Chandigarh RTO code guide: what CH 01 to CH 04 and PB 01 mean

What is the Chandigarh RTO code?

The Chandigarh RTO code is the letters CH followed by a two-digit office number from 01 to 04. Every one of those numbers is issued for the Union Territory as a whole by its Registering and Licensing Authority, so the code tells you a vehicle was first registered in Chandigarh, not which sector its owner lives in.

One authority instead of several RTOs

Most states have many regional offices, each with its own number. Chandigarh is a compact UT, and registration is handled centrally. The office is called the RLA, not the RTO, but people search for both names. Our RLA Chandigarh guide covers its services and appointments.

Codes at a glance

CH 01 which city does the code stand for?

CH 01 stands for Chandigarh itself. The UT is not split into districts for vehicle purposes, so the same code covers the sectors, Manimajra and the surrounding villages alike. If you see CH 01 on a car in Delhi or Shimla, it simply means the vehicle was first registered in Chandigarh.

Why people ask

Most Indian codes point to a district or town, so drivers expect CH 01 to mean one part of the city. It does not. The 01 is the authority’s main series, and in Chandigarh that authority covers everything.

Is CH 01 RTO a separate office?

No. There is no separate CH 01 RTO. The number belongs to the single registering authority that the Tribune places in Sector 17. Registration, transfer, hypothecation and duplicate RC requests for a CH 01 vehicle all go to that one office, mostly through the online Vahan system first.

What to check before visiting

We could not verify the office’s full address, phone number or timings from a source we trust. Check the current details on chdtransport.gov.in or the Parivahan site before you travel.

How is the CH 01 RTO code written on a plate?

The CH 01 RTO code takes the first four characters of the plate. After it come one to three series letters and a four-digit running number, for example CH 01 DG 0001. On a high-security plate the characters are embossed by the authorised plate maker.

Letters with a meaning

Wikipedia notes that in Chandigarh the series letter T is used for trucks and G for government vehicles. Other letters are handed out in order as each series fills.

Colours to look for

White plates are private, yellow plates are commercial and green plates mark electric vehicles.

CH 02 which city: is it different from CH 01?

CH 02 is also Chandigarh. Wikipedia’s list gives it the same office and the same jurisdiction, Chandigarh district, as CH 01. A CH 02 vehicle is dealt with by the same authority, so transfers and other work happen in the same place as for a CH 01 vehicle.

What the source does not say

None of the sources we could reach explains which vehicles or which years CH 02 was used for. We have logged this for checking against the UT’s own notices rather than guess.

Where do CH 03 numbers fit in?

CH 03 is the third Chandigarh series, again listed with the same office and area. Tribune archive headlines about high-security plates mention CH 03 V and CH 03 W series, which shows the code was issued in volume, but we found no source that sets out its exact use.

How to read a CH 03 plate

Read it exactly like CH 01: territory, office number, series letters and running number. Vahan shows the registering authority if you need to confirm.

CH 04 which city, and why a fourth code?

CH 04 is Chandigarh too. It is the fourth number in the Wikipedia list, with the same office and district as the other three. Lookup sites accept CH 04 as a valid format, and the vehicle is served by the same authority as CH 01.

Why four numbers for one office

Some UTs and states add numbers when an office needs more space or a separate class of series. No official source we could open gives the reason for Chandigarh’s four, so we do not state one.

PB01 which city number: why a Punjab code in Chandigarh?

The PB01 which city number question has an unusual answer: PB 01 is not one city. Wikipedia lists it for rented and self-drive cars in Chandigarh and for taxi vehicles from Punjab. Chandigarh is also Punjab’s capital, which is why a Punjab series sits so close to the UT.

What it means for you

A PB 01 car on a Chandigarh street is most likely a taxi or a rental. For the rest of Punjab’s numbers, from PB 02 Amritsar onwards, see our Punjab RTO vehicle registration details list.

Why does HR 70 show up in Chandigarh lists?

HR 70 is a Haryana number, but it appears in Chandigarh’s infobox because Haryana’s Transport Commissioner is based in the city. The series is meant for special out-of-turn, VIP or special-demand numbers, and it is valid across Haryana, not only in Chandigarh.

Not a UT registration

A vehicle with HR 70 is on Haryana’s register. Its paperwork is handled under Haryana rules, not by the Chandigarh RLA.

How do you read a Chandigarh number plate code?

A Chandigarh number plate code is read left to right. CH is the territory, the two digits are the series office, the letters show which block was open, and the last four digits count vehicles inside that block. Only the first four characters say anything about place.

Series letters as a rough date

The RLA opens CH 01 series one after another. CH01-CC was being auctioned in 2020, CH01-CZ in 2025, and CH01-DD and CH01-DG in 2026. A later letter pair therefore means a newer vehicle, though not an exact date.

Fancy numbers in each series

When a new series opens, the RLA e-auctions its special numbers. CH01-DD-0001 drew the highest bid on record in Chandigarh in March 2026.

How do you check a Chandigarh car number online?

You can look up any Chandigarh car number on the national Vahan register or the mParivahan app. The search shows the registering authority, vehicle class, fuel type, and insurance and fitness dates. The owner’s name is masked, and you need a mobile number for the one-time password.

1. Write the number in full. Note the complete registration, for example CH01DG0001, without spaces.
2. Open the vehicle search. Use Know Your Vehicle Details on the Vahan site or the mParivahan app.
3. Verify yourself. Enter the captcha and the one-time password sent to your mobile.
4. Check the registering authority. The result names the office, class, fuel, insurance and fitness dates.

When the result looks wrong

If the authority shown is not Chandigarh for a CH number, recheck the digits. A mismatch on a used car you plan to buy is a reason to ask the seller for the original RC.

Decode a code from another state

Which codes do Mohali, Panchkula and Zirakpur use?

Chandigarh’s neighbours belong to Punjab and Haryana, so their plates carry different letters. Mohali uses PB 65, Panchkula uses HR 03, and Zirakpur, in Dera Bassi tehsil, falls under PB 70. Together they form the tricity, so all three codes are common on Chandigarh roads.

Tricity plates are not CH plates

A car with PB 65 or HR 03 was registered outside the UT, even if its owner works in Sector 17 every day.

Moving across the border

If a vehicle stays more than 12 months in another state, the Motor Vehicles Act requires re-registration there. Check the current procedure with the relevant transport department.

Why does Chandigarh run through series so fast?

Chandigarh has more vehicles than people. The Tribune reported in June 2025 that 14.27 lakh vehicles were registered against an estimated 13 lakh residents, the highest density in the country. With that many registrations, each block of 9,999 numbers fills quickly and a new series opens.

What this means for buyers

A buyer who wants a particular number has to act when a new series opens and its numbers go to auction. Leftover numbers from older series are often put up again in later auctions.

Where is a CH number allotted?

A CH number is allotted by the RLA when a new vehicle is registered in the UT, usually through the dealer, who files the application on Vahan. Owners who want a choice number bid in the RLA’s e-auction instead. For the wider list of codes, see our RTO codes and offices hub.

Bring the right proof

Registration needs a Chandigarh address proof, sale papers and insurance. The RLA’s current document list is on the UT transport site.