In India, a high security registration plate (HSRP), along with a colour-coded fuel sticker on the third registration plate, is a mandatory norm for vehicles sold before 1st April 2019. Moreover, if any such vehicle is caught without HSRP, its owner has to pay a penalty of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, depending on the state.
A high security number plate is an aluminium-made number plate that is fixed onto a vehicle by a minimum of two non-reusable snap-on locks and has various identifiable features. On the top left corner of an HSRP, there is a blue-coloured chromium-based hologram of the size 20mm x 20mm of Ashoka Chakra. On the bottom left corner, there is a unique laser-branded 10-digit permanent identification number (PIN). Moreover, the numerals and alphabets of the registration number, have a hot-stamped film applied over them and are preceded by a blue ‘IND’ acronym. An HSRP is only issued after the digital registration of the vehicle and is linked to the vehicle. As such, the plates cannot be used on a different car and should act as a deterrent to theft and any other kind of misuse of these plates.
There is also a third registration plate in the form of a sticker that is affixed to your vehicle’s windscreen. Previously, this sticker was transparent but now it is required to be colour-coded. Blue colour stickers are mandatory for petrol cars while orange colour stickers are required for diesel cars. BS6 cars are to be fitted with a green colour sticker on their third registration plate.
As we have described what a high security registration plate is, it is also important to know who it is for. Regardless of their fuel or body type, be it petrol, diesel, electric, two-wheeler, four-wheeler, etc. all the vehicles must be fixed with an HSRP before July 2022. The HSRPs were introduced in 2005 and became mandatory in 2019. The number plates of the vehicles sold after April 2019 are already HSRP, so people who bought or registered their vehicles before April 2019 need to shake a leg, and get their HSRP as soon as possible.
