Being a proud bike owner gives you a sense of pride, however, being a responsible rider adds to it.
At times, when riding on Indian roads, you may have noticed the traffic police randomly stopping people and asking them to share a few documents. Even you as a bike owner would have faced this situation often. However, the main reason why traffic officials ask you to stop by is to ensure that you obey the law. Not obeying the law attracts a hefty fine and even imprisonment in severe cases. Hence, to legally ride your bike on Indian roads, read on to know about the mandatory documents you should be carrying. Remember, whether you are out on a short bike ride in your vicinity or out on a road trip, these documents are mandatory.
Documents to carry while riding bike in India
Registration certificate:
Also known as RC, this certificate acts as a proof that the bike is registered with the RTO; it also gives traffic officials the confirmation that the bike belongs to you. The RC is similar to an Aadhaar or PAN card in terms of size and it contains information about you i.e. date of birth, your name and the bike details such as its make and model, owner details, registration number, etc.
PUC certificate:
Known as pollution under control certificate, this ensures that the bike’s emission levels are well within the permissible limits, posing no threat to the environment. The PUC certificate is issued after testing the emission levels by authorized PUC centers. The certificate has a validity period of 6 months post which you have to keep on renewing the same.
Driving license:
This is one of the most common and necessary documents which you might already be aware of. It certifies that you have passed the RTO conducted driving or riding test and are eligible to drive the motor vehicle. The license also includes the type of vehicle you can drive i.e. with or without gear. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes it mandatory for every vehicle owner to drive on Indian roads with a valid driving license and not doing so is a punishable offense. You can also carry a digitized copy of your driving license by linking it with the DigiLocker application.
Bike insurance policy:
Another mandatory requirement under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is to carry a bike insurance policy which provides coverage to third party persons and property. Not carrying a valid bike insurance policy is a punishable offense, leading to fine up to Rs. 2000. You can also choose to insure your bike with a comprehensive bike policy that covers your own damage as well as third party expenses.
Fitness certificate:
A bike is eligible to run on Indian roads only until the age of 15 post which you need to get a fitness certificate for the same and renew it again after 2 years. Hence, if you own a bike which is more than 15 years old then don’t forget to carry a fitness certificate of the same.
Traffic rules to follow when riding two wheeler in India
When riding on Indian roads, it is important to understand that it is not only you who is riding, there are other riders as well as the pedestrians walking by. Given below are a few of the traffic rules that need to be followed.
- Always wear a helmet
- Ensure that the pillion rider also wears the helmet
- Do not ride without the above mentioned mandatory documents
- Don’t honk unnecessarily
- Do not ride on footpaths
- Maintain lane discipline
- Ensure that the registration number is clearly visible
- Give way to pedestrians
- Follow the traffic road signs
- Use hand signals when required
- Do not overtake an overtaking vehicle
Now that you are aware of the important documents that you need to carry, don’t miss out on the same as not having these is against the law.
