BH-series number plates have become a familiar sight in Gurugram, Noida and other corporate hubs. They belong to people whose jobs move them between states. When those owners relocate, change jobs or move abroad, many of these cars come up for sale, often well maintained and at reasonable prices.
That leads to an obvious question for buyers in Delhi NCR: can you buy a BH-series car, and can you keep the BH number? You can buy one, because the rules have allowed BH vehicles to be transferred since December 2022. Whether you can keep the BH number depends on whether you are eligible yourself. If you are not, the car has to be re-registered with a regular state number and you pay that state's road tax, which is a cost many buyers forget to budget for.
The short answer
- Anyone can buy a BH-series car. The December 2022 amendment allows transfer to both eligible and non-eligible buyers.
- If you are eligible for BH registration, the car can stay on BH for as long as you remain eligible.
- If you are not eligible, the car gets a new regular registration number, such as a DL, HR or UP series number, and becomes liable for the state's motor vehicle tax.
- Before you pay, check how far the BH tax has been paid, what re-registration will cost you, and whether the seller will be available to sign the transfer papers.
What is BH-series registration?
MoRTH notified the Bharat (BH) series on 26 August 2021, and it took effect on 15 September 2021. It was designed for people who move between states for work. Without it, a car registered in one state normally needs re-registration after it has been in another state for more than 12 months. A BH-series car can move across states without that step. The Tribune's report on the notification and Factly's explainer set out the key points:
- Format: YY BH #### XX. YY is the year of first registration, followed by "BH", a random four-digit number and two letters.
- Who is eligible (voluntary): defence personnel; employees of the central and state governments; employees of central and state public sector undertakings; and private-sector employees whose employer has offices in four or more states or union territories. Private-sector employees need a working certificate from their employer on Form 60.
- Road tax: charged on the invoice price, excluding GST, at 8% for vehicles up to ₹10 lakh, 10% for ₹10–20 lakh and 12% above ₹20 lakh. Diesel vehicles pay 2% extra and electric vehicles 2% less.
- Payment in two-year blocks: tax is paid for two years at a time, or in multiples of two. After the 14th year, it is levied annually at half the amount previously charged.
The two-year payment structure matters to a used-car buyer. The car's tax status depends on how many blocks the seller has paid for.
Can a BH-series car be sold? What changed in December 2022
When the scheme launched, the rules did not clearly say what happens when a BH car changes hands. That was settled by the Central Motor Vehicles (Twenty-third Amendment) Rules, 2022, notified on 14 December 2022. According to SCC Online's summary of the amendment and the Tribune's report:
- Transfer to an eligible buyer: the vehicle continues to be validly registered under the BH series as long as the new owner remains eligible.
- Transfer to a non-eligible buyer: the vehicle is assigned a new registration mark from the regular series and becomes subject to the motor vehicle tax of the state or union territory.
- If the owner stops being eligible, for example after leaving a qualifying job, the car stays on BH for the remaining period for which tax has been paid.
- Regular to BH conversion is now allowed for eligible owners, on payment of the requisite tax, through a new Form 27A.
- The working certificate on Form 60 was tightened to prevent misuse.
Scenario 1: You are eligible for the BH series
If you work for a government body, a PSU or the armed forces, or your private employer has offices in at least four states or UTs, you may be able to keep the BH number.
- Prove eligibility. Government and PSU employees typically use an official ID or service certificate. Private-sector employees need Form 60 from their employer.
- Check the tax position. Find out the date until which BH tax has been paid. The next two-year block is your responsibility once the car is in your name, so factor it into the price.
- Complete the normal transfer paperwork: Form 29 and Form 30, the original RC, valid insurance and PUC, and ID and address proof for both parties. Our ownership transfer guide for Delhi NCR covers the standard steps.
Keep in mind that a BH number can come back as a cost later. If you change jobs and are no longer eligible, the car can stay on BH only until the paid-up tax period ends.
Scenario 2: You are not eligible (most private buyers)
This is the more common case. The transfer is still allowed, but there are extra steps.
- New registration number. The car moves to a regular state series, so you need a new high-security number plate and must update the number with your insurer and on your FASTag.
- State road tax. You pay motor vehicle tax under the rules of the state where the car is being registered. The amendment summaries we reviewed do not mention any automatic credit for BH tax the seller has already paid, so don't assume there will be one. Ask the RTO how the tax will be calculated for this specific car before you agree a price.
- Different state of origin. A BH registration is still issued by a registering authority in a particular state. If that state is not the one you live in, ask your RTO whether an NOC or any additional step is needed. Our guide to buying a car with HR or UP plates in Delhi NCR explains how inter-state cases usually work.
What this means for the price: compare the BH car's asking price, plus re-registration tax and fees, against similar cars that already carry a regular number. A BH car only makes sense if it still works out cheaper after that cost, or if it is in clearly better condition.
Checks before you pay for a BH-series car
- Verify the RC. Use Hooter's RC check tool or Parivahan to confirm the registration date, owner details, fuel type and any hypothecation entry.
- Ask for tax receipts. Find out exactly which two-year block has been paid and when the next one is due.
- Look for an active loan. Like any used car, a BH car may still be financed, and the bank's hypothecation has to be removed before you can transfer it. Our guide on checking a used car for loan or hypothecation shows how.
- Clear challans. Run the number through Hooter's challan check and agree who pays anything pending.
- Plan around the seller's move. Many BH sellers are relocating. Get signed transfer forms, ID copies and a reachable contact before they leave the city, or you could be stuck waiting for a signature.
- Sort out the insurance. The policy needs to move to your name. Our guide to used car insurance transfer in Delhi explains the timelines.
Selling a BH-series car? A few tips
If you are the seller, you are dealing with a smaller pool of buyers. Some of them can keep the plate, and the rest have to budget for re-registration. To sell faster:
- Mention clearly in your listing that the car is on BH, along with the date until which tax has been paid.
- Keep tax receipts, service records and any loan closure documents ready.
- Price realistically against regular-series cars, allowing for the re-registration cost a non-eligible buyer will have to pay.
You can list your car on Hooter for free and talk to buyers directly.
FAQs
Can a person who is not eligible for BH buy a BH-series car?
Yes. Since the December 2022 amendment, BH vehicles can be transferred to non-eligible persons. The car is assigned a new regular registration number and becomes liable for the state's motor vehicle tax.
Can a private-sector employee keep the BH number after buying a used BH car?
Only if their employer has offices in four or more states or union territories and issues the working certificate on Form 60. The registering authority verifies this.
Will I get credit for the BH tax the previous owner paid?
The amendment summaries we reviewed do not provide for automatic credit. Treat the state tax on re-registration as a full additional cost unless your RTO confirms otherwise in writing.
Can I convert my regular-number car to the BH series?
Yes, if you are eligible. The 2022 amendment allows conversion from a regular registration to the BH series on payment of the requisite tax, using Form 27A.
Is a BH-series car a good buy in Delhi NCR?
It can be, provided the price allows for the re-registration cost and the paperwork is clean. A BH number tells you about the owner's job, not the car's condition, so inspect it as thoroughly as any other used car.
Conclusion
A BH-series car is easy to transfer to another eligible owner, but most private buyers in Delhi NCR will need to re-register it and pay state road tax. Find out that cost before you agree a price, check the tax receipts and RC, and make sure the seller is available to sign the papers before they move. If you would rather start with cars that already have regular Delhi NCR registration, browse used cars in Delhi NCR on Hooter and compare.