Want a fancy number in Tamil Nadu? It could soon cost you ₹8 lakh

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has proposed a sharp increase in fees for vehicle owners seeking fancy or preferred registration numbers, introducing a new premium category that could cost as much as ₹8 lakh.

The proposal is part of a draft amendment to the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, published in the Extraordinary Gazette on June 19. If implemented, it would mark the first major revision of registration number charges in the state since 2012.

Under the current system, registration numbers are assigned randomly at the time of vehicle registration. However, owners who wish to obtain a specific number can apply through the Regional Transport Office (RTO) by paying an additional fee. The new proposal seeks to significantly increase those charges, particularly for registration numbers from future series, reflecting the growing demand for exclusive and prestigious vehicle numbers.

According to the draft rules, the fee for obtaining a preferred number from the current series and the next three upcoming series will be doubled. Charges will rise further for numbers from more distant future series. Vehicle owners seeking numbers from the fifth to eighth future series would be required to pay ₹1.2 lakh, while those opting for numbers in the ninth and tenth future series would have to pay ₹2 lakh. The fee would increase to ₹4 lakh for numbers in the eleventh and twelfth future series.

The most notable change is the introduction of a new premium category covering registration numbers in the thirteenth and fourteenth future series. These numbers would carry a fee of ₹8 lakh, making them the most expensive registration numbers available under the proposed framework.

The government has also proposed replacing the existing flat-rate fee system for fancy registration numbers with a value-based structure linked to the cost of the vehicle. Under the new model, owners of higher-value vehicles would pay higher charges for preferred registration numbers. Officials say the move is intended to make the system more equitable while generating additional revenue for the state.

Imported vehicles would also be brought under a revised slab-based fee structure. Charges for securing special registration numbers on imported vehicles would increase substantially compared to current rates, with the highest category attracting fees of up to ₹1.5 lakh.

The draft amendment further states that approval from the state government will continue to be mandatory for allotment of registration numbers from future series as well as government-reserved fancy numbers. The proposed changes are aimed at regulating the increasing demand for premium vehicle numbers while modernising a fee structure that has remained largely unchanged for more than a decade.

If approved, the revised rules could make Tamil Nadu one of the most expensive states in India for obtaining premium and highly sought-after vehicle registration numbers, particularly for luxury vehicle owners willing to pay a premium for exclusive number plates.