What is an RTO code in India?

An RTO (Regional Transport Office) code is a unique alphanumeric prefix used on Indian vehicle number plates. It identifies the state and specific RTO office where the vehicle was registered. For example, DL 01 is the Sarai Kale Khan RTO in Delhi, and MH 01 is the Mumbai (South) RTO.

What do the letters on an Indian number plate mean?

Indian number plates follow the format: STATE CODE (2 letters) + RTO NUMBER (2 digits) + SERIES (1-2 letters) + VEHICLE NUMBER (4 digits). For example, in KA 01 AB 1234: KA = Karnataka, 01 = Bangalore Central RTO, AB = series letter, 1234 = unique vehicle number.

How many RTO offices are there in India?

India has over 1,400 Regional Transport Offices spread across all 28 states and 8 union territories. Major states like Maharashtra have 50+ RTOs, while smaller UTs may have just 1-3 offices.

What is the RTO code for Delhi?

Delhi has 14 RTO offices with codes ranging from DL 01 to DL 14. DL 01 is Sarai Kale Khan, DL 02 is Inderpuri, DL 03 is Sheikh Sarai, DL 04 is Janakpuri, and so on.

Can I transfer my vehicle registration to another state?

Yes, under the Motor Vehicles Act, you must re-register your vehicle if you move to another state and stay for more than 12 months. You need to apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current RTO and then register at the new state's RTO.

RTO Codes India 2026 — Vehicle Registration Codes & RTO Office List

Q: How do I find which RTO my vehicle is registered with?

Look at your vehicle's number plate. The first two letters indicate the state (e.g., DL = Delhi, MH = Maharashtra, KA = Karnataka), and the following two digits identify the specific RTO office within that state. Use our RTO Code Finder tool to look up the exact office.

What is an RTO Code?

An RTO (Regional Transport Office) code is a unique prefix on Indian vehicle number plates that identifies where the vehicle was registered. Each state has a 2-letter code, and each RTO office within the state has a 2-digit number.

The RTO is responsible for vehicle registration, issuing driving licences, collecting road tax, issuing fitness certificates for commercial vehicles, and enforcing the Motor Vehicles Act.

Understanding Indian Number Plates

Indian vehicle number plates follow a standardized format:

Part	Example	Meaning
State Code	KA	Karnataka
RTO Number	01	Bangalore (Central)
Series Letter	AB	Registration series
Vehicle Number	1234	Unique number

So KA 01 AB 1234 means a vehicle registered at Bangalore Central RTO, Karnataka.

State-wise RTO Codes

All 28 states and 8 union territories of India have unique 2-letter codes:

Code	State / UT	Capital	RTO Offices
AN	Andaman & Nicobar	Port Blair	3
AP	Andhra Pradesh	Amaravati	31
AR	Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar	25
AS	Assam	Dispur	33
BR	Bihar	Patna	38
CG	Chhattisgarh	Raipur	28
CH	Chandigarh	Chandigarh	4
DD	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	Silvassa	3
DL	Delhi	New Delhi	14
GA	Goa	Panaji	12
GJ	Gujarat	Gandhinagar	38
HP	Himachal Pradesh	Shimla	19
HR	Haryana	Chandigarh	80
JH	Jharkhand	Ranchi	24
JK	Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar	22
KA	Karnataka	Bengaluru	67
KL	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram	75
LA	Ladakh	Leh	2
MH	Maharashtra	Mumbai	50+
ML	Meghalaya	Shillong	12
MN	Manipur	Imphal	7
MP	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	52
MZ	Mizoram	Aizawl	9
NL	Nagaland	Kohima	11
OD	Odisha	Bhubaneswar	33
PB	Punjab	Chandigarh	65
PY	Puducherry	Puducherry	5
RJ	Rajasthan	Jaipur	56
SK	Sikkim	Gangtok	6
TN	Tamil Nadu	Chennai	99
TR	Tripura	Agartala	8
TS	Telangana	Hyderabad	36
UK	Uttarakhand	Dehradun	18
UP	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow	75+
WB	West Bengal	Kolkata	78

Popular State RTO Details

Delhi (DL) — 14 RTO Offices

Delhi has 14 RTO offices (DL 01 to DL 14). DL 01 (Sarai Kale Khan) and DL 02 (Inderpuri) handle the highest volume. Delhi also has DL 10 (Dwarka) and DL 11 for commercial vehicles with the "DL 1C" prefix.

Maharashtra (MH) — 50+ RTO Offices

Maharashtra has over 50 RTOs. Mumbai has MH 01 (South), MH 02 (West), MH 03 (East), and MH 47 (Borivali). Pune is MH 12, and Nagpur is MH 31. The state has one of the highest vehicle registrations in India.

Karnataka (KA) — 67 RTO Offices

Bangalore alone has KA 01 (Central), KA 02 (West), KA 03 (East), KA 04 (North), and KA 05 (South). Mysuru is KA 09, and Hubli-Dharwad is KA 25.

Tamil Nadu (TN) — 99 RTO Offices

With 99 offices, Tamil Nadu has the most RTOs in India. Chennai has TN 01–TN 22 among various zones. Coimbatore is TN 37, and Madurai is TN 59.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find which RTO my vehicle is registered with?

Look at the first 4 characters of your number plate. The first 2 letters are the state code, and the next 2 digits identify the specific RTO. Use our RTO Code Finder to get the full office details.

What documents do I need for vehicle registration?

For new vehicle registration at an RTO, you typically need: proof of sale from the dealer, insurance certificate, PAN card or Form 60, address proof, passport-size photographs, and the applicable road tax payment receipt.

Can I transfer vehicle registration to another state?

Yes. If you relocate for more than 12 months, you must apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current RTO and re-register at the new state's RTO. This involves paying the road tax difference and completing Form 27.

What is BH-series registration?

The Bharat (BH) series was introduced in 2021 for people who frequently transfer across states (government employees, defence personnel, PSU workers). BH-series plates are valid across India and don't require re-registration when moving to another state.

Free RTO Code Lookup Tool

Use our free online RTO Code Finder to instantly search any Indian vehicle registration code. Search by state code (DL, MH, KA), city name, or RTO office — get all 400+ offices with no registration required.

Indian Vehicle RTO Codes