Mumbai: Wait for new car to get longer from April 1

This Gudi Padwa, don't expect to get your new car delivered at your doorsteps on the same day you bought it. Starting April 1, all vehicles will come with high-security registration plate (HSRP) which will further delay the process of registering the vehicle. According to sources, from April 1, once the vehicle is purchased, the dealer will have to register the new HSRP with the RTO before handing it over to the buyer.

According to RTO officers, once new rule comes into effect, the dealers will have to ensure that the vehicle is fitted with HSRP, before handing over the vehicle to the customer. They will also have to update the security codes of each plate on VAHAN 4.0 portal. Only after this will they be allowed to hand over the vehicle to the new owner.

"At present, a vehicle gets a registration number after signing of the vehicle documents, inspection of the vehicle by RTO inspector and payment of taxes," said an RTO official. The owner would paint the registration numbers on the plate later.

Moreover, people cannot opt for changing designs of the number plates once HSRP is fixed. It would also mean that people cannot sport fancy numbers like BOSS, PAPA, DADA etc. The union government has made HSRP mandatory for all the new vehicles manufactured from April 1, and needs to be fitted with it. The move, initiated to primarily curb vehicle theft, will also lead to uniformity in number plates.

The HSRP will be made of a rare aluminium alloy and contain a retro-reflective hologram, hot-stamped lettering, a 10-digit unique serial number, and it will be fitted with a snap lock, which is expected to make the plate tamper-proof. This not only makes it tamper proof but also data of the vehicle can be easily accessed. Apart from the HSRP, a sticker on the windscreen too will be glued.

The HSRP is aimed to curb vehicle theft, end the problem of fancy number plates.

On March 25, the Transport Commissioner office of Maharashtra issued an internal circular and directed all 50 RTOs to ensure proper implementation of HSRP rule. They have been asked to conduct meetings with the automobile dealers.

HIGH-SECURITY REGISTRATION PLATES

• From April, all vehicles manufactured in city will be pre-fitted with tamper-proof high-security registration plates (HSRP) 
   
• The tamper-proof HSRP will discourage people from using illegal number plates
   
• The move, initiated by the Union government to primarily curb vehicle theft, will also lead to uniformity in number plates