Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: Key Changes, Penalties and Road-Safety Provisions
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act No. 32 of 2019) received publication in the Gazette of India on 9 August 2019 and substantially amended the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Its reforms cover licensing, vehicle registration and fitness, road safety, insurance and accident compensation, protection of Good Samaritans, vehicle recall, electronic enforcement and enhanced penalties.
Major changes introduced by the 2019 Amendment
1. Road-accident compensation
The amended compensation chapter strengthened statutory remedies for victims and legal heirs. Under section 164 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the owner of the motor vehicle or authorised insurer is liable to pay fixed compensation of ₹5 lakh in case of death and ₹2.5 lakh in case of grievous hurt, subject to the statutory conditions. Section 161 separately provides fixed compensation for hit-and-run motor accidents: ₹2 lakh for death and ₹50,000 for grievous hurt, or a higher amount if prescribed.
2. Cashless treatment during the golden hour
Section 162 requires a scheme for cashless treatment of road-accident victims, including during the golden hour. The Central Government notified the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 with effect from 5 May 2025. In February 2026, the Scheme was renamed the PM-RAHAT Scheme. It operates with the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund framework and applies to eligible road-accident victims in accordance with the notified scheme and implementation guidelines.
3. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund
Sections 164B and 164C provide for the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund and related rule-making powers. The Fund supports statutory purposes including treatment of road-accident victims and compensation in prescribed cases. The Central Motor Vehicles (Motor Vehicle Accident Fund) Rules, 2022 form part of this framework.
4. Good Samaritan protection
Section 134A protects a Good Samaritan who voluntarily renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a road-accident victim. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules also prescribe protections concerning examination and enquiry, intended to prevent unnecessary harassment of persons who assist accident victims.
5. Recall of defective motor vehicles
Section 110A empowers the Central Government to direct the recall of motor vehicles of a particular type where a defect may cause damage to the environment, driver, occupants or other road users, or where specified statutory conditions are otherwise met. The recall framework also provides for obligations concerning replacement, reimbursement or rectification in accordance with law.
6. National Transportation Policy
Section 66A enables the Central Government to develop a National Transportation Policy in consultation with State Governments and other agencies. The statutory framework is intended to support coordinated planning of passenger and goods transportation and related road-transport priorities.
7. National Road Safety Board
Sections 215B and 215C provide for the National Road Safety Board and its rule-making framework. The Board's functions concern road-safety standards and recommendations on matters such as vehicle safety, road design, traffic management and road-safety administration. The National Road Safety Board Rules, 2025 replaced the earlier 2021 rules.
8. Electronic enforcement and documents
The amended law expanded the use of electronic monitoring, electronic forms and records, including provisions that support technology-based traffic enforcement and administration. Actual enforcement, compounding and payable challan amounts may depend on Central provisions together with applicable State or Union Territory notifications.
Important traffic offences and statutory penalties
The 2019 Amendment substantially increased several penalties. The table below highlights commonly referenced Central statutory provisions. State Governments may exercise powers available under the Act, including in relation to compounding and specified increases, so the amount shown on an official challan portal should be checked for the place where the offence occurred.
| Offence | Section | Central statutory consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without an effective driving licence / in contravention of age or licensing requirements | 181 | Imprisonment up to 3 months, or fine of ₹5,000, or both. |
| Dangerous driving | 184 | For a first offence, imprisonment and/or a fine within the statutory range; higher consequences apply to specified repeat offences. |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 185 | Imprisonment and/or fine as prescribed by the section, with enhanced punishment for a subsequent offence. |
| Failure to use safety belt / child-seating contravention | 194B | Fine as prescribed by section 194B; child-safety requirements are also governed by applicable rules. |
| Not wearing protective headgear | 194D | Fine of ₹1,000 and disqualification for holding a licence for the period specified by law. |
| Failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicle | 194E | Imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine of ₹10,000, or both. |
| Driving an uninsured vehicle | 196 | First offence: imprisonment up to 3 months, or fine of ₹2,000, or both; higher fine for a subsequent offence. |
| Offence involving a juvenile | 199A | Special liability may attach to the guardian/owner, along with statutory fine and vehicle/registration consequences, subject to the section. |
Section-wise Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
The following internal pages retain the detailed section-wise material available on this website:
- Sections 1, 2, 2B, 8, 9 & 10
- Sections 11, 12, 14, 15, 19 & 25A
- Sections 26, 27, 28, 40, 41 & 43
- Sections 44, 49, 52, 55, 56 & 59
- Sections 62A, 62B, 63, 64, 65 & 66
- Sections 66A, 66B, 67, 72, 74 & 88A
- Sections 92, 93, 94, 96, 110, 110A & 110B
- Sections 114, 116, 117, 129, 134A & 135
- Sections 136A, 137, 138, 145 & 146
- Sections 147, 148, 149 & 150
- Sections 151-156
- Sections 157-162
- Sections 163, 164, 164A, 164B & 164C
- Sections 165, 166, 168, 169, 170 & 173
- Sections 177-182B
- Sections 183, 184, 185, 186, 187 & 189
- Sections 190, 192, 192A, 192B & 193
- Sections 194-194F
- Sections 196, 197, 198, 199A & 199B
- Sections 200, 201 & 206
- Sections 210A-210D & 211A
- Sections 212, 215A, 215B, 215C & 215D
Frequently asked questions
Is the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 still applicable?
Yes. The 2019 Amendment modified the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The present legal position should therefore be read from the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as amended, together with applicable rules, schemes and notifications issued thereafter.
What compensation is available under section 164?
Section 164 provides fixed compensation of ₹5 lakh in case of death and ₹2.5 lakh in case of grievous hurt, subject to the statutory provisions.
What is PM-RAHAT?
PM-RAHAT is the current name of the Central Government's scheme under section 162 for cashless treatment of eligible road-accident victims. The scheme was originally notified as the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 and was renamed in February 2026.
Are traffic fines identical throughout India?
Not always. The Motor Vehicles Act provides Central statutory penalties, but the amount payable for a particular challan may also depend on applicable State or Union Territory notifications, compounding rules and enforcement provisions. Use the official challan or transport portal for the place of the alleged offence.