My e-way bill expired while the truck was still on the road. What can I do?

If the goods are still in transit, the validity can be extended on the e-way bill portal under Rule 138(10) of the CGST Rules. The extension is made by the person in charge of the conveyance (usually the transporter) by choosing the extend option and giving the reason for the delay, the current place and the vehicle details. It is meant to be done within the window around expiry allowed by the rule, which is generally eight hours before to eight hours after the expiry time.

If that window has passed, do not simply continue the journey. An expired e-way bill can attract penalty if the goods are inspected, so check the position on the portal and take advice from your CA or the jurisdictional tax office on how to proceed.

To avoid this, plan the validity for the actual distance and update vehicle details whenever the vehicle changes.