How to get a fancy number for your car without involving RTO agents

Different series have different base prices. I paid Rs 3000 for a normal number for my Honda Elevate.

BHPian akhilshenay recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have acquired a choice number for Elevate without any support from any brokers/ agents. Thought of sharing it with the community so that it may be helpful for someone looking for it.

Even though the process was done through the centralized vahan portal, the steps might differ from state to state but the basic process remains the same. My experience is based on the procedure followed in Kerala.

Step 1: Check Number Availability

Before you begin, check if your desired number is available for booking. Visit the Show Open Series link on the Parivahan site.

Note that all numbers from 1 - 9999 won't be available for booking. RTOs open only a few sets at a time.

Step 2: Account Registration on Vahan Fancy Number Portal

Go to the Vahan Fancy Number portal and register your account. The registration process is straightforward.

Step 3: Number Selection and Base Price

After logging in, proceed to the number selection section. Choose your RTO to view unsold numbers from older series and available numbers from the running series. Different series have different base prices, which may vary by state.

Step 4: Application and Payment

Once you have logged in, head towards the number selection section. Select your RTO and it will list the unsold numbers from older series and available numbers from running series. Select a number and proceed to register. You will be asked for the application number.

That is the application number of the temporary registration against which you have paid tax. You can get this number from the SMS received from Vahan while the tax was paid, or get in touch with the showroom / dealer who has done it for you.

Once that is filled, your information will auto-populate. Proceed and pay the base price for the preferred number. Mine was a normal number so I just had to pay 3000. Once the payment is done, you have done your application for the number.

Step 5: Auction Process

The auction period is one week. Submit your application from Monday 11 AM to Saturday 4 PM. If multiple applications exist for the same number, an auction is conducted from Saturday 4 PM to Monday 10.30 PM. You can place your bids online by visiting your account and placing bids in multiples of 1000. This amount needs to be paid only if you win your bid.

Step 6: Confirmation and RTO Processing

Upon winning the bid, you'll receive an SMS and email confirmation. The RTO will process your number for permanent registration if the complete bidding amount is paid. This typically takes around 2 days.

Step 7: Post-Bid Options

If the bid is lost, you can reapply for a new choice number by paying the base price again. The base price for the lost bid will be refunded. Alternatively, if you opt for any random number, request it directly from the RTO.

Step 8: RTO Approval and Number Plate Order

Once the RTO completes the process, you'll receive an SMS confirming approval. Contact your dealer to order the number plate, usually done within 2 days, and have it riveted to your vehicle.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.