Underage Driving

Last updated on Apr 8, 2022

You have to be above a certain age to drive motor vehicles in a public place. Given below are the age limits stipulated by the law:

  • To drive any motor vehicle (except a motorcycle with an engine capacity of fewer than 50 cc): 18 years 1 
  • To drive a motorcycle with an engine capacity of fewer than 50 cc: 16 years 1 
  • To drive a transport vehicle (for example, a truck): 20 years

If you are under the age required to drive a particular type of motor vehicle, but you drive it anyway, then you can be punished with a fine of Rs. 5,000 or with jail time of up to 3 months, or both 2. The applicable fine amount might vary across states. 

Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

State Type of Vehicle Fine Amount (In INR)
Delhi Not applicable 5,000
Karnataka Two/Three-Wheeler 1,000
Light Motor Vehicle 2,000
Others 5,000
  1. Section 4(1), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[][]
  2. Section 181, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.[]

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