Are Embossed Number Plates Legal

The installment of high-security embossed number plates in private vehicles, registered in Bagmati zone has been made mandatory.

The embossed number plate was formally launched by the government from August 21. It is a technically advanced number plate that will facilitate regulation and management of vehicles.

According to the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), all private vehicle owners, besides two-wheelers, with the number plate starting with ‘BA’ have to get embossed plate within the end of this fiscal year.

The deadline for installing the new number plate has been prepared according to the registration lot of vehicles. The transportation management authority also announced that the government-owned vehicles most affix the embossed plate by mid-April, 2018. Likewise, the owners of three or four wheeler private vehicles of lot numbers between 1 and 12 have also been directed to change their number plate within the same deadline.

Similarly, the three-and four-wheelers with the lot number 13 and above must install the embossed plate at the end of the fiscal year. The owners of the private vehicle of this group can also change their number plate to the new system before mid-April if they wish to do so.

Even though the federal system and provincial system is being implemented in the country, the number plate has been embossed according to the zonal codes. However, Tok Raj Pandey, spokesperson for DoTM assured that they will change the number plates again as per the name of provinces in the future for free. This decision of DoTM has been receiving a lot of criticism.

Pandey also mentioned that the provincial code will be pasted on the embossed plate, which would help identify the province in which the vehicle was registered. He added that after completing the installation of embossed number plates in Bagmati zone, the DoTM will expand the project across the country. The government office has also planned to start installing new number plate system on two-wheelers and public vehicles in the next phase.

The installation of embossed number plates is believed to control the incidences of vehicle thefts and misuse. DoTM ensured that the number plate cannot be changed easily; the plate will be fixed using locking mechanism.

According to DoTM, the charge for the embossed number plate has been fixed at Rs 2,500 for motorbikes, Rs 3,200 for light four-wheelers and tractors, and Rs 3,600 for heavy vehicles.

Mazad has announced that its second auction of unique new private vehicle number plates will be held on 21 December, in association with Arabian Auction, a company under Emirates Auction.



A package of 25 unique number plates from the new 610000 and 620000 categories will be auctioned. For the first time, the auction will also include pre-owned unique vehicle number plates (33311, 52255, 299922,7774, 32100), following the announcement last month that individuals would have the opportunity to auction their special number plates. The auction will also feature a raffle on two special number plates (616662) and (629922).




The new private vehicle number plate auction has already generated significant interest and promises to enrich the experience for all participants, reflecting Mazad’s commitment to creating a diverse, engaging auction service in the Kingdom.


The auction will be held on Thursday 21 December at 6pm at the Gulf Hotel Convention Centre, with pre-registration to take place at the auction site between 11am and 5pm.


Registered participants from all nationalities will have the opportunity to bid for an unlimited number of unique new vehicle numbers. A certificate of ownership will be awarded to successful bidders, with payment to be completed within ten days of the auction closing date.


Those who wish to participate in the auction must deposit an open-value insurance cheque at registration. If the participant is unsuccessful or the number is not sold, the cheque will be returned to the owner immediately after the auction. Those who wish to participate in the auction on behalf of another individual are required to present a power of attorney that allows them to register and submit offers on behalf of a client.

Bidding can also be offered by telephone authorization, and the company applied this method at its last public auction in April. To participate in telephone bidding, registration at the auction venue must take place between 11:00 and 3:00 pm on the day of the auction.

To be eligible to bid on all numbers, a blank refundable cheque must be deposited. To be eligible to bid on numbers with a starting bid price of BHD 500 and below, a refundable deposit of BHD 1000 must be paid by either cheque or credit card.