Fancy Number Plate in Tamil Nadu: Check Prices and How to Apply

Getting a fancy number plate in Tamil Nadu is a great way for the state’s vehicle owners to stand out and express themselves better. Car modifications have always been popular in India, but the appeal behind special number plates is definitely on the rise nowadays. Fancy number plates are a legitimate way for owners to make their car bespoke.

VIP number plates differ from regular registration plates, as they allow you to pick the numbers on the plate, as opposed to being assigned one by the registering authority. These are typically repeated digits, special sequences, or even digits that may look like letters that form words in certain cases. So if you spot a number plate that has something like 0001, or 4444, or 9999 in it, you would be right to assume that it is a VIP plate. An example of numbers that look like they form a word is 8055, which looks similar to the word BOSS, and is also considered a fancy number.

Naturally, these special registration plates come at a cost. What is that cost? Can everyone apply for one? How does one apply for it? In our guide to applying for a VIP number in Tamil Nadu, we will run through all the steps, requisites, and the money required to get a VIP number plate. 

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VIP number plate in Tamil Nadu

Getting a VIP number plate or fancy number plate in Tamil Nadu is a completely legitimate and legal process. Although the RTO processes are centralised, every state still has its own process for certain activities, and the selection of a personalised number plate for a new vehicle registration is one such example. 

If you’re a resident of the state of Tamil Nadu, you can get yourself a personalised number plate. This could be a plate with the last four digits being something like 9999, 0001, 4444, 1111 or something similar. Much like other states, Tamil Nadu requires an additional payment for specialised number plates, and depending on the availability and cost of the number plate in question, you will be able to equip your car with VIP number plates in Tamil Nadu.

How to get a VIP number plate in Tamil Nadu

There are primarily two kinds of VIP number plates that you can get in Tamil Nadu. The ones marked ‘Government Approval Numbers’ are the rare and fancy-looking numbers (like 0001, 1111, 5005, 1234, and so on). The rest of the numbers in the series are essentially open numbers to be issued in incremental order to anyone walking into the registration office after paying the necessary fees.

For Tamil Nadu residents, anyone who is willing to pay the requisite fancy number/advance number fee can choose from either the government approval numbers or the open numbers. A point to note here is that the open number series also includes specialised numbers like 1122, 1222, 1212, and a lot more.

In case you are interested in getting a VIP number plate or a fancy number plate in Tamil Nadu from the open series, all you have to do is head to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website and ensure the following steps are completed:

1) On the menu bar, navigate to ‘User other services’ and then click on ‘All Available numbers’.

2) Select the state (Tamil Nadu, in this case), RTO name and the open series name.

3) You will be able to see all the numbers available between 0001-9999 in the series you have selected. Call the RTO and check about the registration number for the day and pick a few numbers of your choice.

4) Visit the RTO with the Disclaimer form, purchaser’s ID proof copy, GST certificate (if purchased on a company’s name), along with a signed requisition letter. Make sure to also fill out the registration number allotment form.

5) Head back to the RTO and hand over the documents. Once the RTO agent verifies the number availability, the documents will be passed on to another officer to make an entry and issue you a login name and password to access the Parivahan portal and pay the required fees.

6) With your credentials (sent to you via email), login to the Parivahan website, and click on ‘Pay Reserve Fee’. Then select ‘Unique ACK number’. Choose the number from the drop-down menu and the form on your screen will be auto populated with the details from the disclaimer form as well as the registration number you have picked, along with the relevant fees.

7) The payment can be done online via UPI, netbanking or a Rupay debit card. There is a credit card option too, but there is an additional fee attached to it.

Once the payment is done, the registration is mapped to your vehicle. Thereafter, once the vehicle gets to the RTO for inspection and registration, the mapped number will be assigned to the vehicle.

For the Government Approval Numbers series, these are the steps to be followed:

1) Approach the Secretary to Government, Home Transport department, Secretariat, Chennai with an application and a copy of the Sale Certificate (Form 21) to issue a number from the Government Approval Numbers series.

2) Once the government order is provided for allotting the number, follow the same process from step 5 onwards of the ‘open series registration’.

Price of a VIP number plate in Tamil Nadu

The registration fees of VIP number plates in Tamil Nadu vary depending on a few factors. There are two kinds of numbers on offer: the Government Approval Numbers series, and the Open series. 

It is important to keep in mind that these are just the registration fees for the different kinds of VIP number plates available in Tamil Nadu, and not the actual price of the VIP number plate itself.

