The vehicle number plate format in India has four parts: the state code, the RTO number, the series letters and a unique number. Read together, they tell you where a vehicle was registered. You can test any plate in the decoder below.
The four parts of a vehicle registration number
Take the number KA 51 MJ 4321 as an example.
| Part | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| State code | KA | Two letters for the state or union territory. KA is Karnataka. |
| RTO number | 51 | The office that registered the vehicle. KA 51 is Electronic City, Bengaluru. |
| Series letters | MJ | One to three letters. They move ahead when a batch of numbers runs out. |
| Unique number | 4321 | Up to four digits, from 1 to 9999. |
The state letters are given by the central government under Section 41(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The state then numbers its own offices. Letters and figures must be in English letters and Arabic numerals.
How the number plate series moves
Each office starts with a series, uses numbers 1 to 9999, then moves to the next letters. So after AB 9999 comes AC 0001. When two letters run out, busy offices add a third letter. The letters I and O are usually skipped because they look like 1 and 0. Some states keep certain letters for special uses, such as government, police or transport vehicles. This differs from state to state.
Number plate codes for big cities and states
Many people search for the number plate code of a city. Big cities often have several codes because they have several offices.
| City or state | State code | Common RTO codes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | DL | DL 1 to DL 13 (13 zonal offices) |
| Mumbai | MH | MH 01 (Tardeo), MH 02 (Andheri), MH 03 (Wadala), MH 47 (Borivali) |
| Pune | MH | MH 12 (Pune), MH 14 (Pimpri Chinchwad) |
| Bangalore | KA | KA 01 to KA 05, KA 41, KA 50, KA 51, KA 53 and more |
| Chennai | TN | TN 01 to TN 07, TN 09, TN 10, TN 13, TN 14 and more |
| Hyderabad | TG (old TS) | TG 09 to TG 13 |
| Ahmedabad | GJ | GJ 01 (west), GJ 27 (east), GJ 38 (Bavla, rural) |
| Chandigarh | CH | CH 01 to CH 04 |
| Dehradun | UK | UK 07 |
| Bihar | BR | BR 01 is Patna; each district has its own code |
| Chhattisgarh | CG | CG 04 is Raipur |
| Goa | GA | GA 07 is Panaji; codes go by taluka |
| Haryana | HR | HR 26 is Gurugram; the state uses codes up to HR 99 |
| Telangana | TG and TS | New vehicles get TG; TS plates stay valid |
For every code in a state, open the full list, for example the Delhi RTO code list, Maharashtra RTO code list or Telangana RTO code list.
Delhi number plate format
Delhi works a little differently. Its offices are called zonal offices, and on the plate the office number is written without a leading zero, such as DL 3C AB 1234. The letter right after the office number shows the vehicle category. C is for cars and S is for two wheelers. Other letters are used for taxis, buses, goods vehicles and autos. When the usual letters run out, Delhi offices may use other letters for private vehicles. See the DL 3 page or the full Delhi list for each office.
HSRP number plate meaning and format
HSRP stands for High Security Registration Plate. It is the standard plate under Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) Order, 2018. For new vehicles, the maker and dealer fit it at the time of sale. Its main features are:
- An aluminium plate with a reflective sheet and an embossed border.
- A chromium based hologram of the Chakra in the top left corner.
- A permanent laser number of at least 10 characters at the bottom left.
- The letters IND in blue on the left side of the plate.
- Snap locks on the rear plate so it cannot be removed and refitted.
- For four wheelers, a third plate sticker on the windscreen. It is light blue for petrol and CNG, orange for diesel and grey for others.
Rules for fitting HSRP on older vehicles and the deadlines differ by state. Read our HSRP number plate guide for details.
Other plate formats you may see
- BH series: the format is YY BH 1234 AB. YY is the year of first registration, BH is the Bharat series, then a four digit number and two letters. See the BH series guide.
- Temporary registration: red letters on a yellow plate. It is valid only for a short period until the permanent number is given.
- TC number plate meaning: TC means trade certificate. A dealer gets it from the RTO to move unregistered vehicles for test drives, display or delivery. Such plates use white letters on a red background.
- Diplomatic plates: white letters on a blue plate, with codes like CD, CC or UN.
Plate colours also tell you the use of the vehicle. White plates are for private vehicles and yellow plates are for commercial ones. Green plates are for electric vehicles. Read about all of them in our number plate colours guide.
Rules for writing the number on the plate
- Use only the standard font and size. Fancy fonts, names or pictures on the plate are not allowed.
- The number can be shown in one line or in two lines. In two lines, the state code and RTO number go in the first line.
- Plates must be fitted on the front and back.
- If you want a special number like 0001 or 9999, apply through the RTO's choice number process. See our fancy number plate guide.
Rules on fines and plate checks vary by state. When in doubt, check with your RTO or the state transport department.
Questions people ask
What is the vehicle registration number format in India?
The format is state code, RTO number, series letters and a unique number, for example MH 12 AB 1234. MH is Maharashtra, 12 is the Pune office, AB is the series and 1234 is the vehicle's own number. BH series and diplomatic vehicles use different formats.
What is the HSRP number plate meaning?
HSRP means High Security Registration Plate. It is an aluminium plate with a chromium hologram, a laser etched serial number, the letters IND and snap locks that make it hard to copy or swap. New vehicles come with it fitted by the dealer.
What is the Delhi number plate code?
Delhi uses the state code DL with office numbers 1 to 13, such as DL 1 for Mall Road and DL 3 for Sheikh Sarai. The letter after the number shows the category, like C for cars and S for two wheelers.
What is the Telangana number plate code, TS or TG?
Telangana now uses TG for new registrations. Earlier vehicles carry TS plates and do not need to change them. Both codes point to the same offices, so TS 09 and TG 09 are both Hyderabad Central.
What is the TC number plate meaning?
TC stands for trade certificate. The RTO gives it to vehicle dealers so they can move unregistered vehicles for test drives, display or delivery. These plates have white letters on a red background and are not for personal use.