The Maharashtra government has significantly raised the fees for "choice numbers" or VIP vehicle plates, impacting new vehicle registrations across the state.
According to a notification dated August 30, the cost for securing the prestigious '0001' vehicle plate has surged to Rs 6 lakh in high-demand areas like Mumbai, Pune, and other major cities. Previously, this number was priced at Rs 4 lakh. For four-wheelers, the new fee is Rs 5 lakh, up from Rs 3 lakh, while two- and three-wheelers will see a rise to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000.
The fees for out-of-series VIP numbers have also jumped, reaching up to Rs 18 lakh in cities like Mumbai and Pune—comparable to the price of several mid-segment cars. This marks a significant increase from the previous Rs 12 lakh.
High net-worth individuals, top businessmen, politicians, and celebrities often opt for these VIP numbers for their luxury vehicles. This is the first fee revision since April 2013.
Additionally, the government has expanded the list of VIP numbers and adjusted fees for other sought-after digits. For instance, notable numbers such as 0009, 0099, and 0999 now have a fee of Rs 2.5 lakh for four-wheelers and Rs 50,000 for two-wheelers, up from Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 20,000, respectively.
The cost for 16 popular numbers has been raised to Rs 1 lakh for four-wheelers and Rs 25,000 for two-wheelers. For 49 additional numbers, fees have increased to Rs 70,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 15,000 for two-wheelers.
Fees for a new set of 189 registration numbers, including 0011, 0022, and 0088, are now Rs 25,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 6,000 for two-wheelers.
To accommodate vehicle owners, the government has extended the period for producing a vehicle with a reserved number from 30 days to six months. However, VIP numbers will not be reserved for government vehicles, although special orders may grant fee exemptions.
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