Traffic fines in India were raised sharply by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act No. 32 of 2019, assented on 9 August 2019). The enhanced penalties applied from 1 September 2019 under S.O. 3110(E).
This page lists the penalty for each common offence with its section number, explains why the amount you actually pay can be different in your state, and shows how to check and pay traffic fines online through official channels. The rules behind these fines are explained in our traffic rules guide.
Sarathi Portal Guide is an independent site. We do not collect fines or show challan data. Pay only on the official sites linked below.
Traffic fines list: penalties under the 2019 Act
The table shows the amounts written in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as amended in 2019. "Subsequent" means a second or later offence.
| Offence | Section | Penalty under the Act |
|---|---|---|
| Any offence with no specific penalty | 177 | ₹500 first offence; ₹1,500 subsequent |
| Breaking road regulations made under Section 118 | 177A | ₹500 to ₹1,000 |
| Disobeying orders of authorities, refusing to give information | 179 | ₹2,000 |
| Owner allowing an unauthorised person to drive | 180 | ₹5,000 |
| Driving without a licence, or driving underage (Sections 3 and 4) | 181 | ₹5,000 |
| Driving while disqualified from holding a licence | 182 | ₹10,000 |
| Over-speeding, light motor vehicle | 183(1) | ₹1,000 to ₹2,000; second or subsequent offence: licence impounded under Section 206(4) |
| Over-speeding, medium or heavy goods or passenger vehicle | 183(1) | ₹2,000 to ₹4,000; second or subsequent offence: licence impounded under Section 206(4) |
| Dangerous driving, including jumping a red light, violating a stop sign and using a handheld phone | 184 | First offence: 6 months to 1 year in prison, or ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 fine, or both. Second or subsequent: up to 2 years, or ₹10,000, or both |
| Drunk or drugged driving | 185 | First offence: up to 6 months in prison, or ₹10,000 fine, or both. Subsequent: up to 2 years, or ₹15,000, or both |
| Driving when mentally or physically unfit | 186 | ₹1,000 first offence; ₹2,000 subsequent |
| Racing and trials of speed | 189 | First offence: up to 3 months in prison, or ₹5,000 fine, or both. Subsequent: up to 1 year, or ₹10,000, or both |
| Breaking road safety, noise or air pollution standards (covers PUC) | 190(2) | Up to 3 months in prison, or a fine up to ₹10,000, or both, plus disqualification for 3 months |
| Vehicle without a permit | 192A | First offence: up to 6 months in prison and a ₹10,000 fine |
| Overloading a goods vehicle | 194(1) | ₹20,000 plus ₹2,000 per extra tonne |
| Carrying excess passengers | 194A | ₹200 per excess passenger (see note below) |
| Driving without a seat belt, or carrying passengers not wearing seat belts | 194B(1) | ₹1,000 |
| Child under 14 not secured by a seat belt or child restraint | 194B(2) | ₹1,000 |
| Motorcycle ridden against Section 128, for example more than one pillion | 194C | ₹1,000 and disqualification for 3 months (see note below) |
| Riding without a helmet (Section 129) | 194D | ₹1,000 and disqualification for 3 months |
| Not giving way to a fire engine, ambulance or other emergency vehicle | 194E | Up to 6 months in prison, or ₹10,000 fine, or both |
| Needless horn, horn in a silence zone, exhaust cut-out | 194F | ₹1,000 first offence; ₹2,000 subsequent |
| Driving an uninsured vehicle | 196 | First offence: up to 3 months in prison, or ₹2,000 fine, or both. Subsequent: up to 3 months, or ₹4,000, or both |
| Offences by juveniles | 199A | ₹25,000 fine and up to 3 years in prison for the guardian or owner; registration cancelled for 12 months; the juvenile cannot get an LL or DL until age 25 |
Note on Sections 194A and 194C: a 2019 government summary table showed higher figures for these two offences than the text of the amended Act. This table uses the Act text.
Why traffic fines differ from state to state
The Act sets the penalty, but the amount you pay on the spot or online is often a compounding amount, and those are set by each State.
- Compounding (Section 200). The State Government notifies compounding amounts, so on-the-spot amounts can differ by State. Check your state transport department or traffic police for the current figure.
- Multiplier (Section 210A). States may notify a multiplier of 1 to 10 for each fine. S.O. 3310(E) of 25 September 2020 set conditions for States to consider.
- Annual increase. Fines under the Act may be increased by up to 10% every year.
- Enforcing officers (Section 210B). If an officer who enforces the Act commits an offence, the penalty is twice the normal amount.
So if a news story or app shows a different amount for your city, both can be right: the Act gives the legal penalty, and your State's notification gives the compounding amount.
Licence suspension and disqualification
Some offences cost more than money.
- Under Section 206, officers may suspend licences for offences under Sections 183 (over-speeding), 184 (dangerous driving), 185 (drunk driving), 189 (racing), 190, 194C, 194D (helmet) and 194E (emergency vehicles).
