Complete Guide to Traffic Fines in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is one of the most heavily motorised states in India, and the Maharashtra Traffic Police uses an extensive e-challan network to enforce road safety rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. This guide gives you the complete list of traffic fines in Maharashtra for 2026, the relevant section under the Motor Vehicles Act, how each violation affects your car insurance, and the step-by-step process to check and pay your e-challan online or at a Lok Adalat.
Violation | Section (MV Act 1988) | First Offence | Repeat Offence |
|---|---|---|---|
Driving without a valid driving licence | Section 181 | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 10,000 and/or up to 3 months |
Driving by a minor (under 18) | Section 199A | Rs. 25,000 + up to 3 years (guardian) + RC cancellation | Same |
Driving without a learning licence | Section 181 | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
Driving without vehicle registration (no RC) | Section 192 | Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 |
Driving without a number plate / tampered plate | Section 192A | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
Driving without valid motor insurance | Section 196 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 4,000 |
Driving without a valid PUC certificate | Section 190(2) | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
Driving without a valid permit (commercial) | Section 192A | Rs. 10,000 | Same |
Not wearing a seat belt | Section 194B | Rs. 1,000 | Rs. 1,000 |
Not wearing a helmet | Section 194D | Rs. 1,000 + 3-month licence disqualification | Same |
Triple riding on a two-wheeler | Section 194C | Rs. 1,000 + 3-month disqualification | Same |
Over-speeding (LMV / car) | Section 183 | Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 + possible licence suspension |
Over-speeding (medium / heavy) | Section 183 | Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 | Rs. 4,000 + possible licence suspension |
Drink and drive | Section 185 | Rs. 10,000 and/or up to 6 months | Rs. 15,000 and/or up to 2 years |
Using a mobile phone while driving | Section 184 | Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 10,000 + possible licence suspension |
Dangerous or rash driving | Section 184 | Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 + up to 1 year | Rs. 10,000 + up to 2 years |
Racing or speed test | Section 189 | Rs. 5,000 + up to 3 months | Rs. 10,000 + up to 1 year |
Jumping a red light / signal | Section 184 / 177 | Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 | Higher fine |
Wrong-side or one-way violation | Section 184 / 177 | Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 | Higher fine |
Carrying goods in private car | Section 192A | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
Carrying extra passengers in private car | Section 194A | Rs. 200 per extra passenger | Same |
Overloading goods vehicle | Section 194 | Rs. 20,000 + Rs. 2,000 per tonne | Higher + impoundment |
Overloading two-wheeler with goods | Section 194 | Rs. 1,000 or licence disqualification | Same |
Failure to give way to emergency vehicles | Section 194E | Rs. 10,000 | Same |
Note: Some offences are non-compoundable and require an appearance before a court, such as drink driving, driving without a licence, and accidents caused through reckless driving. Fine amounts are based on the central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 read with the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and Maharashtra state notifications. Verify the latest figures on parivahan.gov.in before paying.
A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is mandatory for every motor vehicle on the road. Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, driving without a valid PUC certificate attracts a fine of Rs. 10,000 for the first offence and the same amount for any repeat offence within three years.
A new petrol car or bike is issued a PUC certificate that is valid for one year from the date of registration. After that, the certificate must be renewed every six months. Renewal costs between Rs. 60 and Rs. 100 depending on the type of vehicle and the test centre. PUC certificates are issued at authorised emission-testing centres found near most petrol pumps and RTO offices across Maharashtra.
Every commercial vehicle plying for hire or reward, or carrying goods on a commercial basis, must hold a valid permit under Sections 66 and 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Driving a commercial vehicle without a valid permit attracts a fine of up to Rs. 10,000 under Section 192A.
Common permits in Maharashtra include the Goods Carriage Permit, Contract Carriage Permit, Stage Carriage Permit, Tourist Vehicle Permit, and All-India Tourist Permit. If a private car is found carrying goods on hire, the owner is liable to be fined under the same section.
Carrying more passengers than the seating capacity printed on your RC is an offence under Section 194A. The fine in Maharashtra is Rs. 200 per extra passenger. For two-wheelers, triple riding (three or more persons on a two-wheeler) is a separate offence under Section 194C that attracts a fine of Rs. 1,000 and a three-month licence disqualification.
For goods carriers, overloading attracts a fine of Rs. 20,000 plus Rs. 2,000 per extra tonne, and the vehicle can be impounded under repeat offences.
Driving in the wrong direction or against a one-way notification is treated under Sections 184 and 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Fines range from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 depending on the offence and the location. On expressways and high-speed corridors, the fine is at the higher end of the range and may attract imprisonment of up to one year under Section 184 (dangerous driving).
No-Claim Bonus (NCB) Loss: A claim arising from a serious violation can reset your NCB, increasing your renewal premium by 20 to 50 percent.
Higher Risk Loading: Insurers may load your premium at renewal based on declared claim history and violations.
Claim Rejection for Drink Driving: Standard motor insurance policies in India exclude claims arising from accidents caused while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The insurer can reject the claim outright under the policy exclusion clause.
Claim Rejection for No Valid Licence: A claim can be rejected if the driver did not hold a valid driving licence at the time of the accident.
