Is PUC mandatory for filing a bike insurance claim?

Some of the standard details mentioned in the PUC certificate include:

• Vehicle registration number
• Emission test date
• PUC certificate number
• Reading details of the emission test
• PUC certificate validity date

PUC certificate is mandatory for both bikes and cars.

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

Per the IRDAI circular 2018, every vehicle must produce a valid and recent PUC certificate for insurance renewal. Bike insurance bears no exception.

Whether you purchase mandatory third-party bike insurance or a more elaborate comprehensive plan, you have to abide by this custom.

You must maintain a recent PUC certificate to renew your existing insurance plan. Maintaining at least third-party insurance is mandatory for every vehicle to meet legal standards in India.

Is a PUC certificate mandatory for a bike insurance claim?

According to the 2020 IRDAI norms, insurers cannot reject any claim solely due to the absence of a valid PUC certificate. However, it's important to note that not having one is still legally punishable, so it's essential to comply with regulations.

Therefore, you must ensure that you always maintain your latest PUC certificate. Always get your bike checked before your existing PUC certificate expires and get a new one issued on time. This will keep your beloved two-wheeler in good condition.

Why has IRDAI made it compulsory to produce a PUC certificate for bike insurance?

The ecological balance has turned haywire due to excessive pollution. Moreover, the carbon emissions from all sorts of vehicles, including bikes, have contributed further to jeopardising the already weak ecosystem.

To address such pollution havoc in India, the Supreme Court accepted the recommendations of the EPCA in 2017, ensuring the mandatory linking of the PUC certificate for bike insurance or vehicle insurance renewal.

This is equally applicable for both third-party bike insurance & car insurance and comprehensive insurance.

As a response to this direction, IRDAI issued a mandate for all insurance companies to follow the Supreme Court order highlighting the importance of holding a valid PUC certificate during policy renewal.

Apart from this, the IRDAI issued another circular in 2020, clarifying that no insurer must reject any claim in the absence of a valid PUC certificate.

What is the validity of a PUC certificate? Does it differ based on fuel types?

As you buy a new bike or car, the new PUC certificate remains valid for 1 year from its manufacturing date. After this period has elapsed, you must renew it at regular intervals. Generally, the validity span ranges between 6 months – 1 year.

However, the reading level also determines the validity. This is a constant practice irrespective of the fuel type.

How is a PUC test done?

Depending on the vehicle fuel type, the PUC testing process slightly varies. In the case of diesel vehicles, the readings are noted after the accelerator is entirely pressed. This process is usually repeated 5 times and an average of these readings denote the result.

For petrol vehicles, the vehicle is left idle without any acceleration, and a single reading represents the result.

How do I avail of a PUC certificate for my bike?

If you own a bike and seek to acquire a valid PUC certificate, you must visit a government-authorised pollution testing centre. Usually, these testing centres are in petrol pumps. After taking the necessary readings, the concerned centre instantly issues the certificate.

Impact of compulsory PUC certificate for bike insurance renewal

We must understand the impact of the mandate of maintaining a valid PUC certificate for bike insurance renewal:

1. As a policyholder,you must ensure that you maintain a valid PUC certificate, especially during policy renewal. This will save you from penalties and help you participate in the country's carbon footprint reduction.
2. As an insurance provider all insurance providers must verify if the current PUC certificate is valid before issuing policy renewal. This additional step complicates the policy renewal procedure to a certain extent.

Key takeaways

Some of the significant takeaways are:

1. All vehicle owners, including bikes must maintain a valid PUC certificate to ensure motor insurance renewal.
2. Mandatory certification ensures that vehicle-related carbon footprints remain in control in the country and the air quality does not further deteriorate.
3. Maintaining a PUC certificate helps you avoid penalties, maintaining a step forward to reduce air pollution to a certain extent.
4. A PUC certificate is essential not only to meet the legal norms but also to ensure maintaining a cleaner environment.

Conclusion

If you have a bike or a car, some of the mandatory documents that you need to maintain include a vehicle registration certificate, PUC certificate, vehicle insurance, and road tax token. You simply cannot miss any of these if you wish to avoid serious penalties.

FAQs

1. What are the documents that you need to drive a vehicle on public roads?

The mandatory documents that you need to drive a vehicle on public roads in India include vehicle insurance, RC, DL, PUC certificate, and road tax token.

2. What documents are essential for vehicle insurance claim settlement?

To ensure a smooth vehicle insurance claim settlement, you must submit, a vehicle RC copy, DL copy of the concerned individual who was driving the vehicle, FIR if applicable and necessary, a non-traceable certificate in the case of theft, vehicle keys for theft claim, original loss estimate for reimbursement claim, original repair invoice for reimbursement claim, and the original payment receipt for reimbursement claims.

3. Is the PUC certificate compulsory for bike insurance plan renewal?

Yes, it is mandatory to produce a valid PUC certificate for bike insurance plan renewal. Be it a third-party bike insurance or a comprehensive plan, it makes no difference.

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