Maharashtra extends HSRP deadline to December 31, 2025 as 65% vehicles still pending
HSRP
The Maharashtra government has extended the HSRP installation deadline to December 31, 2025 after low compliance, with most vehicles in Pune yet to switch to the mandatory plates.
Pune, November 29, 2025 – The Maharashtra government has extended the deadline for installing High Security Registration Plates on vehicles registered before April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2025. The decision comes after extremely low compliance across major cities, with Pune showing one of the slowest responses. Transport officials confirmed that nearly 65 percent of older vehicles in the city still do not have the mandatory plates, despite repeated appeals and earlier deadline extensions.
HSRP plates are designed to improve traceability in cases of theft, traffic offences and misuse. They include tamper-proof fittings and a unique laser code. While the system is already mandatory for vehicles manufactured after 2019, older vehicles have been slow to adopt it. Officials say this is largely due to appointment backlogs, delays at authorised centres and a general lack of awareness among owners who have not updated registration details in years.
Pune currently has over 24 lakh registered vehicles. According to transport department data, only about 7.25 lakh have completed the switch to HSRP. The remaining vehicles either have old plates or no updated plate record at all. The earlier deadline saw a last-minute rush, but most centres struggled to meet the volume, prompting the government to approve another extension. The new deadline is expected to reduce pressure on installation centres and give owners adequate time to book appointments.
Authorities have clarified that this will likely be the last extension. After December 31, vehicles found without HSRP may face fines or may not be allowed to complete other mandatory processes such as fitness renewal, insurance verification or highway checks. They also warned that duplicate or imitation plates are strictly prohibited. Only plates issued through authorised manufacturers will be considered valid.
Vehicle owners are being urged to complete the process early to avoid year-end congestion. Transport officials say the installation itself takes less than an hour once the appointment is confirmed, and most delays happen only when owners wait until the last weeks of the deadline. Motorists who have shifted cities or changed addresses are also being advised to update their registration details before applying for HSRP to avoid further delays.
Some safety experts have welcomed the extension but pointed out that repeated postponements weaken enforcement. They argue that unless compliance improves statewide, the purpose of HSRP — faster vehicle identification — cannot be fully realised. Others say the extension is necessary because the system cannot handle a sudden influx of lakhs of vehicles in a short period. They believe that with proper communication and steady rollout, compliance will improve gradually.
For now, the responsibility shifts to vehicle owners to use the additional time effectively. With a full year before the deadline lapses, the transport department hopes to bring compliance to acceptable levels and prevent penal action later. The next few months will indicate whether the extension leads to better adoption or simply delays the pressure until the end of 2025.
