A city where vehicles already outnumber people has just set another extraordinary benchmark. Chandigarh’s Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) has auctioned the fancy registration number CH01DD0001 for a record Rs 53.88 lakh — the highest price ever fetched by a vehicle number plate in the Union Territory’s history, surpassing the previous record of Rs 36.43 lakh set barely a year ago.The latest e-auction, held from March 4 to 6, covered fancy and choice registration numbers of the new CH01-DD series (0001 to 9999) along with leftover numbers from previous series. A total of 591 numbers were sold, generating revenue of Rs 4,48,87,000 — itself a record for a single RLA auction in Chandigarh’s history.The second most coveted number, CH01DD0003, went for Rs 32.32 lakh, while CH01DD0005 fetched Rs 17.50 lakh — underlining that in Chandigarh, even the runner-up numbers command small-car money.The pace at which Chandigarh is resetting its own fancy number benchmarks speaks to both the city’s soaring affluence and its insatiable appetite for exclusivity. CH01DA0001 had set the previous record at Rs 36.43 lakh just last year, eclipsing CH01CZ0001 (Rs 31 lakh), CH01CV0001 (Rs 23.70 lakh) and CH01CH0001 (Rs 22.02 lakh) from previous years. Each series, it appears, produces a new high.Over the past five years, Chandigarh has auctioned over 40,000 VIP numbers, pulling in more than Rs 14,500 crore in cumulative revenue — a figure that rivals road tax earnings of several Indian states. Year on year, the numbers have climbed with remarkable consistency: from 3,308 fancy numbers auctioned in 2020 to 9,599 in 2023, with revenues surging from Rs 106.16 crore in 2020 to Rs 319.05 crore in 2024.More wheels than peopleThe frenzy over number plates sits atop a startling reality: Chandigarh, home to an estimated 13 lakh residents, now has close to 15 lakh registered vehicles. The city adds over 100 new vehicles daily on average and has registered 2.21 lakh new vehicles in the last five years alone. Its per capita vehicle density is among the highest in the country.In this fleet of wheels — two-wheelers, luxury SUVs, electric cars and supercars alike — the craving for a premium plate has become as much a status marker as the vehicle itself. McLarens, Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Porsches regularly change hands in Chandigarh, and their owners often pay as much for the right number as others do for an entire car.Transparency drives the bidding: DCDeputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the record-breaking auction reflected both the city’s soaring aspirations and the confidence its citizens place in a clean, technology-driven process.“Chandigarh’s appetite for premium numbers grows auction after auction — and that is a direct result of the accountability, responsiveness and transparency embedded in our e-auction system. It provides a level playing field to every bidder, leaves no room for discretion or manipulation, and naturally drives revenues higher. The numbers speak for themselves,” he told The Tribune.RLA Pradhuman Singh said the latest auction’s proceeds were the highest ever in the RLA’s history and that the digital platform had made the process accessible, fair and competitive.As Chandigarh races toward 15 lakh vehicles — and as its citizens continue to put premium after premium on personalised plates — the message from the city of more cars than people is clear: here, prestige isn’t just what you drive. It’s what’s written on the plate.Chandigarh’s Fancy Number Fever — By the NumbersCurrent Auction (CH01-DD Series | March 4–6, 2026)RankNumberAmount1CH01DD0001Rs 53.88 lakh (All-time record)2CH01DD0003Rs 32.32 lakh3CH01DD0005Rs 17.50 lakh4CH01DD0009Rs 14.40 lakh5CH01DD0007Rs 14.22 lakh6CH01DD1000Rs 9.19 lakh7CH01DD0006Rs 8.50 lakh8CH01DD0008Rs 8.24 lakh9CH01DD0002Rs 7.25 lakh10CH01DD0100Rs 6.23 lakhTotal numbers auctioned: 591Total revenue: Rs 4,48,87,000 (Highest ever for a single RLA auction)Costliest Fancy Numbers — Chandigarh’s All-Time Top FiveNumberPriceYearCH01DD0001Rs 53.88 lakh2026 (New record)CH01DA0001Rs 36.43 lakh2025CH01CZ0001Rs 31.00 lakh2025CH01CV0001Rs 23.70 lakh2024CH01CH0001Rs 22.02 lakh2022Five-Year Fancy Number Economy (2020–2024)YearNumbers AuctionedRevenue20203,308Rs 106.16 crore20216,167Rs 156.11 crore20229,055Rs 240.53 crore20239,599Rs 302.43 crore20248,752Rs 319.05 crore2025 (till date)4,088Rs 145.11 croreFive-year total: 40,000+ numbers | ₹14,500+ crore(Source: RLA, UT Chandigarh)National recordThe registration number HR88B8888, from Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district (Badhra subdivision), was last year auctioned for a staggering Rs 1.17 crore — the highest price ever paid for a vehicle number plate in India so far. The auction was conducted online through the official Parivahan portal, with a base reserve price of just Rs 50,000.