Breakdown Of A Number Plate

Part 01The first part indicates the state or Union territory, this is denoted by two letters. For example, in the state of Maharashtra, a vehicle number plate starts with the code ‘MH”, in Gujarat with ‘GJ” and in Delhi as ‘DL’. The 2 most significant alphabets of the state’s name are used. This method began in the 1980s.

Part 02The next 2 digits refer to a district’s sequential number. Since every state has at least one district in it, the district itself handles the registration of new vehicles. For this purpose, each district has its own Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is in-charge of the driver and vehicle registrations.

Part 03The third part of the license plate is a unique number which helps to identify the vehicle. If a number is unavailable then letters are used to replace the last digit. This ensures a surplus number of codes for all vehicles. It is often a common practice to buy custom numbers for a premium price.

Part 04The fourth and final part is an oval logo which reads, “IND”, the acronym for India; this oval also has a chromium hologram on top of it which resembles a “Chakra”. This is used in High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP). These are tamper-proof plates that were introduced in the year 2005 with an intention to reduce vehicle theft. Though it is mandatory for all motor vehicles to have these, certain states are yet to adopt the practice.