You could lose your driving licence if you don’t pay your e-challan

Key highlights

• Drivers who fail to pay their e-challans within three months risk suspension of their driving licences.
• Accumulating three serious traffic violations in a financial year could lead to license confiscation for three months.
• The government plans to link unpaid e-challans to higher vehicle insurance premiums.

How could you lose your driving licence

The Indian government has introduced strict measures to enforce compliance with traffic rules, targeting drivers who fail to pay their e-challans. Under the new draft rules, drivers who do not settle their e-challan fines within three months could face suspension of their driving licenses. Additionally, those who accumulate three serious violations, such as jumping red signals or dangerous driving, in a financial year may have their driving licence confiscated for at least three months.

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Why the new rule to penalise driving licence?

The move comes in response to the low recovery rate of e-challan fines, which currently stands at just 40% nationwide. Delhi has the lowest recovery rate at 14%, while states like Maharashtra and Haryana report higher rates of 62–76%. To address this issue, the government plans to implement advanced technologies, including speed cameras, automatic number plate recognition systems, and body-worn cameras, to ensure better enforcement of traffic laws.

Pay higher insurance premiums?

Another significant proposal is the linking of unpaid e-challans to vehicle insurance premiums. Drivers with two or more pending challans from the previous financial year may be required to pay higher premiums. This measure aims to incentivize timely payment of fines and improve overall compliance.

Drivers will receive e-challan notices within three days of a violation and must pay the fine within 30 days or challenge it before the grievance authority. Failure to act within 30 days will be considered an admission of guilt. Non-payment within 90 days will result in the suspension of the driving license or vehicle registration until the fine is settled.

To streamline the process, the government plans to introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) for traffic cameras and ensure timely notifications about pending challans. Drivers will also have a one-time window to update their contact details on the Vahan and Saarthi portals, making it easier to receive alerts and avoid penalties.

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