Maharashtra govt. hikes VIP number fees; pay ₹6 lakh for '0001' in Mumbai and high-demand areas

As per the transport department’s notification dated August 30, the cost for the coveted number ‘0001’ will rise ₹Rs 5 lakh for four-wheelers, up from the current ₹3 lakh

The Maharashtra government has hiked fees for "choice numbers," commonly known as VIP numbers, for new vehicles, which will translate into revised ₹6 lakh charge for the most sought-after '0001' number for four-wheelers in high-demand areas like Mumbai, Pune, and other cities.

Interestingly, the new fees mean that an out-of-series VIP number will cost up to ₹18 lakh in major cities including Mumbai and Pune, which incidentally is the cost of new cars in the mid-segment.

As per the transport department's notification dated August 30, the cost for the coveted number '0001' will rise ₹Rs 5 lakh for four-wheelers, up from the current ₹3 lakh. For two and three-wheelers, the fee will increase to ₹1 lakh, doubling from the existing ₹50,000.

In high-demand areas such as Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Pune, Thane, Raigad, Aurangabad, Nashik, Kolhapur, and Nashik, the VIP fee for '0001' will be ₹6 lakh, up from ₹4 lakh for vehicles with four or more wheels.

Many high net-worth individuals, top businessmen, politicians, and celebrities among others prefer VIP numbers for their expensive cars.

The revised 'three-time basic fees' will be ₹15 lakh for four-wheelers and more-wheeled vehicles and ₹3 lakh for two- and three-wheelers if the number '0001' is unavailable in the current series for that particular type of vehicle and if it needs to be given from another series as per the rules, the notification stated.

The new fees mean that an out-of-series VIP number will cost up to ₹18 lakh in major cities including Mumbai and Pune, comparable to the price of several mid-segment cars. Previously, the fee was ₹12 lakh, a sum paid by entities like Reliance Industries for such numbers after opting for it "out of series" in the last few years.