Why are the colors of vehicle number plates different in India? Know the true meaning of your vehicle’s plate and new rules

​Automobile Desk – If you have carefully observed the vehicles running on Indian roads, you must have noticed that not all of them have the same number plates. Some vehicles have white background, while others have yellow, green or blue background. But have you ever wondered why this coding of different colors is given on the number plates of vehicles?

​Actually, the color of the number plate is not just for decoration or look, but it determines the category of the vehicle, its legal use and the identity of its owner under the Motor Vehicles Act. Let us understand what is the meaning of which number plate seen on Indian roads and in which category your vehicle falls.

​1. White number plate: identification of private vehicles
​Most of the cars, bikes and scooters seen on the road have white colored number plates on which numbers are written in black letters. This plate is only for personal or private use vehicles. According to law, vehicles with white number plates cannot be used for commercial purposes (such as carrying passengers or goods).

​2. Yellow number plate: symbol of commercial vehicles
​Yellow colored number plates are mandatory on commercial vehicles like taxis, cabs, buses, auto-rickshaws, trucks and school vans, on which numbers are written in black. To drive these vehicles, the driver is required to have a commercial driving license and permit for the relevant route.

​3. Green number plate: Eco-friendly i.e. Electric Vehicle (EV)
​To save the environment and promote electric vehicles (EVs), the government has fixed green number plates.
​Private EV: If the vehicle is personal, then the green plate has white letters.
​Commercial EV: If the electric vehicle is for commercial use (such as an electric taxi or bus), the green plate has yellow letters.

​4. Black number plates: self-drive and rental cars
​Number plates with yellow letters on a black background are found on vehicles that fall in the commercial category but are available for hire for self-driving (like Zoomcar etc.). A passenger does not need a special commercial license to drive these vehicles, he can drive them with his normal driving license also.

​5. Red number plates: New vehicles and constitutional designations There are two main uses of red number plates:
​Temporary Registration: When you buy a new car from the showroom, a red colored temporary number plate is put on it until you get the permanent number.
​Constitutional Head: The official vehicles of the President of the country and the Governors of the states have red number plates, on which the coat of arms of India (Ashoka Pillar) is made in place of the numbers.

​6. Blue number plates: Foreign embassies and diplomats
​White letters are written on the blue number plate. These vehicles belong to foreign embassies and diplomats of international organizations like the United Nations. Instead of the state code, the embassy code of the concerned country is written on these plates.

​7. Military Vehicle: Special Plate with Broad Arrow
​Vehicles of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force do not have normal number plates. There is a broad arrow pointing upwards on their number plate. These numbers are issued by the Defense Ministry.

Know what is ‘BH’ series (Bharat Series) number plate?

​In recent times, BH Series number plates are becoming increasingly popular. It has been started especially for those government and private employees, who are often transferred from one state to another.

Its biggest advantage

With normal vehicles, on changing the state, a new registration has to be done and road tax has to be paid again, which takes a long time and paperwork. If you have a BH series vehicle, there is no need for re-registration if it is transferred anywhere in the country.

Pay attention to traffic rules regarding number plate

​The vehicle number plate is not just an identity card, but is the most important evidence in legal investigations, accidents and theft cases. As per traffic rules, the number plate should always be clean, in standard font (High Security Registration Plate – HSRP) and in an easily readable position. Installing fancy or unclear number plates can result in heavy fines.