Old vs New MV Act Penalties — Before & After 2019
Written and checked byManju Shekhar· Motor Law & Compliance
Side-by-side comparison of traffic violation penalties before and after the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019, updated for the Jan Vishwas Act changes in force from 15 August 2026.
| Violation | Old Fine | Now | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving without licence (Sec. 181) | Up to ₹500 | ₹5,000 | 10x |
| Drunk driving, first offence (Sec. 185) | Up to ₹2,000 | Up to ₹10,000 | 5x |
| Overspeeding, LMV (Sec. 183) | ₹400 | ₹1,000–₹2,000 | 2.5–5x |
| No seat belt (Sec. 194B) | ₹100 | ₹1,000 | 10x |
| No helmet (Sec. 194D) | ₹100 | ₹1,000 + 3-month disqualification | 10x+ |
| Dangerous driving, incl. handheld phone (Sec. 184) | Up to ₹1,000 | ₹1,000–₹5,000 | Up to 5x |
| Driving uninsured (Sec. 196) | Up to ₹1,000 | 3× base premium or ₹5,000, whichever is higher (since 15 Aug 2026) | 5x+ |
| No PUC (Sec. 190(2)) | Up to ₹1,000 | Up to ₹10,000 + 3-month disqualification | Up to 10x |
| Juvenile driving (Sec. 199A) | — (no specific offence) | ₹25,000 + up to 3 years for the guardian or owner | New |
Source: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 before and after the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (in force 1 September 2019); the uninsured-driving row also reflects the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, in force for the MV Act from 15 August 2026. Central amounts — States may notify their own compounding amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the MV Act amended?
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 32 of 2019) raised most penalties; the penalty provisions came into force on 1 September 2019. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 then amended 46 sections of the MV Act with effect from 15 August 2026 — replacing several fines with civil penalties, adding a recorded warning for some first contraventions, and changing the penalty for driving uninsured.
What did the 2019 amendment add for juvenile driving?
Section 199A, inserted in 2019, deems the guardian or owner guilty when a juvenile commits an offence while driving: imprisonment up to three years and a fine of ₹25,000. The vehicle's registration is cancelled for 12 months, and the juvenile cannot get a learner's licence or driving licence until age 25.
Do all states charge these amounts?
Not necessarily. Section 200 lets State Governments notify their own compounding amounts for compoundable offences, and several States have notified amounts lower than the central figures. Check the State page for your State.