Maharashtra state code and every other Indian state code, explained
The maharashtra state code is MH on vehicle number plates, followed by a two-digit RTO number such as MH 01 for Mumbai Central or MH 12 for Pune. For GST, the Maharashtra state code is the number 27, which forms the first two digits of every GSTIN registered in the state. Every other state has a similar pair: letters for vehicles, a number for tax.
Key takeaways
- A state code on a plate is two letters (MH, KA, TG); a GST state code is two digits (27, 29, 36).
- Telangana issued TS until March 2024 and now issues TG; old TS plates remain valid.
- Delhi plates drop the leading zero, so the office is DL 3, not DL 03.
- UP 01 to UP 10 are no longer used; those districts now sit in Uttarakhand (UK).
- Andhra Pradesh uses GST code 37; code 28 belongs to the undivided state and is historical.
On this page · 41 sections
What is a state code, and which one do you need?
A state code is a short identifier that a government system gives each state and union territory. Two systems matter most to ordinary people: the vehicle registration code (two letters, such as MH) and the GST state code (two digits, such as 27). Searching for the maharashtra state code can mean either, so this page gives both.
Vehicle codes
Transport departments print the letters at the start of every number plate and registration certificate. The letters are followed by the number of the RTO office, a letter series and a unique number. Our RTO guide explains how those offices work.
Tax codes
The GST system uses a numeric code for each state. It appears as the first two digits of a GSTIN and on invoices to show the place of supply. It has nothing to do with vehicles, which is why the two codes never match.
What is the Maharashtra state code?
The Maharashtra state code is MH for vehicles and 27 for GST. A car bought in Mumbai is registered as MH 01, MH 02, MH 03 or MH 47 depending on the office, while a Pune business has a GSTIN that begins with 27. Both codes stay the same across the whole state.
On a number plate
Look for MH at the left of the plate, then two digits. MH 12 means the Pune office at Sangam Bridge, MH 14 is Pimpri-Chinchwad and MH 04 is Thane. The rest of the plate is a series and a number given by that office.
On a GST invoice
A Maharashtra supplier’s GSTIN starts with 27, for example 27 followed by a PAN. When a bill shows a different first pair, such as 29, the supplier is registered in Karnataka, and the tax split on the invoice changes because the supply crosses a state border.
Which Maharashtra RTO codes follow MH?
Maharashtra numbers its offices from MH 01 upwards, with Mumbai taking the first three. Konkan, western Maharashtra and Marathwada follow, and the list continues past MH 40 for newer offices like Navi Mumbai and Vasai. The table shows the codes people ask about most often.
| Code | RTO office | Area |
|---|---|---|
| MH 01 | Mumbai Central (Tardeo) | South and central Mumbai |
| MH 02 | Mumbai West (Andheri) | Western suburbs |
| MH 03 | Mumbai East (Wadala) | Eastern suburbs |
| MH 04 | Thane | Thane, Bhiwandi, Shahapur |
| MH 05 | Kalyan | Kalyan area |
| MH 09 | Kolhapur | Kolhapur district |
| MH 12 | Pune | Pune city and nearby talukas |
| MH 14 | Pimpri-Chinchwad | Industrial belt of Pune |
| MH 15 | Nashik | Nashik district |
| MH 20 | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | Former Aurangabad |
| MH 26 | Nanded | Nanded district |
| MH 27 | Amravati | Amravati district |
| MH 31 | Nagpur West | Western Nagpur city |
| MH 43 | Navi Mumbai | Airoli to CBD Belapur |
| MH 46 | Panvel | Kharghar to Panvel |
| MH 47 | Mumbai North (Borivali) | Northern suburbs |
Marathwada and Vidarbha offices
Inland districts sit in the twenties: MH 21 Jalna, MH 22 Parbhani, MH 23 Beed, MH 24 Latur, MH 25 Dharashiv, MH 28 Buldhana, MH 29 Yavatmal and MH 30 Akola. Each office generally covers one district, though a few share a district with a sub-office.
Why this matters for buyers
A seller’s plate tells you which office holds the file. Transfer of ownership, NOC and loan removal are handled there. For a Navi Mumbai example, see our note on MH 46 passing.
What is the MH state full form?
