As per the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 4(6), the 1st 2 letters of the car registration number will indicates the state in which it is registered. Example - Tamil Nadu - TN, Andhra - AP.
The next 2 numbers in the registration number will be the code number allotted for state government RTO (Regional Transport Office) as given by the state government. Example, Ayanavaram Chennai - 01, Tirunelveli – 72, Madurai – 58, Krishnagiri – 24, Nagercoil – 74.
The next figures will numbers not exceeding 4. In other words, the figures will start from 1 and end with 9999 as in the concerned RTO.
Once 9999 is filled up, the next figure will be an alphabet in the given series. Then the next 4 figures will be numbered from 1 to 9999.
How to get fancy numbers?
Not including Chennai, for all the other RTOs throughout Tamil Nadu, 97 fancy numbers out of the series 1 to 9999 will be reserved by the state government. These 97 numbers are all fancy numbers.
These numbers will be blocked and will not be allotted in the computer generated number. In case, we want any number from the government reserved 97, we have to pay the special allotment RTO fees in the government Home Department - Transport section and get the desired fancy number. This cannot be obtained from the District RTOs.
Application Procedure:
On a given day, see the last registered number. Select any one of the next 1000 numbers (except the government blocked fancy numbers) and apply. The registration officer has the authority to approve this and registration number selected will be given. There is no necessity for the vehicle to be shown to the RTO.
Even without buying a vehicle, one can register any one of the 1000 numbers above can be selected and this registration number can be booked. We have to register the vehicle before this number comes in the regular registration list. When the previous number to the one we picked is registered in the regular list, a notice will be sent from the RTO to the individual who booked this registration number. Then, we have to go to the RTO within 30 days of receipt of this notice and submit the documents and show the vehicle. Otherwise, the reserved number will not be allotted.
Charges for the fancy number:
For reserving the number starting next to the last registered number and within the next 1000 numbers, the charges will be Rs. 1000 for vehicles below 50 cc capacity. For the motorcycles and 3-wheelers (including auto rickshaws) above 50 cc capacity, it is Rs. 2000.
For vehicles costing over Rs. 4 Lakhs and imported cars, the fees for reserving a fancy registration number is Rs. 6000. For other vehicles, it is Rs. 5000.
After paying the special fees for a fancy registration number, it will be allotted under the name of the person who applied for it. In case 2 persons apply for the same number, the person who has pays the higher vehicle tax will be given priority.
Example – If an individual has booked a fancy registration number for a 2-wheeler and another individual asks for the same number for his 4-wheeler, the priority will be given to the 4-wheeler owner as he pays the higher tax.
In case 2 persons have applied for the same fancy registration number for the vehicles of the model, the allotment will be done by a lucky draw.