What is a Vehicle Registration Number?
A vehicle registration number, also called a registration plate number or vehicle number, is a unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to every vehicle in India. Think of it as your vehicle's ID card—just like you have a unique PAN number for taxes or an Aadhaar for identity, your vehicle has a unique registration number issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
Here's what you need to know about vehicle numbers:
- ✓ Issued by: Regional Transport Office (RTO) under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
- ✓ Length: Always 10 characters (letters and numbers mixed)
- ✓ Purpose: To identify and track vehicles, registration, ownership, and tax compliance
- ✓ Uniqueness: No two vehicles in India can have the same registration number
- ✓ Permanence: Your vehicle number stays with the vehicle throughout its lifetime (unless the registration is changed)
- ✓ Display: Printed on metal or plastic number plates displayed on front and rear of the vehicle
In simple words: When you buy or register a vehicle in India, the RTO issues a registration number. You display this number on your vehicle's number plate. Every time you pay taxes, renew registration, or interact with authorities, they reference this number. It's how the government tracks who owns what vehicle, whether taxes are paid, if the vehicle is legal, and so on.
The registration number is printed on multiple places: on the front and rear number plates of your vehicle, on your registration certificate (RC book), on your insurance documents, and on your vehicle's chassis and engine (for anti-theft tracking).
💡 Real-Life Example:
When you buy a car, the dealer takes you to the RTO office. The RTO examines your vehicle, verifies ownership documents, collects registration fees, and issues a unique registration number—say MH01AB2345. This number is then displayed on yellow number plates (for commercial vehicles) or white number plates (for personal vehicles). From that day forward, this is your vehicle's unique identifier in India's transport database.
Vehicle Registration Number Format Explained
Every vehicle registration number in India follows a strict 10-character format. Let's break down what each part means using an example:
1-2Characters 1-2: State Code
Two uppercase letters (A-Z) representing your state or territory. Examples: MH = Maharashtra, DL = Delhi, KA = Karnataka, TN = Tamil Nadu, UP = Uttar Pradesh, GJ = Gujarat, etc. Every Indian state and territory has a unique 2-letter code. This helps authorities instantly know which state the vehicle is registered in.
3-4Characters 3-4: RTO Code
Two numeric digits (0-9) representing the Regional Transport Office district code. Each state has multiple RTOs managing different districts or regions. The RTO code identifies which office issued this registration. For example, 01 might represent the main city RTO, 02 might represent a suburban RTO, and so on. These numbers typically range from 01-99.
5-6Characters 5-6: Vehicle Series Code
One or two uppercase letters (A-ZZ) representing the vehicle series or classification. This code indicates what type of vehicle it is. For example: "AB" might mean cars, "BC" might mean two-wheelers, "CD" might mean commercial vehicles, etc. The series helps identify vehicle categories. Some RTO codes have 1-letter series (A-Z), while others have 2-letter series (AA-ZZ). The format is: State Code (2 letters) + RTO Code (2 digits) + Series (1-2 letters) + Registration (4 digits).
7-10Characters 7-10: Registration Number
Four numeric digits (0001-9999) representing the unique sequential number of your vehicle within that series and RTO. This is the unique identifier—no two vehicles will have the same combination of State + RTO + Series + Registration Number. These numbers are issued sequentially as new vehicles are registered, so lower numbers mean earlier registrations.
Complete Example Breakdown: MH01AB2345
Standard RTO vs BH Series Vehicle Numbers
There are two main types of vehicle registration numbers in India: Standard RTO format and BH Series format. Let's understand the difference:
📋 Standard RTO Format
Format: 2 state letters + 2 RTO digits + 1-2 series letters + 4 registration digits
Example: MH01AB2345 or DL02CD5678
Used for: All standard civilian vehicles—cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, etc.
Issued since: Since the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Length: 10 characters (always)
Validity: Standard format is used for regular vehicles registered with RTOs across India
🔵 BH Series Format
Format: BH + 2 digits + 2 letters + 4 digits
Example: BH01AB2345 or BH05CD9999
Used for: Special category vehicles like government/official vehicles, some ministry vehicles, etc.
