Embossed Number Plates Mandatory from September 17

The government has decided to make embossed number plates mandatory for all vehicles across the country starting September 17, 2025.

A meeting chaired by Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, and attended by ministers and secretaries from all seven provinces on Tuesday took a decision to this effect.

The meeting concluded that all provincial Transport Management Offices must enforce the installation of embossed number plates during vehicle registration, ownership transfer, and renewal processes effective from the given date. The Department of Transport Management will provide the necessary technical support to implement this provision, while the Ministry of Home Affairs will coordinate with traffic police to ensure effective enforcement.

Read: Government Starts Issuing Embossed Number Plates

During the meeting, the committee made several other decisions aimed at modernizing and streamlining transport services. It agreed to standardize revenue rates for 10-year driving licenses, digitize all related data, shift the payment process to digital platforms, and enhance the efficiency of software systems used in service delivery. The committee also decided to resolve irregularities more effectively and implement a consistent policy on ride-sharing services.

Read: DoTM Stops Printing Smart License Cards Except for Emergency Purpose

The meeting also addressed delays in printing driving licenses. Referring to the memorandum of understanding signed on May 23, 2025 between the Department of Transport Management and the Security Printing Center—as per Clause 9 of the Security Printing Act, 2081—the committee urged the Center to begin the production of the first batch of licenses by mid-September. Although both sides had agreed to begin printing by mid-July, the Center has not yet started the process.

Since Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces have already advanced the necessary procurement procedures, the committee also requested the Security Printing Center to immediately authorize and initiate the license printing work in those provinces.

The meeting was held in accordance with Clause 22 of the Coordination and Interrelationship Act, 2077 BS, which allows such inter-governmental coordination meetings under the leadership of the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport. -- RSS