The MH state full form is simply Maharashtra. The two letters are an abbreviation chosen for vehicle registration and do not stand for separate words. You will see MH on number plates, registration certificates, driving licence numbers and many state transport documents.
MH on a driving licence
Maharashtra licences also begin with MH and the RTO number, followed by the year and a serial. So a licence starting MH12 was issued at the Pune office, just like a Pune-registered vehicle.
MH in other contexts
On an Indian plate, RC or licence, MH always means Maharashtra. It is not an acronym, so there is no longer expansion to look for.
What is the Maharashtra short form?
The common Maharashtra short form is MH, the same letters used on vehicles. In everyday writing people also use “Maha”, but that is informal and never appears on official registration papers. For GST forms, use the number 27 instead of any letters.
Which short form to write on forms
On vehicle, licence and insurance forms write MH. On tax forms, look for a drop-down of state names or numbers. If a form asks for a phone area code instead, that is a different system; our page on the Maharashtra code for phones covers it.
What is the Karnataka state code?
The Karnataka state code is KA on number plates and 29 for GST. Karnataka has one of the longest office lists in the country, running from KA 01 in central Bengaluru past KA 70 at Bantwal. A GSTIN that begins with 29 always belongs to a Karnataka registration.
Main Karnataka districts by code
Outside Bengaluru, common codes include KA 06 Tumakuru, KA 13 Hassan, KA 19 Mangaluru, KA 22 Belagavi, KA 25 Dharwad, KA 32 Kalaburagi and KA 34 Ballari. The numbers do not run strictly by geography, so neighbouring districts can have distant codes.
KA codes that are not in use
A few numbers in the series, such as KA 58 and KA 60 to KA 62, do not appear in the published lists. If you see one, check the full number on Vahan rather than guessing the office.
Which Karnataka code appears on Bengaluru plates?
The Karnataka code on most Bengaluru plates is one of eleven office numbers in Bengaluru Urban district. The original five are KA 01 to KA 05, one for each zone of the city, and the newer offices cover growing suburbs such as Yelahanka, Electronic City and KR Puram.
The five original Bengaluru zones
KA 01 is Bengaluru Central (now at HSR Layout), KA 02 is West (Rajajinagar), KA 03 is East, KA 04 is North (Yeshwantpur) and KA 05 is South at Jayaprakash Nagar. Older plates from these offices are the most common in the city.
Suburban and fleet codes
KA 41 Jnana Bharathi, KA 50 Yelahanka, KA 51 Electronic City, KA 53 KR Puram and KA 59 Chandapura serve newer areas. KA 57 at Shantinagar is used for KSRTC and BMTC buses, so you will see it on public transport.
What is the TS state code, and why did it change?
TS was the state code for Telangana on vehicles registered between June 2014 and March 2024. The state was created in 2014, and Hyderabad vehicles moved from AP codes to TS. A MoRTH gazette notification in March 2024 replaced TS with TG for all new registrations.
Do TS plates need to be changed?
No. Vehicles already registered under TS keep their numbers and plates. Only new registrations, and vehicles re-registered from another state, receive TG. Insurance, PUC and challan records stay linked to the TS number.
TS in other systems
Some tax software and older forms still show “TS” as an abbreviation for Telangana. For GST, the code that counts is the number 36, not any letters. If you are checking where a TG truck comes from, our TG passing guide has more.
What is the Telangana state code today?
The current Telangana state code is TG for vehicles and 36 for GST. New registrations in Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and every other district carry TG followed by the office number. The GST number 36 was given to Telangana when it separated from Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana district office codes
The district offices run from TG 01 Adilabad, TG 02 Karimnagar, TG 03 Warangal (Hanamkonda), TG 04 Khammam, TG 05 Nalgonda to TG 06 Mahbubnagar. Hyderabad’s offices come after them, starting at TG 07.
Hyderabad office codes
Hyderabad and its suburbs use TG 07 to TG 13: Attapur, Medchal, Khairatabad, Secunderabad, Malakpet, Kishanbagh and Tolichowki. Most city vehicles you see carry one of these seven numbers, under either TS or TG letters.
What is the Hyderabad short form?
