Temporary number plate: validity, format, rules and how to get one
A temporary number plate carries the temporary registration mark a new vehicle gets under Section 43 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 until its permanent number is issued. It is valid for up to one month, cannot be renewed, and since 2021 follows the format T + month-year of purchase + state code + number, such as T1123LA0123A.
Key takeaways
- A temporary number plate shows a temporary registration mark issued under Section 43 of the Motor Vehicles Act so a new vehicle can be driven to its registering authority.
- The base validity is one month and it cannot be renewed; an extension is possible only for a chassis waiting for its body or causes beyond the owner's control.
- Since the 2021 uniform format (Rule 53C), the number reads T MMYY AA 0123 ZZ: T, month and year of purchase, state code, a running number and letters.
- A TC number plate is a different thing: a trade certificate plate used by dealers and makers, white letters on red, not tied to one vehicle.
- Driving after the temporary number lapses counts as using an unregistered vehicle, with a fine of Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a first offence under Section 192.
On this page · 17 sections
What is a temporary number plate?
A temporary number plate displays the short-term registration mark that a new vehicle carries between the day it leaves the showroom and the day its permanent number is allotted. It exists because Section 39 bars driving an unregistered vehicle in a public place, while permanent registration can take days or weeks.
Why it exists
A buyer usually wants the vehicle on delivery day, but the registering authority may not have inspected it or issued the registration certificate (RC) yet. The temporary mark closes that gap legally. It identifies one specific vehicle and one owner, unlike a dealer’s trade plate.
What it does not do
It is not a permanent number, it does not reserve a choice number for you, and it does not replace the RC. Once the permanent mark is assigned, the temporary plate must come off and the high security registration plate for the permanent number goes on.
What is temporary registration of a vehicle?
Temporary registration is the legal step under Section 43(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 that lets an owner apply to a registering authority, or another prescribed authority, for a temporary certificate of registration and a temporary registration mark before the vehicle is registered permanently.
Who issues it
In practice most new-vehicle dealers apply on the buyer’s behalf through the Vahan dealer module. In Andhra Pradesh, for example, the transport department says the application can go to the registering authority or a recognised new-vehicle dealer in Form 20 marked “Temporary”.
When people need it
The common cases are a new car or bike sold before its RTO inspection, a vehicle bought in one state for registration in another, and a chassis that must go to a body builder before it can be registered as a bus or truck.
How is a temporary registration number issued?
A temporary registration number is generated when the temporary application is approved on the registration software. The dealer submits the papers, the fee is paid, and the system prints the temporary certificate with the number on it. The steps below show the usual sequence.
- Buy and insure the vehicle. The dealer raises the sale invoice and the insurance policy in your name.
- Dealer files the application. Form 20, marked temporary, is filed on Vahan with the invoice, roadworthiness certificate and insurance.
- Pay the fee. Pay the temporary registration fee and any tax your state collects at this stage.
- Receive the temporary number. The temporary certificate of registration is printed with the T-series number.
- Fit the plate and apply for the RC. Display the number and complete permanent registration before the temporary period ends.
Papers usually asked for
Expect Form 20, the sale certificate (Form 21), the roadworthiness certificate (Form 22 or 22A), a valid insurance cover, owner address proof and, where the state asks, PUC. The Andhra Pradesh department lists the same set for an extension application.
If the vehicle is on loan
Under Section 43(3), when a vehicle is under hire-purchase, lease or hypothecation, the temporary certificate must show the full name and address of the financier. Check that the bank’s name is printed correctly before you leave the showroom.
What is the temporary registration number format?
The temporary registration number format was made uniform by the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2021 (GSR 240(E), 31 March 2021), which added Rule 53C. As reported, the mark reads T MMYY AA 0123 ZZ, for example T1123LA0123A.
