Chandigarh: Haryana’s weekly VIP-number e-auction turned into a high-stakes digital showdown this Wednesday when the number HR88B8888 sold for an astonishing ₹1.17 crore, officially making it the most expensive registration plate in India’s history.
The auction, conducted on the state’s portal for vanity numbers, saw 45 determined bidders battling for ownership of the plate. Starting at a base of just ₹50,000, bids rocketed upward through the afternoon — hitting ₹88 lakh by midday and finally closing at the record-breaking figure by 5 pm.
This sale dwarfs last week’s previous high — HR22W2222, which fetched ₹37.91 lakh — highlighting how fast the luxury-number craze is accelerating.
What makes this number irresistible?
The draw is visual impact plus symbolism:
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A hypnotic run of 8s, with the capital “B” visually echoing the same shape
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The number 8888 is widely considered lucky and wealth-attracting
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The configuration is rare, visually striking, and instantly elite
The broader trend: status on wheels
India’s high-end car owners are increasingly signalling prestige through registrations as much as through their vehicles. Earlier this year, a James-Bond-inspired 0007 plate in Kerala went for ₹45.99 lakh — once sensational, now merely eclipsed.
With bids crossing the crore-mark, number plates are clearly no longer just identifiers — they’re trophies.
And Haryana’s record-shattering sale proves it:
In India’s luxury circles, sometimes the number on the car matters almost as much as the car itself.
