MotorBabuDocuments to carry while driving in India
Four documents, and you can carry all of them on your phone — with one catch. Here's what traffic police can ask for and what counts as valid.
Updated 15 Oct 2026
The four documents
| Document | What it proves | Digital copy OK? |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence (DL) | You're allowed to drive this class of vehicle | Yes — DigiLocker / mParivahan |
| Registration certificate (RC) | The vehicle is registered (and to whom) | Yes — DigiLocker / mParivahan |
| Insurance | At least third-party cover is in force | Yes, if it shows in mParivahan |
| PUC certificate | Emissions are within limits | Yes, if it shows online |
Commercial vehicles also need a fitness certificate and a permit.
Digital documents: what the law says
In November 2018 the government amended Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (G.S.R. 108(E)) so that documents shown through DigiLocker or the mParivahan app are valid, at par with the originals. Traffic police verify them against the same government database, and shouldn't seize documents when they can check them online.
The catch: if a document's validity can't be confirmed online — a just-renewed insurance policy or PUC that hasn't been uploaded yet — you'll need the paper. So keep the latest PUC slip and insurance policy handy until they show up digitally.
A photo or PDF in your phone's gallery isn't the same as a DigiLocker document. Use DigiLocker / mParivahan, or carry the originals.
Fines for missing documents
- No driving licence: up to ₹5,000 (Section 181).
- No insurance: ₹2,000 for a first offence, ₹4,000 for a repeat (Section 196).
- No valid PUC: up to ₹10,000 (Section 190(2)); many states challan ₹1,000.
States set their own challan amounts within these limits, so the exact figure varies.
Keep everything on your phone — and up to date
MotorBabu keeps your insurance policy, PUC certificate and RC on your phone — they open even without signal — and reminds you before the insurance or PUC runs out, so what you show is always valid. Add your vehicle by its number plate and the dates are filled in for you.
Questions people ask
Are DigiLocker documents valid for traffic police?
Yes. Since the 2018 amendment to Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (G.S.R. 108(E)), documents shown in DigiLocker or the mParivahan app are legally valid, at par with the originals.
Is a photo or scan of my documents valid?
No — a photo or PDF in your gallery isn't the same as a DigiLocker / mParivahan document, which is verified against the government database. Use those apps, or carry the originals.
What documents do I need on a bike?
The same as a car: driving licence, RC, insurance and PUC. Helmets aren't a document, but they're checked too.
Do I need to carry the original RC?
Not if your RC is in DigiLocker or mParivahan. Otherwise, carry the original (a photocopy alone isn't enough).
What if the police can't see my document online?
MoRTH's procedure says paper copies are needed when a document's validity can't be confirmed online — which is why it's worth keeping the PUC and insurance papers handy until they show up digitally.