The trend of shelling out hefty amounts for coveted license plate numbers is gaining momentum among vehicle owners. Many individuals are now willing to spend considerable sums to acquire attractive registration numbers for their vehicles through auctions conducted by Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). In a recent auction held by the Pune RTO, the license plate number ‘9’ fetched the highest bid, with an individual paying an astounding Rs 4,11,000 to secure this unique number.
Before commencing a new series of registration numbers, RTOs often auction off appealing license plate numbers. Interested individuals are invited to participate in the bidding process, where the cost of these special numbers ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4,00,000. In cases where multiple applicants vie for the same number, a competitive bidding process determines the winner. This recent auction took place at the Pune RTO.
During this auction, the license plate number ‘9’ received the highest bid at Rs 2,61,000. The successful bidder also paid an additional fee of Rs 1,50,000, bringing the total expenditure for the prized ‘9’ license plate number to a whopping Rs 4,11,000. Meanwhile, the license plate number ‘1’ was sold for Rs 4,00,000 as it attracted only a single application, eliminating the need for a bidding process. Additionally, the license plate number ‘9999’ went under the hammer for Rs 70,000. After factoring in an additional fee of Rs 1,50,000, the total payment by the fortunate vehicle owner amounted to Rs 2,20,000, as per officials. Among the other notable numbers, ‘0007’ fetched Rs 1,77,000, and ‘0005’ was secured for Rs 2,01,000.
This trend of paying substantial amounts for distinctive license plate numbers underscores the value people attach to personalization and uniqueness, even in the realm of vehicle registration. It also showcases the lengths to which individuals are willing to go to stand out in a crowd and make a statement with their vehicles.