RC and DL Renewal Block: Unpaid challans can block your Registration Certificate (RC) renewal, fitness certificate, and driving licence renewal in Maharashtra.
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Checking Your E-Challan Online
Visit the Maharashtra Traffic Police e-Challan portal at mahatrafficechallan.gov.in.
Or visit the central Parivahan Sewa portal at echallan.parivahan.gov.in.
Enter your vehicle registration number, driving licence number, or challan number.
Verify the details of any pending challans against your name or vehicle.
Paying Your E-Challan Online
Open the challan listed on the portal and click the Pay button.
Choose your payment method: net banking, UPI, debit card, or credit card.
Complete the payment and download the receipt for your records.
Allow 48 to 72 hours for the system to update the paid status.
Paying Your E-Challan Offline
Pay in cash to the traffic police officer who has issued the e-challan from a hand-held POS machine.
Visit the nearest traffic police station or designated payment centre with the challan reference number.
Pay through Lok Adalat (see next section) for a reduced settlement on old pending challans.
The Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority holds periodic Traffic Lok Adalats, usually on Saturdays. Pending traffic challans can be settled at a discounted amount, and the settlement closes the case finally. Lok Adalats are widely used in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad. Check the official Maharashtra Traffic Police website or local newspapers for the next Lok Adalat date and venue.
Visit the e-Challan portal, open the challan, and click the Dispute or Grievance button if available.
Email the Maharashtra Traffic Police on their official grievance email with the challan number, vehicle photograph, RC copy, and your explanation.
Visit the local traffic police station with your documents.
If the dispute is not resolved, the matter can be taken up before a Magistrate Court.
Always retain the e-challan reference number, the SMS, and the email notification you received.
Always carry a valid driving licence, Registration Certificate (RC), motor insurance policy, and PUC certificate. Digital copies on the DigiLocker or mParivahan app are accepted.
All occupants of a four-wheeler must wear seat belts, including the rear seat passengers.
Both the rider and the pillion on a two-wheeler must wear ISI-marked helmets.
Follow the posted speed limits: 100 km/h on 4-lane National Highways and 120 km/h on Expressways for cars, and 70 km/h within municipal areas. Speed limits for two-wheelers, goods, and passenger vehicles are lower as per the 2018 Notification on Maximum Speed of Motor Vehicles.
Never use a handheld mobile phone while driving or riding. Hands-free use should be limited to navigation and emergencies.
Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drink driving voids your insurance and can lead to jail time.
Carry only the number of passengers printed on the RC. No triple riding on two-wheelers.
Do not use a private car to carry goods on a commercial basis.
Maharashtra has one of the strictest e-challan enforcement systems in India, and most violations are now captured by CCTV and speed cameras. Pay your challans on time, settle older ones at the next Lok Adalat session, and keep your licence, RC, insurance, and PUC documents valid at all times. A clean driving record protects your insurance, your premium, and your wallet.
The seat belt fine in Maharashtra is Rs. 1,000 per offence, under Section 194B. It applies to the driver and to every passenger in the car, including those in the rear seats.
The fine is Rs. 5,000 for the first offence and Rs. 10,000 (with possible imprisonment up to three months) for a repeat offence, under Section 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Driving without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate attracts a fine of Rs. 10,000 under Section 190(2). A PUC certificate must be renewed every six months for older vehicles.
Drink driving attracts a fine of Rs. 10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months for the first offence, and Rs. 15,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years for a repeat offence, under Section 185.
For goods vehicles, the fine is Rs. 20,000 plus Rs. 2,000 per extra tonne. For carrying extra passengers in a private car, the fine is Rs. 200 per extra passenger under Section 194A.
A commercial vehicle plying without a valid permit attracts a fine of up to Rs. 10,000 under Section 192A. A private car used for commercial purposes is also liable.
A private car used to carry goods on a commercial basis violates its registration category and attracts a fine of up to Rs. 10,000 under Section 192A.
Triple riding (three or more persons on a two-wheeler) attracts a fine of Rs. 1,000 and a three-month licence disqualification under Section 194C.
Wrong-side or one-way violation is treated under Sections 184 and 177, with fines from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 depending on the location. On expressways, the higher penalty under Section 184 (dangerous driving) applies.
Yes. Use the Maharashtra Traffic Police e-Challan portal at mahatrafficechallan.gov.in or the Parivahan Sewa portal at echallan.parivahan.gov.in. Pay through net banking, UPI, debit card, or credit card.
Yes. The Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority holds periodic Traffic Lok Adalats where pending challans are settled at a discounted amount, with final closure of the case.
Unpaid challans do not directly affect insurance renewal, but they can block your RC renewal, fitness certificate, and driving licence renewal. A claim arising from a violation can also affect your No-Claim Bonus.
Yes. Standard motor insurance policies in India exclude claims arising from accidents caused while the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The insurer can reject the claim outright.
Driving without a valid Registration Certificate attracts a fine of Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 for the first offence and Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 for repeat offences under Section 192.
Dangerous or rash driving on expressways is treated under Section 184. The fine is Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 with imprisonment up to 1 year for the first offence, and Rs. 10,000 with imprisonment up to 2 years for a repeat offence within 3 years.
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