The usual Hyderabad short form in writing is “Hyd”, used in addresses, signboards and news headlines. Hyderabad is a city, not a state, so it has no state code of its own. Its vehicles use the Telangana codes TG 07 to TG 13, or TS for older registrations.
Hyderabad on official forms
Write the full city name in address fields and select Telangana as the state. GST forms will expect state code 36, and vehicle forms expect TG or TS with the right office number.
Older AP plates in Hyderabad
Vehicles registered before 2014 may still carry AP codes from the undivided state. They remain valid unless the owner chose to re-register them.
What is the Gujarat state code?
The Gujarat state code is GJ on vehicles and 24 for GST. Ahmedabad’s western bank office is GJ 01, and the numbering then spreads through north, Saurashtra and south Gujarat. Any GSTIN beginning with 24 belongs to a Gujarat registration.
Gujarat office codes
GJ 01 is Ahmedabad (West) at Subhash Bridge, GJ 02 Mehsana, GJ 03 Rajkot, GJ 04 Bhavnagar, GJ 05 Surat and GJ 06 Vadodara. GJ 18 is Gandhinagar, where the state transport corporation registers its buses.
Reading a GJ plate
A plate such as GJ 05 means the vehicle was registered at the Surat office. It says nothing about where the owner lives today; check Vahan for the current record.
What is the Gujarat short form?
The standard Gujarat short form is GJ, used for vehicles and many state documents. In GST tables the state is identified by the number 24. For other Gujarat codes, such as city or area codes, see our separate page on the Gujarat code.
GJ versus GU
Some people write “GU” or “GUJ”, but these are not used on plates or in GST masters. Use GJ for vehicle forms and the full name or number for tax forms.
What is the Rajasthan state code?
The Rajasthan state code is RJ on vehicles and 08 for GST. RJ 01 is Ajmer, and the list covers every district office, including several in Jaipur such as RJ 14 (Jaipur South) and RJ 60. A GSTIN that begins with 08 is a Rajasthan registration.
Rajasthan office codes
Common codes include RJ 01 Ajmer, RJ 06 Bhilwara, RJ 14 Jaipur South, RJ 19 Jodhpur, RJ 20 Kota and RJ 27 Udaipur. Smaller towns such as Nokha (RJ 50) have their own offices.
Rajasthan short forms
For the different abbreviations used in Rajasthan, read our Rajasthan short form guide. On vehicle forms, always use RJ.
What does state specific ID Rajasthan mean?
State specific ID Rajasthan is not a vehicle code. The phrase comes from the optional “State Specific ID” field on the e-Shram workers’ portal, where a state-issued resident ID can be entered. It has no link to RJ plates or GST code 08, so it is covered here only briefly.
What people usually enter
Guides for the e-Shram form say the field is optional, and many applicants leave it blank or enter a ration card number. In Rajasthan the state’s own family ID is Jan Aadhaar. Confirm what the form expects on the portal itself before submitting.
What is the Delhi state code?
The Delhi state code is DL on vehicles and 07 for GST. Delhi is unusual because its office numbers have no leading zero: plates read DL 1, DL 2 and so on, not DL 01.
| Code | Office | District |
|---|---|---|
| DL 1 | Mall Road, Vishwavidyalaya | North Delhi |
| DL 2 | Indraprastha Depot | New Delhi |
| DL 3 | DDA Market, Sheikh Sarai | South Delhi |
| DL 4 | Janakpuri | West Delhi I |
| DL 5 | Loni Road, Shahdara | North East Delhi |
| DL 6 | ISBT Sarai Kale Khan | Central Delhi |
| DL 7 | Mayur Vihar | East Delhi I |
| DL 8 | Wazirpur | North West Delhi I |
| DL 9 | Sector 10, Dwarka | South West Delhi I |
| DL 10 | Raja Garden | West Delhi II |
Delhi on GST forms
A Delhi business has a GSTIN starting with 07. Delhi is a union territory with its own legislature, so it has a full GST code like a state.
Why Delhi has no 01
The no-zero style is a Delhi practice. Typing DL01 into a search tool can return nothing; try DL1 or DL 1 with the series instead.
What is the CG state code?