Issued since: Special category registration introduced later
Length: 10 characters (always)
Validity: BH series is issued for specific special vehicles by designated authorities
Key Difference:
The main difference is that Standard format starts with a 2-letter state code (MH, DL, KA, etc.), while BH Series always starts with "BH". Both are valid 10-character formats. The BH series is specifically used for certain special vehicles and has its own registration rules. Your vehicle will either be in Standard format or BH format, not both.
How Vehicle Number Validator Works
You might wonder: How does this tool validate a vehicle number? Does it connect to the RTO database? The answer is simple: No, it doesn't. Here's exactly how it works:
Step 1: Input Normalization
We first normalize your input—convert it to uppercase, remove spaces, hyphens, and dots. This allows you to enter the vehicle number in any format (MH-01-AB-2345, mh 01 ab 2345, MH01AB2345), and we'll handle it correctly.
Step 2: Length Validation
We check if the vehicle number has exactly 10 characters. If it's 9 or 11 characters, it's automatically invalid because Indian vehicle numbers are always 10 characters.
Step 3: Format Detection
We check if the vehicle number starts with "BH". If yes, we apply BH Series validation rules. If no, we apply Standard RTO validation rules. This determines which format to validate against.
Step 4: Format Pattern Matching
For Standard Format: We check if it matches the pattern: 2 letters (state code) + 2 digits (RTO code) + 1-2 letters (series) + 4 digits (registration). For BH Series: We check if it matches: BH + 2 digits + 2 letters + 4 digits. These patterns are based on official MoRTH regulations.
Step 5: State Code Validation (For Standard Format)
For standard format, we verify that the first 2 letters match a recognized Indian state or territory code. If you have "XX01AB2345" where XX is not a valid state code, the vehicle number is invalid. We check against all valid state codes: MH, DL, KA, TN, UP, GJ, etc.
Step 6: Report Results
We instantly tell you whether the vehicle number is valid or invalid. If valid, we show you the format type, state code, RTO code, series, and registration number. If invalid, we show you exactly what's wrong.
✓ Key Point:
This validator only checks format and structure. It does not verify if the vehicle actually exists in the RTO database, who owns it, whether registration is active, or whether taxes are paid. We don't connect to RTO systems or government databases. We simply validate the format as per official MoRTH rules.
Common Vehicle Number Format Errors
See the most common mistakes people make when writing or typing vehicle numbers:
❌ Error 1: Wrong Length
Wrong: MH01AB234 (9 characters) or MH01AB23456 (11 characters)
Correct: MH01AB2345 (10 characters)
Vehicle numbers MUST be exactly 10 characters. Missing or extra digits make it invalid immediately.
❌ Error 2: Invalid State Code
Wrong: XX01AB2345 or ZZ01AB2345 (XX and ZZ are not state codes)
Correct: MH01AB2345 or DL01AB2345 (MH and DL are valid state codes)
The first 2 characters must be a valid Indian state code. Valid codes include: AP, AR, AS, BR, CG, DL, GA, GJ, HR, HP, JK, JH, KA, KL, MH, ML, MZ, OD, PB, RJ, SK, TN, TG, UP, UK, WB, etc.
❌ Error 3: Numbers in State Code Position
Wrong: M101AB2345 or MH1A AB2345 (numbers in first 2 positions)
Correct: MH01AB2345 (2 letters in state code, 2 numbers in RTO code)
The first 2 characters must be LETTERS (state code). The next 2 characters must be NUMBERS (RTO code). Mixed positions are invalid.
❌ Error 4: Letters in RTO Position
Wrong: MHABABCD2345 (letters in RTO code position)
Correct: MH01AB2345 (numbers in RTO code position)
The RTO code (positions 3-4) must always be NUMBERS (01-99). Letters are not allowed here.
