Sections 190, 192, 192A, 192B and 193 of the Motor Vehicles Act
These provisions deal with unsafe or environmentally non-compliant vehicles, use of unregistered vehicles, permit violations, registration-related offences and penalties involving agents, canvassers and motor vehicle aggregators.
Section 190 - Using vehicle in unsafe condition
Section 190 penalises use of a motor vehicle in a public place where statutory safety, roadworthiness, noise, air-pollution or related requirements are contravened.
For a contravention under section 190(1), the amended provision prescribes a fine of Rs. 1,500. Where the contravention causes an accident resulting in bodily injury or damage to property, the first offence may attract imprisonment up to three months, or a fine of Rs. 5,000, or both. A subsequent offence may attract imprisonment up to six months, or a fine of Rs. 10,000 for bodily injury or damage to property.
Road safety, noise and air-pollution standardsSection 190 also contains enhanced punishment for contraventions relating to prescribed road-safety standards, noise and air-pollution standards, including licence disqualification where the section so provides.
Section 191 - Omitted by the 2019 amendment
Section 191 of the principal Act was omitted by section 73 of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The historical omission is preserved in the amendment text below.
Section 192 - Using a vehicle without registration
Section 39 generally prohibits driving, or causing or permitting a motor vehicle to be driven, in a public place or other place unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with Chapter IV and carries a registration mark in the prescribed manner, subject to statutory exceptions.
Use of a motor vehicle in contravention of section 39 is punishable under section 192. The 2019 amendment inserted an Explanation providing that use of a motor vehicle in contravention of section 56, which deals with certificates of fitness for transport vehicles, is deemed to contravene section 39 and is punishable in the same manner as section 192(1).
Section 192A - Using a vehicle without permit
Section 192A applies where a motor vehicle is used, or caused or allowed to be used, in contravention of section 66(1) or contrary to the route, area or purpose authorised by a permit.
For the first offence, section 192A(1) provides imprisonment which may extend to six months and a fine of Rs. 10,000. For a subsequent offence, the amended provision provides imprisonment which may extend to one year but shall not be less than six months and a fine of Rs. 10,000, subject to the statutory wording and exceptions.
Section 192B - Offences relating to registration
Section 192B was inserted by the 2019 amendment and creates specific offences for owners and dealers concerning failure to apply for registration and registration obtained through materially false documents, false representations, or mismatched engine or chassis numbers.
Fine of five times the annual road tax or one-third of the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle, whichever is higher.
Dealer failing to apply for registration of a new vehicleFine of fifteen times the annual road tax or the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle, whichever is higher.
False registration particularsFor the specified offences involving false documents, false material representations or engine/chassis number discrepancies, the section provides imprisonment of not less than six months and up to one year, together with the tax-linked fine specified in the provision.
Section 193 - Agents, canvassers and aggregators
Section 193 penalises specified activity by agents, canvassers and aggregators contrary to the Motor Vehicles Act and rules. An "aggregator" is a digital intermediary or marketplace for a passenger to connect with a driver for transportation, as defined in section 2(1A).
Fine up to Rs. 1 lakh, but not less than Rs. 25,000.
Breach of a non-material licence conditionAn aggregator that contravenes a licence condition not designated by the State Government as a material condition is punishable with a fine of Rs. 5,000.
Current policy frameworkMoRTH issued the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 on 1 July 2025. They define the licensing and regulatory framework intended for implementation by States and Union Territories under section 93.
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 - amendment text
Amendment of section 190 of Motor Vehicles Act
72. In section 190 of the principal Act,-
(i) in sub-section (1),-
(a) for the words "which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees", the words "of one thousand five hundred rupees" shall be substituted;
(b) for the words "which may extend to one thousand rupees", the words "of five thousand rupees" shall be substituted; and
(c) after the words "with both", the words "and for a subsequent offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine of ten thousand rupees for bodily injury or damage to property" shall be inserted.
(ii) in sub-section (2),-
(a) for the words "a fine of one thousand rupees", the words "imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for a period of three months" shall be substituted; and
(b) for the words "a fine of two thousand rupees", the words "imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both" shall be substituted;
(iii) in sub-section (3),-
(a) for the words "which may extend to three thousand rupees", the words "with a
fine of ten thousand rupees and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for
a period of three months" shall be substituted; and
(b) for the words "which may extend to five thousand rupees", the words "of twenty thousand rupees" shall be substituted.
Omission of section 191 of Motor Vehicles Act
73. Section 191of the principal Act shall be omitted.
Amendment of section 192 of Motor Vehicles Act
74. In section 192 of the principal Act, the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely:- "Explanation.-Use of a motor vehicle in contravention of the provisions of section 56 shall be deemed to be a contravention of the provisions of section 39 and shall be punishable in the same manner as provided in sub-section (1).".
Amendment of section 192A of Motor Vehicles Act
75. In section 192A of the principal Act, in sub-section (1),- (i) after the words "for the first offence with", the words "imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and" shall be inserted; (ii) for the words "which may extend to five thousand rupees but shall not be less than two thousand rupees", the words "of ten thousand rupees" shall be substituted; (iii) for the words "three months", the words "six months" shall be substituted; (iv) for the words "which may extend to ten thousand rupees but shall not be less than five thousand rupees", the words "of ten thousand rupees" shall be substituted.
Insertion of new section 192B. Offences relating to registration of Motor Vehicles Act
76. After section 192A of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- "192B. (1) Whoever, being the owner of a motor vehicle, fails to make an application for registration of such motor vehicle under sub-section (1) of section 41 shall be punishable with fine of five times the annual road tax or one-third of the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle whichever is higher. (2) Whoever, being a dealer, fails to make an application for the registration of a new motor vehicle under the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 41 shall be punishable with fine of fifteen times the annual road tax or the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle whichever is higher. (3) Whoever, being the owner of a motor vehicle, obtains a certificate of registration for such vehicle on the basis of documents which were, or by representation of facts which was, false in any material particular, or the engine number or the chassis number embossed thereon are different from such number entered in the certificate of registration shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but may extend to one year and with fine equal to ten times the amount of the annual road tax or two-third the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle, whichever is higher.
(4) Whoever, being a dealer, obtains a certificate of registration for such vehicle on the basis of documents which were, or by representation of facts which was, false in any material particular, or the engine number or the chassis number embossed thereon are different from such number entered in the certificate of registration shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but may extend to one year and with fine equal to ten times the amount of annual road tax or two-third the lifetime tax of the motor vehicle, whichever is higher.".
Amendment of section 193 of Motor Vehicles Act
77. In the principal Act,-
(A) in section 193, in the marginal heading, for the words "agents and canvassers", the words "agents, canvassers and aggregators" shall be substituted;
(B) section 193 shall be numbered as sub-section (1) thereof, and- (i) in sub-section (1) as so numbered,--
(a) for the words "which may extend to one thousand rupees", the words "of one thousand rupees" shall be substituted;
(b) for the words "which may extend to two thousand rupees", the words "of two thousand rupees" shall be substituted;
(ii) after sub-section (1) as so numbered, the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely:-
"(2) Whoever engages himself as an aggregator in contravention of the provisions of section 93 or of any rules made thereunder shall be punishable with fine up to one lakh rupees but shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees.
(3) Whoever, while operating as an aggregator contravenes a condition of the licence granted under sub-section (1) of section 93, not designated by the State Government as a material condition, shall be punishable with fine of five thousand rupees.".
Official resources
India Code - official legislation portal
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - India Code
Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 - MoRTH