• Source:JND

Indian Number Plate Colour Code:  While most of us see only the white or the yellow colour plates daily, the Indian number plate colour code is quite diverse. There are various colour codes for different types of number plates. Additionally, you must have seen various number plates with different coloured letters and symbols. Do these number plates, their colour codes, and their symbols confuse you? Here we have explained the Indian number plate colour code and symbols. So that the next time you see a number plate, you know exactly what it means. As most of us are already familiar with the white number plate with the black lettering, we will be discussing the ‘not-so-usual’ type of number plates here.

Yellow Plate With Black Letters

If you are wondering why the buses, auto rickshaws, and cabs have a different yellow number plate, it is because a yellow number plate with black lettering is essentially used for commercial purposes. The trucks and construction vehicles, such as a crane, a bulldozer, a concrete mixer, and even an excavator, use the same kind of number plates.

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Green Plate With Yellow Letters

A green plate essentially means that the vehicle is an EV (Electric Vehicle). India is swiftly adopting the electric future of automobiles. While people are enjoying quieter and smoother rides in their private EVs, the public transport in many cities is rapidly transitioning into electric vehicles. What separates a private electric vehicle from a commercial EV is the colour of the lettering used on the plate. The green plate with white lettering means a private EV, and a green plate with yellow lettering means a commercial EV.

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Black Plate With Yellow Letters

While a yellow plate with black letters can be easily found on one of the public transports, cabs, or an auto rickshaw, a black plate with yellow letters also means a commercial vehicle. However, it means that the vehicle is a rented vehicle. While a commercial vehicle requires a special commercial license to be driven, the rented vehicle can be driven by a person holding a normal license.

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Red Plate White Lettering/Red Lettering Yellow Plate

A plate with a red background and white letters essentially means that the vehicle is undergoing testing. You must’ve also come through a yellow number plate with red lettering. Such a plate shows that the vehicle is running on a temporary number plate. A temporary number plate remains valid for 1 month.

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Blue Plate White Letters

A blue plate with white lettering is used by the diplomats in the country. Usually, such number plates are issued to diplomats posted at different embassies in the country. United Nations officials also use the same kind of number plate, and if you see a blue number plate with yellow lettering, it means that the vehicle is assigned to a person working in an embassy.

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Black Plate White Letters & An Upward Arrow

Often, people come through vehicles that start with an upward arrow. Such vehicles’ number plate is usually black. Any vehicle that carries a number plate which starts with an upward arrow symbolises that the vehicle belongs to the Indian armed forces. Such vehicles can also be seen with other symbols, such as a star. If you see a red star, it means that the vehicle is used by the Army; if the star is sky blue, it means that the vehicle is being used by the Air Force. However, if the star is navy blue, it means that the vehicle belongs to the Navy.


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