With the increasing number of vehicles on Tamil Nadu’s roads, ensuring road safety and traffic compliance has become more important than ever. To reduce violations and promote responsible driving, the state follows the updated Motor Vehicles Act, with stricter fines for repeat violations in the Tamil Nadu challan list.
To further improve its traffic rules compliance, Tamil Nadu has opted for E-Challans. This introduction of the e-Challan system has also made it easier for citizens to check and pay fines online.
List of Traffic Challans in Tamil Nadu
Here’s the updated motor vehicle fine list with fines for first and second-time violations.
| Offence | Penalty 1st Time (Rs.) | Subsequent Penalty (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Under the Influence | 10,000 or 6 months imprisonment | 15,000 or 2 years in prison |
| Use of a mobile phone while driving | 1,000 | 10,000 |
| Illegal automobile races | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Misuse of horns | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Driving Without Insurance | 2,000 and/or 3 months imprisonment | 4,000 |
| Reckless Driving | 1,000 to 5,000, license suspension, and/or 6 months to 1 year prison | 10,000, license suspension, and up to 2 years in prison |
| Overspeeding | 1,000 (LMV), 2,000 (MMV) | 2,000 (LMV), 4,000 (MMV) |
| Driving without a valid driving licence | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Jumping a red light | 1,000 | 5,000, license suspension, and/or 6 months to 1 year imprisonment |
| Helmet not worn | 1,000, license suspension | 1,000, license suspension |
| Overloading a two-wheeler (extra pillion) | 2,000, license disqualification | 2,000, license disqualification, and/or 3 months of community service |
| Wrong-side driving | 5,000 | 10,000, potential license cancellations |
| Disqualified or suspended license usage | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Driving an unregistered vehicle | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Obstructing an emergency vehicle | 10,000 | 10,000, imprisonment |
| Overloading a goods vehicle | 20,000, ₹2,000 per extra ton | Higher penalty |
| Driving without a vehicle registration certificate (RC) | 5,000 | 10,000 |
Top 5 Common Traffic Violations in Tamil Nadu
In the first quarter of 2025, Tamil Nadu had a total of 38 lakh traffic violations, and while all Tamil Nadu challan lists are immense, here are 5 of the most common violations by motorists in this southern state of India:
1. Helmet Non-Compliance
Many two-wheeler riders in Tamil Nadu still skip wearing helmets, often thinking short trips or low speeds don’t need protection. But accidents can happen anywhere, and a helmet is often the only thing between life and death.
2. Using a Mobile Phone While Driving
Checking messages or taking a quick call while driving might seem harmless, but even a second’s distraction can lead to a crash. Despite increasing awareness, mobile phone usage while driving continues to be a major problem, especially in cities like Chennai and Coimbatore.
3. Jumping Red Lights
Impatience at signals is a common sight, and many drivers think they can “just slip through.” But running a red light endangers everyone at the intersection. These violations often lead to T-bone collisions, and that’s why traffic police and cameras are now keeping a closer watch and taking stricter action against rule breakers.
4. Overspeeding
Speeding increases the chance of serious injuries in accidents as the reaction time reduces and the control of the vehicle lessens.
5. Drunk Driving
DUI cases happen as people risk driving under the influence, especially on weekends and late nights.
Alcohol clouds your judgment, making you a danger to yourself and others. That’s why drunk driving remains one of the most serious and heavily penalised offences.
| Offence | Q1 2025 | % of Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Not wearing a helmet | 16.56 lakh | 43.58% |
| Mobile phone use while driving | 1.13 lakh | 2.97% |
| Jumping a red signal | 83,783 | 2.20% |
| Overspeeding | 62,523 | 1.65% |
| Drunk driving | 59,084 | 1.55% |
Note: To check any pending fines, simply enter your vehicle number on the Tamil Nadu e Challan portal and view the details instantly.
Comparing deaths or road accidents in 2024 to 2023
When we compare the data from 2023 to 2024, a small decrease in the number of road accidents, fatal accidents, and accident-related deaths can be seen, likely a sign that stricter enforcement and the e-challan system are starting to work and make an improvement.
| Offence | 2023 Cases | 2024 Cases | Decrease in Number of Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road accident deaths | 18,347 | 18,074 | 273 |
Number of fatalities in 2024 and 2025 for the first 3 months.
| Year | No. of Fatalities |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,864 |
| 2025 | 4,136 |
How to check and pay a challan in Tamil Nadu Online?
You can quickly check and pay Challan penalties in Tamil Nadu via Park+ and Parivahan portals. Further, you should always check if the penalty issued is true when compared with the Tamil Nadu challan list with price.
Park+
Park+ offers a user-friendly interface to quickly check and pay traffic challans:
Go to the Park+.
Navigate to the "Challan" section.
Enter your vehicle registration number in the designated field.
Tap “Check Challan Status” or “Challan Details.”
It will fetch and show all pending challans associated with your vehicle.
Select the challan you want to pay and click “Pay Now.
Choose your payment method (credit/debit card, net banking, UPI).
Complete payment and save or download the transaction receipt.
Also Read:- How to Pay traffic challan in court
Parivahan Portal
You can also check and pay via the official central and state tools, like Parivahan website. Alternatively, you can even check and pay the challan through mparivahan (a mobile app).
Visit the Parivahan e‑Challan portal at
echallan.parivahan.gov.inNavigate to “Online Services”> “e‑Challan” and click “Pay Challan” or “Get e‑Challan Details.”
Enter either your vehicle number, driving licence number, or challan number, complete the captcha, and click "Get Details."
The portal displays all challans issued to your vehicle, along with the date, violation, and fine.
Choose the challan(s) you want to pay and click “Pay Now.”
Select your preferred payment option—UPI, net banking, credit, or debit card.
After payment, you’ll get a transaction ID and can download a digital receipt for your records.
Alternatively, through the Tamil Nadu Traffic Police website:
Go to Citizen Services (Paid) → E‑Payment for Traffic Challans. You will be redirected to Parivahan, where you can follow the same steps above.
Note: You can also check vehicle owner details in Tamil Nadu through the mparivahan portal.
Also Read:- Bad Driving Tips
Basic road rules to be followed in Tamil Nadu
Here are some important and basic rules that everyone should follow to avoid Challan Penalties in Tamil Nadu:
Wear a helmet or seatbelt: Mandatory for all riders and drivers.
Follow traffic signals and signs: Never jump red lights or ignore road signs.
Don’t use mobile phones while driving: Distraction leads to accidents and fines.
Stick to speed limits: Avoid overspeeding, especially in city zones.
Never drink and drive: It’s dangerous and strictly punishable.
Carry valid documents: Always carry your driver's license, RC, insurance, and Pollution under control (PUC) certificates.
Don’t overload vehicles: Carrying extra passengers or goods is unsafe and illegal.
Avoid unnecessary honking: Honk only when necessary, especially in quiet zones.
Maintain lane discipline: Drive in your lane and use indicators.
Give way to emergency vehicles: Let ambulances and fire trucks pass by on priority.
Note: To find your nearest RTO, visit the Tamil Nadu RTO details page.
Conclusion
Following traffic rules helps keep everyone safe and also makes transportation efficient. With the updated Tamil Nadu Traffic Challan list, it's important to understand the e-challan system not just to avoid unnecessary trouble, but also to easily check and pay your e-Challan online.