Noida's most expensive number plate: 'UP16FH0001' fetches Rs 27.5 lakh in historic auction

The auction was conducted online via the centralised parivahan.gov.in portal.



A Noida-based pharmaceutical company has secured a slice of automotive prestige, paying a staggering Rs 27.5 lakh for the coveted ‘UP16FH0001’ vehicle registration plate in a government auction, setting a new record for the city’s transport department.

The landmark bid was placed by Aviorion Pvt Ltd, a firm headquartered in Sector 126, which intends to affix the distinctive new-series number to a Mercedes-Benz car. According to a report by TOI, the auction was conducted online via the centralised parivahan.gov.in portal.

Nand Kumar, the assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) for Noida, reportedly confirmed the historic sale. He stated that Aviorion Pvt Ltd emerged as the highest bidder at Rs 27.5 lakh during the proceedings and subsequently paid the full amount for the allotment, attributing the sum as the highest ever fetched by the department for a registration number.

The auction process for the newly launched UP16FH series required participants to deposit a security amount of Rs 33,000. The winning bid far surpasses the previous high for the district, set just months ago in September 2025, when a private company paid Rs 11 lakh for the number ‘UP16FD0008’.

The sale underscores the intense competition for so-called ‘fancy numbers’, which the transport authorities categorise into four groups based on desirability. The most premium category, which includes sequential digits like 0001, 0002 and 0003, consistently attracts the highest premiums from buyers seeking exclusivity.

This record-breaking transaction also highlights a robust and reliable auction system, following past incidents where winning bidders reneged on payments. Notably, last year saw a bidder offer Rs 32 lakh for ‘UP16EP0001’ but ultimately withdraw from the purchase, a scenario the department is keen to avoid.

The demand for unique identifiers reflects the sheer scale of vehicle ownership in the bustling satellite city. Official data indicates that the Noida transport department currently has nearly 11 lakh registered vehicles on its books.