How Much Is Too Much For A VIP Registration Number?

Vehicle registration numbers are something that is mandatory for every vehicle sold, to have, but the transport department has a few tricks up its sleeve to bring in additional revenue. Fancy numbers, like, 0007, 0555, 8055, etc. are always sold at a premium, since this is something that some vehicle owners want.

One such number - 0001 was recently sold in Delhi for Rs 16 lakhs. We are not sure what vehicle this registration number will go on, but it is safe to assume that the vehicle would be a lot more expensive. The Number was sold to Palm Land Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. A company involved in Hotels, camping sites, etc.

The sale of fancy/VIP number plates for lakhs of rupees has been happening in India for a long time now, and the deal used to happen under the table, almost all the time. Hence, the Delhi government decided to regularise this and introduced an e-auction system in 2014. Since then, the 0001 series has been bringing in revenue steadily.

In 2014, the number 0001 was auctioned for Rs 12.5 lakhs and 0009 for Rs. 8.50 lakhs. in 2015, the number 0007 was sold for Rs 10.40 lakhs. The e-auction has increased the trend of picking up VIP number plates, as it is a more transparent procedure since the bidding and payments are both done online.

According to KK Dahiya, Commissioner of Transport, Delhi, there has been an increase in the number of bidders after the Red and Blue VIP beacon was banned recently.

DriveSpark Thinks!
Fancy/VIP vehicle registration numbers have always been sold for a premium, which sometimes runs into lakhs. The number 0001 being sold in Delhi for Rs 16 lakhs is the highest yet in the country and might surprise many. However, it pales into oblivion when one considers the fact that an Indian businessman has in the past paid nearly Rs 60 crores for a VIP registration number in Dubai.