People often see their vehicle number plate as a sign of status, luck, or success. Certain numbers—like 0001, 9999, or repeating digits—are considered very valuable. In a recent auction held by the Haryana Transport Department, one special number broke all records.
A highly sought-after number plate, HR 88B 8888, was sold for an astounding ₹1.17 crore (117 lakh rupees). This makes it the most expensive VIP vehicle number ever sold in India at an auction, beating all previous high prices.
While the government hasn't officially named the buyer or the type of car the plate is for, reports suggest the buyer is a man named Sudhir, who lives in Hisar, Haryana.
Why Is This Number So Expensive?
The reason for the massive price is the number 8, which is widely considered a lucky number associated with prosperity.
When viewed in large letters, the letter "B" on the number plate looks almost exactly like the number "8". This means the plate appears to display a sequence of seven 8s in a row (8-8-8-8-8-8-8), which is seen as incredibly auspicious.
This belief in "lucky" and repeating numbers drives wealthy individuals, including politicians and business leaders, to spend huge sums in government auctions to secure these unique status symbols.
How the Auction Worked
The Haryana Transport Department held the entire auction online:
- Participation: Anyone who wanted to bid had to pay a refundable security deposit of ₹11,000 to join.
- Starting Price: The auction began with a minimum price (reserve price) of ₹50,000.
- The Bidding: Over the course of the day, 45 people placed bids. The auction closed at 5 pm with the final winning bid at ₹1.17 crore.
Payment Status
The person who won the auction has only paid the initial ₹11,000 fee so far. The allotment of the number plate is only confirmed once the winner pays the entire ₹1.17 crore amount plus extra fees. If the winner fails to pay the rest of the money in time, they lose the number and forfeit their ₹11,000 deposit.
This kind of spending on VIP numbers is not rare. This year alone, another number (CH01-DA 0001) sold in Chandigarh for ₹36.4 lakh, and a number in Kerala (KL 07 DG 0007) sold for almost ₹46 lakh.
What the Plate Letters Mean
The number HR 88B 8888 is simply a code for the vehicle's registration:
- HR: Stands for the state of Haryana.
- 88: Is the code for the local transport office (RTO) where the vehicle is registered.
- B: Is the series letter assigned to that batch of vehicles.
- 8888: Is the unique, fancy four-digit number that was auctioned.