Punjab Vehicle Number Auction Registration Opens

Punjab has opened online registration for premium vehicle number auctions, giving owners of motorcycles, private cars and commercial vehicles a chance to bid without visiting Excise Department offices.

The Punjab Information Technology Board said people can apply from home through the e-Auction mobile app or web portal. The last date to register is November 30. The platform will also publish details of successful bidders after the process.

This move matters for drivers who want special registration numbers, but the rules are strict. Applicants must first check whether their preferred number is available. After that, they need to pay a non-refundable Rs. 100 participation fee through e-Pay and submit their personal details, CNIC or NTN, and vehicle chassis number.

How the auction works

Once the system approves an application, it issues a login ID and password for bidding. Each Automated Identification Number, or AIN, lets a person bid for one registration number only. If someone wants numbers for more than one vehicle, each vehicle must be registered separately.

The department will only allot the number to a vehicle owned by the applicant, firm or company. It can also be assigned to a vehicle the applicant gets later through transfer of ownership.

Applicants must also deposit the reserve price or average price, whichever is higher, before taking part. That deposit is part of the system’s rules, and no interest will be paid on it.

Reserve prices for selected numbers

Punjab has set minimum reserve prices for attractive numbers under the policy:

• Number 1: Rs. 10,000

• 7 and 786: Rs. 7,500

• Other single-digit numbers: Rs. 5,000

• 11, 22, 33, 111, 222 and 777: Rs. 5,000, but not for motorcycles and rickshaws

• 302 and 420: Rs. 2,000 for private cars and commercial vehicles

Bids will rise in steps of Rs. 500 for four-wheelers and Rs. 200 for other vehicles. The normal registration window under the policy runs for three days, and results are usually announced at 9pm on the relevant day.

If a bidder places a new offer in the last 15 minutes, the system will extend bidding by one minute. This can keep going until no one challenges the top bid.

Payment and deadline after winning

Winning the auction does not mean the number can be displayed right away. The buyer must still complete the normal vehicle registration process first.

Successful bidders must pay the auction amount along with the regular registration fee. They must also register the vehicle within 15 days after the result is announced. In exceptional cases, the Director of Excise and Taxation may allow an extra 30 days.

If a winner does not pay on time, the department can cancel the number and forfeit the deposit. The policy also says the initial deposit may be adjusted against the registration fee challan for both successful and unsuccessful applicants, if the vehicle and identity details match.

For buyers, the key step is simple: confirm the number is available, keep the CNIC or NTN and chassis details ready, and total up the full cost before paying the Rs. 100 fee. That can help avoid losing the deposit later.

For background on Punjab’s digital fee and tax systems, readers can also see our coverage of Punjab One App and Punjab token tax payments.

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