RTO Code Search — Find RTO Codes of India
Enter any vehicle number prefix — MH 12, DL 1, TS 07 or a full plate like MH12AB1234 — to instantly see the RTO office, city and state behind it. Covers 36 states and union territories with 1,524 RTO codes. Free, fast, and accurate.
How to Use the RTO Code Search
- Choose Search by RTO Code to look up a code, or Browse by State to see every office in a state.
- Enter the plate prefix (MH 12), just the state letters (MH), or a full vehicle number (MH12AB1234).
- The RTO office, state and plate prefix appear instantly — click View List for the complete state-wise directory.
Popular States — RTO Codes
Click any state to browse its full RTO office list.
Browse All States & Union Territories
Dedicated RTO code pages for every state — pick a state to see all its transport offices.
Vehicle Number Format — What Each Part Means
An Indian number plate such as MH 12 AB 1234 is built from four parts. The first two parts together form the RTO code:
| Position | Identifies | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1st + 2nd letters | State / union territory code on the plate (MH, DL, TN, TS…) | MH = Maharashtra |
| Next 1–3 digits | RTO office code inside that state — this is the RTO code you search | 12 = Pune RTO |
| Next 2 letters | Registration series issued by the office (AA, AB, TC…) | AB = series |
| Last 4 digits | Unique vehicle number within the series | 1234 = vehicle |
State & UT Plate Codes
Note: Odisha offices keep the historic OR prefix in official records while plates carry OD — search either form.
What is an RTO?
RTO (Regional Transport Office) is the government office that registers vehicles, issues driving licences, collects road tax and gives permits under the Motor Vehicles Act. Every district or zone has one, and each office gets a unique code — the RTO code you see on number plates.
The code matters far beyond the plate: insurance and RC checks, e-challans, traffic-police verification and resale paperwork all rely on the RTO that appears in the vehicle's registration record. A plate beginning with HR 26 was registered at the Gurugram RTO, while TN 09 points to Chennai (West).
Why Look Up an RTO Code?
- Buying a used vehicle — confirm which office holds the RC before you pay
- Insurance and challans — match the RTO on your papers to the plate
- Transfer and permits — find the exact office and its state for forms
- Reading any plate — decode state and city from a number you see on the road
How to Find Your RTO Code
- Read the first two letters and number on your number plate — that is the RTO code
- Check your RC (Registration Certificate) — the registering authority is printed on it
- Use the search tool above — type the plate or a full vehicle number to resolve it instantly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an RTO code?▾
An RTO code identifies the Regional Transport Office that registered a vehicle. It is the first part of every Indian number plate — for example MH 12 is the RTO code for Pune, Maharashtra, and DL 1 is for Mall Road, Delhi. The code tells you which transport office holds the vehicle's registration record.
How do I find the RTO for my vehicle number?▾
Enter the first part of your number plate in the search box above — for example MH 12, DL 1 or the full number MH12AB1234. The tool returns the RTO office, its city or district and the state. You can also browse state-wise lists to see every RTO code in a state.
What does the number in an RTO code mean?▾
The two letters are the state or union territory code (MH = Maharashtra, DL = Delhi, TN = Tamil Nadu) and the number identifies the specific transport office inside that state. A single state can have dozens of codes — Tamil Nadu has 150+, Uttar Pradesh around 100.
Is the RTO code the same as the state code on the plate?▾
The first two letters are the same. The state code on the plate (for example TS for Telangana) covers the whole state, while the number after it narrows it down to one RTO. So TS 07 is one specific office — Ranga Reddy — inside Telangana.
How many RTO codes are there in India?▾
This tool covers 1,524 RTO codes across 36 states and union territories, including regional transport offices, district transport offices and unit offices. Lists are grouped state-wise so you can browse every office in one place.
Why do Odisha plates start with OD when the office code is OR?▾
Odisha's number plates use the OD prefix, but many offices in official databases still register vehicles under the older OR prefix (OR 14 Rourkela, for example). Search either OD 14 or OR 14 — the tool resolves both to the same office.
What is the full vehicle number format in India?▾
A typical plate reads MH 12 AB 1234: the first two letters are the state code (MH), the next 1–3 digits are the RTO code (12), the following two letters are the registration series (AB) and the last four digits are the unique vehicle number. Commercial plates and older plates vary slightly, but the RTO code always comes right after the state letters.
Do RTO codes change when an RTO office moves or is renamed?▾
The code itself usually stays the same even when an office is renamed or a new district is carved out — new districts get new codes instead (Telangana's Mulugu and Narayanpet got TS 37 and TS 38). This tool merges current office names with historic codes so older vehicles still resolve correctly.
RTO codes identify the transport office that registered a vehicle. Data covers 36 states and union territories (1,524 RTO codes) built from the government VAHAN registration database, supplemented with official office lists for states missing from the mirror. Office names appear as recorded in the source.