How to Get Your Vehicle's PUC Certificate: All You Need to Know

Author: Jeo George•Published on: 12/24/2025•5 Minutes
Overview:In this era, where carmakers and governments are increasingly involved in terms like 'zero emissions' and 'carbon neutrality', emissions have taken centre stage. For cars in India, emission compliance for vehicles in daily use has been ensured through the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. A legal document that testifies to a car's compliance with environmental standards, a PUC certificate ensures that your vehicle produces pollutants below the permissible emission limits. Similarly, a PUC certificate is also mandatory for a car under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to operate legally on public roads, just like the RC and insurance. Here, we will study the significance of a pollution under control certificate, including how it is issued, its renewal process, and other relevant details.
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Key Highlights:


  • A PUC certificate for a vehicle ensures that it produces pollutants below the permissible limits.
  • A PUC certificate is valid for one year for new cars and must be renewed every six months thereafter.
  • A PUC certificate can be issued by government-authorised testing centres available at petrol pumps, RTO-approved service centres, and independent kiosks.

What is a PUC certificate?


A legal document issued by an authorised emissions testing centre, the PUC certificate mentions the levels of pollutants produced by the vehicle's emissions system. It ensures that the vehicle meets the emission norms set by the government, with the contaminants produced being within the maximum permissible limits, in the interest of public health and to reduce vehicular pollution for the betterment of the environment.


The following are the details that are mentioned in a PUC certificate:


  • Results of the emission tests – the levels of pollutants produced
  • Vehicle make and model
  • Name of the owner
  • Engine number
  • Chassis number
  • Vehicle registration number
  • Date of vehicle registration
  • The emission norm followed by the vehicle
  • Date of testing
  • Name of the testing equipment
  • PUC equipment serial number
  • PUC certificate number
  • Validity period of the certificate
  • Validity of a PUC Certificate

For new vehicles right off the showroom floor, the PUC certificate is valid for a year. After the completion of this period, the vehicle owner is required to renew the PUC certificate every six months, just like an insurance policy needs to be renewed annually.


How to Get a PUC Certificate? A Step-by-Step Process


Step 1: Finding and visiting an authorised PUC centre


PUC certificate issuers are usually placed at petrol pumps. However, there are several RTO-approved service centres and standalone testing kiosks located along highways and in prominent areas within cities. Visit your nearest PUC testing centres along with your vehicle, its RC and your in-use mobile number.


Step 2: Warming up your car


Before testing for a PUC certificate, ensure the engine of your car has warmed up to achieve optimal emissions output, which is necessary for accurate results. Run your car's engine at idle for 2-3 minutes with fuel above the reserve level.


Step 3: Share basic information with the tester


To obtain a PUC certificate, the tester requires specific details about the vehicle owner and the vehicle, which can be provided in the form of the vehicle's RC and a government-authorised identity proof of the vehicle owner.


Step 4: Beginning of the emission testing procedure


The process of testing emissions differs for both petrol and diesel cars. For vehicles powered by petrol, a probe is inserted into the tailpipe, and the owner is then asked to gently rev the engine at idle. This is called a free acceleration test, which is conducted to detect the levels of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. For diesel cars, the smoke density is measured using a smoke opacity test conducted over several acceleration cycles. In either case, the readings are generated instantly by the emissions testing device.


Step 5: Collection of PUC certificate


After paying the state-approved fee to the representative of the emissions testing centre, you will receive a PUC certificate in both physical and digital formats. The physical copy can be stored on government-authorised platforms, such as mParivahan and DigiLocker.


Costs and Penalties


For the issuance of a PUC certificate, the cost varies between ₹60 and ₹100 for petrol cars and between ₹100 and ₹150 for diesel cars, depending on the type of vehicle and its age. The renewal costs remain the same, regardless of the year, with the renewal procedure following the exact step-by-step process every time.


If one is found driving without a valid PUC certificate, they are liable to pay a fine of ₹1,000 for the first offence and ₹2,000 for a repeat offence. In extreme cases, RTO officials can also seize the vehicle or its documents until a valid PUC certificate is presented.


FAQs


1. Is a PUC certificate necessary?

A PUC certificate is an official document that is crucial for a vehicle, as it testifies that the car you own meets the emission standards required for safe road use, in the interest of public and environmental health.


2. What are the benefits of PUC?

The benefits of driving a vehicle with a valid PUC certificate include safeguarding public health and slowing the rapid degradation of the environment due to vehicular pollution.


3. What is the validity of PUC?

For a new vehicle, the PUC is valid for a year, after which the vehicle owner must renew the PUC certificate every 6 months.