Your driver’s license may be revoked if you don’t pay your traffic challan on time (e-challan rules 2025). Furthermore, your car insurance rate can go up, and your registration might be cancelled. Understanding the justifications and new rules is crucial because the government is getting ready to enact these changes soon.
Usually, the only way to get out of breaking traffic laws while driving is to pay the challan. A simple apology might sometimes get you off the hook, but in other situations, the issue might even go to court. Nevertheless, a lot of people disregard SMS-based electronic challan notifications. This may no longer be an option if you are among those who disregard such messages.
Since the government intends to pursue stringent compliance, there could be severe repercussions if you don’t pay your traffic challan within the allotted period.
Electronic Challan System
The Supreme Court ordered 23 states and seven union territories to strictly implement the electronic challan system in September 2024. The government is now committed to adequately enforcing it. India’s poor online challan recovery rate—just 40% of issued challans get paid—is one of the factors driving this drive. In this sense, Delhi performs the worst, as only 14% of challans are resolved online. Stricter measures, such as surveillance using speed cameras and AI-powered traffic signal cameras, are being used to solve this.
Impact of New Rules
Driving Licence Suspension: A person’s driving licence may be suspended for three months if they do not pay an online challan within three months of it being issued. Furthermore, according to media reports, a person’s license may be banned for three months if they earn three challans for reckless driving or running red lights in a fiscal year.
- Insurance Premium Increase: For those who have not paid at least two challans from the previous fiscal year, the government is thinking of raising the insurance premiums.
- Vehicle Registration Suspension: A car’s registration may be suspended if it accrues a number of unpaid challans.
Prior to enforcing these regulations, the government intends to improve its system to detect instances in which technical malfunctions or delayed notifications result in payment delays. The government will inform people via text message each month about unpaid challans in order to guarantee on-time payments.
Therefore, using the m-Parivahan app to monitor your challan status is advised. Additionally, watch out for phoney challan communications, as these are a common scam method used by fraudsters.
