequent contravention. Delhi Traffic Police's own published penalty schedule, checked today, still lists the pre-amendment flat ₹2,000/₹4,000 figures and does not yet reflect this change — confirm the amount shown against your own challan on the official portal before paying, since the figure now depends on your vehicle's premium rather than being a flat sum.
"Whoever drives a motor vehicle or causes or allows a motor vehicle to be driven in contravention of the provisions of section 146 shall be liable for the first contravention with penalty of three times the base premium for such vehicle specified under sub-section (2) of section 147 or five thousand rupees, whichever is higher, and for a subsequent contravention shall be liable to penalty of five times the base premium for such vehicle as specified under sub-section (2) of section 147 or ten thousand rupees, whichever is higher." — Section 196, Motor Vehicles Act 1988 (as substituted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act 2026 (Act 8 of 2026), s.2 and Schedule, w.e.f. 15-8-2026)
How much is the fine?
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| First offence | First contravention: a penalty of three times the vehicle's base third-party premium (Section 147(2)) or ₹5,000, whichever is higher — no imprisonment applies since the 15 August 2026 rewrite |
| Repeat offence | Second or subsequent contravention: a penalty of five times the vehicle's base third-party premium (Section 147(2)) or ₹10,000, whichever is higher — no imprisonment applies since the 15 August 2026 rewrite |
| Licence impact | No automatic licence action. Section 196 is not among the offences listed in Section 206(4) for which the officer must seize the driving licence, and the section itself orders no disqualification. |
| Payable online | Yes, on official e-challan portals |
Which states charge different amounts?
| State | Amount |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | ₹2,000 for a first offence of driving without an insurance certificate (s.196), and ₹4,000 for a second or subsequent offence. Notified in G.O.Ms.No.21, Transport, Roads & Buildings (Tr.I) Department, dated 21 October 2020 — notification under s.200 of the Motor Vehicles Act. |
| Karnataka | ₹1,000 for two- and three-wheelers, ₹2,000 for LMV and ₹4,000 for HGV and others under s.196; the central first-offence figure is ₹2,000. |
| Odisha | ₹2,000 for a first offence and ₹4,000 for a second/subsequent offence under s.196 (plying without insurance) — identical to the central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 figures. |
| Rajasthan | ₹1,000 for a two-wheeler or three-wheeler and ₹2,000 for any other vehicle. Rajasthan notifies no separate higher figure for a repeat offence. |
Related
Frequently asked questions
Is the owner or the driver fined when there is no insurance?
Either can be. Section 196 catches whoever 'drives a motor vehicle or causes or allows a motor vehicle to be driven' in contravention of Section 146, so the owner who lets the vehicle out uninsured is liable alongside the driver. The Explanation to Section 146(1) protects a person driving merely as a paid employee unless he knew or had reason to believe no policy was in force.
Does an expired policy count as no insurance?
Yes. Section 146 requires a policy that is 'in force' in relation to the use of the vehicle at that time. A lapsed or expired policy is not in force, so using the vehicle attracts Section 196 exactly as if no policy had ever been taken.
Is own-damage cover enough, or must it be third-party?
The statutory requirement is a policy complying with Chapter XI of the Act, which is third-party liability cover. Own-damage-only cover does not satisfy Section 146. A vehicle carrying dangerous or hazardous goods additionally needs a policy under the Public Liability Insurance Act 1991.
Why does Delhi's own challan schedule still show ₹2,000/₹4,000 for no insurance?
Because that schedule has not yet been updated. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act 2026 replaced Section 196's flat ₹2,000/₹4,000 fine with a premium-linked penalty (three or five times the vehicle's base premium, or ₹5,000/₹10,000, whichever is higher) with effect from 15 August 2026, and removed imprisonment entirely — but Delhi Traffic Police's published Notice Branch schedule, checked today, still lists the pre-amendment flat figures. Until the state schedule catches up, go by the amount actually shown on your challan or the official e-challan portal rather than either figure quoted here.
Sources
- indiacode.gov.in — https://indiacode.gov.in/handle/123456789/523303
- indiacode.gov.in — https://indiacode.gov.in/handle/123456789/523245
- indiacode.gov.in — https://indiacode.gov.in/handle/123456789/523307
- indiacode.gov.in — https://indiacode.gov.in/handle/123456789/523314
- traffic.delhipolice.gov.in — https://traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/en/traffic-violations-penalties
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