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Motor Vehicles Act
1988 ·
In force
· synced 04 Jul 2026
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1.
Short title, extent and commencement
2.
Definitions
IV
2A.
e-cart and e-rickshaw
2B.
Promotion of innovation
II — LICENSING OF DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
3.
Necessity for driving licence
4.
Age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles
5.
Responsibility of owners of motor vehicles for contravention of sections 3 and 4
6.
Restrictions on the holding of driving licences
7.
Restrictions on the granting of learner’s licences for certain vehicles
8.
Grant of learner’s licence
9.
Grant of driving licence
10.
Form and contents of licences to drive
11.
Additions to driving licence
12.
Licensing and regulation of schools or establishments for imparting instruction in driving of motor vehicles
13.
Extent of effectiveness of licences, to drive motor vehicles
14.
Currency of licences to drive motor vehicles
15.
Renewal of driving licences
16.
Revocation of driving licence on grounds of disease or disability
17.
Orders refusing or revoking driving licences and appeals therefrom
18.
Driving licences to drive motor vehicles, belonging to the Central Government
19.
Power of licensing authority to disqualify from holding a driving licence or revoke such licence
20.
Power of Court to disqualify
21.
Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
22.
Suspension or cancellation of driving licence on conviction
23.
Effect of disqualification order
24.
Endorsement
25.
Transfer of endorsement and issue of driving licence free from endorsement
25A.
National Register of Driving Licences
26.
Maintenance of State Registers of Driving Licences
27.
Power of Central Government to make rules
28.
Power of State Government to make rules
III — LICENSING OF CONDUCTORS OF STAGE CARRIAGES
29.
Necessity for conductor’s licence
30.
Grant of conductor’s licence
31.
Disqualifications for the grant of conductor’s licence
32.
Revocation of a conductor’s licence on grounds of disease or disability
33.
Orders refusing, etc., conductor’s licences and appeals therefrom
34.
Power of licensing authority to disqualify
35.
Power of Court to disqualify
37.
Savings
38.
Power of State Government to make rules
IV
39.
Necessity for registration
40.
Registration, where to be made
41.
Registration, how to be made
42.
Special provision for registration of motor vehicles of diplomatic officers, etc
43.
Temporary registration
44.
Production of vehicle at the time of registration
45.
Refusal of registration or renewal of the certificate of registration
46.
Effectiveness in India of registration
47.
Assignment of new registration mark on removal to another State
48.
No objection certificate
49.
Change of residence or place of business
50.
Transfer of ownership
51.
Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc
52.
Alteration in motor vehicle
53.
Suspension of registration
54.
Cancellation of registration suspended under section 53
55.
Cancellation of registration
56.
Certificate of fitness of transport vehicles
57.
Appeals
58.
Special provisions in regard to transport vehicles
59.
Power to fix the age limit of motor vehicle
60.
Registration of vehicles belonging to the Central Government
61.
Application of Chapter to trailers
62.
Information regarding stolen and recovered motor vehicles to be furnished by the police to the State Transport Authority
62A.
Prohibition of registration and issuance of certificate of fitness to oversized vehicles
62B.
National Register of Motor Vehicles
63.
Maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles
64.
Power of Central Government to make rules
65.
Power of State Government to make rules
V — CONTROL OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES
66.
Necessity for permits
66A.
National Transportation Policy
66B.
No bar against permit holders to apply and hold licences under schemes
67.
Power to State Government to control road transport
68.
Transport Authorities
69.
General provision as to applications for permits
70.
Application for stage carriage permit
71.
Procedure of Regional Transport Authority in considering application for stage carriage permit
72.
Grant of stage carriage permits
73.
Application for contract carriage permit
74.
Grant of contract carriage permit
75.
Scheme for renting of motor cabs
76.
Application for private service vehicle permit
77.
Application for goods carriage permit
78.
Consideration of application for goods carriage permit
79.
Grant of goods carriage permit
80.
Procedure in applying for and granting permits
81.
Duration and renewal of permits
82.
Transfer of permit
83.
Replacement of vehicles
84.
General conditions attaching to all permits
85.
General form of permits
86.
Cancellation and suspension of permits
87.
Temporary permits
88.
Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted
88A.
Power of Central Government to make schemes for national, multimodal and inter-State transport of passengers and goods
89.
Appeals
90.
Revision
91.
Restriction of hours of work of drivers
92.
Voidance of contracts restrictive of liability
93.
1[Agent or canvasser or aggregator to obtain licence.]
94.
Bar on jurisdiction of Civil Courts
95.
Power of State Government to make rules as to stage carriages and contract carriages
96.
Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter
VI
97.
Definition
98.
Chapter to override Chapter V and other laws
99.
Preparation and publication of proposal regarding road transport service of a State transport undertaking
100.
Objection to the proposal
101.
Operation of additional services by a State transport undertaking in certain circumstances
102.
Cancellation or modification of scheme
103.
Issue of permits to State transport undertakings
104.
Restriction on grant of permits in respect of a notified area or notified route
105.
Principles and method of determining compensation and payment thereof
106.
Disposal of article found in vehicles
107.
Power of State Government to make rules
108.
Certain powers of State Government exercisable by the Central Government
VII
109.
General provision regarding construction and maintenance of vehicles
110.
Power of Central Government to make rules
110A.
Recall of motor vehicles
110B.
Type approval certificate and testing agencies
111.
Power of State Government to make rules
VIII
112.
Limits of speed
113.
Limits of weight and limitations on use
114.
Power to have vehicle weighed
115.
Power to restrict the use of vehicles
116.
Power to erect traffic signs
117.
Parking places and halting stations
118.
Driving regulations
119.
Duty to obey traffic signs
120.
Vehicles with left hand control
121.
