Posted on: Oct 22, 2020 | | Written by:

What's in a number? Let your car registration number do the talking

Published on October 21, 2020. EST READ TIME: 3 MIN

Owning a car during the current pandemic is a matter of huge relief as you can maintain social distancing that may not always be possible in public transport. Apart from that, owning a car is a necessity for many other reasons that make our lives comfortable. If you are about to buy a car, one of the most important aspects that you need to pay attention to is car insurance.

Comprehensive car insurance will take care of any damages done to your brand new car and will save you from a major financial loss. However, once you do that, there will be other aspects that will demand your attention like how to get a unique registration number if you are interested in one. 

Unique registration number and how to get one

Driving a car without any registration number is an offence and so when you purchase a new car, you have to secure a temporary registration number. It is generally assigned to you by the dealership and remains valid for a month. Within that period, you have to get your vehicle permanently registered by the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Once the process of registration is complete, you are given a number plate. You may have seen people flaunting unique registration numbers and if you also fancy getting one for your vehicle, here’s how you can:

  • First, you need to know that different states have different rules about allocating these numbers and so, it would be wise to know the rules of a particular RTO well in advance. 

  • Now, there are 4 parts in the present format of the registration index. The first two letters denote the State or Union Territory of the vehicle registered and the next two digit numbers signify the number assigned to the district. The third consists of one, two or three letters depending upon the volume of cars getting registered at an RTO. The fourth part is a four-digit number that really makes the registration number unique. Numbers like 0001, 3333, 8000, 1515, all are can be considered unique in varying degrees.

  • To know the unique number available, you have to visit the website of the RTO where they are listed. You have to register your name by paying a small registration fee, which is usually non-refundable. If you are lucky, you will get the number from there without any agent.

  • In some cities, these numbers are allotted via an auction where a base price is fixed for each of the VIP car numbers. Again, you have to register yourself for the bidding. The successful bidder will get the allotment letter with the validity of 90 days for the registration of the car at the designated RTO, once he/she makes the payment.

Conclusion

Many people believe in giving a signature touch to their brand new car and they don’t mind shelling a few extra bucks to get a unique registration number. The RTOs auction these special numbers and you have to obtain one when the opportunity presents itself. However, all said and done, in this process, one should not forget about a more important thing – the car insurance policy to secure your dream machine against any unforeseen events.

This blog has been written by

S. Gopalakrishnan | Motor Insurance Expert | 40+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in insurance industry. S. Gopalakrishnan is a name to reckon with in the field of reinsurance, he has headed the Reinsurance department and has rich experience in other fields of motor insurance. He loves to share his opinion on latest topics in the insurance industry and how he can help people in safeguarding their assets using insurance products.

Mr. S.Gopalakrishnan recommends "HDFC ERGO for your vehicle insurance needs, it has always put customer’s interest at the forefront, with round the clock assistance to deal with emergency breakdown issues and hassle free claims process. You can be assured of complete and reliable guidance through the whole process."

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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