Punjab Extends Vehicle Fitness Certificate Deadline to December 31
Punjab has moved the vehicle fitness certificate deadline to December 31, 2026, the second extension in less than a week.
Vehicle owners in Punjab now have more time to get their fitness certificates. The Punjab Provincial Transport Authority (PPTA) has moved the deadline to December 31, 2026, in a decision reported on Tuesday, October 13. This is the second time the date has been pushed back in less than a week.
The first deadline was October 15. On October 9, the authority shifted it to November 15. Now, only a few days later, owners have until the end of the year. After December 31, the authorities may take action against vehicles found on the road without a valid certificate.
Why the deadline moved again
The main reason is the rush at testing centres. Long queues built up at inspection points, especially in Lahore, as motorists tried to finish the process before the October date. The new extension is meant to ease this pressure and reduce crowding.
The PPTA has also said it will open more inspection centres across the province. At present, about 20 Punjab Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (PVICS) centres are working in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Sadiqabad, according to media reports. A Transport Department list dated October 8 showed 25 licensed testing workshops, most of them in Lahore. Emission testing points have been told to stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Which cars are exempt
Not every car needs a certificate right now. Under a PPTA notification, new motor cars are exempt for a fixed number of years from the date they were made. The rule was added to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, through a new Fifteenth Schedule.
A car with an engine of up to 1,000cc is exempt for five years. A car between 1,001cc and 2,000cc is exempt for six years. A car above 2,000cc is exempt for seven years. Once a car passes its exemption period, the owner must get it tested and certified.
So a 660cc car made in 2023 does not need a certificate until 2028. But a 1,300cc car made in 2019 has already passed its six year exemption, which means its owner should get the certificate before December 31. The notification also lists a validity period of one year alongside the exemption details.
Fees and how to get the certificate
The test fee depends on the type of vehicle and its engine size. The rates for cars were notified by the PPTA on December 30, 2025, using the Environment Protection Agency's fee schedule.
Vehicle | Test fee |
|---|---|
Motorcycle | Rs100 |
Rickshaw | Rs300 |
Car or light vehicle up to 1,000cc | Rs500 |
1,001cc to 1,500cc | Rs800 |
1,501cc to 2,500cc | Rs1,000 |
2,501cc to 4,500cc | Rs1,500 |
Above 4,500cc | Rs2,000 |
To get a certificate, owners should take their vehicle to a licensed PVICS centre. The vehicle is checked for safety, roadworthiness and smoke emissions. Some reports say centre operators also ask for proof of paid token tax, so it is better to clear it before going. If a vehicle fails, the owner will need to get it repaired and bring it back for another test.
The latest list of centres is on the Punjab Transport Department website, transport.punjab.gov.pk. Owners should pay only at a licensed centre and should not trust agents who offer a certificate without a proper test.
What happens after December 31
The authority has not yet announced special fines for this drive. However, the Punjab traffic police list of offences already includes driving without a fitness certificate. Fines on that list are reported at Rs2,000 for a motorcycle and Rs10,000 for a car above 2,000cc.
The fitness drive is part of Punjab's wider effort to control vehicle smoke, a major cause of the smog that covers Lahore and other cities every winter. In January 2025, the provincial government had already ordered all government vehicles, including police vans and official cars, to get fitness certificates.
With two extensions already given, many motorists may hope for a third. Officials have not said there will be one. Owners whose cars need a certificate should use the extra weeks now, before the rush returns in late December.