Traffic e-challans are issued when cameras or traffic police record a violation. Unlike old paper challans, these are linked to your vehicle registration number and stay on record until you pay them. Ignoring an e-challan does not make it go away. It gets forwarded to a Virtual Court or Lok Adalat, which can then issue a summons requiring you to appear in person.
Here is how to check if you have any pending challans and pay them from your phone or computer.
Before You Start
You will need at least one of the following to search for your challans:
e-Challan payment requirements
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Step 1: Open an official portal
Use your state traffic police e-challan site or the central portal at echallan.parivahan.gov.in.
Some commonly used state portals include:
- Karnataka: Karnataka Traffic Police
- Maharashtra: Maharashtra e-Challan
- Delhi: Delhi Traffic Police
WARNING
Only use government .gov.in or .nic.in domains. Avoid third-party websites that may charge extra "convenience" fees, collect unnecessary KYC data, or be outright scams.
Step 2: Search for your vehicle
You can search for pending challans using three methods:
- Challan Number: If you have the physical ticket or received an SMS, enter the challan number directly. This is the fastest lookup.
- Vehicle Number: Enter your registration number (e.g., KA01AB1234). You will also need to enter the last 5 digits of your Engine Number or Chassis Number (found on your RC or insurance paper) for verification.
- Driving License (DL) Number: To check for offences tied directly to your license rather than a specific vehicle. This is useful if you were driving a rented or borrowed vehicle.
Step 3: Review pending challans
Open each challan to see the full details:
- Offence type (signal jump, over-speeding, no helmet, wrong parking, etc.)
- Date, time, and location of the violation
- Photographic or video evidence (if caught on camera) - confirm it is really your vehicle in the photo before paying
- Penalty amount as per the Motor Vehicles Act schedule for that offence
- Due date and any late fee added
TIP
If the photograph clearly shows a different vehicle or the number plate is unreadable, you can file a dispute. Use the "Raise Grievance" option on the portal or visit your local traffic police station with your RC copy and a written explanation.
Step 4: Pay online
Select the challan(s) you want to pay and proceed to payment. Most portals accept:
- UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM)
- Debit/credit card (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay)
- Net banking (linked to most major banks)
After payment, download and save the receipt. The challan status will change to "Paid" or "Closed" within a few minutes to a few hours.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
WARNING
You must pay your traffic e-challan within 60 days of issuance. Here is what happens if you miss this window:
- Auto-forwarded to Virtual Court: The challan is sent to the nearest Virtual Court for adjudication.
- Court summons: If the Virtual Court decides, you may receive a summons to appear. Ignoring a court summons is a criminal offence.
- Lok Adalat: Some states batch old challans into Lok Adalat sessions. You will receive a court summons and must physically appear before a judge to settle the fine.
- RTO blocks: Accumulated unpaid challans can block vehicle-related services at the RTO (like RC renewal, transfer of ownership, or fitness certificate renewal).
Fees and Penalty Amounts
Fine amounts are set by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, but states can reduce them. Here are some common offences:
| Offence | Typical Fine |
|---|---|
| Riding without helmet | ₹1,000 |
| Driving without seatbelt | ₹1,000 |
| Jumping a red signal | ₹1,000 - ₹5,000 |
| Over-speeding | ₹1,000 - ₹2,000 |
| Using phone while driving | ₹1,000 - ₹5,000 |
| Driving without valid insurance | ₹2,000 |
| Driving without licence | ₹5,000 |
Actual amounts vary by state. Karnataka, for instance, has reduced some fines below the central Act amounts.
Common Problems
- "No challan found" even though you received an SMS: Wait 24-48 hours. There can be a delay between the SMS notification and the challan appearing on the portal.
- Payment succeeded but status still shows "Unpaid": This usually auto-reconciles within 2-3 working days. Do not pay again. Keep your bank transaction SMS as proof.
- Challan on a vehicle you sold: If you sold the vehicle but the RC was not transferred, challans will still come against your name. Complete the RC transfer via Parivahan immediately.
Need more help?
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