Act 59 of 1988
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — All Sections
The complete arrangement of sections — 223 entries across 14 chapters, with the official heading of each. Use the filter to jump to a section by number or keyword; every entry has its own link, and each heading opens the full text of that section.
Where this list comes from
The headings below are transcribed verbatim from the official arrangement of sections in the India Code text of Act 59 of 1988 — nothing is paraphrased. That text is a consolidation published before the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, so the sections the 2019 Act inserted are listed separately in the section beneath rather than being silently merged in.
Chapter I — Preliminary
Sections 1–2A
Chapter II — Licensing Of Drivers Of Motor Vehicles
Sections 3–28
- 3Necessity for driving licence
- 4Age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles
- 5Responsibility of owners of motor vehicles for contravention of sections 3 and 4
- 6Restrictions on the holding of driving licences
- 7Restrictions on the granting of learner’s licences for certain vehicles
- 8Grant of learner’s licence
- 9Grant of driving licence
- 10Form and contents of licences to drive
- 11Additions to driving licence
- 12Licensing and regulation of schools or establishments for imparting instruction in driving of motor vehicles
- 13Extent of effectiveness of licences, to drive motor vehicles
- 14Currency of licences to drive motor vehicles
- 15Renewal of driving licences
- 16Revocation of driving licence on grounds of disease or disability
- 17Orders refusing or revoking driving licences and appeals therefrom
- 18Driving Licences to drive motor vehicles, belonging to the Central Government
- 19Power of licensing authority to disqualify from holding a driving licence or revoke such licence
- 20Power of Court to disqualify
- 21Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
- 22Suspension or cancellation of driving licence on conviction
- 23Effect of disqualification order
- 24Endorsement
- 25Transfer of endorsement and issue of driving licence free from endorsement
- 26Maintenance of State Registers of Driving Licences
- 27Power of Central Government to make rules
- 28Power of State Government to make rules
Chapter III — Licensing Of Conductors Of Stage Carriages
Sections 29–38
- 29Necessity for conductor’s licence. 2 SECTIONS
- 30Grant of conductor’s licence
- 31Disqualifications for the grant of conductor’s licence
- 32Revocation of a conductor’s licence on grounds of disease or disability
- 33Orders refusing, etc, conductor’s licences and appeals therefrom
- 34Power of licensing authority to disqualify
- 35Power of Court to disqualify
- 36Certain provisions of Chapter II to apply to conductor’s licence
- 37Savings
- 38Power of State Government to make rules
Chapter IV — Registration Of Motor Vehicles
Sections 39–65
- 39Necessity for registration
- 40Registration, where to be made
- 41Registration, how to be made
- 42Special provision for registration of motor vehicles of diplomatic officers, etc
- 43Temporary registration
- 44Production of vehicle at the time of registration
- 45Refusal of registration or renewal of the certificate of registration
- 46Effectiveness in India of registration
- 47Assignment of new registration mark on removal to another State
- 48No objection certificate
- 49Change of residence or place of business
- 50Transfer of ownership
- 51Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc
- 52Alteration in motor vehicle
- 53Suspension of registration
- 54Cancellation of registration suspended under section 53
- 55Cancellation of registration
- 56Certificate of fitness of transport vehicles
- 57Appeals
- 58Special provisions in regard to transport vehicles
- 59Power to fix the age limit of motor vehicle
- 60Registration of vehicles belonging to the Central Government
- 61Application of Chapter to trailers
- 62Information regarding stolen and recovered motor vehicles to be furnished by the police to the State Transport Authority
- 63Maintenance of State Registers of Motor Vehicles
- 64Power of Central Government to make rules
- 65Power of State Government to make rules
Chapter V — Control Of Transport Vehicles
Sections 66–96
- 66Necessity for permits
- 67Power to State Government to control road transport. 3 SECTIONS
- 68Transport Authorities
- 69General provision as to applications for permits
- 70Application for stage carriage permit
- 71Procedure of Regional Transport Authority in considering application for stage carriage permit
- 72Grant of stage carriage permits
- 73Application for contract carriage permit
- 74Grant of contract carriage permit
- 75Scheme for renting of motor cabs
- 76Application for private service vehicle permit
- 77Application for goods carriage permit
- 78Consideration of application for goods carriage permit
- 79Grant of goods carriage permit
- 80Procedure in applying for and granting permits
- 81Duration and renewal of permits
- 82Transfer of permit
- 83Replacement of vehicles
- 84General conditions attaching to all permits
- 85General form of permits
- 86Cancellation and suspension of permits
- 87Temporary permits
- 88Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted
- 89Appeals
- 90Revision
- 91Restriction of hours of work of drivers
- 92Voidance of contracts restrictive of liability
- 93Agent or canvasser to obtain licence
- 94Bar on jurisdiction of Civil Courts
- 95Power of State Government to make rules as to stage carriages and contract carriages
- 96Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter
Chapter VI — Special Provisions Relating To State Transport Undertakings
