From caste names to ‘Don’ tags: The rise of the illegal, fancy number plate in Delhi

New Delhi: In recent months, Delhi’s roads seem to be witnessing a surge in vehicles plying with either blank plates, “fancy” stylised lettering that defies legibility, or plates featuring random words, caste names and aggressive slogans instead of the mandatory registration numbers. The trend is visible at many intersections across the city.

From high-end luxury sedans to modified SUVs, the high-security registration plate (HSRP) mandate seems to have become a mere suggestion for a growing segment of motorists.

“Last year, there was an increase of nearly 46% in prosecutions related to defective, fancy or blank number plates. While 42,974 challans were issued under this category in 2024, the number rose to 62,639 in 2025,” a senior police officer said.

On any given day, social media platforms like X and Instagram are flooded with snapshots of such “phantom” vehicles. Users tag Delhi Police and Traffic Police handles with precise locations and timestamps, yet the frequency of these sightings suggests that public shaming and digital reporting are providing little deterrence. Despite a digital onslaught of complaints from frustrated citizens, police and traffic cops appear to be caught in a high-speed game of cat-and-mouse.

Senior police and traffic officials say that the “reel culture” is a primary driver behind this nuisance. For many drivers, a fine is simply the “cost of doing business” for a viral video, or worse, a badge of honour in a subculture that prizes defiance over road safety. Sources said that many of these vehicles are brought onto main roads for very short durations — often just long enough to record a 30-second clip for a reel or YouTube Shorts.

The audacity of these modifications reached a new peak recently when a BMW was intercepted in Hyderabad featuring a sophisticated, cinematic-style “changeable” number plate system. With the press of a remote button, the plate would flip or slide to reveal a completely different registration number, reminiscent of a James Bond film.

This came as a shock to many, but for the denizens of the Delhi-NCR car enthusiast community on Instagram, it was old news. In the comment sections of viral videos showcasing the Hyderabad bust, dozens of users claimed that such “flip-plate” fitments are readily available in the automotive hubs of Delhi and Noida.

Others pointed out that these gadgets, along with “stealth” curtains that drop over plates at the flick of a switch, can be easily ordered online and couriered to any address in India.

The struggle for the police is twofold: technology and volume. While cameras have been installed to catch speeding and traffic signal violations, their effectiveness is neutralised when the camera cannot “read” a plate because it is covered in reflective tape, written in an illegible cursive font, or simply says “King” or “Don” instead of a numeric code.

This also creates a security loophole, according to experts. “If a vehicle with a masked plate is involved in a hit-and-run or a more serious crime, the city’s vast network of CCTV cameras becomes practically useless for identification,” says a retired traffic cop.

Delhi Police said that they have been taking strict action against such drivers and the vehicle is impounded if they are caught plying on the road or a video shot by a passerby comes to their notice. “Offending vehicles are tracked through cameras and their front number plates, which many of them have. Technical tools are used to identify them. FIRs are also registered in many cases if the vehicle is found to be driven rashly and endangering other commuters”.

On April 13, a social media post showed a black Thar SUV, bearing a defective number plate “BLACKPORSS”, plying on the streets. “We initiated legal action immediately and a team from Patel Nagar police station traced the vehicle using technical analysis. The owner was identified as resident of New Moti Nagar and had gone abroad,” said a senior officer.

Upon return, he was traced along with the vehicle. “A challan was issued for defective number plate and the vehicle was seized,” the central district police posted on X on April 22.

Interestingly, the US allows “fancy” or personalised licence plates, known as vanity plates, through state-level Department of Motor Vehicles agencies.

Drivers pay extra fees to select custom alphanumeric combinations, which can include letters, numbers, and sometimes special symbols, like a heart or a star.

But India doesn’t allow any such plates and in absence of a sustained crackdown, the trend could continue to grow, road safety experts suggested.