Check No Fault Accident Insurance for Pakistan's National Highways and Motorways
The motorway law requires no fault accident cover on national highways. See what section 41 says, the printed Rs 1,000 fine and what to ask your insurer.
Section 41 of the National Highways Safety Ordinance 2000 says no vehicle may be driven on a national highway unless it is covered by "No Fault Accident Compensation" insurance from a registered insurance company. A claimant need not prove who was at fault. As printed, driving without the cover carries a Rs 1,000 fine. We could not find where NHMP issues a certificate, so ask your insurer first.
Most car owners know third-party insurance and comprehensive insurance. Few have heard of "no fault" cover, even though the motorway law names it. We opened the ordinance text on the NHMP website on 15 October 2026 and read the section. This page explains what it says, what we could not confirm, and the questions to put to your insurer before a long drive.
The ordinance requires no fault cover for any vehicle on a national highway
Section 41(1) says no owner shall use, and no driver shall drive, a road vehicle on a national highway unless it is covered by an insurance of "No Fault Accident Compensation" by a registered insurance company. The rule applies to owners and drivers alike, and to every road vehicle.
The text gives one exemption. It does not apply to a vehicle covered by the Pakistan Transporters Mutual Assistance Co-operative Society, the Pakistan Automobile Association, or another road transport co-operative society recognised by the prescribed authority. Section 64 lets the government set terms for societies to give that exemption to their members.
The wording is short, and it leaves out the amount of cover and the form of the certificate. Those details are meant to come from rules.
A claimant does not have to prove who was at fault
Section 41(2) says a person claiming under this section is not required to plead and establish that a death or permanent disablement came from the fault of the owner or driver. In plain words, the point of no fault cover is that compensation does not wait for a court to decide who caused the crash.
The text speaks of death and permanent disablement. It does not mention smaller injuries or damage to a vehicle. Ordinary damage claims still follow your own policy, as shown in how to claim car insurance in Pakistan.
The section does not state a payment amount. We could not find an amount on the NHMP pages we opened, so we give none.
| Point | What the ordinance text says |
|---|---|
| Who must have it | Owner and driver of any road vehicle on a national highway |
| Who provides it | A registered insurance company |
| Fault | Claimant need not prove fault for death or permanent disablement |
| Exemption | Recognised transport co-operative societies, such as the Pakistan Automobile Association |
| Printed fine | Rs 1,000 for driving without the cover |
The ordinance prints a Rs 1,000 fine for driving without it
The Twelfth Schedule lists "driving a motor vehicle without a certificate of no fault insurance coverage" with a standard fine of Rs 1,000. That figure is from the gazette of 2000 and may have been amended. Section 81 also lets a uniformed officer arrest without a warrant a driver of a transport vehicle who has no valid certificate of insurance.
The first fine applies to every vehicle. The arrest power in section 81 names transport vehicles, such as trucks and buses, so a private car owner faces the fine more than the arrest. Neither is a reason to skip the cover.
We found no later schedule on the NHMP traffic rules page, so check a live challan for the current figure with the NHMP motorway challan check.
We could not find where NHMP issues a certificate
The ordinance speaks of a certificate, but the NHMP pages we opened do not say where to get one, what it costs or which insurers sell it. That gap is the main practical problem. A driver cannot show a paper that no office hands out.
Do not pay a stranger who offers a "motorway certificate". Ask your insurer in writing whether your motor policy includes no fault accident compensation, and ask for the policy wording that says so. If it does not, ask what it would cost to add.
The motor insurance basics are in the car insurance guide, and for riders motorcycle insurance covers third-party and comprehensive policies.
Questions to ask your insurer before a motorway trip
Insurers use their own words, so ask in plain terms. You want to know whether the policy pays the people in and around your vehicle after a crash, without waiting for a finding of fault. Keep the answer in writing, and keep the policy in the car.
- Confirm the insurer is licensed. Use the SECP check for insurance companies and brokers.
- Ask if your motor policy includes "no fault accident compensation" under the National Highways Safety Ordinance.
- Ask what amount is paid for death and for permanent disablement.
- Ask for a certificate or a policy page that shows the cover, and keep a copy in the car.
- Ask how to claim, and what documents are needed, including the accident report.
- Check the policy dates, so the cover is valid on the day you travel.
If a crash does happen, the ordinance expects a report to the nearest patrol post within 24 hours, and your insurer will ask for a copy of it.
Common questions about no fault accident insurance
What is no fault accident insurance in Pakistan?
It is cover that pays compensation for death or permanent disablement without the claimant proving fault. The National Highways Safety Ordinance 2000 requires it on national highways.
Is it the same as third-party insurance?
Not exactly. Third-party cover pays others for harm you cause. The ordinance's no fault cover does not depend on proving who caused the crash.
What is the fine for not having it?
The Twelfth Schedule prints Rs 1,000 in the 2000 text. It may have been amended, so check a current challan.
Who is exempt?
Vehicles covered by recognised transport co-operative societies, such as the Pakistan Automobile Association, per section 41.
Where can I get the certificate?
We could not find an NHMP page that says. Ask your insurer in writing if your motor policy includes it.
Does it cover damage to my own car?
The text mentions death and permanent disablement only. Damage to your car follows your own motor policy.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 15 October 2026. Section 41, the exemption, section 81 and the Twelfth Schedule fine come from the National Highways Safety Ordinance 2000 as published on the NHMP traffic rules page, which we opened on that date. The file is a scanned gazette, so check the original. We found no cover amount, no certificate form and no later fine schedule. We did not contact any insurer. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