Sections 97–108
- 97Definition
- 98Chapter to override Chapter V and other laws
- 99Preparation and publication of proposal regarding road transport service of a State transport undertaking
- 100Objection to the proposal
- 101Operation of additional services by a State transport undertaking in certain circumstances
- 102Cancellation or modification of scheme
- 103Issue of permits to State transport undertakings
- 104Restriction on grant of permits in respect of a notified area or notified route
- 105Principles and method of determining compensation and payment thereof
- 106Disposal of article found in vehicles
- 107Power of State Government to make rules
- 108Certain powers of State Government exercisable by the Central Government. 4
Chapter VII — Construction, Equipment And Maintenance Of Motor Vehicles
Sections 109–111
Chapter VIII — Control Of Traffic
Sections 112–138
- 112Limits of speed
- 113Limits of weight and limitations on use
- 114Power to have vehicle weighed
- 115Power to restrict the use of vehicles
- 116Power to erect traffic signs
- 117Parking places and halting stations
- 118Driving regulations
- 119Duty to obey traffic signs
- 120Vehicles with left hand control
- 121Signals and signalling devices
- 122Leaving vehicle in dangerous position
- 123Riding on running board, etc
- 124Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket
- 125Obstruction of driver
- 126Stationary vehicles
- 127Removal of motor vehicles abandoned or left unattended on a public place
- 128Safety measures for drivers and pillion riders
- 129Wearing of protective headgear
- 130Duty to produce licence and certificate of registration
- 131Duty of the driver to take certain precautions at unguarded railway level crossing
- 132Duty of driver to stop in certain cases
- 133Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information
- 134Duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person
- 135Schemes to be framed for the investigation of accident cases and wayside amenities, etc
- 136Inspection of vehicle involved in accident
- 137Power of Central Government to make rules
- 138Power of State Government to make rules
Chapter IX — Motor Vehicles Temporarily Leaving Or Visiting India
Sections 139–139
Chapter X — Liability Without Fault In Certain Cases
Sections 140–144
Chapter XI — Insurance Of Motor Vehicles Against Third Party Risks
Sections 145–164
- 145Definitions
- 146Necessity for insurance against third party risk
- 147Requirements of policies and limits of liability
- 148Validity of policies of insurance issued in reciprocating countries
- 149Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks
- 150Rights of third parties against insurers on insolvency of the insured
- 151Duty to give information as to insurance
- 152Settlement between insurers and insured persons
- 153Saving in respect of sections 150, 151 and 152
- 154Insolvency of insured persons not to affect liability of insured or claims by third parties
- 155Effect of death on certain causes of action
- 156Effect of certificate of insurance
- 157Transfer of certificate of insurance
- 158Production of certain certificates, licence and permit in certain cases
- 159Production of certificate of Insurance on application for authority to use vehicle
- 160Duty to furnish particulars of vehicle involved in accident
- 161Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident
- 162Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161
- 163Scheme for payment of compensation in case of hit and run motor accidents
- 163ASpecial provisions as to payment of compensation on structured formula basis
- 163BOption to file claim in certain cases
- 164Power of Central Government to make rules
Chapter XII — Claims Tribunals
Sections 165–176
- 165Claims Tribunals
- 166Application for compensation
- 167Option regarding claims for compensation in certain cases
- 168Award of the Claims Tribunal
- 169Procedure and powers of Claims Tribunals
- 170Impleading insurer in certain cases
- 171Award of interest where any claim is allowed. 6 SECTIONS
- 172Award of compensatory costs in certain cases
- 173Appeals
- 174Recovery of money from insurer as arrear of land revenue
- 175Bar on jurisdiction of Civil Courts
- 176Power of State Government to make rules
Chapter XIII — Offences, Penalties And Procedure
Sections 177–210
- 177General provision for punishment of offences
- 178Penalty for travelling without pass or ticket and for dereliction of duty on the part of conductor and refusal to ply contract carriage, etc
- 179Disobedience of orders, obstruction and refusal of information
- 180Allowing unauthorised persons to drive vehicles
- 181Driving vehicles in contravention of section 3 or section 4
- 182Offences relating to licences
- 182APunishment for offences relating to construction and maintenance of vehicles
- 183Driving at excessive speed, etc
- 184Driving dangerously
- 185Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs
- 186Driving when mentally or phycically unfit to drive
- 187Punishment for offences relating to accident
- 188Punishment for abetment of certain offences
- 189Racing and trails of speed
- 190Using vehicle in unsafe condition
- 191Sale of vehicle in or alteration of vehicle to condition contravening this Act
- 192Using vehicle without registration
- 192AUsing vehicle without permit
- 193Punishment of agents and canvassers without proper authority
- 194Driving vehicle exceeding permissible weight
- 195Imposition of minimum fine under certain circumstances
- 196Driving uninsured vehicle
- 197Taking vehicle without authority
- 198Unauthorised interference with vehicle
