Section 158 MV Act
What documents do I need to show a police officer when I'm driving?
Short answer
You must show your insurance, registration, pollution‑control certificate, licence, and for transport vehicles, fitness certificate and permit.
In detail
When a police officer in uniform, who has been given authority by the State Government, asks you for documents while you are driving in any public place, you must show several papers. You have to produce the vehicle’s insurance certificate, its registration certificate, the pollution‑under‑control certificate, and your driving licence. If the vehicle is a transport vehicle, you must also produce the certificate of fitness and the permit that authorise its use, and any exemption certificate that has been granted. If an accident causing death or injury occurs and you did not produce these papers at the time, you or the vehicle’s owner must bring them to the police station when filing the accident report under section 134. You will not be convicted for not producing the documents if you submit them within seven days of the request or the accident, although this grace does not fully apply to drivers of transport vehicles. The vehicle’s owner must also give any information the police need to check whether the vehicle was being driven illegally, especially when the insurance certificate is requested.
Related questions
Can I appeal a motor vehicle claims tribunal award if I disagree?
Yes – you may appeal to the High Court within 90 days, but if you must pay you need to deposit up to Rs 25,000 (or half the award, whichever is less) and the dispute must be at least Rs 1 lakh.
Who can file a claim for compensation after a motor vehicle accident?
The injured person, the property owner, the deceased’s legal heirs, or an authorized agent can file a claim.
What penalty can I face if I drive against sections 3 or 4?
You may be jailed up to three months, fined up to ₹5,000, or both.
What must I do if police ask me for driver details of my vehicle?
You must give the police the driver’s name, address and licence information that you have or can reasonably discover.
Not legal advice. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts — speak to a lawyer about your situation.