Sir,

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for all the running motor vehicles to obtain Fitness Certificate (FC)  from the  RTO, for the safety of the passengers.  If this statutory requirement laid down in the Motor Vehicles Act is violated,  the insurance companies can deny the claims.

Though MV Act stipulates that  FC is mandatory for renewal of insurance policy after 15 years, many of the insurance companies – especially the private players in the field deliberately and conveniently overlook this Act and issue insurance policy even without the FC.  Maybe a ploy by these companies to deny and avoid paying claims.

Many of the Government insurance companies intimate their clients about FC when the vehicle is due for insurance after 14 years. Since the entire data of the vehicle is available with the insurance company, they should inform their clients when the vehicle is 14-years-old about FC and should insist for FC, when the policy is renewed after 14th year. If no FC is produced, the insurance of the vehicle should not be renewed.

– K. Chandrahas, Mysuru, 24.5.2017