RTO Code Finder
Find which RTO a vehicle registration code belongs to. Type a code like UP32, a full number like UP80 AB 1234, or a city name. It works right here on this page, and nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
How to read a vehicle registration number
Every standard number plate starts with the RTO code. Take UP32 AB 1234:
UP: state or UT code
The first two letters show the state or union territory, here Uttar Pradesh.
32: RTO or district code
The two digits show the RTO where the vehicle was registered, here Lucknow.
AB: series letters
One to three letters that are issued in sequence as numbers get used up.
1234: unique number
A four-digit number that is unique within that series.
State and UT codes
The first two letters of a registration number. Click a code to list every RTO under it in the finder above.
| State / UT | Code | Earlier code |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | ||
| Andhra Pradesh | ||
| Arunachal Pradesh | ||
| Assam | ||
| Bihar | ||
| Chandigarh | ||
| Chhattisgarh | ||
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | DN (Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and DD (Daman and Diu), before the merger | |
| Delhi | ||
| Goa | ||
| Gujarat | ||
| Haryana | ||
| Himachal Pradesh | ||
| Jammu and Kashmir | ||
| Jharkhand | ||
| Karnataka | ||
| Kerala | ||
| Ladakh | ||
| Lakshadweep | ||
| Madhya Pradesh | ||
| Maharashtra | ||
| Manipur | ||
| Meghalaya | ||
| Mizoram | ||
| Nagaland | ||
| Odisha | OR | |
| Puducherry | ||
| Punjab | ||
| Rajasthan | ||
| Sikkim | ||
| Tamil Nadu | ||
| Telangana | TS | |
| Tripura | ||
| Uttar Pradesh | ||
| Uttarakhand | UA | |
| West Bengal |
Plate colours and plates that break the pattern
The RTO code is only one part of what a plate tells you. The colour shows how the vehicle is used.
White plate, black letters
Private vehicles such as personal cars and two-wheelers.
Yellow plate, black letters
Commercial vehicles such as taxis, autos and goods carriers.
Green plate
Electric vehicles. Private ones use white letters, commercial ones use yellow letters.
Black plate, yellow letters
Rental vehicles that you drive yourself.
Blue plate, white letters
Diplomatic vehicles. These use codes like CD or CC instead of a state and RTO code.
Defence vehicles
These follow a separate format with an upward arrow mark, not a state and RTO code.
Where an RTO code comes in handy
Vahan and Sarathi services
Many services on the Parivahan portals ask you to select your state and RTO before you continue, for example when you download an RC or use a licence service.
Checking a used vehicle
The code tells you where a vehicle was first registered. It is a useful first check next to the RC when you look at a second-hand vehicle, along with an RC status check.
Choosing a fancy number
On the Fancy Number portal you pick the state and RTO first, and the available series and numbers depend on that choice. See our fancy number guide.
Understanding a plate you see
The first four characters tell you the state and RTO. It shows where the vehicle was registered, not who owns it or where they live.
Need help with vehicle paperwork or a licence? See our Vahan guides and driving licence guides.
Good to know
Does the RTO code show where the owner lives?
It shows the RTO where the vehicle was first registered. If the owner moves or the vehicle is sold, the number can stay the same, so the code is not proof of where someone lives now.
What about BH-series plates?
Bharat (BH) series plates look like 22 BH 1234 AA. They carry the year, the letters BH, a number and series letters, but no RTO code, so there is nothing to look up here.
My old plate says TS. Is that Telangana?
Yes. Telangana moved from TS to TG for new registrations. Search a TS code here and it will show the matching TG code.
Why does one city have many RTO codes?
Large cities have several RTO offices, and each one has its own code, often covering a zone or an area. That is why Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru each have many codes.
Is the RTO code the same as the district code?
Not always. An RTO can cover more than one district, and a busy district can have more than one RTO.
Can I find an owner’s details with this tool?
No. This tool only tells you which RTO a code belongs to. It does not look up any vehicle or person.
This tool is for general information only. RTO offices, addresses and phone numbers change from time to time, so confirm them with your RTO or on the official Parivahan portal before you travel or rely on them for anything important.