Last updated: September 2026 – steps checked against the current eChallan Parivahan and Virtual Courts portals.
If you break a traffic rule, such as jumping a red light, overspeeding or riding without a helmet, you may receive an e-challan. It can be issued on the spot by a traffic police officer with a handheld device or automatically by a traffic camera. The good news is that you can check every pending challan on your car or bike online in a few minutes, using your vehicle number, challan number or driving licence number, and pay it from home.
This guide covers how to check e-challan status by vehicle number, how to pay it, what to do if your challan has been sent to a virtual court, and how to dispute a wrong challan.
E-Challan at a Glance
| Official portal | https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in |
| Run by | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (built by NIC) |
| Search by | Challan number, vehicle number or DL number |
| Payment modes | UPI, debit/credit card, net banking |
| Usual payment window | About 60 days, after which the challan may be sent to court |
| Court challans | https://vcourts.gov.in (Virtual Courts) |
What Is an E-Challan?
An e-challan is an electronic traffic fine issued under the Motor Vehicles Act. Instead of a paper receipt, the violation is recorded in a central national database and linked to your vehicle’s registration number and, where applicable, your driving licence. An SMS is usually sent to the mobile number registered with the vehicle’s RC, but messages can be delayed or go to an old number, so it is a good idea to check online yourself from time to time.
How To Check E-Challan Status Online
What You Need for Each Search Option
| Search by | What to enter | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle number | Registration number plus the last 5 digits of the chassis or engine number | Seeing every challan on your car or bike, or checking a used vehicle before buying |
| Challan number | The challan number from your SMS or paper challan | Checking or paying one specific challan |
| DL number | Your driving licence number | Seeing challans issued against you as a driver, on any vehicle |
Where to find the chassis number: it is printed on your RC and is also shown in the mParivahan app and DigiLocker. See our guide on vehicle chassis number search.
How To Pay an E-Challan Online
After checking your challans, click Pay Now next to the pending challan. You will verify with an OTP sent to the mobile number linked to the vehicle; if that number is no longer yours, the portal may let you verify with the chassis and engine number instead. Then pay by UPI, card or net banking and download the receipt. Keep the receipt until the status changes to “Paid”, which can take a day or two. For detailed steps, see our guide on how to pay e-challan online.
Challan Status Shows “Sent to Court”?
If a challan is not paid within the payment window (usually about 60 days), it can be forwarded to a court. Once that happens, you can no longer pay it on the normal eChallan portal. You have two options:
What To Do If You Got a Wrong E-Challan
Mistakes happen, for example when a camera misreads a number plate. First, open the challan and check the photo, date, time and place. If it is not your vehicle or you were not at fault, raise a grievance through the eChallan portal or contact the traffic police of the city that issued it, with proof such as your RC, a photo of your number plate or evidence of where the vehicle was. If the challan has already gone to court, you can contest it through the virtual court. Do not ignore a wrong challan, because it stays linked to your vehicle until it is cancelled.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
Pending challans stay attached to the vehicle’s registration number. Besides court action, they can hold up RTO services such as RC renewal, ownership transfer, a NOC for moving the vehicle to another state, and fitness certificate renewal. Clearing them early saves time and extra trouble later.
Buying a Used Vehicle? Check Its Challans First
Challans stay with the vehicle, not the seller, so old fines can become your problem after you buy. Before paying for a second-hand car or bike, search its number on the eChallan portal and ask the seller to clear any pending challans. Also check the vehicle owner details and RC status.
State and City Challan Portals
Most states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Gujarat, use the national eChallan Parivahan system, so the steps above work for them. Some states and cities also run their own traffic police challan websites. Maharashtra, for example, has its own portal; see our guide on Maharashtra vehicle challan. To avoid challans altogether, know the current traffic fines and traffic rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check a challan without the challan number?
Yes. Search by your vehicle number (with the last 5 digits of the chassis or engine number) or by your DL number to see all pending challans.
How long do I have to pay an e-challan?
Usually about 60 days from the date of issue. After that, the challan may be sent to a virtual court, where you have to pay or contest it through the court process.
How long does it take for a challan to show online?
Challans issued on the spot usually appear quickly. Camera challans can take a few days to a couple of weeks to be processed and show up online.
Is the challan amount fixed?
The fine depends on the offence and is set under the Motor Vehicles Act, though some states set their own amounts for certain offences. The exact amount is shown on each challan.
My payment went through but the challan still shows pending. What should I do?
Wait a day or two for the status to update and keep your receipt. If it still shows pending, raise a grievance on the eChallan portal with the challan number and payment reference.