Drivers of two-wheeler vehicles need to be careful about a number of things, such as their physical safety on roads as well as avoiding trouble with the traffic police. Keeping all your documents updated and on your person, while driving your vehicle is of utmost importance. Routine checks by traffic police may land you into trouble if you do not have all the required documents needed to drive a two-wheeler vehicle. Starting from your driving licence to insurance papers, there are a number of documents that are legally required to drive a two-wheeler. 

Here’s a list of documents that you need to carry while riding a bike in India - 

●  Driving License

Another document that you must carry while travelling is your driving license in India(DL). Without a DL, you are not considered fit for riding a vehicle on Indian roads. Driving licenses are issued by the RTO after an applicant passes a driving test. These licenses are issued for driving vehicles of various categories, you need to ensure which one fits with the vehicle you are driving. 

As per Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 you must carry your driving license with you at the time of riding a motorcycle or scooter. You can either carry a physical copy or a digital one in DigiLocker or mParivahan apps.

●  Registration Certificate

The Registration Certificate (RC) of the motorcycle or scooter is one of the most important documents that you are required to carry. The RC acts as a proof of ownership. Besides, it helps the authorities know whether the vehicle has or has not been registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is required under the law. It also helps authorities identify stolen vehicles that may be plying on the road. 

● Bike Insurance Policy

Bike insurance is mandatory under Indian laws. You can either get a third party bike insurance or go for a comprehensive bike insurance which includes all the benefits of a bike insurance. You are also required to carry the insurance document with you at the time of driving as per Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The policy will have information such as the bike's registration number, the tenure of the policy, the limit of the coverage, and the name of the insurance company.

● Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

A PUC Certificate is another document that tells the authorities whether your vehicle is fit for driving. A PUC certifies the level of pollution that your bike emits. The registration number of your bike will be mentioned in the PUC and will help in verification. The document confirms whether the amount of carbon monoxide emitted by your vehicle is within permissible limits.

Of late in UTs, especially Delhi, authorities have started asking riders of two wheelers for PUC since the pollution levels in the national capital has deteriorated significantly.

● Fitness Certificate and Medical Certificate

You must also carry a fitness certificate in case your bike is older than 15 years. The fitness certificate needs to be renewed every two years. Additionally, people above 50 years of age are also required to carry a medical certificate to show that they are fit to drive a two-wheeler. 

Two-wheeler drivers not carrying the required documents can be penalised with a fine or an e-challan. Driving two-wheelers in general is more dangerous than driving a car, so you must take additional care to evade getting in trouble with traffic police. You need to be prepared with the right documents to avoid finding yourself in such a position. Car Insurance or bike insurance documents and driving license in India are among the most important documents. In case, you don’t have these you might  be given an electronic challan, you will also have to monitor your e challan status online on the government portals. Today, with the advent of technology, getting a bike insurance is easier than ever. 

Conclusion

Maintaining these documents can help you steer clear of fines imposed by the traffic police. Therefore, you should carry these documents at all times whenever you decide to use a two-wheeler. Bike insurance is a mandatory requirement, and individuals can purchase an insurance plan online on a platform that offers a comprehensive list of such plans. Buyers of bike insurance plans can take advantage of the bike insurance calculator in order to understand what premium they’d be expected to pay.