This is why ‘A/F’ is written on a new vehicle’s number plate

You must have spotted ‘A/F’ written on the number plate of a new vehicle. A/F stands for ‘Applied For’ and if this is found written on the number plate of any vehicle, it is to be understood that the owner of the vehicle has applied for the registration number of his/her new vehicle.

At the time of purchase of either a two wheeler or three wheeler or four wheeler, a temporary registration number is provided. In the absence of this number, the vehicle owner writes A/F on its number plate. In fact, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) allows vehicle owners to write this till the registration number is delivered.

Here a question arises for how long a vehicle owner can ride/drive his/her vehicle with A/F on the number plate.

Notably, with A/F on number plate, a vehicle can’t be ridden/driven for more than a week. If an owner is found to be riding/driving such a vehicle for more than a week’s time, s/he attracts punishment.

As riding/driving without a registration number is amount to crime, so is in case of running vehicle with A/F for more than a week.