No person shall drive any motor vehicle and no owner of a motor vehicle shall cause or permit the vehicle to be driven in any public place or in any other place unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with this Chapter and the certificate of registration of the vehicle has not been suspended or cancelled and the vehicle carries a registration mark displayed in the prescribed manner: Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a motor vehicle in possession of a dealer subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Simplified Explanation
Section 39 clearly states that no person can drive or allow any motor vehicle to be driven in public unless the vehicle is registered and has a valid registration certificate. This applies to all types of motor vehicles, including cars, bikes, trucks, buses, etc.
Key Points
- Mandatory Registration:
- Every motor vehicle, whether it’s a private or commercial vehicle, must be registered under this Act.
- The registration must be done with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) or any other authority designated by the government.
- Without registration, driving a vehicle on a public road is illegal and can result in fines or other penalties.
- Registration Certificate (RC):
- Once a vehicle is registered, the owner receives a Registration Certificate (RC). This document contains important details about the vehicle, such as the vehicle number, model, engine number, chassis number, and the name of the owner.
- The RC serves as proof that the vehicle is legally registered with the transport authorities.
- Public Road Usage:
- Section 39 emphasizes that a vehicle can only be used on public roads if it is registered. Public roads include all highways, city roads, rural roads, and any other road open to public use.
- Exemptions:
- There are some exemptions to this rule. Certain vehicles used for government purposes, such as those operated by defense forces or vehicles with temporary permits, may be allowed to drive without regular registration under specific conditions.
- Vehicles operating under temporary registration (such as new vehicles awaiting permanent registration) may also be exempt for a limited time.
- Prohibition of Unregistered Vehicles:
- It is illegal to:
- Drive an unregistered vehicle.
- Allow someone to drive an unregistered vehicle.
- Use a vehicle with expired registration on public roads.
- Violating this rule can lead to heavy fines, impoundment of the vehicle, or even imprisonment in extreme cases.
- It is illegal to:
- Renewal of Registration:
- Registration certificates are typically valid for 15 years for private vehicles, after which they must be renewed. Commercial vehicles may have different renewal periods, depending on the type of vehicle and state rules.
- Once the registration expires, the vehicle must not be used until it is re-registered or renewed.
Example Scenario
Imagine you’ve just bought a new car. You cannot drive this car on public roads until you’ve registered it at the local Regional Transport Office (RTO) and received the Registration Certificate (RC). If you drive the car without registration, you can be fined by traffic authorities.
Importance
Vehicle registration is crucial because it helps authorities track vehicle ownership, ensure that vehicles comply with safety and environmental standards, and maintain a record of all vehicles operating on the roads. Registration also provides accountability in case of traffic violations or accidents.
Conclusion
Section 39 of the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for all motor vehicles to be registered before they can be driven on public roads. This ensures that only legal and properly documented vehicles are allowed to operate, promoting safety and accountability on the roads.