The CG state code stands for Chhattisgarh on number plates. Its GST code is 22. Before the state was formed, the same districts used Madhya Pradesh codes, which is why some old records, such as MP 25 for Jagdalpur, now point to Chhattisgarh offices instead.
Reserved CG codes
The first three numbers are reserved for official use: CG 01 for the Governor’s vehicles, CG 02 for state government vehicles and CG 03 for police vehicles. Public registrations start from CG 04.
How do Chhattisgarh state code numbers run?
After the reserved codes, the Chhattisgarh state code numbers follow district offices: CG 04 Raipur, CG 05 Dhamtari, CG 06 Mahasamund and CG 07 Durg, with further numbers for Bilaspur, Bastar and other districts. CG 17 is Jagdalpur in Bastar district.
The Raipur and Durg belt
Most vehicles in the capital region carry CG 04 or CG 07. Bhilai falls in Durg district, so many vehicles there show CG 07.
Bastar and the south
CG 17 Jagdalpur covers Bastar. Its old Madhya Pradesh number, MP 25, is no longer used for new registrations.
What is the Bihar state code?
The Bihar state code is BR on vehicles and 10 for GST. BR 01 is Patna, and the list continues through Gaya (BR 02), Arrah, Chhapra, Motihari and Muzaffarpur (BR 06). Office-by-office detail is in our BR RTO code guide.
Major Bihar codes in brief
Besides Patna, people often look up BR 10 Bhagalpur, BR 07 Darbhanga, BR 11 Purnia, BR 21 Bihar Sharif and BR 31 Hajipur. Each is a district office.
Bihar GST code
A Bihar business has a GSTIN starting 10. Do not confuse it with BR, which only appears on vehicles and licences.
What is the Tamil Nadu state code?
The Tamil Nadu state code is TN for vehicles and 33 for GST. Tamil Nadu groups its offices into zones, and the series runs past TN 70, with Tirunelveli at TN 72. A Tamil Nadu GSTIN always starts with 33.
Government vehicles in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu reserves the series letter G for government vehicles, so a plate like TN 60 AG 3333 belongs to a government department. Private vehicles use other series letters.
How does the Tamilnadu state code split across Chennai and Coimbatore?
Under the Tamilnadu state code, Chennai takes most low numbers, from TN 01 to TN 14 (except TN 06) plus TN 22 and others. Coimbatore uses TN 37, TN 38 and TN 66, while Madurai South is TN 58.
| Code | Office | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| TN 01 | Chennai Central, Ayanavaram | Chennai North |
| TN 02 | Chennai North West, Anna Nagar | Chennai North |
| TN 03 | Chennai North East, Tondiarpet | Chennai North |
| TN 07 | Chennai South, Adyar | Chennai South |
| TN 09 | Chennai West, K. K. Nagar | Chennai South |
| TN 10 | Chennai South West | Chennai South |
| TN 37 | Coimbatore South | Coimbatore |
| TN 38 | Coimbatore North | Coimbatore |
| TN 58 | Madurai South | Madurai |
| TN 66 | Coimbatore Central | Coimbatore |
| TN 72 | Tirunelveli | Tirunelveli |
Why Chennai has so many codes
Chennai’s offices were split as the city grew, so each zone kept its own office number. A car registered in Adyar (TN 07) and one in Anna Nagar (TN 02) are both Chennai vehicles.
Coimbatore’s three offices
Coimbatore is split into south, north and central offices. Check the full number on Vahan if you need the exact office for a transfer.
What is the MP state code?
The MP state code is MP for Madhya Pradesh vehicles and 23 for GST. Bhopal holds the first four numbers, with MP 01 to MP 03 kept for reserved, government and police series and MP 04 for general registrations. For district-wise detail, see our Madhya Pradesh state code page.
Big-city MP codes
MP 09 is Indore, MP 07 Gwalior, MP 20 Jabalpur and MP 13 Ujjain. Newer districts such as Niwari, Maihar and Pandhurna have received numbers in the seventies.
What is the Punjab state code?
The Punjab state code is PB on vehicles and 03 for GST. PB 01 is not a town office: it is used for taxis from Punjab and for rented or self-drive cars in Chandigarh. District offices start at PB 02 Amritsar.
