If you are driving on your personal vehicle in Bihar with any government board, name plate or name of your post written on it, then be careful now. Patna Traffic Police has launched a strict campaign against such vehicles. According to the rules, private vehicles should be used only for personal purposes and placing any kind of board, placard or mic on it is completely illegal. The traffic police is now taking immediate action by stopping such vehicles on the road.
What is the fine for putting boards on a private vehicle?
Under motor vehicle rules, it is illegal to have government nameplates, boards or similar plaques on private vehicles in Patna and across Bihar. If a person is caught doing this on his personal car or bike, he will have to pay a fine of Rs 2500. This rule makes it clear that vehicles with private number plates should not have any designation or name of the department written on them.
This rule is also applicable to government officials
This rule is not only for the general public but also applies equally to officers and employees working in government departments. According to research, even if a person is in a government job, if he is using his personal vehicle, he cannot put a government board on it. Only those vehicles which are registered in the name of the government have the right to install nameplates.
Strict action and campaign of Patna Police
Patna Traffic Police had launched a special investigation campaign regarding this rule in December 2024. During this time, the police showed great strictness and in a single day, illegal nameplates were removed from about 50 vehicles and their challans were issued. Police say that this step has been taken to maintain law and order in the city and to prevent misuse of VIP culture.
FIR can be filed for misuse
The matter is not limited to just issuing challans. As an additional measure, if a private person misuses or hijacks a vehicle by placing a government nameplate on it, the police can also file an FIR against him. Apart from this, there is a provision for a separate fine of up to Rs 5000 for writing inappropriate words, casteist words or slogans on vehicles, but the main fine for boards or nameplates has been fixed at Rs 2500 only.
Details of rules and penalties
For the convenience of vehicle owners, information about the violations and related penalties is given in the table below:
Type of violation Fine/Action Putting government board/name plate on private vehicle Rs 2500 Writing inappropriate words or slogans Rs 5000 Misusing government plate FIR can be registered
Last Updated: 18 January 2026