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| T | T | Temporary registration |
| MMYY | 1123 | Month and year of purchase (November 2023) |
| AA | LA | State or union territory code |
| 0123 | 0123 | Four-digit running number |
| ZZ | A | One or two letters (I and O are not used) |
How to read one
Take T0424KL0123AB as an illustration: a vehicle bought in April 2024, temporarily registered in Kerala, running number 0123, series AB. The month-year block tells a police officer at a glance roughly when the one-month clock started.
A note on the source
The ministry’s PDF could not be opened from our system, so this layout comes from secondary sources that cite GSR 240(E). Your printed temporary certificate is the final word on your number.
TR registration India: what does TR mean?
In everyday use, TR is shorthand for temporary registration, so “TR number” and “TR registration” mean the same temporary mark described on this page. It is not a separate class of registration in the Motor Vehicles Act, and TR is not a state or RTO code.
Do not confuse it with TC
A plate showing TC is a trade certificate plate, and TP is often used for a temporary permit. Both are covered further down. If a document you were given says TR, read the validity date printed on it rather than assuming a period.
Where you may see TR
Buyers, insurers and some dealers write TR in invoices, loan papers and messages. The legal document is still the temporary certificate of registration, and the number on it follows your state’s current format.
How long is temporary number plate validity?
Temporary number plate validity is one month in the ordinary case. Section 43(2) says a temporary registration is valid for a period not exceeding one month and is not renewable. Two narrow exceptions exist: a 45-day period for certain vehicles under Rule 53B, and an extension the registering authority may grant.
| Situation | Validity | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary new vehicle | Up to one month, not renewable | Section 43(2), MV Act 1988 |
| Fully built vehicle being converted into an adapted vehicle | 45 days from issue | Rule 53B proviso, GSR 289(E), 2023 |
| Vehicle to be registered in a state other than the dealer’s | 45 days from issue | Rule 53B proviso, GSR 289(E), 2023 |
| Chassis held for body building, or delay beyond the owner’s control | Extension at the authority’s discretion | Proviso to Section 43(2) |
Why you may read “six months” elsewhere
Some guides say a temporary number lasts up to six months. We could not trace that to a rule in force. A draft amendment of August 2026 (GSR 728(E)) proposes six months for a chassis without a body, but it was a consultation draft when we checked. Follow the date on your certificate.
States can be stricter
Registration is run by state transport departments, and some set shorter internal deadlines for dealers to file the permanent application. If your dealer quotes a shorter period, ask which order it comes from and keep a note of it.
What does the law say on temporary registration validity?
On temporary registration validity, the Act itself is short: Section 43(2) caps it at one month and rules out renewal. The central rules then add specific periods. The 2023 amendment (GSR 289(E), in force from 13 April 2023) set forty-five days for two defined cases.
The two 45-day cases
The first is a fully built vehicle that will be altered into an adapted vehicle for a person with disability. The second is a vehicle to be registered in a state other than the one where the dealer is located, which gives extra time for the journey and the other state’s paperwork.
What has not changed
Nothing in these rules lets you keep driving on a temporary number once the printed period ends. The point of the regime is to get the vehicle in front of its registering authority quickly, not to postpone registration.
Can temporary number validity be extended?
Temporary number validity can be extended only in the situations named in the proviso to Section 43(2): a chassis to which no body is attached that stays in a workshop beyond the period for body fitting, or unforeseen circumstances beyond the owner’s control. The authority may charge a prescribed fee.
How to ask
Apply to the registering authority before the period ends, with the temporary certificate, insurance, PUC, address proof and the forms your state asks for. In Andhra Pradesh the department lists Form 21, Form 22 or 22A and the temporary registration form for an extension.
What counts as beyond your control
The Act does not give a list. Typical examples raised with RTOs are a body builder’s delay, a vehicle stuck after an accident, or a dealer’s error on the papers. The decision is the officer’s, so carry evidence such as a workshop letter.
What happens when car temporary number validity runs out?
