The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has made a move to curb vehicle theft and enable easier tracking of lost and stolen vehicles. The new amendment of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989 has made it mandatory for all vehicles sold on or after April 1, 2019 to be pre-fitted with High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

According to the notification given by the MoRTH, dealers will be supplied with the HSRP (including the third registration mark) by the vehicle manufacturers, along with the manufactured vehicles, on or after the due date. The dealers shall then place a mark of registration on such plates and affix them on the vehicle.

Existing vehicles can also opt for HSRP but only once old plates have been surrendered and destroyed. The government states that this step is likely to improve the coverage of HSRP on vehicles, while ensuring its quality by the vehicle manufacturers. The HSRP helps in keeping track of the vehicle, and makes it easier to trace a lost or stolen vehicle.

The new registration plates will come with a 15-year guarantee that assures if the HSRP breaks, withers or suffers any other natural damage within that time period, it will have to be replaced by the dealer who fitted it.

To discourage counterfeiting, a chromium-based hologram will be hot-stamped on the top-left corner of both front and rear HSRPs. This stamp will contain the Ashoka Chakra in blue. The 10-digit permanent identification number (PIN) will be laser-branded into the bottom-left corner of the HSRPs, and the hot-stamping film to be applied on the letters and numerals of the registration number will have 'India' inscribed on it.

Additionally, a third registration plate in the form of a chromium hologram sticker will have to be affixed on the bottom-left side of the windshield, on the inside. Details such as the registration number, the registering authority, a laser-branded PIN, and engine and chassis numbers will be part of this sticker.

To ensure HSRPs aren't stolen, the circular states that the rear HSRP will have to be fastened with "at least two" non-removable/non-reusable snap locks.

The notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to this effect was issued after due consideration of objections and suggestions received from the public in this regard. MoRTH made the proposal for HSRPs in April, this past year, and invited objections and suggestions from those likely to be affected from the amendment.