Essential Documents You Need to Carry While Going for a Road Trip

Written by Sharad Bajaj

Updated On Oct 15, 20232 min read

Essential Documents You Need to Carry While Going for a Road Trip

As per the country's motor laws, a car must contain certain essential papers if used on public roads. There are more risks of meeting a police check post, toll, etc. while heading on a long drive/road trip where you might be asked for the documents of your vehicle. Therefore, to prevent any problems, it is important to get all your car papers in order and take them with you on your long drive/road trip

What Documents should I bring for a long drive?

Let us take a look at the important documents that everyone should carry with them when on a road trip/long drive:

Registration Certificate (RC): The most essential document relevant to a vehicle is the registration certificate. It is an official certificate proving that the vehicle is lawfully registered and has not been stolen by you. It also provides technical information about the car, including the identification number of the vehicle, the name of the owner of the car, its address, the car chassis number, etc.
Insurance Certificate: In addition to your vehicle's RC, you must have a valid car insurance policy while on a road trip/long drive. In compliance with the 1988 Motor Vehicle Act, all cars running on public roads in India must be covered by an insurance policy with at least third-party Car Insurance. This implies that when you may be asked to show your car insurance policy when your car is stopped on the highway or at the destination. You may have to pay a fine or even jailed if you are unable to produce it.
Driving License: A driving license is an official certificate issued by the Provincial Transport Office (RTO) stating that you have passed the driving test and are qualified to drive a vehicle. A punishable crime is driving a vehicle without a proper driving license. Besides, you would not be entitled to raise an insurance claim if your vehicle is damaged on the road trip
Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate: The PUC certificate is a certification specifying that the gases/smoke released by your engine complies with the emission requirements established by the authority concerned. It says that the fumes/smoke released are not toxic and do not cause emissions. The PUC certificate is given at the pollution control kiosk situated at the authorized petrol pumps. You may be penalised if you are found driving your car without a PUC certificate.

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Take Away

To refresh our minds, each of us deserves a break from our everyday lives. Therefore, do not waste time calling home on your long drive/road trip to find out details about your car documents that you need to have carried. If you bring all the relevant papers, you do not have to pay out any holiday money as fines. Most essentially, if you do not bring these relevant documents, your vehicle can be impounded by the concerned officials.

Disclaimer

This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.

Written by Sharad Bajaj

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Sharad is an insurance industry veteran who has managed motor insurance products for over a decade. He helped set up and scale the motor insurance vertical for a leading insurance company in his previous stint. In his spare time, Sharad likes to read and be in tune with nature.