Every motorised vehicle has its own unique number for easy identification, but you may have noticed that the plate on which the numbers are written on the front and back is not all of the same colour for all the vehicles on the road. This is not merely an aesthetic choice, but rather, is done in accordance with the country’s transportation regulation system. Here are all the different colours that are used for number plates (also known as vehicle registration plates) in India, and their meaning.
Cars belonging to foreign diplomats, embassies or consulates have a blue number plate. These are provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and usually carry the alphanumeric code in white. They may also carry the logo or emblem of the diplomat or embassy’s country, and the vehicles are exempt from paying local taxes, tolls or other fees.
Red number plates with the national emblem are typically used for vehicles that are owned and operated by the central government or state governments. The vehicles are meant for the transportation of high-ranking government officials, diplomats, and other dignitaries. A number plate with an upward-pointing arrow denotes that the vehicle belongs to the armed forces of India, such as the army, air force or navy. These registration plates are issued by the Ministry of Defence and are strictly reserved for use by the members of the armed forces, subject to their own set of rules and regulations.
