Government releases draft rules for high security registration plates

April 20, 2018

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has published new draft rules to make mandatory for automobile manufacturers to provide high security registration plates (HSRP) to all new vehicles from January 1, 2019. The HSRP to be fitted in all classes of motor vehicles will have tamper-proof plates with host of in-built security features and is expected to offer increased protection against theft. HSRP was made mandatory in some States 2005 but failed to take off.

High Security Registration Plates (HSRP)

HSRPs will have in-built security features, such as self-destructive sticker with engine and chassis numbers. It will be fitted on front and rear of vehicles and windscreens will have number plate tag with hologram. Chromium-based hologram will be applied by hot stamping on top left corner of plates both at front and back.
Permanent identification (id) number with minimum of 10 digits will be laser-branded into reflective sheeting on bottom left of registration plate. The permanent number will be preceded by two alphabets indicating name of vendor, manufacturer or supplier for whom Type approval certificate was issued by testing agencies.
Third registration plate, in form of self-destructive, chromium-based hologram sticker will be affixed on inner side of the vehicle’s windshield. The registering authority registration number, laser- branded permanent number, engine number and chassis number will all be in the sticker.
The plate fitted in rear of vehicle will be fastened with two non-removable and non-reusable snap locks. The replacement of existing registration plate will also be done through agency responsible for affixing the new plate.
The inclusion of automobile manufacturers and dealers will end monopoly of few HSRP manufacturers and ensure uniformity in quality of the HSRPs. Vehicle manufacturers can produce HSRP and obtainType approval certificate from Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi, or any one of six testing agencies authorised by Centre. They can also procure them from HSRP manufacturer.