Explained: What is the right way to display your vehicle number plate

Hyderabad: Fancy fonts, different font sizes, and deletion of numbers and alphabets from vehicle number plates will no longer be entertained, the Hyderabad traffic police said. It will conduct a special drive from 20 March and vehicles found in violation will be seized and criminal cases registered against the owners. A fine of up to Rs. 1,000 under various sections of the MV Act will be imposed for non-compliance with court instructions, the city cops said.

According to the Motor Vehicle Act (Rule 50 and 51), one should only use a unique number plate that is issued by the Road Transport Authority (RTA).

The registration letters and numbers should be black on a white background for two-wheelers, light motor vehicles, and cars. For commercial vehicles, the letters should be black on a yellow background.

Additionally, fancy, fiber, and plastic lettering are not permitted. Other names, pictures, and art should not be displayed on the number plate.

What should the size of the number plates be?

The size of the number plates should be 200x100 mm for two- and three-wheelers.

For light motor vehicles and passenger cars, the size of the number plate should be 340x200 mm or 500x120 mm.

For medium/heavy commercial vehicles, the size of the number plate should be 340x200 m

The size of the letters and numbers should also adhere to the following instructions:

Where should the registration numbers be displayed on motor vehicles?

The registration mark shall be displayed both at the front and rear of all motor vehicles, clearly and legibly. In the case of motorcycles, registration numbers in the front should be displayed parallel to the handlebar on any part of the vehicle such as a mudguard or on a plate.

The registration mark on light motor vehicles may be in the center with illumination.

Registration number exhibited at the rear of the transport vehicles should be on the right-hand side at a height not exceeding one meter from the ground level as may be reasonably possible.

For transport vehicles, the registration number should also be painted on both the left and right sides of the body of the vehicle.

In the case of stage carriages and contract carriages, registration numbers should also be painted on a partition provided between the driver and passengers or on the front left side interior near the roof facing the passengers' seats. For motor cabs or taxi cabs, the number can be painted on the dashboard.

How should registration marks be displayed on motor vehicles?

The letters of the registration mark shall be in English and the figures in Arabic numerals.

The registration number should be exhibited in two lines – the state code (AP) and registering authority code forming the first line and the remaining number in the second line.

The registration mark of all motor vehicles in the front and two-wheelers having no sufficient provision at the rear may be exhibited in a single line.