Kathmandu: Government of Nepal has made it mandatory to install embossed number plates on all vehicles starting from 17 October 2025.
This decision was made during a meeting of the subject committee comprising provincial ministers and secretaries, chaired by Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal.
The meeting concluded that from Ashoj 1, vehicle registration, ownership transfer, and renewal services provided by provincial Transport Management Offices will only be allowed if the vehicle has an embossed number plate.
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) will provide the necessary technical support for the implementation, while the Home Ministry will coordinate with traffic police for effective monitoring and enforcement.
Despite an earlier government decision in 2021 to make embossed number plates mandatory, the plan had failed to take off effectively. A gazette notice published in November 2021 aimed to roll out the system in selected provinces from December that year.
However, public backlash over fines and enforcement led the Department to scale back the plan, limiting it to new registrations and ownership transfers only.
This time, the government is moving ahead decisively, with a clear timeline and enforcement strategy. The plan aims to digitize vehicle records and improve monitoring across the country.
The meeting also reviewed the agreement between the DoTM and the Security Printing Centre to print pending smart driving licenses. As per the agreement signed in mid-May 2025, the first phase of production is expected to begin by end of September 2025. The Center has been urged to start printing without further delay.
Three provinces — Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki — have already initiated procurement processes for printing licenses. The meeting urged the Security Printing Center to expedite approvals for the same.
Other major decisions from the meeting include standardization of driving license fees across the country for the 10-year validity period, digitization of vehicle and license records, promotion of online/electronic payment systems, software system upgrades for efficient service delivery, streamlining of financial irregularities, and standard implementation of ride-sharing services across the country.
The meeting was held in accordance with Section 22 of the “Coordination and Interrelationship Act, 2020” and emphasized the need for intergovernmental cooperation between federal, provincial, and local levels to effectively implement federalism.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Dahal highlighted the importance of enforcing constitutional and legal provisions to strengthen federalism. He said effective implementation of committee decisions would enable faster and more accessible services for citizens.
Secretary of the Ministry, Keshav Kumar Sharma, said the meeting was important in reviewing past decisions and defining a clear future roadmap. The meeting also saw the participation of ministers, secretaries, and representatives from local governments.
What is the cost of embossed plates?
According to earlier recommendations by the Ministry’s committee, vehicle owners will have to pay a separate fee to replace their current number plates with embossed ones:
Motorcycles and scooters: Rs 2,500
Cars, jeeps, vans, and tractors: Rs 3,200
Heavy vehicles (buses, trucks, etc.): Rs 3,600
The government is expected to announce more details on rollout procedures and enforcement mechanisms soon.
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