A used car that cannot buy fuel is not much use. From 1 October 2026, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate can be refused fuel across Delhi NCR, whether they run on petrol, diesel, CNG or LPG, as The Statesman reported. That changes what you should check before you buy, because a car's PUC status is now read by a camera at the pump. If you are shopping for used cars in Delhi, here is what the rule means for you.
How the Rule Works
Delhi first started denying fuel to vehicles without a valid PUC certificate on 18 December 2025, during last winter's pollution emergency. This year the rule has been tightened and extended. In Delhi, all 500 fuel stations are equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Across NCR, ANPR cameras are going into 1,041 fuel stations, covering eight Uttar Pradesh districts including Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, as well as districts in Haryana and Rajasthan.
The camera reads the number plate and checks the car's PUC status before it is refuelled. If the certificate has expired, the car can be turned away. Driving without a valid PUC certificate can also bring a fine of ₹10,000 under existing rules.
Why This Matters for a Used Car
A PUC certificate is linked to the vehicle, not the owner. When you buy a used car, you inherit its PUC status. If the certificate runs out a week after you take delivery, you will need a fresh test before you can fill up. That is easy if the car is healthy. It is a real problem if the car cannot pass.
There is also an age cut-off. Delhi does not issue PUC certificates to petrol vehicles over 15 years old or diesel vehicles over 10 years old. Those cars are already past their legal life in Delhi, and now they cannot buy fuel at Delhi stations either. Our guide to the 10-year diesel and 15-year petrol rule explains the age limits in full.
Step 1: Check the PUC Validity Online
Before you visit, look up the car's registration details using Hooter's RC details check or the Vahan service on Parivahan, and note the PUC validity date. Ask the seller for the current certificate too. A recent certificate is a good sign. One that expired months ago, on a car the seller says is in daily use, is a question worth asking.
Step 2: Make a Fresh Test Part of the Deal
The simplest protection is to ask the seller to get a fresh PUC test before the sale, or to visit a PUC centre together during your inspection. Delhi has more than 730 authorised PUC centres, so there will be one nearby. The test takes a few minutes and costs little. A pass tells you the engine burns cleanly today. A fail tells you something is wrong before you have paid for it.
Step 3: Watch for Signs a Car May Fail
Look and listen on the test drive. Blue smoke points to an engine burning oil. Black smoke from a petrol car suggests it is running rich, and from a diesel it can mean injector or turbo trouble. A check-engine light, a strong fuel smell or rough idling are all reasons for caution. On a newer diesel, ask whether the diesel particulate filter (DPF) or catalytic converter has ever been removed. Removing them can make a car fail the test and is not legal on a road car.
Our inspection checklist for second hand cars in Delhi covers everything else to look at.
CNG Cars and Winter Add Two More Checks
CNG cars need a valid PUC certificate as well. They also need a current hydro-test certificate for the gas cylinder, which IGL stations now check before refuelling. Read our used CNG car checks before you buy one.
Winter also brings GRAP restrictions on older vehicles. Under Stage III, a BS-IV diesel car can be kept off the road even with a valid PUC certificate. Read what GRAP rules mean for BS-IV cars before you choose one, and our winter car care tips for Delhi NCR once you own it.
Clear the Challans Before You Pay
Fines follow the registration number, not the owner. Before you pay, run a challan check on the car. Any unpaid fines, including one for driving without a PUC certificate, should be cleared by the seller before the ownership transfer, because pending challans can hold up the paperwork.
A PUC Checklist for Used Car Buyers
Check the PUC validity date online and on the certificate. Ask for a fresh test before the sale. Watch for smoke, a check-engine light or rough idling. On a newer diesel, ask about the DPF and catalytic converter. Confirm the car is within Delhi's age limit. Run a challan check and get any fines cleared.
When you have a shortlist, compare verified used cars in Delhi NCR and ask each seller for a current PUC certificate before you visit. While you are checking the papers, also check the kilometres: our guide to spotting odometer fraud shows how.
Get the Hooter app for daily updates: Download the Hooter app to browse verified listings, track price changes and shortlist cars before you visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the No PUC, No Fuel rule?
Vehicles without a valid PUC certificate can be refused fuel. It began in Delhi in December 2025 and was extended across Delhi NCR from 1 October 2026.
How do fuel stations know a car's PUC status?
ANPR cameras read the number plate and check the PUC status before refuelling. All 500 fuel stations in Delhi have them, and 1,041 stations across NCR are getting them.
What is the fine for driving without a PUC certificate?
₹10,000 under existing rules. Without a valid certificate, fuel stations in Delhi NCR can also refuse to refuel the car.
Does a used car's PUC certificate carry over to the new owner?
Yes. The certificate is linked to the vehicle, so it stays valid until its expiry date. After that, the new owner must get the car tested.
Can a 15-year-old petrol car get a PUC certificate in Delhi?
No. Delhi does not issue PUC certificates to petrol vehicles over 15 years old or diesel vehicles over 10 years old.