New Traffic Rules: Delay in Challan Payment Can Cost You More

Ignoring a traffic challan after breaking traffic rules is no longer an option. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has tightened the system by amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making the entire challan process stricter, faster, and fully digital. The new rules, notified on January 20, 2026, clearly define timelines for issuing, paying, and challenging challans. Miss these deadlines, and the challan will be treated as automatically accepted.

Pay or Challenge Within 45 Days

Under the revised rules, once a challan is issued, the vehicle owner has 45 days to take action. During this period, you must either pay the challan amount or file an objection online by uploading relevant documents. If you fail to do either within 45 days, the system will automatically consider the challan valid, no further notice required.

Challan Notification Now Time-Bound

The government has also fixed deadlines for informing citizens about challans. If a challan is issued manually or through physical means, it must be delivered to the concerned person within 15 days. For electronic challans, details must be sent to the registered vehicle owner within just 3 days. Alerts about the violation will also reach you via SMS or email. All challans will be recorded sequentially on the official portal, allowing vehicle owners to track every pending or cleared challan online.

Objections Must Be Resolved in 3 Days

If you believe a challan has been wrongly issued, you can challenge it through the online portal. Once an objection is filed, the authorized officer is required to make a decision within three days. If no decision is taken within this time or if the challan is cancelled with written reasons, the challan will automatically become invalid. The decision will be uploaded on the portal for transparency. In cases of dispute, approaching the court remains an option.

Harsh Consequences for Pending Challans

The new rules come with serious penalties for inaction. If a challan remains unpaid or unchallenged, key services related to your vehicle can be suspended. This includes your driving licence, vehicle registration, and other motor vehicle-related services, except those linked to motor vehicle tax. The vehicle may also be marked as “blocked” on the portal, and in severe cases, seizure proceedings can be initiated.

A Push for Discipline and Transparency

With these changes, the government aims to ensure stricter compliance with traffic laws while making the challan system more transparent and efficient. For vehicle owners, the message is clear: check your challans regularly, act within the deadlines, and avoid unnecessary trouble on the road, and off it.