In a country where fancy cars often steal the spotlight, this time it’s the registration number that has turned heads. India’s most expensive car number plate, which crossed the Rs 2 crore mark at auction, has set a new benchmark for how far buyers are willing to go for exclusivity. Here’s a closer look at how the coveted number was sold, who bought it, and why it commanded such a staggering price.
The number plate ‘DDC 0001’ was sold for Rs 2.08 crore, making it the most expensive car registration number in India. Previously fitted on a Maruti Suzuki Ignis owned by Big Boy Toyz founder and managing director Jatin Ahuja, the number was auctioned during the launch of Auction House by Big Boy Toyz on January 30 in Delhi. The winning bid was placed by Kiran Kolipakula from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
The sale has easily beaten earlier records for fancy number plates. Last year, the ‘HR 88 B 8888’ had drawn a Rs 1.17 crore bid, but the deal fell through after the bidder failed to pay, and the plate was later resold for Rs 26.7 lakh. That puts the Rs 2.08 crore paid for ‘DDC 0001’ firmly in a league of its own.
The Rs 2.08 crore sale of the ‘DDC 0001’ number plate has set a new benchmark in India’s market for premium registration numbers, marking one of the highest confirmed transactions in the segment. The winning bid from a non-metro buyer also reflects a shift in demand, indicating that interest in rare and symbolic number plates is spreading beyond major cities. With higher disposable incomes and growing interest in alternative luxury assets, premium registration numbers are increasingly being viewed as status symbols.Image source: Jatinahuja_official and bigboytoyz_india/Instagram