What is the 'No PUC, No Fuel' Rule?
Effective October 1, 2026, fuel stations across Delhi-NCR will deny petrol, diesel, and CNG to any vehicle that does not have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. This initiative, enforced under the Commission for Air Quality Management's
(CAQM) directives, is designed to ensure that only vehicles meeting emission standards are on the roads. In Delhi, around 500 fuel stations are equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to automatically verify a vehicle's PUC status against a central database. The rule is expanding from a system already in place in Delhi to cover the wider NCR, including districts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
How to Get or Renew a PUC Certificate
Obtaining a PUC certificate is a straightforward, offline process that takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You must take your vehicle to an authorised emission testing centre, which can be found at many petrol pumps and standalone facilities. A technician will insert a probe into the vehicle's exhaust pipe to measure its emissions, such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. If the emissions are within the prescribed limits, the operator will issue a new certificate. While the test itself is offline, you can download a digital copy of your certificate from the official Parivahan portal using your vehicle's registration and chassis numbers. This digital copy is legally valid and can be stored in apps like DigiLocker or mParivahan.
Cost and Validity of the Certificate
The cost for a PUC test varies based on the vehicle type. For two-wheelers and three-wheelers (petrol, CNG, LPG), the fee is around ₹80. For four-wheeled petrol vehicles, it is approximately ₹110, while for diesel vehicles, the cost is about ₹140. The validity period of the certificate depends on the vehicle's age and emission standard. For new vehicles, the first PUC certificate is valid for one year. After that, for BS-IV and BS-VI compliant vehicles, the certificate must be renewed every 12 months. For older vehicles that conform to BS-III or earlier norms, the validity is six months.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The most immediate consequence of not having a valid PUC is being denied fuel. Beyond that, driving without a valid certificate is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. If caught by traffic authorities, vehicle owners face a hefty fine of ₹10,000. In some cases, repeated violations can also lead to imprisonment for up to six months or a suspension of your driving licence for three months. It's also important to note that many insurance companies may reject a claim if the vehicle did not have a valid PUC certificate at the time of an accident.
Exemptions and Important Considerations
The PUC requirement applies to all petrol, diesel, CNG, and LPG vehicles, including hybrids. The only vehicles exempt from this rule are fully electric vehicles (EVs), as they have zero tailpipe emissions. As part of its broader winter action plan, Delhi is also implementing other restrictions. From November 1, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the city. Drivers are advised to ensure their vehicle's number plate is clean and legible, as ANPR cameras at fuel stations rely on them for verification.
