05 May, 2025
Types of Vehicle Number Plates in India in 2025
India is known to be the most populated country in terms of the number of vehicles plying on the road. Managing this huge number is indeed cumbersome. In addition to the insurance, another vital document that holds an important aspect in identifying your vehicle is the registration certificate, and of course, the number plate. Ever wondered what the different types of number plates in use in India are? Let us check out the different number plates and their essence in today’s post.
Why is a Number Plate So Important?
The vehicle number plates are not just identifiers; they play a vital role in traffic regulation, security, and taxation. Each number plate carries key information about the vehicle.
- Registration Details: They help authorities trace the vehicle’s owner, make, model, and registration location.
- Law Enforcement: Number plates allow enforcement agencies to track stolen or wanted vehicles.
Also read, 6 helpful tips to prevent your car from being stolen
- Tax & Insurance: RTO registration via number plates is mandatory for availing road tax, insurance, and permits.
- Surveillance Systems: With the increasing use of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) systems, number plates are key to managing traffic, tolls, and e-challans.
With the rise in digitisation and security concerns, the Indian government continues to introduce stricter number plate norms to ensure uniformity and accountability.
Number Plate Guidelines to Follow in India
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has laid down specific guidelines for number plates that all vehicle owners must adhere to. As of 2025, these rules are strictly enforced to ensure national safety and vehicular discipline.
HSRP Mandate
It is mandatory to have high-security registration Plates on all vehicles. This is applicable to the old vehicles as well. The HSRP regulation has the following requirements :
- A unique laser-etched code
- Tamper-proof snap locks
- A chromium-based hologram of the Ashoka Chakra
- A hot-stamped IND insignia
- Made from aluminium for durability.
- 10-digit laser-etched PIN links to the national database.
The number plate is now mandatory for vehicles registered post-April 2019.
Number Plate Size and Format
The number plates should follow a standard size and format for the digits and letters. This is done to ensure easy readability and uniformity.
- Front Plate: 500 mm x 120 mm
- Rear Plate: Same size as the front or as per car design constraints
- Display Requirements
- The plate must be clearly visible and unobstructed.
- No fancy fonts or additional symbols are allowed.
- The background needs to be White for private cars, yellow for commercial ones.
- Characters should be Black in color and embossed.
Every number plate should now have a reflective sheeting. This will ensure proper visibility at night. It can also help the automated cameras in identifying the vehicles.
Standard Number Plate Format for Cars in India
The standard number plate format in India includes:
State Code – RTO Code – Series – Unique Number
Example: KA 05 MJ 6789
KA – State Code (Karnataka)
05 – RTO Code (Koramangala, Bengaluru)
MJ – Series Code assigned by RTO
6789 – Unique vehicle number
This format ensures systematic registration and helps easily identify the region of registration. In 2025, this remains consistent across all Indian states and UTS, even with the increased push for digital tracking. In India, there are BH Series number plates were introduced by the Government of India in 2021, mainly to make it easier for people who move from one state to another, especially employees of the central government, state governments, defence personnel, and employees of private companies with offices in multiple states.
Different Types of Number Plates in India
There are different types of number plates for vehicles used in India. These are specifically colour coded to indicate and identify ownership, purpose and the special status, if any. Some of the commonly used number plates include:
White Number Plate
White number plates with black letters indicate the vehicles used solely for private use. That would mean you cannot use these vehicles for any commercial purpose.
Yellow Number Plate
Vehicles with a yellow number plate and black letters are used for commercial purposes. These types of vehicles are used for public transportation, such as transporting goods and ferrying passengers based on a service charge. Even the driver of these vehicles is expected to have a commercial driving license. Yellow number plates with red letters are temporary commercial number plates with a 1- 6-month validity.
Green Number Plate
The green number plates with yellow letters represent fully electric vehicles. Green colour is used to symbolise the environmentally friendly nature of the vehicles.
Black Number Plate
Black numbers placed with yellow letters are used in rental vehicles. These number plates signify luxury hotel transport. These belong to the category of commercial vehicles, but can be driven by people with no commercial driving license.
Red Number Plate
Vehicles with red number plates bearing the Lion Capital of Ashoka emblem are commonly used by Indian government officials, such as the President and state Governors. Red Number Plate with Upward-Pointing Arrow indicates the vehicles of the armed forces of India. These vehicles are registered under the Ministry of Defence and follow a unique numbering format that includes the Broad Arrow symbol, signifying military ownership and use.
Red number plates with white letters are issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to vehicle dealers. It allows dealers to drive new vehicles that haven't yet received a permanent registration number. The trade certificate number displayed on the number plate acts as a temporary identification for the vehicle until it receives its permanent registration.
Blue Number Plate
The blue number plate appears on the vehicle that is reserved for the foreign diplomats. These number plates bear the designation of the diplomat, such as DC (Diplomatic Corps), CC (Consular Corps), UN (United Nations), etc.
Final Thoughts
As of 2025, the number plate system stands well structured and well implemented. These serve a lot in law enforcement, traffic management, and for vehicle owners alike. Whether you’re a first-time car buyer or trading up cars, knowing these number plate types and regulations will help you stay compliant, safe, and well-informed. At Indus Used Cars, we prioritise safety, authenticity, and legal compliance in every vehicle we deliver. Whether you're purchasing a petrol, diesel, electric, or commercial vehicle, our team verifies the number plate type, checks for tamper-proof features, and ensures it matches the vehicle's official records.