Are QR code stickers legal on cars in India? Size and placement

There is no size set by the RTO for a private QR code sticker. The rules that matter are about not blocking the driver's view, not putting anything on the number plate, and what may go on vehicle glass.

This page is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Rules and how strictly they are enforced can differ from state to state. If you are unsure, ask your local RTO.

Is there an RTO size for stickers?

We did not find any rule from the RTO or the Motor Vehicles rules that prescribes a size for a private sticker such as a QR parking tag. The only sizes we found are for official stickers. For example, the mandatory fuel colour sticker is roughly 100 × 60 mm and goes at the lower corner of the windscreen.

What the rules do cover

• The driver's view. Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (Rule 100), nothing should obstruct the driver's clear view. Windscreens and rear glass should let through at least 70% of light, and side windows at least 50%.
• Materials on glass. In 2012 the Supreme Court (Avishek Goenka v. Union of India) banned black films and other material on the safety glass of vehicles. Officially required stickers, such as fuel colour, pollution check and FASTag, are allowed.
• Number plates. Nothing may be stuck on or over a registration plate. Do not put a sticker on or around it, and never cover it.

Where a QR code sticker can go

Because the rules mainly concern glass and the number plate, the safest places are:

• Body panels. A door pillar, the boot lid or a rear panel. Glass rules do not apply there.
• The windscreen or rear glass, if you choose. Keep it small, in a lower corner away from the driver's line of sight, and never over the fuel, pollution or FASTag stickers. Many people place small tags this way, but enforcement varies, so it is your judgement.

Avoid placing it over the number plate, the lights or the reflectors, and do not make it look like a police, government or advocate sticker.

Recommended size

There is no rule, but a QR code scans best when it is not too small. Our SetuTag is 13 cm wide and 7 cm tall, and the QR code inside it is about 3.9 cm wide, which scans reliably from arm's length. If you stick it on glass, a lower corner is the least intrusive place.

If you place it inside the glass so it reads from outside, ask the printer to mirror the artwork if the adhesive side is the printed side.

Sources we used

• Supreme Court judgement on films on vehicle glass (PDF)
• Legal Shouts: Is it legal to put stickers on cars in India?
• SBI General: RTO number plate rules in India
• Garware: CMVR guidelines for car window films (visibility limits)
• VahanBazaar: fuel colour sticker on the windscreen

Looking for the tag itself? See the car QR code sticker.