The Maharashtra government has announced a significant increase in fees for “choice numbers,” or VIP vehicle registration plates. According to a notification issued on August 30, the cost for the highly coveted ‘0001’ number plate for four-wheelers in high-demand areas such as Mumbai, Pune, and other major cities will now be ₹6 lakh, up from ₹4 lakh.
The revised fee structure has also led to a sharp rise in the cost of out-of-series VIP number plates, which can now reach up to ₹18 lakh in major cities. This increase, effective immediately, is the first revision since April 2013.
Under the new fee structure:
- The price for the ‘0001’ number for four-wheelers has risen to ₹5 lakh, up from ₹3 lakh.
- For two and three-wheelers, the fee has increased to ₹1 lakh from ₹50,000.
- Out-of-series VIP numbers will now cost up to ₹18 lakh, compared to the previous ₹12 lakh.
The fee hikes also apply to other notable numbers, such as 0009, 0099, and 0999, which will now cost ₹2.5 lakh for four-wheelers and ₹50,000 for two-wheelers. For other popular numbers, the new fees are set at ₹1 lakh for four-wheelers and ₹25,000 for two-wheelers.
Additionally, the government has extended the period for producing a vehicle with a reserved number from 30 days to six months. Notably, VIP numbers will no longer be reserved for government vehicles, though special exemptions from fee payments may apply.