❌ Error 5: Special Characters or Spaces
Wrong: MH-01-AB-2345 or MH 01 AB 2345 or MH@01AB2345
Correct: MH01AB2345 (no spaces, hyphens, or special characters)
Vehicle numbers contain only letters and numbers. Hyphens, spaces, dots, or special characters are not part of the official format. (Our tool automatically removes them for convenience, but official documents never have them.)
❌ Error 6: Letters in Registration Number Position
Wrong: MH01ABCD2A (letters in last 4 positions)
Correct: MH01AB2345 (numbers in last 4 positions)
The last 4 characters (registration number) must always be NUMBERS (0001-9999). Letters are not allowed here.
❌ Error 7: Invalid BH Series
Wrong: BH01234567 (BH series with wrong pattern) or BH0A1AB234
Correct: BH01AB2345 (BH + 2 digits + 2 letters + 4 digits)
BH series must follow exactly: BH (constant) + 2 numbers (RTO code) + 2 letters (series) + 4 numbers (registration). Any deviation is invalid.
❌ Error 8: Using Lowercase Letters
Wrong (technically): mh01ab2345 (lowercase)
Correct: MH01AB2345 (uppercase)
Vehicle numbers must always be in UPPERCASE. While our tool accepts lowercase and converts it automatically, official documents and number plates always display uppercase letters. It's standard practice to write vehicle numbers in UPPERCASE.
💡 Pro Tip:
Copy the vehicle number from your RC book or number plate photo rather than typing it manually. This eliminates typos and ensures accuracy. When sharing vehicle numbers verbally or in writing, always double-check for format errors before submission to official bodies.
What This Tool Can & Cannot Do
It's very important to understand what this tool can and cannot do. Let me be completely transparent with you:
✅ What This Tool CAN Do:
- ✓Check vehicle number format correctness - Verify it follows the official 10-character pattern
- ✓Identify state and RTO - Tell you which state and RTO office issued the vehicle number
- ✓Detect invalid characters - Find typos, wrong letters in wrong positions, or wrong digit placements
- ✓Verify official structure - Ensure it matches MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) guidelines
- ✓Distinguish between formats - Tell you if it's Standard RTO format or BH Series format
- ✓Pre-checking before submission - Before you fill forms, register with authorities, or complete transactions
❌ What This Tool CANNOT Do:
- ✗Verify vehicle ownership - We can't tell if YOU are the owner of this vehicle
- ✗Check RTO/government database - We don't connect to RTO, MoRTH, or any government databases
- ✗Verify registration status - We can't check if the vehicle is currently registered or if registration is active
- ✗Check tax payment status - We can't verify if registration tax or road tax is paid
- ✗Validate owner details - We can't verify the owner's name, address, or identity
- ✗Check vehicle details - We can't verify the vehicle make, model, engine number, chassis number, or other physical specifications
- ✗Detect fraud or stolen vehicles - A well-formatted fake vehicle number will pass this validator
- ✗Perform official verification - This tool is for pre-checking only, not official government verification
💡 Bottom Line:
This tool is perfect for catching formatting mistakes before you submit your vehicle number to insurance companies, banks, loan agents, or government forms. But it's NOT an official government verification tool. For official verification of vehicle registration, ownership, or status, you must contact your nearest RTO office or use the official MoRTH portal directly.
Real-Life Situations Where This Tool Helps
🚗 Vehicle Buyers
When buying a used car, validate the registration number before signing documents. Catch typos or irregularities early.
🏦 Insurance & Loan
When filling insurance or loan forms, verify the vehicle number matches your RC book before submitting. Errors cause rejections.
📋 RTO Registration
Before registering a new vehicle or renewing registration, validate your vehicle number matches official documents.
🚕 Transport & Logistics
Transport agents validate vehicle numbers when managing fleets, creating documentation, or verifying ownership.
💻 Web & App Developers
Developers integrate vehicle number validation in their apps for real-time format checking during user registration.
