How To Apply For A Fancy Number Plate In Kerala?

Adorning one's car with the modifications one chooses is the quickest way to give it a personality of its own. This holds true in all states of India, but it's amped up to another level when it comes to the southern state of Kerala. If you are from Kerala, you will be well aware of the routine crackdowns by the police on illegal modifications done to cars. An easier way to make a car stand out is by purchasing a fancy number plate for it, also commonly known as a VIP number. To do so, you have to follow a carefully laid out process on the Parivahan Sewa website.

What is a fancy number plate?

A fancy number plate or a VIP number refers to the last four digits on the registration plate of a vehicle. While registration number plates have been standardised across the country, with only HSRP plates being deemed legal now, the last four digits on those plates are for sale by the Kerala RTO. This facility is available across multiple states in the country, but the prices for particular numbers differ from state to state.

Mostly, fancy number plates feature particular numbers that belong to a certain series, and stand out because of that. The most coveted example is ‘0001’. It is an instantly recognisable number and that makes it a fancy number. There are multiple series’ like this. The fancy number plate process also allows users to book a particular number which might hold a personal significance to them, but could seem random to everyone else.

How to get a fancy number plate in Kerala?

There are two ways to get a fancy number plate in Kerala. For both of them, you need to visit the Parivahan Sewa website. Once you are on the website, you will have to register for a new account. However, this will be different from the regular Vahan account, and will instead be listed on the ‘Fancy Number Booking’ page. Here’s how you can make an account:

Step 1: Under the ‘Online Services’ menu on the Parivahan Sewa portal, you will find the option for ‘Fancy Number Booking’. Click on it.

Step 2: You will be redirected to a new page which will have a user login interface. Underneath the login space, there will be an option to register as a new ‘Public User’. Click on it.

Step 3: On the new page, you will need to select your state. Also, you will need to enter your name, email ID and phone number. Select ‘Kerala’ from the list of states and enter the other relevant information. Once this is complete, click on ‘Sign Up’.

Step 4: Your account is now set up. Go back to the login page for ‘Fancy Number Booking’. You can repeat Step 1 to reach the login portal.

Step 5: Once your account is up and running, you can start looking for available numbers for your new vehicle. You don’t necessarily need to login to your account for this step. To search for the number by inputting the particular series, you need to click on the ‘Search by Number’ option. Alternatively, you can browse through the available numbers by hovering over the ‘User Other Services’ option, and then clicking on the ‘All Available Number’s’ option. Once you land on either of the pages, just select your state and RTO to find out which numbers are available.
 

Once you have selected the desired number, login to the ‘Fancy Number Booking’ page using the credentials created before. Once you are logged in, you will have the option to choose from two options.

The first option will be for numbers that will be auctioned, whereas the second option will cater to less popular numbers on a first come first serve basis. For the auction, you will have to register in advance by paying a non-refundable fee and submitting a few documents.

If your desired option is available through the first come first serve option, you can simply select it, pay the required fee, and the RTO will then process your request.

What is the price of a fancy number plate in Kerala?

Having understood the process of acquiring a fancy number plate in Kerala, one must also take into account the prices for these number plates. The price of a fancy number plate in India is decided by the relevant state transport authority and is different for all states. To get a better idea of what a particular type of VIP number will cost in Kerala, take a look at the table below:

The above mentioned prices will hold true, if the particular number isn't auctioned. Furthermore, if you want a number series that isn’t listed in the above table, you can simply book it for yourself by paying ₹ 5,000.

E-auction process for fancy number plate in Kerala

The auction process for fancy number plates in Kerala is held online. It is a simple process, similar to what other states in India follow. Before you get started, we would once again like to iterate that having an account on the ‘Fancy Number Booking’ portal is mandatory to be a part of the auction process.

Step 1: You need to register for the auction process. Specifically, you need to register for the auction of the particular number series you are looking to buy. You will need to submit a few documents and details, and pay a non-refundable participation fee for the same.

Step 3: You can start placing your bid once the auction begins. An auction lasts for a period of three days, and the highest bid for a particular number is always displayed on the website.

Step 4: If you make the winning bid, you will be intimated through an email and SMS. You will also receive a confirmation certificate.

Step 5: Once the auction is over and the RTO has processed your request, the number that you have won at the auction will be allotted to your vehicle.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the process of acquiring a fancy number plate or a VIP number for your vehicle is held online, and that is a huge convenience factor. The series of numbers that aren’t put through auction can be acquired for their base price, as listed in the table above. However, the number series that are auctioned can sometimes go for astronomical sums. Currently, the highest price for a VIP number that was ever fetched at an auction in Kerala is ₹ 7.85 lakh for the number series ‘7777’.

FAQs

Q. What is the price of a 0001 number plate in Kerala?

The starting price of the 0001 number plate in Kerala is ₹ 1 lakh.

Q. What is the price of a 9999 number plate in Kerala?

The starting price of the 9999 number plate in Kerala is ₹ 50,000.

Q. What is the price of a 0009 number plate in Kerala?

The starting price of the 0009 number plate in Kerala is ₹ 25,000.

Q. What is the price of a 0003 number plate in Kerala?

The starting price of the 0003 number plate in Kerala is ₹ 15,000.

Q. What is the price of a 0002 number plate in Kerala?

The starting price of the 0002 number plate in Kerala is ₹ 15,000.

Q. How can I check the availability of my chosen number in Kerala?

The availability of a particular number series can be checked on the Fancy Number Booking portal on the Parivahan Sewa website by using the ‘Search by Number’ or ‘All Available Numbers’ menus.

Q. How long does the entire process of getting a fancy number plate take in Kerala?

You can block a number under the first come first serve option as soon as you make the payment. As for numbers that are auctioned, the auction lasts for three days. On a whole, the entire process is generally carried out in less than a week.