A High Security Registration Plate, or HSRP, is a number plate built with several security features to prevent tampering and duplication. Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 governs the form and manner of display of registration marks on vehicles, and HSRP is mandated under this framework. An ordinary painted or sticker plate can be swapped easily, while an HSRP is difficult to remove, replace or copy.
How to recognise an HSRP
An HSRP is made of aluminium. It carries a chromium based hologram with the Ashoka Chakra in the top left corner. The letters IND, for India, appear in blue on the left side. A permanent identification number is laser engraved on the plate and linked to the vehicle’s records. The letters and numbers are embossed and covered with a special film. The plate is fixed with snap locks that cannot be opened without breaking them, so the plate cannot simply be unscrewed and moved to another vehicle.
The third registration mark
Along with the plates, there is a third registration mark, a sticker fixed on the inside of the windscreen of four wheelers. It shows details such as the registration number and engine and chassis numbers. It is designed to get destroyed if someone tries to remove it, so it cannot be reused on another vehicle. The colour of this sticker indicates fuel type. As per the ministry’s notification, light blue is used for petrol and CNG vehicles, orange for diesel vehicles and grey for other fuels.
Rules for new vehicles
In December 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification requiring that vehicles manufactured on or after 1 April 2019 be supplied with HSRP and the third registration mark by the manufacturer through its dealers. This means buyers of new vehicles do not need to go anywhere separately to get the plates. The cost is generally included in the vehicle price. At delivery, check that the plates carry the hologram and the laser engraved number.
What about older vehicles
For vehicles manufactured before 1 April 2019, the rules and deadlines for fitting HSRP are set by state governments. Many states have made it compulsory for older vehicles too and offer online booking. The booking asks for the registration number and some digits of the chassis and engine numbers, after which you choose a time slot at a dealer or fitment centre. Always use the booking link given on your state transport department’s website, because fake websites have been reported.
To spot a fake website, check the domain in the address bar carefully and start from the state transport department or Parivahan portal. Compare the fee with the official notice before paying. Keep the booking receipt and reference number until the plates are fitted.
Why HSRP matters
The main purpose of HSRP is to make vehicle identity reliable. It becomes harder to run a stolen vehicle with changed plates or to use the same number on multiple vehicles. The laser number and its link to records help investigating agencies trace vehicles. Uniform plates also make it easier for traffic cameras to read numbers correctly, which supports automated enforcement.
Writing names, slogans, designs or fancy fonts on number plates is against the rules and can lead to a challan. If a plate breaks, get a new one through the authorised process instead of fitting a local replacement, because a non standard plate can itself attract a fine.
In short, an HSRP is a secure number plate with a hologram, a laser engraved number and snap locks. Vehicles made after 1 April 2019 get it from the dealer, while states set the rules for older vehicles. For current rules and booking, check the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and your state transport department’s official websites.
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Source: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Parivahan Sewa, Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, India Code