Signals and signalling devices
122.
Leaving vehicle in dangerous position
123.
Riding on running board, etc
124.
Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket
125.
Obstruction of driver
126.
Stationary vehicles
127.
Removal of motor vehicles abandoned or left unattended on a public place
128.
Safety measures for drivers and pillion riders
129.
Wearing of protective headgear
130.
Duty to produce licence and certificate of registration
131.
Duty of the driver to take certain precautions at unguarded railway level crossings
132.
Duty of driver to stop in certain cases
133.
Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information
134.
Duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person
134A.
Protection of Good Samaritans
135.
Schemes to be framed for the investigation of accident cases and wayside amenities, etc
136.
Inspection of vehicle involved in accident
136A.
Electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety
137.
Power of Central Government to make rules
138.
Power of State Government to make rules
IX — MOTOR VEHICLES TEMPORARILY LEAVING OR VISITING INDIA
139.
Power of Central Government to make rules
140.
[Liability to pay compensation in certain cases on the principle of no fault.]
141.
[Provisions as to other right to claim compensation for death or permanent disablement.]
142.
[Permanent disablement.]
143.
[Applicability of Chapter to certain claims under Act 8 of 1923.]
144.
[Overriding effect.]
145.
Definitions
146.
Necessity for insurance against third party risks
147.
Requirement of policies and limits of liability
148.
Validity of policies of insurance issued in reciprocating countries
149.
Settlement by insurance company and procedure therefor
150.
Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks
151.
Rights of third party against insurers on insolvency of insured
152.
Duty to give information as to insurance
153.
Settlement between insurers and insured persons
154.
Saving in respect of sections 151, 152 and 153
155.
Effect of death on certain causes of action
156.
Effect of certificate of insurance
157.
Transfer of certificate of insurance
158.
Production of certain certificates, licence and permit in certain cases
159.
Information to be given regarding accident
160.
Duty to furnish particulars of vehicle involved in accident
161.
Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident
162.
Scheme for golden hour
163.
Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161
164.
Payment of compensation in case of death or grevious hurt, etc
164A.
Scheme for interim relief for claimants
164B.
Motor Vehicle Accident Fund
164C.
Power of Central Government to make rules
164D.
Power of State Government to make rules
XII
165.
Claims Tribunals
166.
Application for compensation
167.
Option regarding claims for compensation in certain cases
X
168.
Award of the Claims Tribunal
169.
Procedure and powers of Claims Tribunals
170.
Impleading insurer in certain cases
171.
Award of interest where any claim is allowed
172.
Award of compensatory costs in certain cases
173.
Appeals
174.
Recovery of money from insurer as arrear of land revenue
175.
Bar on jurisdiction of Civil Courts
176.
Power of State Government to make rules
XIII
177.
General provision for punishment of offences
177A.
Penalty for contravention of regulations under section 118
178.
Penalty for travelling without pass or ticket and for dereliction of duty on the part of conductor and refusal to ply contract carriage, etc
179.
Disobedience of orders, obstruction and refusal of information
180.
Allowing unauthorised persons to drive vehicles
181.
Driving vehicles in contravention of section 3 or section 4
182.
Offences relating to licences
182A.
Punishment for offences relating to construction, maintenance, sale and alteration of motor vehicles and components
VII
182B.
Punishment for contravention of section 62A
183.
Driving at excessive speed, etc
184.
Driving dangerously
185.
Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs
186.
Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive
187.
Punishment for offences relating to accident
188.
Punishment for abetment of certain offences
189.
Racing and trials of speed
190.
Using vehicle in unsafe condition
191.
[Sale of vehicle in or alteration of vehicle to condition contravening this Act.]
192.
Using vehicle without registration
192A.
Using vehicle without permit
192B.
Offences relating to registration
193.
Punishment of 2[agents, canvassers and aggregators] without proper authority
194.
Driving vehicle exceeding permissible weight
194A.
Carriage of excess passengers
194B.
Use of safety belts and the seating of children
194C.
Penalty for violation of safety measures for motor cycle drivers and pillion riders
194D.
Penalty for not wearing protective headgear
194E.
Failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles
194F.
Use of horns and silence zones
195.
[Imposition of minimum fine under certain circumstances.]
196.
Driving uninsured vehicle
197.
Taking vehicle without authority
198.
Unauthorised interference with vehicle
198A.
Failure to comply with standards for road design, construction and maintenance
199.
Offences by companies
199A.
Offences by juveniles
199B.
Revision of fines
200.
Composition of certain offences
201.
Penalty for causing obstruction to free flow of traffic
202.
Power to arrest without warrant
203.
Breath tests
204.
Laboratory test
205.
Presumption of unfitness to drive
206.
Power of police officer to impound document
207.
Power to detain vehicles used without certificate of registration permit, etc
208.
Summary disposal of cases
209.
Restriction on conviction
210.
Courts to send intimation about conviction
210A.
Power of State Government to increase penalties
210B.
Penalty for offence committed by an enforcing authority
210C.
Power of Central Government to make rules
210D.
Power of State Government to make rules
XIV
211.
Power to levy fee
211A.
Use of electronic forms and documents
212.
Publication, commencement and laying of rules and notifications
213.
Appointment of motor vehicles officers
214.
Effect of appeal and revision on orders passed by original authority
215.
Road Safety Councils and Committees
215A.
Power of Central Government and State Government to delegate
215B.
National Road Safety Board
215C.
Power of Central Government to make rules
215D.
Power of State Government to make rules
216.
Power to remove difficulties
217.
Repeal and savings
217A.
Renewal of permits, driving licences and registration granted under the Motor Vehicles
1
10
22
32
45
57
66
76
88
98
110
120
131
141
152
164
172
182
192
196
204
211A