Fancy number plates in India have steadily evolved from simple registration identifiers into high value collectible assets. Over the years, fancy number plates have come to represent exclusivity, status, and personal branding, particularly among business leaders and collectors. Low digit combinations, repeating numerals, and historically significant sequences are especially prized. With the emergence of organised auctions and private marketplaces, fancy number plates are now traded in a structured manner, attracting valuations that often exceed the cost of the vehicles they are registered on.
In a landmark transaction that has redefined the valuation of fancy number plates in India, the vehicle registration number DDC 0001 was sold for ₹2.08 crore, making it the most expensive car number ever sold in the country. The sale was conducted through Big Boy Toyz and marks a defining moment in the evolving market for fancy number plates in India.
The auction took place in early February 2026 on the Big Boy Toyz Auction platform and saw strong participation from serious collectors. The winning bid of ₹2.08 crore was placed from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Prior to the auction, the DDC 0001 number was registered to a Maruti Suzuki Ignis owned by Mr Jatin Ahuja, Founder and Managing Director of Big Boy Toyz.
The sale of DDC 0001 has established a new national benchmark for fancy number plates. Until this transaction, the highest values achieved by premium registration numbers were considerably lower. One of the most widely discussed earlier cases involved the HR 88 B 8888 number, which had once attracted bids exceeding ₹1 crore but was later invalidated due to non payment issues and subsequently re auctioned at a significantly reduced value. Other high value sales of fancy number plates in India have typically ranged between ₹30 lakh and ₹50 lakh, making the DDC 0001 transaction a clear outlier.
Low digit numbers such as 0001 are considered among the rarest categories within the Indian registration system. In the context of fancy number plates, such numbers are associated with authority, seniority, good luck and long term exclusivity. These registrations are often retained across multiple vehicles and viewed as enduring identifiers rather than disposable assets. The DDC prefix combined with the 0001 sequence significantly enhanced the rarity of the plate and played a key role in the aggressive bidding witnessed during the auction.
Big Boy Toyz and the Market for Fancy Number Plates in India
Big Boy Toyz, commonly referred to as BBT, is one of India’s leading luxury pre owned car dealerships. Founded in 2009 by Jatin Ahuja, the company operates across major metropolitan markets including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Its primary business involves the sourcing and sale of used luxury and exotic vehicles from global brands.
In recent years, Big Boy Toyz has expanded beyond conventional used car retail into a broader premium automotive ecosystem. A key extension of this strategy is the Big Boy Toyz Auction House, which has emerged as a prominent platform for the sale of rare and high value automotive assets, including fancy number plates in India.
The Auction House facilitates the sale of curated assets such as premium vehicle registration numbers, celebrity owned vehicles, and high value mobile phone numbers. According to Mr Jatin Ahuja, the growing interest in fancy number plates in India reflects a shift in buyer behaviour, with collectors seeking verified platforms that offer transparency, documentation, and legal clarity for high value transactions.
The record setting sale of DDC 0001 underscores how fancy number plates in India are increasingly being treated as standalone assets rather than accessories tied to a specific vehicle. This transaction not only sets a new price benchmark but also highlights the maturation of the market for fancy number plates in India, driven by organized auctions and rising collector demand.
With DDC 0001 selling for ₹2.08 crore, the valuation landscape for fancy number plates in India has entered a new phase, setting a precedent that is likely to influence future auctions and pricing trends.