Driving Across States in India: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Road travel in India ensures pure liberty with the ability to discover a multiplicity of landscapes, cultures, and cuisines. For a smooth journey and right from the beginning, all preparations, documentations, and regulations must be followed. For example, in the case of driving within Telangana State, TS e challan will be issued by Telangana State Traffic Police to digitally record traffic violations and to pay fines there for.

So, this thorough guide will help you act with full updated information while travelling between different states in India.

Important Documents to Carry for Interstate Travel

Nowadays, all documents are digitised for safer storage and convenience while on the road. Digitisation of all documents provides safety for storage and also ensures convenience on the road. So, these are the documents that should be carried along on your journey anywhere across India:

1.    Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

A PUC certificate means that your car's emission meets the permissible level of emissions determined by the authorities. It is, therefore, advisable to make a PUC certificate download before proceeding on long drives across the country. You get one of these certificates from any pollution control desk at an authorised petrol pump..

2.    Driving Licence

In India, driving a car necessitates a valid licence. In contrast to the prior process of going to the Regional Transport Office (RTO), recent changes simplified the application process by allowing the taking of driving tests at private driving schools approved by the Government. Moreover, digital driving licenses are now in force, and one can store them in an RTA M-Wallet or DigiLocker application.

3.    All India Permit (for Commercial Vehicles)

Vehicles that are commercial and cross the border between states require obtaining an All-India Permit. The permit requires an annual renewal and permits interstate travel. The owners may be asked to abide by some specific tax laws of the state, depending on where it is used. The permit ensures the lawful operation of commercial transport services all over India.

4.    Car Insurance Policy

One should, by law, have current insurance coverage in hand, at least covering third-party liabilities. Apart from being a legal compulsion, having valid auto insurance offers financial security in case of theft, damage, accidents, and repairs.

5.    Vehicle Fitness Certificate (FC)

The Indian Regional Transport Office issues the Fitness Certificate, a legal document certifying that the vehicle is fit as laid down in traffic safety laws and emission requirements. Any vehicle older than 15 years must always carry a Fitness Certificate. Also, renew your document and keep it up-to-date to avoid fines and penalties.

Preparing Your Vehicle for the Journey

Before you go, give the car a full check to guarantee safety and avoid breakdowns. The major things one prepares for are as follows:

●       Engine and Fluids: Oil, coolant, brake fluids, windscreen wash fluids: check their levels.

●       Tyres: Check that all the tyres, including the spare, are well inflated and free from damage.

●       Brakes and Lights: All the lights and brakes should be functioning correctly.

●       Battery: Make sure that the battery is charged and the terminals are clean.

●       Emergency Provisions and Equipment: A first-aid kit, torch, emergency warning gadgets, and a basic set of tools.

●       Filling Up the Vehicle Tank: Check whether the fuel tank is full. It is a good thing to fill the tank before starting your car or bike.

Staying Informed and Compliant

Keeping abreast of traffic rules through various sources includes:

●       Official Websites: Keep frequently updated on driver's licenses and vehicle registration on the Parivahan Sewa portal.

●       Websites for State Transportation: Check out the official website of the transport department concerned for issues concerning each state.

●       Mobile Applications: These applications help in storing and retrieving digital copies of important papers, e.g., DigiLocker and RTAM-Wallet.

Understanding State-specific Regulations

While the main subject is traffic laws in India, in India, each state could have different rules and different methods of enforcement. For example:

●       Traffic violations and E-challans

Telangana is among those states that have chosen to utilise the electronic challan or e-challan system for traffic violations. The whole procedure under the TS e-challan system has been thus simplified to let offenders check and pay fines by themselves online, through the avoidance of physically going down to traffic offices.

●       Regulations for Vehicle Emissions

Pollution norms can differ somewhat from state to state. Keep on checking your vehicle on a regular basis for pollution norms compliance as laid down by the different states you desire to travel through. One of the primary proofs of compliance is the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.

Final Thoughts

So, responsibly drive, keep yourself informed about all matters, and have fun with the different adventures on all Indian roads.

Disclaimer: This article is published in association with ACKO and not created by TNM Editorial.