Page 3 - The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989

INTRODUCTORY

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating
to motor vehicles. Section 12 of the Act empowers the Central Government to make rules
for the purpose of licensing and regulation of schools or establishments for imparting
instruction in driving of motor vehicles. Under section 27, the Central Government may
make rules regarding the matters enumerated in clauses (a) to (q) of that section. Section
64 of the Act provides that the Central Government may make rules with respect to the
items specified under clauses (a) to (p) of the said section. Under sub-section (14) of
section 88, the Central Government is empowered to make rules for carrying out the
provisions regarding validation of permits for use of motor vehicles outside the region
in which the permit is granted. Section 110 of the Act empowers the Central Government
to make rules regulating the construction, equipment and maintenance of motor vehicles
and trailers with respect to all or any of the matters specified in clauses (a) to (p) of
sub-section (1) of that section. Under section 137, the Central Government may make
rules to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely,—
(a) the occasions on which signals shall be made by drivers of motor vehicles
an such signals under section 121; and
(b) the manner in which the licences and certificates may be produced to the
police officer under section 130.
Chapter XI of the Act deals with insurance of motor vehicles against third party
risks, and the Central Government is empowered by section 164 to make rules in this
behalf. Under section 208, the Central Government may make rules regarding summary
disposal of cases under the Act.
Whereas the draft of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 was published as
required by sub-section (1) of Section 212 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988) in
the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, dated 31st January, 1989 with the
notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Surface Transport No. GSR
68(E), dated 31st January, 1989, inviting objections and suggestions from all persons
likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of 45 days from the date on which the
copies of the said notification, as published in Gazette of India are made available to the
public.
And whereas, copies of the notification were made available to the public on the
3rd March, 1989.
And, whereas the objections and suggestions received on the said draft rules have
been considered by the Central Government.
Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by Sections 12, 27, 64, sub-section (14)
of Section 88, Sections 110, 137, 164 and 208 read with Section 211 of the said Act, the
Central Government hereby makes the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 vide
Notification No. GSR 590(E), dated 2nd June, 1989, published in the Gazette of India
(Extra), Part II, Section 3(i) dated 2nd June, 1989 (No. 287).
These Rules have been amended by the CMV (Fourth Amdt.) Rules, 2023 vide GSR
337(E), dt. 28-4-2023, w.e.f. 1-5-2023. The comprehensive edition comprising the Central
Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, as amended along with the the Rent-a-Cab Scheme, 1989
(ss amended vide SO 3202(E), dt. 5-8-2021, w.e.f. 9-8-2021); the Overall Dimensions of
Motor Vehicles (Prescription of Conditions for Exemption) Rules, 1991; the Driving
Licence (Conditions for Exemption) Rules, 1992; the Specifications of Types of Vehicle