LMV Licence Holder Can Drive Light Goods Vehicle Up To 7,500 Kg Without Transport Endorsement: Gujarat HC

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Published 31 October 2026

Case: Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Induben
Court: High Court of Gujarat
Bench: Justice Gita Gopi
Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Guj) 142
Decided: 25 April 2024
Statutes: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — s.3, s.10
Source: Verdictum

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

In Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Induben, the Gujarat High Court (Justice Gita Gopi) on 2024-04-25 dismissed an insurer's appeal, holding that a driver with a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence can drive a Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) not exceeding 7,500 kg without a specific transport endorsement, deeming the licence valid under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established

A driver holding a licence for a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) is authorized to drive a Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kg, even without a specific 'transport' endorsement on their licence, provided the licence is otherwise valid and effective.

Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates

Advocates representing insurers in motor accident claims should note that a standard LMV licence is sufficient for driving LGVs up to 7,500 kg, limiting grounds for repudiation based on licence validity. Litigants claiming compensation should ensure the driver's LMV licence was valid at the time of the accident, irrespective of a transport endorsement for LGVs within the specified weight limit.

Key Legal Takeaways

1An LMV licence is valid for driving Light Goods Vehicles up to 7,500 kg.
2No separate 'transport' endorsement is required for LGVs within the 7,500 kg weight limit if the driver holds an LMV licence.
3Insurers cannot repudiate claims solely on the absence of a transport endorsement for LGVs if an LMV licence is held.

The Legal Issue Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. challenged a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) award of ₹9.48 lakh, arguing that the driver of the offending vehicle, a Light Goods Vehicle (LGV), did not possess a valid driving licence. The insurer contended that while the driver held a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence, it lacked the specific 'transport' endorsement required for driving a commercial goods vehicle. This raised the question of whether an LMV licence, without a transport endorsement, is sufficient to drive an LGV not exceeding 7,500 kg.

Court's Reasoning The Gujarat High Court, through Justice Gita Gopi, dismissed the insurer's appeal. The Court referred to Sections 2(21), 2(44), 3, and 10 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It observed that Section 2(21) defines 'Light Motor Vehicle' to include a transport vehicle or omnibus the gross vehicle weight of which does not exceed 7,500 kg. Section 2(44) defines 'transport vehicle'. The Court reasoned that if a vehicle falls within the definition of an LMV, a licence issued for an LMV is sufficient to drive it, irrespective of whether it is used for transport purposes, as long as its gross vehicle weight does not exceed 7,500 kg. The Court found that the driver held a valid and effective licence for an LMV on the date of the accident, which covered the LGV in question.

What Follows The Gujarat High Court upheld the MACT's award of ₹9.48 lakh along with 7.5% interest. The insurer, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., is directed to pay the awarded compensation to the claimants. The decision clarifies that an LMV licence is adequate for driving Light Goods Vehicles up to 7,500 kg, thereby limiting the grounds for insurers to deny claims based on the absence of a specific transport endorsement for such vehicles.