BH Series Number Plate: Eligibility, Road Tax, Cost and How to Apply

The BH series number plate (Bharat series) is a registration scheme that lets eligible people move between states without re-registering their car. Instead of paying road tax once for 15 years to one state, BH owners pay road tax every two years at a national rate: 8% for vehicles up to ₹10 lakh, 10% for ₹10–20 lakh and 12% above ₹20 lakh, with 2% extra for diesel and 2% less for EVs. It is available to defence personnel, central and state government employees, PSU employees, and private-sector employees of companies with offices in at least four states or UTs.

Here is how it works, whether it saves money, and how to apply.

Why BH series exists

Normally, when you move your car to another state for more than 12 months, you must re-register it there and pay that state’s road tax for the remaining years. You then have to claim a refund from your old state. For people who move frequently for work, this is expensive and tiring. BH series lets them keep the same registration anywhere in India.

What a BH number looks like

A BH number follows the format YY BH #### XX, for example 26 BH 1234 AA. “YY” is the year of registration, “BH” is the series code, ”####” is a four-digit number and “XX” are letters. It does not show a state code.

Eligibility

You can apply if you are:

• A member of the defence forces.
• An employee of the central government or a state government.
• An employee of a central or state public sector undertaking.
• An employee of a private company or organisation with offices in four or more states or union territories.

Private-sector applicants usually need a working certificate from their employer confirming eligibility.

How BH road tax is calculated

The commonly used formula for a two-year BH road tax payment is:

Two-year tax = ex-showroom price × tax rate × 1.25 × 2 ÷ 15

The rates:

Diesel vehicles pay 2% more; electric vehicles pay 2% less.

Example: ₹12 lakh petrol SUV

1. Rate: 10%.
2. Two-year tax: ₹12,00,000 × 10% × 1.25 × 2 ÷ 15 = ₹20,000.
3. You pay this every two years.

Over 14 years (seven payments), that adds up to about ₹1.4 lakh, similar to the one-time road tax in many states, but spread out.

Example: ₹8 lakh petrol hatchback

1. Rate: 8%.
2. Two-year tax: ₹8,00,000 × 8% × 1.25 × 2 ÷ 15 = about ₹10,670.

Is BH series cheaper?

In high-tax states like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, where one-time road tax can be 13–20% or more, BH series can cost less over the car’s life, and it certainly helps cash flow.

In low-tax states like Gujarat, Delhi or Haryana, one-time road tax may be cheaper than BH series over 10–15 years.

If you move states often, BH series saves the cost and hassle of re-registration, which is its main purpose.

If you sell the car early, BH series is attractive because you have not prepaid 15 years of tax. With normal registration, you have prepaid tax you cannot fully recover when you sell within the same state.

Compare your state’s rates in our road tax by state guide.

How to apply

1. At the dealer: tell the dealer you want BH registration when you book the car.
2. Documents: Form 60 (for BH), employer’s working certificate (for private sector), or government ID (for government employees), plus the usual registration documents.
3. Online application: the dealer submits the application through the Vahan portal.
4. Tax payment: pay the two-year BH road tax online.
5. Number allotment: the BH number is generated and HSRP plates are fitted.

Renewing BH road tax

Every two years, pay the next instalment online through the Vahan portal. Missing a payment can attract penalties. After 14 years, tax is typically paid annually.

Selling a BH-registered car

You can sell a BH-registered car to someone who is also eligible for BH, or to a non-eligible buyer, in which case the vehicle may need to be converted to normal registration in the buyer’s state, with road tax paid as applicable. Rules on transfers have evolved; check with the RTO before selling.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• No re-registration when moving states.
• Road tax paid in smaller two-year amounts.
• Useful for people who sell cars within a few years.

Cons:

• Only for eligible employees.
• Can cost more than one-time tax in low-tax states over a long period.
• Transfers to non-eligible buyers can be more complicated.
• Regular payments to remember.

Worked example: a software engineer in Bengaluru

A software engineer at a multinational with offices in several states buys a ₹15 lakh petrol SUV in Bengaluru.

• Normal Karnataka registration: 17% plus 11% cess, about ₹2.83 lakh upfront.
• BH series: 10% rate, two-year tax of ₹25,000.

If the engineer moves to Pune after three years and sells the car after six, BH costs about ₹75,000 in total (three payments). With normal registration, they would have paid ₹2.83 lakh upfront plus the complications of re-registration in Maharashtra. BH is clearly better here. Estimate your own on-road price with our on-road price calculator.

Common mistakes

• Assuming BH is always cheaper. Compare with your state’s one-time rate.
• Forgetting renewal dates. Set reminders.
• Not getting the employer certificate right for private-sector eligibility.
• Ignoring resale implications if you plan to sell to a non-eligible buyer.

BH series for EVs

Electric vehicles get a 2% reduction in the BH rate, so a ₹15 lakh EV pays 8% instead of 10%. But many states waive road tax on EVs entirely under normal registration. In those states, normal registration may be cheaper than BH for an EV. Check your state’s EV rules in our EV road tax and subsidy guide before choosing BH for an electric car.

BH series and insurance

Insurance works the same way as for normal registration. Your insurer records the BH number on the policy. When you move states, you do not need to change the registration, but update your address with the insurer so claims and communication are not delayed. Premiums may vary slightly by city, since insurers price risk by location. Our zero depreciation insurance guide explains which add-ons to consider.

BH series and car loans

Banks lend on BH-registered cars in the same way as on normally registered cars. The hypothecation is recorded on the BH registration. When the loan is closed, you remove the hypothecation through the RTO as usual. Our car loan interest rates guide covers how to get a good rate.

Frequently raised concerns

“Will traffic police recognise a BH plate?” Yes. BH series is an official registration notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the details are in the national Vahan database.

“Can a BH car be used as a taxi?” No. BH series is for non-transport (private) vehicles.

“What if I change jobs to a company that does not qualify?” Your existing BH registration remains valid. Eligibility is checked at the time of registration.

“Does BH affect resale value?” Not directly. Buyers who are themselves eligible may find it attractive. For non-eligible buyers, the transfer process may involve conversion and road tax in their state, which can make the sale slightly more complex.

Checklist before you choose BH

1. Confirm you are eligible and get the employer certificate if needed.
2. Compare the BH cost over your expected ownership period with your state’s one-time road tax.
3. Check whether your state waives EV road tax, if buying an EV.
4. Ask the dealer whether they have handled BH registrations before; experienced dealers make the process smoother.
5. Set calendar reminders for the two-year tax renewals.

A quick decision guide

Choose BH if you are eligible and any one of these applies: you expect to move states within the next few years, you live in a high road tax state, or you usually sell cars within five or six years. Choose normal registration if you plan to stay in one low-tax state for a long time, or if you are buying an EV in a state that fully waives EV road tax. When in doubt, calculate both options for your expected ownership period.

Where to get official information

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified the BH series and publishes updates. The Vahan portal handles applications and tax payments. For state-specific questions, your local RTO is the final authority. Rules have been amended since the scheme began, so rely on current official sources rather than older articles.

Summary

The BH series number plate lets eligible government, defence, PSU and multi-state private-sector employees avoid re-registration when moving states, paying road tax every two years at 8%, 10% or 12% (plus 2% for diesel, minus 2% for EVs). It suits people who move often or sell cars within a few years, and it can save money in high-tax states. Compare with your state’s one-time road tax before choosing. For more, see our on-road price explainer and ownership section.

Prices are ex-showroom unless we say otherwise, and makers change them often. Confirm the latest price, offers and variant details with an authorised dealer before you book.