The dos and don’ts of bike modification & traffic rules in India

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Long story short: Discover the essential information every rider needs to know about the dos and don’ts of bike modification and traffic rules. Stay safe and legal on the road with this guide!

99% know wearing a helmet is mandatory while riding a motorcycle. Still, they do not know which documents they should have while driving. Can we keep digital copies of documents, or is it mandatory to have a hard copy, or do we need original documents? What parts within a motorcycle can we modify, or what accessories can we fit into a bike? There are a lot of doubts and unknown things about rules that we should follow, and here we will mention every traffic rule in the rule book that we should follow in India while riding a motorcycle.

Documents to carry while riding a motorcycle in India

Here is the list of documents that every motorcycle rider should have while travelling in India

1. Rider’s driving license
2. Certificate of registration
3. Certificate of Insurance
4. Certificate of taxation
5. Fitness certificate for motorcycle ( only for motorcycles above 15 years old)
6. Pollution under control certificate (PUCC)

Driving License

The first and the most mandatory document while riding a motorcycle. Riding a bike without a driving license is a punishable offence. Suppose an accident occurs and you do not have a valid driving license. In that case, you will not get any claims and benefits from the Insurance team. According to Central Motor Vehicles Rules in November 2018, electronic documents available on DigiLocker or mParivahan app are valid and legal to carry while travelling. So, having a hard copy of documents is not mandatory.

Registration certificate

RC will show all the details about the motorcycle, from the model name to the motorcycle’s manufacturing date, etc. RC is the second most important document after the driver’s license. You can download the same and use it from DigiLocker or mParivahan app, which is legal now.

Certificate of Insurance

In India, it is mandatory to have at least third-party insurance for your motorcycle, as per the law. With third-party insurance, only the third party will get the claim in case of an accident, so opt for full cover or comprehensive insurance if you need to get the claim for your motorcycle. You can keep both hard copy and soft copy of the same. Still, it is recommended to keep the hard copy as in several insurance apps; we might not get the correct copy of the insurance.

Certificate of taxation

For private vehicles, there is only time payment for Motor vehicle tax valid for 15 years from the motorcycle’s registration date. The validity of the Registration certificate and Tax certificate is the same. Keep a hard copy of the same on your bike instead of a soft copy.

Fitness certificate for motorcycle

A bike is considered fit to travel on roads until it becomes 15 years old. After 15 years, you need a fitness certificate for your motorcycle to continue riding on the streets. After that, you need to renew it every two years. So, if you own a bike that is 15 years old or older, you must always carry its fitness certificate with you.

Pollution Under Control Certificate

An emission certificate for your bike is mandatory before running it on public roads. The Pollution Under Control Certificate contains the level to which your motorcycle emits pollution and the bike’s registration number. This document certifies that the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons emitted by your bike are within the permissible limit approved by the authorities. Therefore, you should carry your motorcycle’s emission certificate whenever you ride it on Indian roads.

Motorcycle traffic rules in India

1. The rider must wear a helmet.
2. The helmet must be certified by ISI, DOT, or ECE.
3. Carry hardcopy or softcopy of RC, DL, tax certificate, Insurance, PUCC, and fitness certificate while travelling.
4. nly one pillion is allowed.
5. Pillion must have a helmet.
6. Use indicators while turning left or right.
7. Drink and drive are strictly illegal and punishable.
8. Talking on the phone while driving is illegal.
9. Overspeeding motorcycles are illegal, and there is a speed limit according to the nature of your driving area.
10. Racing road-legal motorcycles is strictly punishable and is against the law. However, there are exemptions for racing motorcycles on racetracks.
11. People under 18 cannot ride geared motorcycles, and the vehicle owner will get penalties for the same offence.
12. Always give way for an ambulance or other emergency vehicle while travelling.
13. Riding a motorcycle without valid insurance is illegal.

Dos and don’ts of Bike Modification Rules in India

1. Any modification or adjustment in the bike that is against the RTO rules, like aftermarket silencer changes, handlebars, etc., when undertaken by the vehicle owner, makes the vehicle owner liable for hefty fines or legal actions.
2. Color change for your motorcycle is legal in India. But if you plan to change the colour, you must take prior permission from the RTO. However, you can only do so as per the list of colours approved by the RTO.
3. Minor physical changes are allowed, such as replacing the visors, decals, winglets, tyres, etc.
4. No inbuilt or external cameras are allowed on helmets like Go Pro.
5. Installing certified safety devices on your vehicle is allowed, which offers the opportunity to avail a discount on insurance premiums.
6. Aftermarket number plates are not allowed and must use high-security number plates given by the manufacturer.
7. The rider should not remove the rearview mirror.

Conclusion

We hope all your doubts regarding the dos and don’ts of bike modification and traffic rules are covered and understood. If you have any other doubts or queries, email us at bikeleague2017@gmail.com. We are always eager to help and assist you. Also, here are several social media platforms of Bikeleague India to raise your suspicions.