Things to Know About Your Vehicle’s Number Plate
A vehicle’s number plate is an essential part of registration and identification, containing key details like state code, district code, and a unique registration number. The number plate serves as a legal requirement and helps in tracking and identifying vehicles.
Vehicle number plates are metal plates with the registration number stamped on them that we see on the front and back of automobiles. All motorised vehicles must be registered with the registering authorities and have their registration number plates installed on them, per the requirements of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.
In India, it is against the law to drive an unregistered vehicle in a public area. Four key components make up a number plate, which contains extremely particular information about a vehicle. It offers every car a distinct personality.
Elements of a Number Plate:
The vehicle registration plate contains the following four parts:
- Part 01: The code of the state or union territory where the vehicle is registered is indicated by the first two letters on the registration plate. For example, a car registered in Maharashtra begins with MH, a car registered in Karnataka begins with KA, and so forth. Since the 1980s, the two most significant alphabets of the state's name have been used on car licence plates.
Below are the State and Union Territory codes for the registration of vehicles in India:
State or Union Territory | Code | State or Union Territory | Code |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands | AN | Lakshadweep | LD |
Andhra Pradesh | AP | Maharashtra | MH |
Arunachal Pradesh | AR | Meghalaya | ML |
Assam | AS | Manipur | MN |
Bihar | BR | Madhya Pradesh | MP |
Chhattisgarh | CG | Mizoram | MZ |
Chandigarh | CH | Nagaland | NL |
Daman and Diu | DD | Odisha | OD |
Delhi | DL | Punjab | PB |
Dadra and Nagar Haveli | DN | Puducherry | PY |
Goa | GA | Rajasthan | RJ |
Gujarat | GJ | Sikkim | SK |
Haryana | HR | Tamil Nadu | TN |
Himachal Pradesh | HP | Tripura | TR |
Jharkhand | JH | Telangana | TS |
Jammu and Kashmir | JK | Uttarakhand | UK |
Karnataka | KA | Uttar Pradesh | UP |
Kerala | KL | West Bengal | WB |
Part 02: After the state or UT code, the next two digits in the vehicle number plate represent the district in which a vehicle is registered. There is an RTO (Regional Transport Office) designated for each district that deals with issuing driving licenses, vehicle registration numbers, and other vehicle related issues.
Part 03: The vehicle's unique registration number is the third crucial component of a number plate. Every 4-digit registration number is assigned a number between 0001 and 9999. The final digits are changed to letters and the same range of numbers is utilised again if the numbers in the series are not available. Owners of vehicles can also purchase a fancy or customised registration number for a higher cost.
Part 04: The 'IND' oval logo, an acronym for India, is the fourth component of a registration plate. The oval logo, which appears on HSRPs (High Security Number Plates), features a "chakra" chromium logo. In an effort to reduce car theft cases, tamper-proof registration number plates were initially adopted in 2005.
Registration Details on Vehicle Number Plates:
When someone buys a new vehicle, the vehicle dealer issues a TR label that refers to 'To Register'. The label comes with a temporary registration number which stands valid for a month.
The owner of the vehicle must visit the local RTO within this period and register their vehicles by submitting all the required documents and completing the related procedure. Post vehicle inspection and document verification, the RTO issues a unique vehicle registration number to the vehicle.
Vehicle Registration Process in India:
A new non-commercial or private vehicle in India can be registered by submitting an application using CMV Form No. 20 to the registering authority. The car owner must submit the application together with the vehicle's roadworthiness certificate, sales certificate, printout of the chassis number, and any other required paperwork. To finish the registration process, they also need to pay the registration charge and the one-time road tax.
The list of required documents is as follows:
- Application in CMV Form 20 (Additional photocopy required in case of vehicle hypothecation)
- Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
- Vehicle Road-worthiness certificate
- Form 22 issued by the vehicle manufacturer
- Certificate of sales in Form 21
- Vehicle Insurance Document
- Address proof of the applicant (one of the following):
- Aadhar Card
- LIC Policy
- PAN Card
- Ration Card
- Voter ID Card
- Affidavit by the vehicle owner attested by a Notary, an executive, or Class I Judicial Magistrate.
8. Temporary Registration Certificate (For temporarily registered vehicles)
9. Passport sized photos (3 Copies)
10. Lifetime tax to be paid for private/non-commercial vehicle
Registration of Fancy Vehicle Number Plates
In order to make their cars stand out from the crowd, many car owners these days choose to install exotic number plates. Certain registration numbers, such as 0786, 1111, 9999, and others, are highly sought for, and some individuals are willing to pay a little more for them. Nevertheless, as fancy numbers are reserved by the state transportation authority and are allocated through a different bidding procedure, they cannot be obtained through the standard vehicle registration procedure. The reason for this is that a given number may be applied for by more than one application, yet a single number cannot be assigned to more than one person.
Since numbers fewer than 100 are typically assigned to registered government vehicles, a single number, such 1 or 7, is not available. The VIP/fancy numbers are awarded through auctions held by RTOs in different states, with a maximum cost of Rs. 3 lakh. State-by-state government transportation websites list the fancy numbers that are accessible.
Is It Legal to Use Custom Fonts on Number Plates?
A vehicle owner must opt for a font that is clearly visible from a distance. Use of fonts that are difficult to read or are confusing is prohibited. Reasoned to this, it is always advised to use bold lettering to avoid getting into trouble with the traffic police.
Variation Of Format:
In a few of the states, the first '0' of the district code is replaced with a vehicle category. The Following are category codes assigned for different kinds of vehicles.
