Vehicle number plates are not just identification tags but also indicate the vehicle’s type, ownership, and purpose. In India, different colored number plates signify various categories of vehicles, from private and commercial to government and diplomatic ones. Let’s explore the types of number plates in India, their meanings, and legal regulations.

1. White Number Plate (Private Vehicles)

• Color: Black text on a white background.
• Used by: Private vehicle owners.
• Restrictions: Cannot be used for commercial purposes.

🚗 Example: A family car or personal two-wheeler.

2. Yellow Number Plate (Commercial Vehicles)

• Color: Black text on a yellow background.
• Used by: Taxis, trucks, auto-rickshaws, and rental cars.
• Requirement: Requires a commercial driving license to operate.

🚖 Example: Ola, Uber, and other commercial transport vehicles.

3. Black Number Plate (Self-Drive Rental Vehicles)

• Color: Yellow text on a black background.
• Used by: Vehicles registered under self-drive rental services like Zoomcar, Revv, etc.
• Advantage: Can be driven without a commercial license.

🚙 Example: A rented car for road trips.

4. Green Number Plate (Electric Vehicles - EVs)

• Color: White text on a green background (private EVs) & yellow text (commercial EVs).
• Used by: Electric cars and bikes.
• Objective: Encourages eco-friendly transportation and tax benefits.

🔋 Example: Tata Nexon EV, Ola S1 Pro, etc.

5. Blue Number Plate (Diplomatic Vehicles)

• Color: White text on a blue background.
• Used by: Vehicles owned by foreign diplomats and embassies.
• Format: "CC" for Consular Corps, "CD" for Diplomatic Corps.

🌍 Example: A foreign ambassador’s car.

6. Red Number Plate (Temporary Registration Vehicles)

• Color: White text on a red background.
• Used by: Newly purchased vehicles before permanent registration.
• Validity: Up to 1 month.

🚘 Example: A showroom demo car or a newly delivered vehicle.

7. Number Plate with an Embossed Indian Flag (Bharat Series - BH Number Plate)

• Color: Black text on a white background with "BH" series.
• Used by: People with frequent inter-state transfers (e.g., government employees, defense personnel, multinational corporate employees).
• Benefit: No need to re-register when moving to a different state.

🛣️ Example: A car owned by an army officer posted in different states.

8. Red Number Plate with the Emblem (Government Vehicles)

• Color: Red background with golden emblem and no number.
• Used by: The President of India, Governors, and high-ranking officials.

🏛️ Example: The official car of the President of India.

9. Number Plate with Arrow Sign (Military Vehicles)

• Color: Black text on a white background.
• Used by: Indian Army vehicles, identified by an arrow pointing upwards.

⚔️ Example: Army trucks and jeeps used in defense operations.

Legal Requirements & Penalties for Incorrect Number Plates

• As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, all vehicles must have a legally approved High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP).
• Fines: Using illegal, fancy, or unclear number plates can result in fines up to ₹5,000.

Conclusion

Number plates in India serve as important identifiers for vehicle classification and regulation. With the rise of EVs and Bharat Series plates, number plate regulations are evolving to accommodate modern transportation needs.