E-challan, or electronic traffic challan, is issued when you violate traffic rules and regulations through offences such as over-speeding, rash driving, unauthorised parking, drunk driving etc..

While traffic authorities in most cities issue online challans on the spot, e-challans are sent through SMS for offences caught on a speed gun or traffic surveillance cameras. Traffic e-challans are also sent to the physical address of the vehicle owner.

You have to make the online traffic challan payment within 60 days. Failing this, you will receive a notice to go to court to make the payment. If you fail to make the payment in court, your driving licence could be cancelled.

Yes, you can also make the payment at the nearest RTO office in your city or at any traffic police station.

You can pay your challan online through debit card, credit card, internet banking, Paytm, and UPI.

Yes, you will receive a traffic challan for not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler.

Traffic e-challans offer several benefits, such as:

• Faster and easier for vehicle owners to make e challan payments

• Saves time as you don’t have to visit the RTO to pay fines

• Ensures transparency as you can check why you have been issued a challan and the exact penalty

• You don’t have to worry about fake and duplicate traffic police challans 

• Ensures that the fine you pay goes directly to the government to eliminate corruption

• Easily track and monitor serial traffic offenders

You can check your traffic e-challan status online by going to www.echallan.parivahan.gov.in and submitting your e-challan number, vehicle number, or driving licence (DL) number.

Online Payment facility is available only for certain traffic violations. They are,

• Jumping red light

• driving without a seat belt

• driving two-wheeler without helmet

• using a mobile phone while driving

• disobeying traffic signals

• smoking while driving

• triple riding on two-wheelers

• use of sun film more than the specified limit

• driving on high beam in city limits

• overloading in school vans

• unauthorised use of red/blue beacon

• overloading auto-rickshaws and maxi cabs

Yes, it is possible to view e-challan online by heading straight to the official website, feeding in the requisite credentials, and eventually getting a view of all your pending challans.

You can check your e-challan transaction details in the following way:

• Go to the official Parivahan website (https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/)

• Click on ‘Check Online Services’ present in the top menu bar and select ‘Check Pending Transaction’ from the drop-down menu.

• You can input either the challan number or the vehicle number to proceed.

• Enter the correct captcha code and you shall be able to check the pending transaction details.

To avoid an e-challan, you must follow all traffic rules and regulations and carry the necessary documents with you while driving.

You can normally pay an e-Challan up to 15 days from the date of issuance.

You can plead for reduction of fine in Lok Adalat. 

A challan number is a unique number given to each traffic challan, which helps the traffic police keep track of all pending violations. You can use your challan number to pay off your e challan on the Parivahan website.

In case you have received a challan for a traffic violation you did not commit, you can contact your state’s traffic policy by sending them a detailed email regarding the wrongful challan.

While the setup is mostly accurate, you can always challenge the same by asking authorities to play the camera feed, if needed. However, the issues need to be taken up with the authorities if you want to cross-reference records.

Some of the more common violations include overtaking from the wrong direction, keeping to the wrong side while travelling, and violating traffic signals.

If you end up defaulting repeatedly on e-challan payments, the traffic department sends a constable offer and eventually summons you to the court for an impending clarification.

Yes, the penalty points also apply for a learner’s licence, so make sure you follow all traffic rules.

If you have a compatible third-party app on you, you can simply feed in the vehicle number, verify your identity by authenticating access via the OTP, and make the payment using any online method.

Once you pay for the e-challan, either via online or offline avenues, you immediately get a message on your registered mobile number.

No, you cannot be fined for the same offence more than once. However, you can be charged twice if you are found overspeeding in another state. 

Here are a few significant traffic violations that can earn you a challan

• Not carrying the necessary licence or permit documents while driving a vehicle

• Improper or dangerous driving

• Not following road markings

• Incorrect number plate display

• Not using vehicle lights properly

• Overtaking incorrectly

• Overspeeding

• Not obeying traffic signals

Yes, you can pay for it via the Parivahan website.