Form 51, commonly known as the Vehicle Insurance Certificate, is an essential document issued by an authorised insurer for every insured motorised vehicle in India. It serves as official proof of insurance, which is a mandatory legal requirement under Indian motor vehicle laws. This certificate contains key details about the insurance policy and the specific vehicle it covers. Read on to know more about Form 51.
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Form 51 is an insurance certificate issued by the insurance company to the policyholder. As per Rule 141 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, insurers need to issue this certificate to every vehicle insurance policyholder. This certificate must be submitted in various situations, such as when transferring vehicle ownership or as part of the mandatory documents for vehicles operating under a national permit. It contains all the important vehicle and owner details, and is a mandatory document.
Form 51, or the Certificate of Insurance, is automatically issued by the insurer when you purchase or renew a motor insurance policy for your vehicle. You only need to submit the required paperwork when purchasing or renewing your insurance policy to receive this certificate.
You can easily download Form 51 from the Parivahan Sewa website using the steps given below:
It is important to recognise the difference between an insurance certificate (Form 51) and an insurance cover note (Form 52). Here are the differences between the two for your reference:
| Basis of Comparison | Form 51 | Form 52 |
| Name of the Form | Certificate of Insurance | Vehicle Insurance Cover Note |
| Description | A certificate issued by the insurer as proof of vehicle insurance coverage. | A temporary insurance certificate issued by the insurer before the actual policy documents are provided. |
| Validity | Valid till the date of expiry of the insurance policy. | Valid for 60 days from the date of issue. |
| Contents | Detailed information about the vehicle insurance policy. | Basic details about the vehicle insurance policy. |
Form 51 includes the following details:
Take a look at the pointers below to understand the importance of Form 51:
Form 51 is the format of the vehicle insurance certificate as prescribed by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Form 51 is provided by the insurance company that has issued a vehicle insurance policy in India. Various details about the policyholder, coverage provided, and the vehicle are mentioned on the certificate.
Form 51 must be carried by all vehicle insurance policyholders. It must be submitted when registering a new vehicle, transferring ownership, or transporting goods under a national permit across states.
Yes, having a valid insurance certificate under Form 51 is mandatory for all vehicles in India. Every vehicle is required to have at least third-party insurance as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Rule 141 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 prescribes the format of the Certificate of Insurance in Form 51.
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*Savings are based on the comparison between the highest and the lowest premium for own damage cover (excluding add-on covers) provided by different insurance companies for the same vehicle with the same IDV and same NCB. Actual time for transaction may vary subject to additional data requirements and operational processes.
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