If car temporary number validity runs out before a permanent number is issued, the car is legally an unregistered vehicle. Section 39 forbids driving it in a public place, and Section 192 sets the penalty. Park it and get the registration completed before using it again.
| Offence | Penalty | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without valid registration, first offence | Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 | Section 192(1) |
| Same offence, second or later | Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, or up to one year in prison, or both | 192(1) |
| Owner not applying for registration | Five times the annual road tax or one-third of the lifetime tax, whichever is higher | 192B(1) |
| Dealer not applying for registration | Fifteen times the annual road tax or the lifetime tax | 192B(2) |
Insurance risk
Insurers may question a claim on a vehicle that was not validly registered at the time of an accident. Even if a claim is paid, a gap in registration invites trouble. Do not rely on the dealer’s assurance that “it is being processed”.
Who to chase
If the dealer filed the permanent application late, ask for the application number and check it yourself. Section 192B also puts a heavy penalty on a dealer who fails to apply, which gives you leverage in a delay.
What does the temporary certificate of registration contain?
The temporary certificate of registration is the document that goes with the temporary number. It names the owner, describes the vehicle, shows the temporary mark and states the period of validity. For financed vehicles, Section 43(3) requires the financier’s full name and address on it.
Check these details
Match the chassis number and engine number on the certificate against the vehicle and invoice. Check the spelling of your name, the address, the vehicle class, fuel type and colour. A wrong entry carried into the permanent record is harder to fix later.
Keep it with the vehicle
Carry the certificate, printed or as a clear copy, every time you drive until the RC arrives. It is the only proof a police officer has that the plate is genuine, because a brand-new temporary mark may not show up in every lookup straight away.
Is a temporary RC enough to drive on?
A temporary RC, meaning the temporary certificate of registration, is enough to drive the vehicle lawfully while it is valid. You still need a valid driving licence, insurance and, where it applies, a PUC certificate. It does not cover commercial use without the right permit.
Where it falls short
A temporary RC is not proof of ownership for resale, does not let you transfer the vehicle, and is not accepted for most services that need the permanent RC, such as an NOC. Treat it as a travel pass to the RTO.
Digital copies
Once the permanent registration is done, the full certificate of registration can be shown through DigiLocker or mParivahan. Temporary certificates are usually paper printouts, so keep the original safe. Our page on the certificate of registration explains what the permanent RC contains.
Temporary vehicle registration: who can apply and where?
Temporary vehicle registration can be requested by the owner of the vehicle under Section 43(1), from any registering authority or other prescribed authority. In practice the owner signs and the authorised dealer files on Vahan, because most new vehicles are sold through dealers linked to the system.
Buying outside your home state
If you buy in one state and will register in another, ask the dealer to record the destination state. That case gets 45 days under Rule 53B, and the permanent application then goes to the RTO where you live.
Private imports and body-built vehicles
For a vehicle imported privately or a chassis sent to a body builder, the owner may have to approach the registering authority directly. Ask the office which forms and inspection it needs before moving the vehicle.
How does temporary car registration work at the dealer?
Temporary car registration is usually invisible to the buyer: the showroom collects your KYC, insurance and payment, files the application, and hands over the car with the temporary certificate and plate. Your part is to check the papers and track the permanent application.
Questions to ask the showroom
Ask for the application number, the date the temporary period ends, whether the RTO inspection is booked, and when the HSRP for the permanent number will be fitted. Get answers in writing on the delivery note.
Dealer-point registration
Many states now let dealers complete permanent registration at the point of sale, so some buyers never see a temporary number at all. Whether you get one depends on your state’s process and the vehicle type.
Temporary number plate for car: what must it show?
A temporary number plate for car must show the full temporary mark exactly as printed on the certificate, on both the front and rear. Under the 2021 format the characters are red on a yellow background. Hand-written “Applied for” or “AF” boards are not a registration mark.
Lettering
Use clear, standard characters with no stylised fonts, slogans or pictures. The number must be readable from a distance and match the certificate character for character, including the month-year block.
Once the permanent number comes
Remove the temporary plate and fit the HSRP carrying the permanent mark. The HSRP number plate guide explains the plates, stickers and fitment rules that apply from then on.
Temporary number plate for bike: what changes for two-wheelers?
