The Bharat Series Number, represented by the letter ‘BH,’ was introduced by the Ministry of Transport, it is a series of number plates for non-transport vehicles that will be introduced in India on August 28, 2021. Registration for the same began on September 15, 2021. The introduction of the BH series of number plates is a government initiative to promote ease of mobility throughout the country.
As per the Transport Ministry, having this number plate on a vehicle would allow Indians to transport their automobiles or vehicles from one state to another without having to change the number plate, which is a time-consuming and inconvenient procedure.
What Is Bharat Number Series?
This series is intended for drivers who cross state lines on a daily or more frequent basis. BH will replace the state letters on the license plate that indicate the state of registration (which stands for Bharat). On private vehicles, number plates with a white background and black numbers would be used.
What Are the Qualifications for the New BH Series?
The following individuals or businesses are eligible to apply for the new series:
- Personnel in the military
- Government employees from both the federal and state levels
- Central/State PSUs, as well as several private sector companies/organizations, have offices in five or more states/Union Territories
What does a BH series number plate look like?
The number plate will be the usual ones for private vehicles, with black text and white background. However, there will be a change in the format of the texts and numbers.
Number Plate’s Format
- The new number series plate has the following format: YY BH #### XX
- The letter YY stands for the year of the initial registration.
- The code for the Bharat Series is BH.
- #### – a number between 0000 and 9999 that will be chosen at random
- Alphabets from AA to ZZ are represented by the letter XX.
What is the procedure for applying?
The following are the key steps to remember when applying for a BH series registration number:
- The vehicle’s owner must apply for the new BH series number at the RTO where the vehicle was originally registered, presenting a government ID card to prove his job profile.
- The car owner must pay road tax for two, four, or six years, depending on how long they intend to stay in the state where they purchased the vehicle.
- The ‘No Objection Certificate’ is no longer required under the new Bharat number plate because there is no state contribution in the new series. As a result, the car’s owner can apply for re-registration in the state that he or she lives in right away.
- The car owner can use the state’s tax revenue here. So, if the car owner prefers, they can wait until the old tax revenue expires before applying for new registration.
- Even with the new Bharat series number plate, a vehicle owner will be fined if they do not renew the RC within the time frame specified if they are caught by traffic cops.
However, if you choose to pay the new state’s road tax, you may be eligible for reimbursement. To accomplish this, you must submit a reimbursement request for the original state’s road tax
How much money will have to be spent on the BH number plate?
BH Series number plate application cost is divided into three different sections. For vehicles costing less than 10 lakhs, the applicant will have to pay 8 percent of the cost of the vehicle, which will be charged as the fee for the BH series number plate application. The rate of tax will be 10 percent on a vehicle costing between Rs 10 and 20 lakh. If the value of the vehicle is more than Rs 20 lakh, then the owner will have to pay 12 percent of the cost of the vehicle to get the BH series number plate.
The BH Series’ Benefits
Some advantages of the Bharat Series Number
- The motor vehicle tax will be imposed for two years or a multiple of two Bharat series, making it easier to transfer ownership of previously owned vehicles.
- Every time the owner moves, the vehicle registered with a BH series does not require a transfer registration. The number plate is still valid throughout the country.
- Vehicle owners are required to pay only two years of road tax at a time under the new number plate, as opposed to 15 or 20 years previously (differing from state to state).
Road Tax in the New System
In the new “BH” series regime, the ministry has fixed the road tax of 8% for vehicles costing up to Rs 10 lakh, 10% for those costing between Rs 10-20 lakh, and 12% for vehicles costing over Rs 20 lakh. There will be a 2% extra charge for diesel vehicles and electric vehicles shall be charged 2% less tax. The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiples of 2.
Conclude
With the new Bharat series number, one can avoid having to re-register his or her car if he or she moves to a new or different state. This series will be useful for people whose jobs require frequent transfers between Indian states. The new BH series will likely make positive changes to the current system, making it easier to buy and sell vehicles in the country.
This series of number plates are currently available for people with government jobs and armed personnel, among others, as discussed in the blog above. If you are eligible to obtain a Bharat Series number plate, you should do so to facilitate your movement between states.
