New Bharat Series (BH) Number Plate in India: all you need to know

The Indian government has launched the Bharat series (BH) registration mark for vehicles. It is a number plate that is valid across India. The Bharat series number plate is introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and highways on 28 August 2021, to ease the mobility of vehicles.

Under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act,1988, a vehicle registered in a particular state is allowed to driven in another state only for 12 months. Which make it difficult for the people with a transferable job or people moving to another state for various reason.

The idea behind the BH series is to ensure easy mobility of non-cargo vehicle owners, so that don’t have to register again if moving to another state.

BENEFITS:

A BH series plate is valid across India, a vehicle owner does not need to apply for new registration when moving to another state, which saves a lot of time and paperwork.

For personal vehicle registered under the new BH series, the motor vehicle tax is imposed for two years or in multiples of two, that is, four, six, eight.

For owner not under this series have to shell out 15 to 20 years of tax, depending on the state the vehicle is purchased

The tax can be paid online and applicable for 14 years, post that annual payment is required, 8% tax is impose on the invoice for vehicle cost less than 10 lakh,10% for vehicle cost between Rs 10 and Rs 20 lakh and 12% for vehicle those about 20 lakh.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

This series is not for everyone. A government employee or a public sector employee, state or center, can apply for this BH series number plate, a public sector employee with offices in more than four states or union territories is also eligible.

Defense personnel, bank employees, employees of the administrative services.

HOW TO APPLY FOR BH SERIES PLATE?

To apply for this one has to verify the proof of eligibility from the state authorities, then vehicle owner can log in the road and transport ministry’s VAHAN portal. Application can be done with the help of automobile dealers while purchasing a vehicle. The dealer needs to fill from 20 on the portal on behalf of the owner.

Private sector employee needs to fill from 60 and provide employee ID and work certificate.

The format of this new series is YY BH####XX.

The YY is for the year of registration, BH is Bharat , followed by a computer generated vehicle number( FOUR digit) and alphabets. The registration to secure a BH number plate began on 15th September 2021.