A temporary number plate for bike follows the same law and the same T-series format as a car. The differences are practical: smaller plates, a more compact layout of the mark, and riders who are more likely to be stopped at checkpoints soon after delivery.
Layout on a small plate
On a two-wheeler the mark is often split over two lines, with T and the month-year above and the state code, number and letters below. Whatever the layout, every character on the certificate must appear.
Rider checks
Carry the temporary certificate, your licence and insurance, and wear a helmet from the first ride. A bike on an expired temporary number is just as unregistered as a car, and the same Section 192 penalty applies.
Temporary registration number plate: colours and lettering
For a temporary registration number plate, the reported 2021 rule is red characters on a yellow background. A Team-BHP explainer notes that many states still issue temporary marks that look like ordinary black-on-white plates, with Kerala cited as one state using the red-on-yellow style.
Do not mix it up with commercial plates
Black on yellow means a commercial transport vehicle, and white on red is a trade plate. Our page on the red colour number plate explains every red-based scheme in one place.
If your state differs
If the dealer fits a black-on-white temporary plate, that is usually the state’s practice rather than an error. What matters for a traffic stop is that the plate matches the temporary certificate.
Can you ride or drive with a temporary no plate?
You can drive with a temporary no plate, meaning a temporary number plate, only while the temporary registration is valid and the mark is displayed. Driving a new vehicle with no plate at all, or a board that only says “Applied for”, is not covered by the temporary registration.
What police usually check
Officers look for the plate, the temporary certificate, the validity date, your licence and insurance. If any is missing, the vehicle can be challaned as unregistered or for the missing document.
After the last day
The day the validity ends, the right to drive ends with it, whatever stage the permanent application is at. Arrange transport rather than risk the Section 192 fine.
Official links
Vahan citizen servicesRegistration applications, fees and status ↗Parivahan SewaNational transport services portal ↗Ministry of Road Transport and HighwaysCMVR amendments and notifications ↗e-Gazette of IndiaFull text of GSR 240(E) of 2021 and GSR 289(E) of 2023 ↗Temporary number plate questions
What is a temporary number plate?
It is a plate showing the temporary registration mark given to a new vehicle before it gets its permanent number. It lets the owner drive the vehicle legally to the registering authority for a limited period.
How long is a temporary number valid in India?
Section 43 of the Motor Vehicles Act sets a period not exceeding one month, and it cannot be renewed. Some special cases, such as a vehicle to be registered in another state, get 45 days under Rule 53B.
Can a temporary registration be extended?
Only in limited cases: a chassis held in a workshop for body building, or delays beyond the owner's control. The registering authority decides and may charge a fee. Ask your RTO before the period ends.
What is the temporary registration number format?
Since the 2021 amendment it is T, then the month and year of purchase, the state code, a four-digit number and one or two letters, for example T1123LA0123A.
Is a TC number plate the same as a temporary number plate?
No. TC means trade certificate. TC plates are used by manufacturers, dealers and testing agencies on unregistered vehicles in their possession. A temporary number belongs to one specific vehicle and its owner.
What colour is a temporary number plate?
The 2021 format specifies red letters on a yellow background. Some states still issue temporary numbers that look like normal black-on-white plates, so check what your dealer fits against your temporary certificate.
Is a temporary RC valid for driving?
Yes, while it is within its validity, as long as you also carry a valid driving licence, insurance and PUC where required. After it lapses the vehicle is treated as unregistered.
What is the fine for driving after the temporary number expires?
Driving a vehicle without valid registration is punishable under Section 192 with a fine of Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a first offence, and more for repeat offences.
Can I drive a car with temporary registration to another state?
You can drive it to the registering authority within the validity period. Where the vehicle is to be registered in a state other than the dealer's, Rule 53B gives the temporary registration 45 days.
Parivahan Sewa (parivahansewa-in.com) is an independent information website and is not affiliated with MoRTH, Parivahan or any state transport department. Confirm fees and rules on the official portal before you pay or apply.