This is Part 6 of the Car & Bike Owner's Guide, our 20-part series on owning, running and staying legal with a vehicle in India. New here? Start with Part 1: Choosing Your First Car, or read the previous part, Part 5: HSRP Plates and Your RC.
For years, moving to a new state with your car meant paperwork, a second road tax payment and a long wait for a refund. The Bharat series (BH series), introduced in 2021, was created to fix that for people who relocate often.
What is the BH series?
A BH-registered vehicle carries a number plate valid across India, so you do not need to re-register it every time you move. The format is YY BH #### XX: the year of registration, the letters BH, a four-digit number and two letters, in black on a white plate.
Who is eligible
- Defence personnel.
- Central and state government employees.
- Employees of central and state public sector undertakings.
- Employees of private companies with offices in four or more states or Union Territories.
It is available for new, non-transport (private) vehicles.
How the road tax works
Instead of paying road tax for 15 years upfront, BH vehicles pay tax for two years at a time, or multiples of two years. The rates are based on the invoice price:
- 8 percent for vehicles up to ₹10 lakh.
- 10 percent for vehicles between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh.
- 12 percent for vehicles above ₹20 lakh.
- Diesel vehicles pay 2 percent more, and electric vehicles 2 percent less.
After 14 years, tax is paid every year.
How to apply
- Tell your dealer you want BH registration when you buy a new vehicle.
- Submit proof of eligibility: a government ID card, or for private employees, a working certificate from your employer.
- The dealer applies through the Vahan portal and you pay the two-year tax.
Moving with a regular registration
If your vehicle has a normal state registration and you move permanently, the law requires you to re-register it in the new state if you keep it there for more than 12 months. The usual steps are:
- Get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your original RTO.
- Inform your insurer and update the policy address.
- Apply for a new registration at the RTO in your new state and pay the road tax there.
- Apply for a refund of the unused road tax from your original state, if it offers one.
Your vehicle gets a new number and a new HSRP. See Part 5: HSRP Plates and Your RC. Moving by road? Read our road trip checklist.
Rules, fees and fines here reflect central rules as of October 2026. States can set their own procedures and compounding amounts, and rules change, so check the Parivahan portal, your state transport department or your RTO before acting.
Next in the series: Part 7: PUC Certificate.
