More expensive than a supercar: Andhra man pays Rs 2.08 crore for India’s costliest number plate

Andhra collector buys ‘DDC 001’ for Rs 2.08 crore, India’s costliest number plate ever

India’s appetite for rare and symbolic automotive collectibles hit a new milestone with the sale of the vehicle registration number “DDC 001” for Rs 2.08 crore, making it the most expensive number plate ever sold in the country. The record-breaking transaction took place during the launch of Auction House by Big Boy Toyz, though the spotlight quickly shifted from the platform itself to the extraordinary value commanded by the vintage number.

According to Cartooq, the plate “DDC 001” was previously owned by Jatin Ahuja, founder and managing director of Big Boy Toyz. At the auction, the winning bid of ₹2.08 crore was placed by Kiran Kolpakula, a buyer from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. With this sale, “DDC 001” not only became the costliest number plate auctioned in India but also set a new benchmark for the growing market around exclusive registration numbers.

Speaking to Cartooq, Ahuja said that the response reflected a deepening interest among collectors in rare, high-value assets beyond cars themselves. He emphasised that when assets of such value are involved, credibility, verification and transparency become central to buyer confidence. According to him, the auction demonstrated that collectors across regions are willing to pay a premium for authenticity and trust.

The Rs 2.08 crore sale comfortably eclipsed the previous national record. Until late last year, the title of India’s most expensive number plate belonged to “HR88B8888”, which was sold for Rs 1.17 crore at an official auction in November. That deal had already underlined how certain combinations, especially repeating digits, attract intense bidding and near-collector status.

Before that, the benchmark was held by “KL 07 DG 0007”, which fetched ₹46 lakh. The number was bought by Venu Gopalakrishnan, founder of Litmus7, for his Lamborghini Urus Performante, valued at around ₹6.6 crore. At the time, the purchase had drawn attention for the sharp contrast between the cost of the plate and the already eye-watering price of the car.