MVA Section 145: Definitions
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 11: INSURANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS
¶145. Definitions.—In this Chapter,—
(a) “authorised insurer” means an insurer for the time being carrying on general insurance business in India and granted a certificate of registration by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India established under section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999) and any Government insurance fund authorised to do general insurance business under the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (57 of 1972);
(b) “certificate of insurance” means a certificate issued by an authorised insurer in pursuance of section 147 and includes a cover note complying with such requirements as may be prescribed, and where more than one certificate has been issued in connection with a policy, or where a copy of a certificate has been issued, all those certificates or that copy, as the case may be;
(c) “grievous hurt” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);
(d) “hit and run motor accident” means an accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle or motor vehicles the identity whereof cannot be ascertained in spite of reasonable efforts for the purpose;
(e) “Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority” means the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999);
(f) “policy of insurance” includes certificate of insurance;
(g) “property” includes roads, bridges, culverts, causeways, trees, posts, milestones and baggage of passengers and goods carried in any motor vehicle;
(h) “reciprocating country” means any such country as may on the basis of reciprocity be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette to be a reciprocating country for the purposes of this Act;
(i) “third party” includes the Government, the driver and any other co-worker on a transport vehicle.
Study: explanations and related material
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — edition as on 15 August 2026 — source review: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-08-15.Banaka reference transcription, not an official or certified edition. General central text: regional amendment blocks are not consolidated. This edition includes Jan Vishwas 2026 changes effective 15 August 2026. Amendment brackets are retained; footnotes and superscript reference numerals are excluded. Consult the complete government PDF for schedules, amendment notes and authoritative wording. State rules and notifications may differ. Hindi guides are original explanations, not a statutory translation.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 146. Necessity for insurance against third party risks
- 147. Requirements of policies and limits of liability
- 148. Validity of policies of insurance issued in reciprocating countries
- 149. Settlement by insurance company and procedure therefor
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks
- 151. Rights of third party against insurers on insolvency of insured
- 152. Duty to give information as to insurance
- 153. Settlement between insurers and insured persons
- 154. Saving in respect of sections 151, 152 and 153
- 155. Effect of death on certain causes of action
- 156. Effect of certificate of insurance
- 157. Transfer of certificate of insurance
- 158. Production of certain certificates, licence and permit in certain cases
- 159. Information to be given regarding accident
- 160. Duty to furnish particulars of vehicle involved in accident
- 161. Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident
- 162. Scheme for golden hour
- 163. Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161
- 164. Payment of compensation in case of death or grevious hurt, etc
- 164A. Scheme for interim relief for claimants
- 164B. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund
- 164C. Power of Central Government to make rules
- 164D. Power of State Government to make rules