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VIP / Fancy Numbers

Number Plate Auction in India

Want 0001, 0786, or 9999 on your car or bike? RTOs auction these "fancy" numbers through online bidding. Here's how it works, state-wise portals, and the biggest prices paid in India.

IND

DL 7C 0001

0001 — Super Elite

IND

MH 01 AA 0786

0786 — Lucky

IND

KA 01 MM 7777

7777 — Repeating

IND

HR 26 DK 9999

9999 — Premium

How a Number Plate Auction Works

  1. 1

    RTO notifies a new series opening

    E.g., "DL 7CA" or "MH 02 GX" is nearing release. The RTO publishes a fancy number list on Parivahan / state portal.

  2. 2

    Register on the fancy number portal

    Create an account on vahan.parivahan.gov.in/fancy (or your state portal). Verify via OTP and link Aadhaar/PAN.

  3. 3

    Select the number and pay EMD

    Browse the fancy list, pick your target number, pay the Earnest Money Deposit (₹5,000–₹50,000 depending on tier) online.

  4. 4

    Bidding window opens

    Bids stay open for 24–72 hours. You can revise your bid upwards any number of times. The highest bid at close wins.

  5. 5

    Pay balance within 24–48 hours

    If you win, top up the remaining amount. Missing the deadline forfeits your EMD and the number goes to the next highest bidder.

  6. 6

    Register your vehicle with the fancy number

    Take the allotment letter to the RTO along with standard registration documents. Your vehicle is registered under the chosen fancy number.

Fancy Number Categories & Indicative Prices

CategoryExamplesMetro ReserveDemand
Super Elite0001₹5,00,000+Very High
VIP Single Digit0002, 0003, 0005, 0007, 0009₹1,00,000+High
Repeating Triples/Quads0777, 0999, 1111, 7777, 9999₹50,000+High
Religious / Lucky0786, 0108, 0420, 0108₹25,000+Medium
Date / Year1947, 2000, 1984₹15,000+Medium
Mirror / Palindrome1221, 1331, 1441₹10,000+Medium
Sequential1234, 4321, 5678₹10,000+Low-Medium

Actual bids vary widely — metro-city 0001 bids have crossed ₹30 lakh in Mumbai, Gurugram, and Delhi.

State-Wise Number Plate Auction Guides

Each state runs its own fancy number portal and has different reserve prices. Browse the state-specific guide:

🎟️

Delhi Number Plate Auction

DL · EMD ₹50,000

🎟️

Maharashtra Number Plate Auction

MH · EMD ₹25,000 – ₹50,000

🎟️

Karnataka Number Plate Auction

KA · EMD ₹20,000 – ₹40,000

🎟️

Tamil Nadu Number Plate Auction

TN · EMD ₹15,000 – ₹50,000

🎟️

Telangana Number Plate Auction

TS · EMD ₹20,000 – ₹40,000

🎟️

Andhra Pradesh Number Plate Auction

AP · EMD ₹15,000 – ₹30,000

🎟️

Kerala Number Plate Auction

KL · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹30,000

🎟️

Gujarat Number Plate Auction

GJ · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹40,000

🎟️

Uttar Pradesh Number Plate Auction

UP · EMD ₹15,000 – ₹50,000

🎟️

Punjab Number Plate Auction

PB · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹30,000

🎟️

Haryana Number Plate Auction

HR · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹40,000

🎟️

Rajasthan Number Plate Auction

RJ · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹30,000

🎟️

West Bengal Number Plate Auction

WB · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹25,000

🎟️

Madhya Pradesh Number Plate Auction

MP · EMD ₹10,000 – ₹25,000

🎟️

Bihar Number Plate Auction

BR · EMD ₹5,000 – ₹20,000

🎟️

Goa Number Plate Auction

GA · EMD ₹5,000 – ₹20,000

Record-Breaking Number Plate Bids in India

  • 🥇 MH 02 BY 0001 — Bandra, Mumbai — approx ₹35 lakh
  • 🥈 HR 26 DK 0001 — Gurugram — approx ₹28 lakh
  • 🥉 DL 1CA 0001 — Delhi — approx ₹21 lakh
  • · KA 01 MM 0001 — Koramangala, Bengaluru — approx ₹20 lakh
  • · UP 16 CZ 0001 — Noida — approx ₹18 lakh
  • · TS 07 FA 0001 — Hyderabad — approx ₹15 lakh

Figures compiled from publicly reported auction results and RTO press releases.

Frequently Asked Questions About Number Plate Auctions

What is a number plate auction in India?
Number plate auctions are e-bidding events run by RTOs to allot "fancy" or VIP registration numbers (like 0001, 0007, 0786, 7777) to the highest bidder. Each state transport department conducts these auctions through Parivahan Vahan or its state portal.
How do I participate in a VIP number plate auction?
Register on vahan.parivahan.gov.in/fancy or your state transport portal, choose your RTO and vehicle category, pay the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), then bid during the auction window. If you win, pay the difference within 24–48 hours to secure the number.
What is the minimum reserve price for fancy numbers?
Reserve prices are set by each state. For a super-elite 0001 number, the reserve is typically ₹5 lakh for four-wheelers in metros. Lower-tier fancy numbers (like 1111, 1234) start around ₹10,000–₹50,000.
What is EMD in a number plate auction?
EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) is a security amount (usually 10–20% of the base price) that you deposit online before bidding. It is refunded if you lose and adjusted against the final bid if you win. Forfeited if you win but fail to pay the balance.
Which are the most expensive number plates ever auctioned in India?
Some record-setters: MH 02 BY 0001 (Mumbai Bandra) ~₹35 lakh, HR 26 DK 0001 (Gurugram) ~₹28 lakh, DL 1CA 0001 (Delhi) ~₹21 lakh, UP 16 CZ 0001 (Noida) ~₹18 lakh. Metros with high-net-worth populations routinely see bids in tens of lakhs.
Can I transfer a fancy number to a different vehicle?
Generally no — a fancy number is allotted to a specific vehicle at registration. Some states allow retention on vehicle change within the same owner, but this requires a separate RTO application and fee.
Are numbers like 0786 or 7777 really more valuable?
Yes. Cultural and religious associations (786 for Bismillah, 7/9 for luck, repeating digits for prestige) drive demand. In metros these numbers regularly clear ₹1–5 lakh at auction — far above the government reserve price.
Is it legal to resell a VIP number plate?
The number itself is not a tradeable asset. It transfers only with the vehicle on which it is registered. Selling the number separately is not permitted under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Related Guides & Tools

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All Number Plates in India

Types, colour coding, HSRP, VIP, embassy and more.

⭐

VIP & VVIP Plates

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Plate Colour Coding

White, yellow, green, red, blue, black plates explained.

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HSRP Guide

High Security Registration Plate — rules and installation.

🏢

RTO Directory

Find your registering RTO across all states.

🔢

RTO Codes Directory

State and district RTO codes lookup.

🔎

Vehicle Check

Verify any registration number's RC details online.

🏦

Hypothecation on RC

HPA meaning and how to remove after loan closure.

🕵️

Check Vehicle Owner

Look up vehicle owner details legally.

Planning to bid for a fancy number?

Check your state's portal, current series openings, and reserve prices before you register.

Visit Parivahan Fancy PortalDelhi Auction GuideAll Number Plates