Different Types of Vehicle Number Plates in India

White plates with black letters mark privately owned, non-commercial vehicles. Owners cannot legally use them for hire, transporting paid passengers, or carrying goods commercially.

Yellow plates with black letters identify commercial vehicles like taxis, trucks, and buses. Only drivers holding a valid commercial driving license can operate them.

Green plates are mandatory for all electric vehicles. Private EVs carry white letters, while commercial electric vehicles display yellow letters on the same green background.

Black plates with yellow letters mark self-drive rental cars like Zoomcar or Revv. Drivers need only a private license, not a commercial one.

Red plates with white letters show temporary registration, issued by dealerships for up to 30 days until permanent RTO registration is completed.

Blue plates with white letters are used for foreign diplomats and embassies, showing country codes like UN, DC, or CC instead of state codes.

Red plates bearing the Ashok Chakra emblem mark vehicles of the President, constitutional authorities, and state Governors, often without a standard registration number.