Government brings new registration series to facilitate relocation

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 28

The Central government has taken a significant step towards doing away with the prevalent practice of changing registration number if a vehicle is shifted from one state to another state.

A new series of registration number has been introduced by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the purpose.

The Ministry, through a notification dated August 26, 2021, has introduced a new registration mark “BH-series” (Bharat series) for new vehicles. A vehicle bearing this registration mark shall not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner shifts from one state to another and takes the vehicle along.

Format of BH-series registration mark will be YY BH < #XX (YY for year of first registration, BH is code for Bharat series, < # is the randomised four digit number and XX are two alphabets).

Vehicle registration facility under BH-series will be available to defence personnel, employees of central government and state government, central and state public sector undertakings and private sector organisations having offices in four or more states/union territories.

For vehicles opting for BH-series registration, the motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiple of two. Objective of the scheme is to facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across states/UTs upon relocation to a new state/UT. After completion of the 14th year, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied annually which shall be half of the amount which was charged earlier for that vehicle.

Under the existing law, a person is allowed to keep his/her vehicle for up to 12 months only in any state other than where the vehicle is registered.

‘BH-series’ introduced

The format of BH-series registration mark will be YY BH #### XX. YY denotes the year of first registration, BH is code for Bharat Series, #### is the randomised four digit number and XX are two alphabets

How motor vehicle tax will be levied

• Motor vehicle tax levied by state and UTs during registration in respect to BH-series non-transport vehicle will be 8% in case of vehicles costing up to Rs10 lakh, 10% for vehicles costing Rs10-20 lakh and 12% for vehicles costing above Rs20 lakh.
• 2% extra charge will be levied for diesel vehicles, while electric vehicles will be charged 2% less tax
• In case, where the vehicle bears BH-series registration mark, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied electronically