How to check VIP number plate availability in Tamil Nadu

Checking to see if the VIP number plate you desire is available is a simple process in Tamil Nadu. The steps for finding out which open series numbers are available are as follows:
 

1) Visit the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website.
 

2) On the menu bar, navigate to ‘User online services’ and then click on ‘Available numbers report’.
 

3) Select the state (Tamil Nadu, in this case), RTO name and the open series name.
 

4) You will be able to see all the numbers available between 0001-9999 in the series you have selected. Call the RTO and check about the registration number for the day and pick a few numbers of your choice.

E-auction process for VIP number plate registration

For certain series of numbers, there also exists an e-auction process for the registration of a VIP or fancy number plate in Tamil Nadu. Simply complete the following steps for the same:

1) Register on the official website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and get a Unique Acknowledgement Number (UAN).

2) Pay the registration fee (non-refundable) and the reserve price of the fancy registration number.

3) Select the desired registration number of your choice to block the number.

4) The registration window will be open for three days from the start of the e-auction, and bidding will take place on the subsequent two days.

5) You can change the bid in multiples of ₹10,000 for category 1-4, while for category 5, you can bid in multiples of ₹1,000.

6) Successful bidders will be informed through SMS and email. Deposit the balance amount online within 5 days from the declaration date.

Processing time for VIP number plates

Once you have completed the registration process, the bidding process takes approximately five days to complete. Upon completion of the bidding process, the winner is notified via SMS and Email.

The following period is crucial as the winning bidder must make the remaining payment online within five days from the declaration date. Once the payment is completed, an allotment letter, valid for 90 days for vehicle registration, is generated.

Things to keep in mind while getting a VIP number plate

Getting a VIP number plate can be a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd. That said, there are a few things that should be kept in mind before applying for one, namely:

1) VIP number plates are not cheap, especially the 0001 number plates. Be sure to have the money required to apply for one.

2) A VIP number plate is still a legitimate way for authorities to identify your car, so be sure to only make the purchase from an authorised source.

3) Follow all the required steps and documentation processes involved.

4) If you are planning to sell your vehicle in the near future, be sure to check whether your VIP plate can be transferred. Typically, ownership transfer is regulated and resale in the open market is prohibited.

5) A VIP plate is not a free pass to flout traffic rules and regulations.

6) A VIP number plate is not the same as a Bharat (BH) Series number plate.

7) A single-digit number plate is illegal in India.

Legal standards for VIP number plates

Just like a regular number plate, any car bearing a VIP number needs to adhere to traffic laws and get a high-security registration plate, or an HSRP. This is a non-negotiable rule that has come into effect from April 1, 2019 onwards, as part of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. But what exactly is an HSRP? Here’s what you need to know:

1) HSRPs are standardised aluminium plates, hot-stamped with chromium, which feature a 10-digit PIN along with a hologram. They’re designed to enhance the security and the traceability of vehicles.

2) HSRPs can be tracked using a laser recognition system and can also be detected by on-road cameras that are Automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) enabled.

3) The fonts and styles used on HSRPs are standardised.

Conclusion

Getting a VIP or fancy number plate is a unique way to set yourself apart from others on the road. It should be kept in mind that VIP numbers aren’t cheap, and one should only consider them once sufficient funds can be arranged.

Thanks to VIP number plates being regulated across the country, there is no doubting their legitimacy. Another plus point to them being regulated is that they are easy to acquire, with defined steps and processes in place to make acquiring one easy and hassle-free.

FAQs

Q. What is 0001 number plate price in Tamil Nadu?

The 0001 number plate starts at ₹5 Lakh in Tamil Nadu.

Q. What is 9999 number plate price in Tamil Nadu?

The 9999 number plate starts at ₹2 Lakh in Tamil Nadu.

Q. What is 0009 number plate price in Tamil Nadu?

The 0009 number plate starts at ₹3 Lakh in Tamil Nadu.

Q. What is 0003 number plate price in Tamil Nadu?

The 0003 number plate starts at ₹3 Lakh in Tamil Nadu.

Q. What is 0002 number plate price in Tamil Nadu?

The 0002 number plate starts at ₹3 Lakh in Tamil Nadu.

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

Availability of a chosen VIP number can be checked from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH)official website.

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

In the case of an e-auction process for a VIP number plate in Tamil Nadu, it takes approximately five days to complete the bidding process.