Road Safety / Supreme Court Says “No Insurance, No Fuel”

New Delhi, Aug 5: In a landmark move to tighten road safety and insurance compliance, the Supreme Court of India has proposed a pilot project under which vehicles without valid insurance will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps.

The directive, described as “No insurance, no fuel”, aims to ensure strict adherence to motor insurance laws and reduce risks on Indian roads.

The apex court has instructed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to design a pilot framework.

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Under this system, petrol pumps will be required to verify a vehicle’s insurance status before dispensing fuel. If a vehicle lacks valid insurance, fuel supply will be denied.

To strengthen enforcement, the court has also directed integration of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with the VAHAN portal and insurance databases.

This will enable automatic detection of uninsured vehicles, with challans issued instantly. Additionally, traffic police will be equipped with a mobile application to check insurance details during routine inspections.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, further extended mandatory third-party insurance coverage for new vehicles.

For four-wheelers, the minimum period has been increased from three to four years, while for two-wheelers, it has been raised from five to six years. This measure is expected to provide longer protection to road users and reduce lapses in coverage.

The initiative also emphasizes stricter monitoring of new vehicle registrations, fuel stations, and highway surveillance systems. Authorities have been asked to explore practical mechanisms for petrol pumps to implement the directive effectively across the country.