Choice car numbers in Maharashtra: new fees, e-auction steps and booking before delivery
By Arjun Ramanarayanan, IndiCar · Published 1 November 2026 · Tips
The fee for 0001 on a car in Maharashtra is reported to rise to Rs 5 lakh, or Rs 6 lakh in high-demand regions. Here are the fee tiers, the e-auction steps and how long a number stays reserved.
The fee for the number 0001 on a four-wheeler in Maharashtra is reported to have risen to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh, and to Rs 6 lakh in high-demand regions, under a transport department notification dated August 30. The lower tiers went up too: Rs 2.5 lakh for numbers such as 0009 and 0786, then Rs 1 lakh, Rs 70,000 and Rs 25,000 for larger groups of numbers. You apply on the Parivahan portal, contested numbers go to an e-auction, and you can secure a number before your car arrives. A reservation is valid for only 30 days, so timing is the main risk.
Fees for cars after the August 30 notification
The table lists the reported four-wheeler fees, tier by tier. One report says Maharashtra has identified 240 VIP numbers in each registration series; the tier counts below are as reported and the sources do not reconcile them with that total.
| Number or group | Earlier fee | New fee |
|---|---|---|
| 0001 | Rs 3 lakh | Rs 5 lakh |
| 0001 in high-demand regions | Rs 4 lakh (one report only) | Rs 6 lakh |
| 0009, 0099, 0999, 9999, 0786 | Rs 1.5 lakh | Rs 2.5 lakh |
| 16 specific numbers | Rs 70,000 | Rs 1 lakh |
| A further 49 numbers | Rs 50,000 | Rs 70,000 |
| Another 189 numbers, such as 0011, 0022, 0088, 0200, 0202, 4242, 5656, 7374 | Not reported | Rs 25,000 |
| Number taken from another series ("three-time basic fee") | Not reported | Rs 15 lakh |
The high-demand regions named for the Rs 6 lakh fee are Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Raigad, Aurangabad, Nashik and Kolhapur. The earlier Rs 4 lakh figure for those regions comes from one line of one report and conflicts with the Rs 5 lakh figure, so treat it with caution.
The Rs 15 lakh fee applies when the number you want is not available in the current series and has to come from another series. That is the most expensive route in the table.
How the e-auction works
A choice number is taken at the time of vehicle registration under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. If more than one applicant wants the same number, it goes to auction. The steps run in this order:
- Apply on the Parivahan portal, which the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways manages.
- Pay a non-refundable registration fee online. You pay it to reserve a number or to join an auction.
- Register within the window, which is open for three days from the start of the e-auction.
- Bid on the next two days if the number is contested.
- Deposit the balance online within 5 days of the declaration date.
- Collect the allotment letter, which is generated after the deposit is paid.
Because the registration fee is non-refundable, treat it as the cost of trying. Every car with a fancy number must also carry an HSRP (High-Security Registration Plate).
Booking a number before you have the car
You do not need to own the vehicle first, according to one guide. You can secure the number and then use it when the car is registered.
The catch is that the number is only used at registration. Until the car is registered against it, the reservation is running down its validity period.
How long a reserved number stays valid
Plan on 30 days. A private RTO consultant says a Maharashtra reservation is valid for 30 days only, and a second guide says it is generally valid for 30 days.
A national guide gives 90 days for the allotment letter after an auction, but that figure is not specific to Maharashtra. Work to the shorter period: if the vehicle is not registered within the validity period, the allotment may lapse.
So know when your car will be registered before you bid. IndiCar confirms stock and the delivery date before you book, which tells you whether a 30-day window is realistic for your car.
What a choice number adds to an on-road price
The number fee is separate from your vehicle's registration charges, so it sits on top of the on-road price. Take the cheapest Mahindra Scorpio N, the Z2 Petrol Manual 7-seater, registered in Mumbai by an individual, from IndiCar's price list dated 12 October 2026.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | Rs 13,69,001 |
| RTO registration and road tax | Rs 1,68,436 |
| Insurance (first-year comprehensive) | Rs 1,02,815 |
| TCS | Rs 13,690 |
| FASTag | Rs 850 |
| On-road price | Rs 16,54,792 |
Everything above ex-showroom adds Rs 2,85,791 to this car. A Rs 6 lakh 0001 would be a bigger extra than all of those charges put together. A Rs 25,000 number from the 189-number group would sit well below the RTO line alone.
The Scorpio N comes in 27 variant and powertrain combinations, up to the Z8 L 4WD Diesel Automatic 7-seater at Rs 31,30,136 on-road. You can see each one on the Scorpio N prices and configurator page, or work out registration and tax for any car with the on-road price calculator. Other models are listed on the new car on-road price list.
Which tier makes sense
The Rs 25,000 tier is the easiest to justify. Its 189 numbers include repeats and patterns such as 0022, 0202, 4242 and 5656, for a fee below the Rs 1,02,815 first-year insurance on the cheapest Scorpio N.
The top of the table is a different purchase. At Rs 6 lakh in a high-demand region, 0001 costs more than every charge above ex-showroom on that Scorpio N. At Rs 15 lakh from another series, the fee is higher than the car's Rs 13,69,001 ex-showroom price. Unless the number itself matters to you more than the car, the middle and lower tiers give you a memorable plate for a fraction of that.
Sources: New VIP number fees in Maharashtra decoded: Is it worth the extra cost?, Maharashtra hikes VIP vehicle registration fees. Click to know details - PUNE PU, Choice Number
Buying a new car through IndiCar
IndiCar arranges new-car purchases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. You book a new car on IndiCar at the on-road price shown on its car page, with the full price breakup: ex-showroom, RTO registration, insurance, TCS and FASTag. You book online with a refundable reservation, and IndiCar sources the car from partner dealer stock and handles the registration, insurance, paperwork and delivery.
You deal only with IndiCar from quote to delivery. Your phone number is never passed to a dealer, and you do not need to take the quote to a showroom to negotiate. See on-road prices and book or get a WhatsApp quote on +91 85916 41004.
Frequently asked questions
What does the number 0001 cost for a car in Maharashtra now?
It is reported at Rs 5 lakh, up from Rs 3 lakh, and Rs 6 lakh in high-demand regions. If it has to come from another series, the reported fee is Rs 15 lakh.
What is the cheapest choice number tier for a four-wheeler?
The lowest reported tier is Rs 25,000, covering 189 numbers such as 0011, 0022, 0088, 0200, 0202, 4242, 5656 and 7374.
Can I book a choice number before I buy the car?
One guide says you do not need a vehicle first. You can secure the number and use it at registration, but a Maharashtra reservation is valid for 30 days, and the allotment may lapse if the car is not registered in that time.
How does the e-auction timeline work?
Registration is open for three days from the start of the e-auction, bidding takes place on the next two days, and the balance must be paid online within 5 days of the declaration date. The allotment letter is generated after that deposit.
Is the registration fee for the auction refundable?
No. The registration fee paid online to reserve a number or join an auction is non-refundable.
Is the choice number fee part of the normal registration charges?
No. The number cost is separate from the vehicle's registration charges, and a car with a fancy number must also carry an HSRP.
Tags: choice number, fancy number plate, maharashtra rto, vehicle registration, e auction