- Under Section 19 as amended in 2019, a licence can be disqualified for three months on a first offence for specified offences, and revoked on a second or subsequent offence.
- A second over-speeding offence can lead to the licence being impounded under Section 206(4).
- Before a suspended or revoked licence is returned, refresher training is required (Section 19).
How to check traffic fines online
The national eChallan portal has a page to check challan status by challan number, vehicle number or DL number. The Sarathi portal's state selection page warns that vehicle, DL and eChallan services should be used only through parivahan.gov.in or the NextGen mParivahan app.
- Open the official page. Go to the eChallan check challan status page. Type the address yourself or use a trusted link rather than one from an unknown SMS.
- Choose how to search. Search by challan number, vehicle number or DL number.
- Review the details. Check that the vehicle, date and offence are yours before paying.
- Pay or contest. Pay through the official channel, or follow the process to dispute it if you think it is wrong.
Some cities and states run their own systems too. Uttarakhand Transport, for example, has an online compounding of challan page. For Bengaluru and Mysuru, see our page on bangalore traffic fines.
How to pay traffic fines safely
- Use official channels only. Pay on the eChallan portal, the NextGen mParivahan app, or your state traffic police or transport department's own site or office.
- Be careful with links in messages. Check that any payment page is on an official government domain before entering card or UPI details.
- Keep the receipt or a screenshot of the payment confirmation.
We cannot see or pay your challans. Any site that is not on an official government domain and asks for payment of a traffic fine should be treated with caution.
Digital documents and e-challans
You do not always need paper documents when stopped.
- A MoRTH advisory of 9 August 2018 asked States to accept a DL, RC and other documents shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan as valid. Such electronic records are treated as legally recognised at par with the originals under the IT Act, 2000.
- If mParivahan or eChallan shows an in-force insurance policy, a physical insurance certificate should not be required (2018 advisory).
- From 1 October 2020, if an enforcement officer validates documents electronically, physical copies cannot be demanded, even where seizure is needed. The date, time and officer identity of an inspection are recorded on the portal.
- Impoundment can be recorded electronically in VAHAN or SARATHI through eChallan, so physical seizure of documents is not needed.
See driving licence download to keep a digital copy of your licence.
New traffic fines rules in 2026: what the news reports say
The points below come from news reports only. We have not read the notification text, so they are not presented as confirmed rules.
- News reports in January 2026 said Central Motor Vehicles Rules were amended with effect from 1 January 2026 to allow licence suspension or disqualification after five or more challans within a year, counting challans from 1 January 2026.
- A June 2026 report said challans can be contested online within 45 days; if not contested, the challan is treated as accepted and must be paid within 30 days; an appeal to court needs a deposit of 50%; and unpaid vehicles are marked "Not to be transacted" on Vahan.
- Kerala's transport minister said in January 2026 that the central rules would not be implemented as they are in Kerala.
If you have pending challans, the practical step is the same either way: check them on the official portal and pay or contest them in time.
50% discount on traffic fines
Searches for a 50% discount on traffic fines mostly relate to Karnataka, which has run several time-limited 50% rebate windows on pending fines since 2023. The most recent one reported ran from 21 June to 10 July 2026 and has ended. No such window is known to be open on 16 October 2026. Details of each past window are on our bangalore traffic fines page.
A rebate is always announced by the State for a fixed period. Do not trust messages offering a discount unless the State or its traffic police has announced it officially.
Expired driving licence: renewal fees, not a discount
Driving without a licence carries a ₹5,000 fine under Section 181. If your licence has expired, renew it rather than risk a challan. You can apply for renewal from one year before expiry to one year after it. The renewal fee is ₹200. The late renewal fee is ₹300, plus ₹1,000 for each year or part of a year of delay, with the additional amount charged after one year from the date of expiry. mParivahan says that if you apply more than one year after expiry, the driving test must be taken again for the classes you need.
See driving licence renewal for the full process.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check my traffic fines online?
Use the national eChallan portal's check challan status page, which lets you search by challan number, vehicle number or DL number. Some cities, such as Bengaluru, also have their own traffic police sites.
What is the fine for not wearing a helmet?
Section 194D sets a ₹1,000 fine and disqualification of the licence for 3 months. Your State's compounding amount may differ.
What is the fine for driving without a licence?
Section 181 sets a fine of ₹5,000 for driving without a licence or driving underage.
Why is the challan amount in my state different from the Act?
Under Section 200 each State notifies its own compounding amounts, and under Section 210A States may apply a multiplier. So the amount collected can differ from the figure in the Act.
Can my licence be suspended for too many challans?
News reports in 2026 said rules from 1 January 2026 allow suspension after five or more challans in a year. We have not seen the notification text, so treat this as reported. Separately, Section 206 lets officers suspend licences for offences such as over-speeding, drunk driving and riding without a helmet.
Is there a 50% discount on traffic fines now?
Karnataka has run several time-limited 50% rebates, the latest reported from 21 June to 10 July 2026, which has ended. No such window is known to be open on 16 October 2026.