May 2022

In accordance with the law, all vehicles must be certified with the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. This helps to curb high levels of carbon emission. But is a PUC certificate mandatory for vehicle insurance? Let’s find out.

What is a PUC certificate?

The PUC certificate authenticates whether an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle meets the required carbon emission level as prescribed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The certificate states that the units of carbon emissions from your car are within the prescribed limit and are not more than a certain percentage.

The prescribed limits are listed under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989 and the specified limits are revisited regularly as per the recommendations of the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). Hence, vehicle owners must check and get their vehicle certified every six months to adhere to the directives and avoid penalties. The current penalty for not carrying the PUC certificate is Rs. 1,000 for the first offence and Rs. 2,000 for every subsequent offence.

The PUC certificate is one of the vehicle documents that must be carried by the vehicle owner at all times, along with the other documents such as car insurance policy, Driving Licence (DL), and car Registration Certificate (RC).

Here are the details listed on the PUC certificate:

• Registration number of the vehicle

• Date of emission test

• PUC certificate number

• Emission test reading

• The validity date of the PUC certificate

Is it mandatory to have a PUC certificate for vehicle insurance?

The circular issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in July 2018 has asked all insurers to renew vehicle insurance policy only if the vehicle owner provides a valid PUC certificate. Hence, it is mandatory to hold a valid PUC certificate.

Is a valid PUC certificate mandatory for an insurance claim?

As stated in the previous section, a valid PUC certificate for insurance is not a criterion for the insurer to reject a claim. The IRDAI has clearly stated in the circular issued in 2020 that an insurer cannot deny the claim based on an invalid PUC certificate.

However, this does not mean that you can drive a car without a PUC certificate since it is punishable by law. Ensure you get your vehicle checked before the PUC certificate expires. This will ensure the vehicle is in good condition and you are abiding by the law.

Why has IRDAI made the pollution certificate mandatory for insurance?

Carbon emissions can wreak havoc on the environment. They can severely impact the health of people living in areas with bad air quality. To address the rising pollution levels in the country, the Supreme Court, in 2017, accepted the recommendations of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to ensure the compulsory linking of the PUC certificate while renewing vehicle insurance.

In response to the Supreme Court’s directive, the IRDAI issued a circular in 2018 to all general insurance companies directing them to follow the Supreme Court order that highlighted that all vehicles must hold a valid PUC certificate during their motor insurance policy renewal.

Furthermore, the IRDAI also issued another circular in 2020 directing insurers not to reject claims in case the vehicle is not certified with the PUC certificate.

Impact of mandatory PUC certificate for vehicle insurance renewal

Let’s understand how the guidelines issued by the IRDAI impact you and the insurance company. Here are the details.

• As a policyholder: You have to make sure that the PUC certificate is valid, especially when renewing the policy. This ensures you avoid penalties and contribute to reducing the country's carbon imprint.

• As an insurer: Insurance providers need to verify if the PUC certificate is valid before renewing the insurance policy. This additional step might increase the complexity of the policy renewal process.

Takeaway

Here are the key takeaways from this article.

• All vehicle owners must have a valid PUC certificate for the renewal of motor insurance.

• Mandatory certification ensures that the carbon footprint related to vehicles in the country is under control to an extent, and the air quality does not further deteriorate.

• Mandatory certification ensures that the carbon footprint related to vehicles in the country is under control to an extent, and the air quality does not further deteriorate.

• Ensure your vehicle is always certified with the PUC certificate not just for renewing your motor insurance but to contribute towards a cleaner environment.

Source: acko.com

 

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