#unregistered vehicle

Delhi State Consumer Commission rules that insurers cannot repudiate theft claims for unregistered vehicles if the policy contains no explicit exclusion and the vehicle was not being driven at the time of theft. The ruling clarifies that statutory compliance under Section 39 MV Act is not a blanket bar to insurance coverage, impacting policyholders and insurers alike.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court held that liability for accidents involving an unregistered, undelivered vehicle rests with the entity exercising actual control over it, not the buyer awaiting delivery. This ruling expands accountability for manufacturers and dealers who retain possession, and justifies enhanced compensation of ₹6.25 lakh based on the victim’s 70% permanent functional impairment.