📝 Government Offices
Government employees use this tool to validate vehicle numbers in applications before processing official requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vehicle registration number?+
A vehicle registration number is a unique 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) when you register a vehicle. It's displayed on your vehicle's number plates (front and rear) and serves as the vehicle's ID throughout its lifetime. The number identifies your state, RTO, vehicle category, and unique registration.
How many characters are in a vehicle number?+
A vehicle registration number always contains exactly 10 characters. The format is: 2 letters (state code) + 2 digits (RTO code) + 1-2 letters (series) + 4 digits (registration number). No exceptions. If it's 9 or 11 characters, it's invalid.
What is a state code in vehicle number?+
The state code is the first 2 letters of your vehicle number. Examples: MH = Maharashtra, DL = Delhi, KA = Karnataka, TN = Tamil Nadu, UP = Uttar Pradesh. The state code tells you in which state or territory the vehicle was registered. Each state has a unique 2-letter code.
What does RTO code mean?+
RTO stands for Regional Transport Office. The RTO code (positions 3-4) is a 2-digit number representing which RTO office issued this registration. Each state has multiple RTOs managing different districts. The RTO code identifies which district office within the state registered your vehicle.
What is BH series vehicle number?+
BH series vehicle numbers are special category registration numbers that start with "BH" instead of a state code. Format: BH + 2 digits + 2 letters + 4 digits. BH series is typically issued for specific categories of vehicles like government/official vehicles. Example: BH01AB2345. These are less common than standard state-based registrations.
Can this tool verify if a vehicle is registered?+
No. This tool only validates the format of a vehicle number. It cannot check if a vehicle is actually registered in the RTO database, who owns it, whether registration is active, or whether taxes are paid. To verify vehicle registration status, you must contact the RTO office directly or use the official government portal.
Is my vehicle number private when using this tool?+
Yes. Your vehicle number is completely private and secure. It stays on your device and is never sent to any server. The validation happens entirely in your browser. We don't store, log, share, or track any vehicle numbers you check. Your information is 100% private.
Can I use this tool on my phone?+
Yes, absolutely. This tool works perfectly on phones, tablets, and computers. It's mobile-responsive and works with any web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). Just open this page on your phone and validate vehicle numbers whenever you need to.
What if the validator says the vehicle number is valid but authorities reject it?+
This tool validates format and structure only. A properly formatted vehicle number might still be rejected by authorities if: the vehicle doesn't exist in their database, the registration is cancelled or inactive, the vehicle is reported stolen, or there are legal issues. This tool doesn't access government databases. Format validation is just the first step. Official authorities have the final say.
Is this tool based on official government rules?+
Yes. This tool is based on official guidelines from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The validation patterns match official government specifications for vehicle registration numbers. However, this tool is independent and not an official government tool.
How can I officially verify a vehicle number?+
For official verification, contact your nearest RTO office or visit the official Ministry of Road Transport & Highways portal. Some states have online portals where you can check vehicle registration status using the registration number. You can also request an RC extract from the RTO, which provides complete vehicle and owner details.
Disclaimer & Legal Notice
⚠️ Please read this carefully before using the Vehicle Number Format Checker:
- •This tool does NOT access government databases. We cannot verify if a vehicle number actually exists in the RTO records or belongs to a real vehicle.
- •Format validation only. Just because a vehicle number passes our validation doesn't mean it's registered with the government or belongs to a real vehicle.
- •For official verification, contact RTO. Contact the Regional Transport Office or visit official government portals for official vehicle number verification.
- •We are not responsible for errors. Use this tool at your own risk. We provide it "as is" without any warranty or guarantee of accuracy.
- •For informational purposes only. This tool is not a substitute for official government verification or professional advice.
LEGAL NOTICE:
By using this tool, you acknowledge that you understand its limitations and agree to use it only for legitimate, lawful purposes. Misuse of this tool for fraud, vehicle identity fraud, or any illegal activity is strictly prohibited and may result in legal consequences under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Privacy & Security
This vehicle number validator is completely private and secure. All validation happens in your browser with no server communication. Your vehicle number is never stored, logged, or shared with anyone. No login required. No data tracking. Your information stays with you.