Guide: Buying a fancy registration number without involving RTO agents

I decided to get a registration number of my choice by myself & realised how simple the entire process is.

BHPian tud recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Although the RTO processes are centralized, the states still have their own process for some activities and selecting a number from personal choice for new vehicle registration is one among them. I wanted to get myself a number of personal significance and approached an agent suggested by the car dealer. For whatever numbers I mentioned from my choice list, the agent’s response was that there is heavy competition at the said RTO and he can only get the numbers that no one has opted for. This didn’t work for me and I decided to do it myself and realized how simple the process is and also found all the numbers of my choice (barring one) available to choose from. I’ll detail the process to opt for a registration number of your choice for your loved steed if you decide to D-I-Y.

Of the 9999 numbers under each registration series, the really fancy looking ones like 0001, 1111, 5005, 1234 and so on are marked as Government approval numbers and the rest of the numbers in the series are open numbers to be issued in incremental order to anyone walking into the registration office after paying the necessary fees. Anybody willing to pay the requisite fancy number/advance number fee can choose from either the government approval numbers or the open numbers. The open number series also includes fancy-looking numbers like XXYY, XYYY, YXXX, XYXY, WXYZ, and much more. So it is up to the user to identify the required number and approach the RTO at the right time. If you want to purchase a fancy number / special / choice number at the Tamil Nadu RTO, you can.

Fee details

• For Government approval numbers (current series to current + 3 series): Rs 40,000
• For Government approval numbers (current + 5 series to current + 12 series): Rs 60,000 - Rs 2,00,000

For open numbers

• Two wheeler < 50 cc: Rs 1000
• Two wheeler > 50 cc: Rs 2000 (includes three-wheeler)
• Four (or more) wheeler with ex showroom price < Rs 4 lakhs: Rs 10,000
• Four (or more) wheeler with ex showroom price > Rs 10 lakhs: Rs 16,000

As you would have seen from the pricing, buying a Government approval number is very expensive and most people opt to choose a number from the open series. So let me begin with the process to pick a number from the popular open series followed by the Government approval number.

Ensure your vehicle is invoiced, and insurance is purchased. After this, the dealer will enter your vehicle details on the parivahan portal and provide you with a Disclaimer form. This Disclaimer form is required to be produced at the RTO for purchasing a number.

For picking a number from the open series

Step 1: Tamil Nadu RTO allows the public to pick and choose a number amongst 1000 numbers from the current registration series, i.e., if the particular RTO is issuing registration numbers from TN 06 AB 9250 on that day, then a user can pick any open number from TN 06 AB 9250 to TN 06 AC 0250. The process to purchase this is very simple and straightforward.

Visit this website.

On the menu bar, navigate to ‘User online services’ and then click on ‘Available numbers report’.

Select the state, RTO name and the open series name (for example TN 06 AB).

You will be able to see all the numbers available between 0001 - 9999 in the series you have selected. Call the RTO and inquire about the registration number for the day and pick a few numbers of your choice.

Step 2: Visit the RTO with the Disclaimer form, purchaser’s ID proof copy, GST certificate if purchased in a company’s name along with a requisition letter duly signed.

The RTO would insist on a registration number allotment form but in most cases, the requisition letter is more than enough as it covers all the necessary details required to be filled in the registration number allotment form. I have attached the registration number allotment form to this post for you to download and fill, especially if you are registering in a company name as it has to be signed and stamped before visiting the RTO. Remember to superscribe the application form with your mobile phone number, email address and Aadhaar (or) GST certificate number.

Step 3: Meet the RTO Superintendent and hand over the documents. After the Superintendent verifies the number's availability, the documents will be passed on to another officer to make an entry and issue you a login name and password to access the parivahan portal and pay the required fees. The login details will be emailed to you.

Again visit this website.

Login with the credentials issued to you via email.

On the menu bar click on Pay reserve fee. Then navigate to Select unique ACK number. Choose the number from the drop-down and the form on your screen will be auto-populated with the details from the Disclaimer form as well as the registration number you have picked and the relevant fees.

Select Pay online and complete the payment transaction. If you pay via a Rupay debit card, UPI or net banking there are no additional charges. Credit card payment is charged an additional fee.

Once the payment is done the registration number is mapped to your vehicle and whenever (within the next 30 days) the vehicle visits the RTO for inspection and registration, the mapped number will be assigned to the vehicle.

For picking a number from the Government approval series

Step 1: Approach the Secretary to Government, Home (Transport) department, Secretariat, Chennai with an application and a copy of the Sale Certificate (Form 21) to issue a number from the Government approval series. Once the government order is provided for allotting the number, follow the process mentioned for the open number series from Step 3.

If you want an open series number greater than the 1000 numbers issued by the RTO’s current series, you will have to approach the Secretary to Government, Home (Transport) department, Secretariat, Chennai with the same steps mentioned above.

Needless to say, it was an extremely simple process and I did not spend more than 30 mins at the RTO office. I visited the PA to RTO and introduced myself and explained my requirement. She was very friendly and guided me to the concerned counter. So if you face any hiccups at the RTO feel free to approach any officer - there is a vast difference in their attitude now and they encourage users who approach without an agent.

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