Vehicle registration auction generates over Rs 4 crore; ‘0001’ settles for second-highest bid
Gurpreet Singh :- The craze for fancy vehicle registration numbers continues to soar in Chandigarh, with bidders shelling out hefty sums to secure premium numbers. In the latest auction conducted by the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA), the registration number CH-01-DE-0003 emerged as the highest-priced number, attracting a winning bid of Rs 37.63 lakh.
Interestingly, the highly sought-after ‘0001’ number, which traditionally commands the highest bids, finished second this time with a bid of Rs 23.55 lakh, well below the amount paid for ‘0003’.
The online auction for the new CH-01-DE series was held from May 30 to June 1. The bidding process included registration numbers ranging from 0001 to 9999, along with several unsold fancy and special numbers from previous series.
According to official figures, a total of 681 registration numbers were auctioned, generating revenue of approximately Rs 4.13 crore for the Chandigarh Administration.
Several other premium numbers also attracted significant bids. Number ‘0009’ was sold for Rs 12.30 lakh, while ‘0002’ fetched Rs 10.22 lakh. Bidders paid Rs 9.86 lakh for ‘0005’ and Rs 9.48 lakh for ‘0007’. Other popular numbers, including ‘0077’, ‘0008’, ‘0010’ and ‘0004’, were also sold for several lakhs of rupees.
Although ‘0003’ topped the latest auction, the all-time record for the highest bid in Chandigarh’s fancy number auctions remains with ‘0001’. During the auction of the CH-01-DD series in March this year, the number was sold for a record Rs 53.88 lakh, setting a benchmark that still stands.
Officials say the growing demand for premium registration numbers reflects an increasing trend among vehicle owners to opt for distinctive number plates, often viewing them as a status symbol. The strong response to successive auctions indicates that the appetite for exclusive registration numbers remains robust despite the substantial prices involved.
