Number plate guide

Every Indian vehicle registration number follows a standard format set by the Ministry of Road Transport. Here is how to read it.

Breaking down each section

• State code (2 letters) — DL = Delhi, MH = Maharashtra, KA = Karnataka, TN = Tamil Nadu, etc.
• RTO code (1–2 digits) — identifies the registering district office. DL 01 is often the main Delhi RTO.
• Series (1–2 letters) — issued sequentially as numbers fill up. Skips I and O to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.
• Number (4 digits) — unique within that series, from 0001 to 9999 before the series letter advances.

BH (Bharat) series plates

Introduced for vehicles bought with bank loans or for people who relocate often. Format: YY BH #### XX (year, BH, number, letters). Valid nationwide without re-registration when you move states.

Special plate types

• Commercial (yellow plate, black text) — taxis, buses, goods vehicles.
• Electric (green plate) — battery electric vehicles.
• Diplomatic (blue / red bands) — embassy and consulate vehicles.
• Armed forces — separate numbering system.

Need to reach a vehicle owner? A registration number alone rarely helps — a Sampark contact tag on the car is the fastest privacy-safe method. Read how to contact a parked car owner.