- C- SUVs and cars
- E - Electric powered vehicles
- P - Transport Vehicles/Passenger vehicles
- R - Three-wheeler vehicles
- S - Two-wheelers
- T - Tourist licensed vehicles
- V - Vans and pickup trucks
- Y - Rental vehicles
Different Number Plate Formats in India
Depending on the purpose of the vehicle or the vehicle category. Number plates can be of different colours:
- White: All private cars and motorised bikes and scooters are required to have a white number plate with letters and numbers in black colour.
- Black: Commercial cars with a private owner that are rented out for business purposes must have a black number plate with yellow wording on it. In some situations, a business driver's licence is not necessary.
- Yellow: Commercial vehicles, including lorries, buses, and taxis, must have a yellow licence plate with black letters on it. The RTO must provide an official permission in order for someone to operate a commercial vehicle.
- Blue: Vehicles that are used by foreign delegates are needed to have blue coloured number plates with numbers and letters in white. The state code in these number plates are replaced with country code to identify the country the vehicle is registered to.
- Red: All vehicles used by the president or the state governors should have red coloured number plates. The vehicle number in such vehicles is replaced by the gold embossed emblem of India.
- Upward arrow: Vehicle numbers for vehicles owned by defence organisations are formatted differently. The year of manufacture is used in place of the state code, and the upward arrow serves as the prefix for the vehicle number. The Ministry of Defence, located in New Delhi, is where the military's vehicles are registered.
The format for vehicle registration number has evolved in past years reasoned to the increase in the number of vehicles in the country and expansion in the number of vehicle classes and subclasses.
FAQs on Vehicle Number Plates
- Why is a vehicle number plate important in India?
A vehicle number plate in India is the legal identity of the vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. It is needed for registering the vehicle, legal enforcement, and insurance purposes. The number plate identifies the owner, class of vehicle, and the location in which the vehicle is registered. It also serves as an important tool to maintain traffic, improve security, and ensure proper taxation. Thus, it is an important component of legally owning a vehicle.
- What are High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP)?
High-Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) are tamper-proof registration plates that were designed to provide security and eliminate the misuse of number plates. These plates have a unique laser-etched code, a chromium-based hologram depicting the Ashoka Chakra, and a hot-stamped number IND insignia. HSRPs have been made compulsory throughout India for all new vehicles registered in India and ensure uniformity, accountability, and prevent theft or cloning of vehicle numbers.
- Is there a way to obtain information about the vehicle owner using the number plate?
The details of the vehicle owner can be accessed via the registration number on the VAHAN website across all States and Union Territories. By entering the vehicle number, one can obtain information on ownership, registration status, and other important information. This online facility may also be useful in the event of verifying second-hand vehicles, as well as confirming a vehicle as insured or registered legally prior to purchase.
- What are the different designs of number plates in India?
Number plates can be identified in India by colour and purpose or usage. Private vehicles are identified with white plates containing black lettering, commercial vehicles are identified with yellow plates containing black lettering, rental/self-driven vehicles are identified with a black plate containing yellow lettering, electric vehicles are identified with a green plate containing white lettering, temporary registrations are identified by a red plate containing white lettering, and diplomatic vehicles are identified by a blue plate containing white lettering. The colour of the plate gives instant visual information about the type of vehicle in use and its legal status.
- What is the standard format of an Indian vehicle number plate?
The standard format of an Indian vehicle number plate is XX 99 XX 9999. Here, the two letters are a state code, 99 is a 2-digit district code. The next two letters will be a unique alphanumeric series, and the last four digits are the unique vehicle form number for each vehicle. This standardization ensures easy identification, systematic registration, and easy tracking of vehicles by authorities throughout the country.
- What is the application process for a High-Security Registration Plate?
There are two ways vehicle owners can apply for a High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) - vehicle owners can either go to the official HSRP website or use the VAHAN Portal. The process will involve inputting the details of the vehicle's registration and paying the applicable fees. Once all details are validated, the HSRP will be issued with updated security features and will be delivered to the specified address, or a designated company will install the specifications at authorized centers. This process identifies and monitors vehicles to ensure they comply with safety regulations and legal requirements.
- What happens if there is no HSRP?
Driving without an HSRP can lead to penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Moreover, if a vehicle does not have an HSRP, it can also cause some issues with insurance claims, since insurers must verify the proper registration details. Not having an HSRP can be problematic legally as well, so it is important that all vehicle owners have them installed in accordance with procedures.
- Can I have a temporary number plate?
Temporary number plates will be issued to vehicles that have been purchased or received but whose permanent registration has not yet occurred. Temporary plates have limited validity, and while they can be used to legally operate and drive the vehicle on the road, they must be replaced with the official number plate once the registration process is completed. Temporary number plates are the allowable means by which a vehicle can be legally operated and driven while all of the associated administrative processes are ongoing, in order to remain compliant adequately.
- In what way does the number plate on my vehicle influence my insurance policy?
Your vehicle's number plate is intrinsically a part of your insurance policy; it is the unique identifier of your vehicle in the insurance company’s powerful systems. If your number plate changes for any reason, you must also change this with the insurance company to ensure your coverage remains effective. Reporting and getting the number plate correct is important as it directly impacts the claims process and avoids delays in respect of any claims or verification of the vehicle after an accident.
- My number plate has been stolen/lost, what should I do?
In the event your number plate is lost or stolen, it would be in your best interest to report the issue to the local police and get an FIR. The next step is for you to inform the Regional Transport Office and to advise the insurance company of your stolen/lost plate to order a replacement. Following up on these items helps ensure there are no legal issues caused by not having the number plate updates recorded and ensures compliance with your insurance policy and any vehicle registration requirements in order to continue utilizing the benefits of insurance and driving on the road.
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