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How to Settle a Challan that Requires a Court Appearance?

Saumya SrivastavaNov 28, 2025

If you have a traffic challan that requires you to go to court, the process of settling can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be. You may be able to complete it by visiting the designated court or by completing the process online, depending on your location. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, you can use the UP challan check option or the eCourt Services portal.

Hence, this guide discusses how to settle court challans without any hassle and keep track of your payment status.

Contents

Step-by-Step Process to Settle Challan through Court Appearance
Steps to Settle Challan via Virtual Court
What Will Happen if the Challan is Not Paid Within 90 Days?
What are the Key Benefits of Traffic Challan Settlement through the Court?
Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions

Step-by-Step Process to Settle Challan through Court Appearance

Here is a detailed step-by-step process to follow to settle the challan by appearing at the court:
Step 1: Go to the court mentioned in your challan or in the SMS you received.

Step 2: Provide all relevant documents, including the vehicle registration (RC), driving license, a copy of the challan, and a valid ID proof.

Step 3: Find out the traffic magistrate’s court or the respective counter for making challan payments.

Step 4: Explain the situation you faced to the official and proceed to pay the fine through cash or other modes of payment.

Step 5: Get an acknowledgement receipt as a valid proof of payment.

Steps to Settle Challan via Virtual Court

Your unpaid e-challan is usually forwarded to India's Virtual Court system if not paid within 60 days of the violation. Follow the step-by-step process below for easy challan settlement through the court:

Step 1: Visit the online court challan portal and select the state where your vehicle is registered.

Step 2: Provide your contact number, vehicle number, and CNR number, along with the challan number, to find your pending challans.

Step 3: Enter the captcha provided and provide the OTP sent to your registered contact number for further verification.

Step 4: Click the ‘View’ option to view your challan details, including the fine amount.

Step 5: Mark the box stating “I wish to pay the proposed fine”. This is one of the crucial steps to follow for paying a virtual court challan.

Step 6: Once your provided details are verified, you will be redirected to the payment gateway for processing the transaction.

Step 7: Complete the fine payment via net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI after selecting your preferred mode of payment.

Step 8: After a successful transaction, you will receive a confirmation message, and a digital receipt will be issued immediately.

What Will Happen if the Challan is Not Paid Within 90 Days?

Failure to pay a court challan or a regular e-challan within 90 days automatically triggers an escalation to the court for any further action under Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Under this, the violator may receive a summons to appear before the magistrate, face additional fines, or risk having their license suspended.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, an unpaid challan is sent to the Online Court Challan Portal or other RTOs. On-time court challan payment avoids legal consequences.

What are the Key Benefits of Traffic Challan Settlement through the Court?

The key benefits of the court challan payment process through court include the following:
1. Reduced Fines and Settlements
Courts, such as Lok Adalats of the National Legal Services Authority, may reduce or waive fines for traffic violations in approved cases. In some instances, up to 75% of the fine is waived for specific traffic challans.

2. Faster Resolution of Cases
Judicial settlement forums assist in finalising the regular court payment procedure. This is quicker than the tedious open court proceedings.

3. Enforce compliance and Reduced Records
By resolving a violation through a court mechanism, you can have it settled more formally. This will also help you maintain a clean driving record and avoid repeated legal issues.

Whether it is an online court challan portal case or a regular court challan, ACKO helps streamline the court challan payment with just a few clicks. To avoid penalties and maintain a clean record, settle your challan with ACKO now!

Bottom Line

To prevent fines, license suspension, or legal difficulties, regular court challan payments are a must. The court challan payment process is accountable and transparent, whether done in person at the court or online via digital platforms such as Parivahan, eCourts, or ACKO. By settling immediately, it not only enforces traffic laws but also serves India's purpose of having a digital government.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay the court challan online?

Yes, most states provide online access to pay court challans through official portals or the traffic police website.

What are the consequences of ignoring a court challan?

Failing to appear in court for a court challan can result in suspension of your driving license, impoundment of your vehicle, and even arrest for serious violations.

How long does it usually take to settle a court challan?

The settlement time of a court challan usually depends on the court's schedule. If the case is straightforward, settlement can occur in a single hearing, while others may require a longer process.