- 199Offences by companies
- 200Composition of certain offences
- 201Penalty for causing obstruction to free flow of traffic
- 202Power to arrest without warrant
- 203Breath tests
- 204Laboratory test
- 205Presumption of unfitness to drive
- 206Power of police officer to impound document
- 207Power to detain vehicles used without certificate of registration permit, etc
- 208Summary disposal of cases
- 209Restriction on conviction
- 210Courts to send intimation about conviction. 7
Chapter XIV — Miscellaneous
Sections 211–217A
- 211Power to levy fee
- 212Publication, commencement and laying of rules and notifications
- 213Appointment of motor vehicles officers
- 214Effect of appeal and revision on orders passed by original authority
- 215Road Safety Councils and Committees
- 216Power to remove difficulties
- 217Repeal and savings
- 217ARenewal of permits, driving licences and registration granted under the Motor Vehicles Act,
Sections Inserted by the 2019 Amendment
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 32 of 2019) added the following sections. These descriptions are summarised from the operative text of the amending Act rather than transcribed from a marginal heading, so they describe what each section does rather than quoting a title.
- 2BPromotion of innovation — power to make provision for innovation, research and development
- 25ANational Register of Driving Licences to be maintained by the Central Government
- 62ABar on registering a vehicle that contravenes rules made under section 110
- 62BNational Register of Motor Vehicles to be maintained by the Central Government
- 66ANational Transportation Policy to be developed by the Central Government
- 88APower of the Central Government to modify permits by notification
- 110ARecall of motor vehicles found to be defective
- 134AProtection of Good Samaritans from civil and criminal liability
- 136AElectronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety
- 177APenalty for contravention of road regulations made under section 118
- 192BOffences relating to registration — failure to apply for registration
- 194ACarriage of excess passengers — fine of ₹200 per excess passenger
- 194BUse of safety belts and seating of children — fine of ₹1,000
- 194CContravention of safety measures for motorcycle riders under section 128 — ₹1,000 and three-month disqualification
- 194DContravention of protective headgear requirements under section 129 — ₹1,000 and three-month disqualification
- 194EFailure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles — up to six months imprisonment or ₹10,000
- 194FUse of horns needlessly or in silence zones
- 198ALiability of authorities and contractors for failure to comply with road design, construction and maintenance standards
- 199AOffences by juveniles — guardian or vehicle owner deemed guilty
- 199BFines under the Act may be increased by notification
- 210APower of a State Government to specify a multiplier for fines
- 210BPenalty where an enforcing authority itself commits an offence
- 210CPower of the Central Government to make rules for national highway design, construction and maintenance standards
- 210DPower of a State Government to make rules for roads other than national highways
- 211AUse of electronic forms and documents
- 215APower of the Central and State Governments to delegate functions
- 215BConstitution of a National Road Safety Board
Omitted: section 195 was removed from the Act by the 2019 amendment. A small number of further lettered sections in the 215 series were also inserted; we have not listed those whose scope we could not confirm from the amending Act itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections does the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 have?
The arrangement of sections lists 223 entries across 14 chapters, running from section 1 to section 217A. The count exceeds 217 because a number of lettered sections — such as 2A, 192A and 217A — were inserted by later amendments without renumbering the Act.
Which section covers drunk driving?
Section 185, "Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs", in Chapter XIII (Offences, Penalties and Procedure). The penalty was raised by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Which section covers not wearing a helmet?
Two provisions work together. Section 129 in Chapter VIII requires the wearing of protective headgear, and section 194D — inserted by the 2019 Amendment Act — provides the penalty for contravening it: a fine of ₹1,000 and disqualification from holding a licence for three months.
What is the difference between a section and a rule?
Sections belong to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which is primary legislation passed by Parliament. Rules belong to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, made by the Government under section 212 of the Act. A challan will normally cite a section of the Act; a registration or licensing procedure will normally cite a rule.
Why do some sections have letters after the number?
When Parliament inserts a new provision between two existing sections it appends a letter rather than renumbering the whole Act. Section 194A sits between 194 and 195, and section 134A was inserted after section 134. This is why the 2019 amendment added sections such as 194A to 194F and 199A without disturbing the existing numbering.
Was any section removed by the 2019 amendment?
Yes — section 195 was omitted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
CMVR 1989 — All Rules
The rules made under section 212 of this Act.
Acts, Rules & Amendments
Recent CMVR amendments with G.S.R. numbers.