In India, the BH series number plate, also known as the Bharat series number plate, is the new registration series for vehicles. The BH series registration was introduced to create a unified system for vehicle registration across the country. The BH series registration is a new initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India to standardise the registration process and provide a seamless, unified system for vehicle owners. This article will take a closer look at what the BH series number plate is and how it works.
What is the BH series number plate?
The Indian Government introduced the BH Number Plate, also known as Bharat Series Registration Number, in August 2021 for non-transport vehicles. This initiative eliminates the requirement of transferring vehicle registration when relocating between states. The registration process for the BH Series commenced on 15th September 2021.
For instance, under the Motor Vehicles Act, if your car is registered in Maharashtra with an MH number plate and you move to another state, you're allowed to drive with the MH number plate for up to 12 months. Afterward, registration in the new state becomes mandatory. However, with the BH Series registration number, this step becomes unnecessary. Moreover, having a BH number plate is convenient in terms of insurance, as your car insurance remains unaffected.
BH number plate format
The BH Number Plate format is designed to provide essential details about the vehicle's registration in a clear and concise manner. It consists of distinct parts, each serving a specific purpose in identifying and categorizing the vehicle.
The format "YYBH####XX" breaks down as follows: "YY" indicates the Year of Registration, showing when the vehicle was officially registered. "BH" stands for the Bharat Series Registration, marking it as part of a nationwide system.
Following that, "####" is a unique 4-digit registration number assigned to each vehicle, ensuring that each vehicle has its own distinct identifier. Lastly, "XX" represents a random alphabet chosen from A to Z, helping to categorize the vehicle, providing additional information about its type or class.
For example, a vehicle with the BH Number Plate "23BH4567M" was registered in the year 2023 ("23"), is part of the BH Registration, has the unique identifier "4567," and is categorised with the letter "M."
This structured format makes it easy for authorities and stakeholders to identify and manage registered vehicles, promoting better road safety and regulatory compliance nationwide quickly and accurately.
Eligibility for BH series number plates
Given below are the eligibility criteria to apply for a BH number plate:
- State and central government employees.
- Defence personnel.
- Bank employees.
- Administrative services employees.
- Employees working in private companies with offices in more than five states or union territories.
- The vehicle should also have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
- Road tax for the vehicle must be paid.
Features of Bharat series number plate
The BH series license plates aim to save the time and energy of citizens from the inconvenience of transferring their vehicle registration each time they move to a new location.
Given below are other key benefits of the Bharat series number plate:
- Applicable only to non-transport vehicles.
- The number plate is valid across the country.
- Saves time in re-registering your vehicle, in case of transferring to another state.
- The registration number on the BH number plate will have 22 BH combinations, where "BH" stands for Bharat.
How to apply for BH series number plate registration
For BH registration, follow the below steps to apply for BH series number plate.
Step 1: There are two options to begin the process of obtaining the BH series license plates. You can choose to either log in to MoRTH's Vahan portal by yourself or seek help from an authorised automobile dealer.
Step 2: In the event that you opt to seek assistance from an automobile dealer, fill in Form 20 on the VAHAN portal.
Step 3: Eligible private sector employees need to fill in Form 60. They also need to provide their employment ID with a work certificate.
Step 4: The state authorities will verify the eligibility of the vehicle owner.
Step 5: Submit the required documents.
Step 6: After getting approval from RTO on the BH series, pay the necessary motor vehicle tax.
The VAHAN portal then generates a BH series registration number for your vehicle.
Also read: Types of Number Plates
Benefits of Bharat series license plate for your vehicle
The BH number plate offers several benefits to vehicle owners in India. Some of the benefits include:
- Standardised number plate: The BH series Number Plate has a standard format that will be the same across all states in India, which makes the license plate easier to read and identify.
- Unification: The BH series number plate unifies the registration process in India, and this system will be effective in avoiding duplicates, corruption, and other issues associated with the registration process.
- Easy to identify: The BH series number plate makes it easier for authorities to identify the owner of a vehicle in case of an accident, theft, or other incidents.
Also read: Parivahan Sewa