Two-wheelers, including motorcycles and scooters, are a popular mode of transportation in the country. At the same time, you also must have noticed a unique identification tag placed on them, known as a registration number plate.
This number plate plays an important role in identifying your bike and understanding who it belongs to. In India, two wheeler number plates follow a nationally standardised format that is easy to understand once you know its key components and colour significance. The guide below provides an overview of the various details of a motorcycle number plate, which is assigned to every owner upon successful registration of the bike.
Bike Number Plates
Once you purchase a bike, as per the Motor Vehicles Act, it becomes mandatory to register it at the Regional Transport Office (RTO), a government body that maintains a record of all the drivers and vehicles in different states of India.
The RTO issues a metal board with a unique alphanumeric registration number on it, which is known as the bike or two-wheeler number plate. This is placed at the front and back of the bike and helps differentiate your vehicle from the rest.
What Does a Bike Number Plate Show?
It is important to know about the significance of various details present on a two-wheeler number plate. Have a look at the table below to get a better idea of the same:
| Details of Bike No Plate | Explanation |
|---|---|
| State Code | The first two letters show the state or union territory where the bike is registered. E.g., MH for Maharashtra, PB for Punjab, and KA for Karnataka. |
| RTO Code | The next two digits indicate the Regional Transport Office within the state. E.g., 04 is Thane RTO in Maharashtra. |
| Alphanumeric Code | This is a unique serial number assigned to each vehicle, giving it a specific identity. |
| Logo | An oval logo with "IND" representing India, including a hologram of the Ashoka Chakra. This is part of the High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) introduced in 2005 to prevent tampering. |
Meaning of Different Bike Number Plate Colours
Various bikes may have different-coloured number plates that each signify their own unique purpose. These include colours such as:
| Bike No Plate Colour | Meaning and Purpose |
|---|---|
| White | A white number plate with black text shows the bike is privately owned and cannot be used commercially. |
| Yellow | A yellow number plate with black text means the vehicle is commercial, such as a taxi or cab, requiring a special permit. |
| Blue | A blue number plate indicates the vehicle belongs to foreign diplomats or delegates and shows the diplomat’s country code. |
| Black | A black number plate with yellow text indicates that the vehicle is commercially used but privately owned and rented out, and therefore, no commercial licence is required. |
| Red | A red number plate is used for official vehicles carrying state governors or the President of India and features a golden Indian emblem instead of numbers. |
| Upward Arrow | Military vehicles have a broad arrow prefix on the plate along with numbers showing the year of procurement; these are registered with the Ministry of Defence. |
Conclusion
In all, it is crucial to understand the various aspects of a bike number plate, be it in terms of components or colours, as this all proves to be crucial to complete the formalities required during the registration process. While registration is necessary, driving without valid third-party bike insurance is also illegal. Hence, it becomes vital to secure your bike with an insurance policy that assures both safety and security while on the road.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why must bikes have number plates?
Bikes need number plates because they consist of a unique registration number issued by the RTO, which helps identify and differentiate them from each other.
How are two-wheeler number plates formatted in India?
Two-wheeler number plates include a state code as the first two letters, an RTO code as the next two digits, followed by an alphanumeric unique identifier and an IND logo to symbolise the registration in India.
What do the letters and numbers during registration mean?
The various letters and numbers specify the vehicle’s registration state or union territory, the local RTO office, and a unique registration number assigned to each bike for identification purposes.
What do the various number plate colours represent on bikes?
The different colours of a bike number plate specify the purpose of the vehicle. White for private vehicles, yellow for commercial vehicles, blue for diplomats, black for rented vehicles, red for official dignitaries, and the upward arrow for military vehicles.
