Only new vehicles with HSRP plate will be registered from May 1

While the new vehicles manufactured on or after April 1 will come with pre-fitted the high-security registration plate (HSRP), the fate of the existing vehicles going for the tamper-proof high-security number plate will be known after the state government decides on that post-Lok Sabha polls.

For existing vehicles, old number plates have to be replaced with the new ones —HSRP. This might take few months in the state as the tendering process to appoint a vendor is not yet complete, sources in the transport department said.

The state transport department will come out with the rules for the existing vehicles to change to the HSRP. Automobile manufacturers had been entrusted by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways with the task of issuing the “security licence plate, including the third registration mark” while supplying to the dealers. The dealers should place a mark of registration on the HSRP and affix them on the vehicle. Third registration mark refers to a chromium-based hologram sticker affixed on the inner side of the vehicles’ windshield which will have the details of registration. Transport Commissioner C Samayamoorthi said that now most of the work on the vehicle registration would be done at the dealer’s end itself. “All the details can be entered through Vahan portal in the dealer’s premises itself. When everything is done, they have to bring the vehicle to the RTO where the engine and the chassis number will be checked. A new number will be given. You have to take it and print it,” he explained.

HSRPs have certain security features and are protected against counterfeiting. The plates are fastened with non-removable/non-reusable snap lock fitting system. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had announced in December last year that all the new vehicles manufactured on or after April 1 will need HSRP.