Punjab district codes
PB 02 Amritsar, PB 03 Bathinda, PB 04 Faridkot, PB 05 Ferozpur, PB 06 Gurdaspur, PB 07 Hoshiarpur, PB 08 Jalandhar, PB 09 Kapurthala, PB 10 Ludhiana (West) and PB 11 Patiala are the first ten district numbers.
Old Punjab codes
Before 1989, Punjab used three-letter district codes such as PN or PU. Plates in that old style are now rare, and current registrations all carry PB.
What is the West Bengal state code?
The West Bengal state code is WB on vehicles and 19 for GST. WB numbers start in Kolkata and run past WB 70 into north Bengal, where Siliguri has its own offices. West Bengal has reorganised several series, so some old codes are no longer issued.
Kolkata and district codes
Kolkata offices hold the low numbers, while Howrah is WB 11 and Siliguri sits in the seventies. For Alipore in South 24 Parganas, read our page on the WB 20 RTO code.
West Bengal’s code changes
Under a one-office, one-code change, separate private and commercial codes were merged. For example, Behala’s two codes were replaced by WB 09 B, and Salt Lake now issues WB 07 V.
What is the Kolkata state code?
Kolkata is a city in West Bengal, so the Kolkata state code is the West Bengal code: WB on plates and 19 for GST. Kolkata vehicles carry office numbers from WB 01 to WB 10, covering the Beltala, Kasba, Salt Lake and Behala offices.
Kolkata office numbers
WB 01 and WB 02 to WB 04 were Beltala codes; WB 01 BB is now used there. WB 05 and WB 06 belonged to Kasba, WB 07 and WB 08 to Salt Lake, and WB 09 and WB 10 to Behala.
Kolkata on forms
Pick West Bengal as the state and type Kolkata as the city. Kolkata has no separate state-level code in either the vehicle or GST system.
What is the Uttar Pradesh state code?
The Uttar Pradesh state code is UP on vehicles and 09 for GST. Active office codes run from UP 11 to UP 96, about 75 in all. The numbers UP 01 to UP 10 are no longer used because those districts became part of Uttarakhand in 2000.
Codes people look up most
UP 14 Ghaziabad, UP 16 Noida, UP 32 Lucknow, UP 65 Varanasi, UP 78 Kanpur Nagar and UP 80 Agra are the most searched. UP 11 is Saharanpur, the lowest active code.
Why UP starts at 11
When Uttarakhand was formed, its hill districts took their vehicles with them. The UP numbers they used were retired rather than reissued, so the UP list starts at 11.
What is the Assam state code?
The Assam state code is AS on vehicles and 18 for GST. AS 01 is Guwahati in Kamrup district, the busiest office in the north-east. Other district numbers cover the Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley.
Assam district codes
AS 01 Guwahati, AS 02 Nagaon, AS 03 Jorhat, AS 06 Dibrugarh, AS 11 Silchar (Cachar) and AS 12 Tezpur (Sonitpur) are the codes most people need.
What is the NL state full form?
The NL state full form is Nagaland. NL is its vehicle code, and its GST code is 13. NL 01 is Kohima, and NL 07 covers the Dimapur area. NL is often seen on trucks far from Nagaland because many goods vehicles registered there hold national permits.
Nagaland office codes
NL 01 Kohima, NL 02 Mokokchung, NL 03 Tuensang, NL 04 Mon, NL 05 Wokha, NL 06 Zunheboto, NL 07 Chumoukedima and Dimapur, and NL 08 Phek. NL 09 and NL 10 are for government vehicles.
NL is not a country code
On an Indian plate, NL never means the Netherlands. More about NL trucks and other north-eastern codes is on our DD number plate page.
What is the Uttarakhand short form?
The Uttarakhand short form on vehicles is UK, and the GST code is 05. From November 2000 to October 2007 the state was named Uttaranchal and issued UA plates. After the name change, new registrations moved to UK.
Uttarakhand district codes
UK 01 Almora, UK 02 Bageshwar, UK 03 Champawat, UK 04 Haldwani, UK 05 Pithoragarh, UK 06 Rudrapur, UK 07 Dehradun and UK 08 Haridwar are the first eight offices.
UA plates today
Old UA registrations are still valid. You will see them less often as those vehicles age out or are re-registered.
What is the Arunachal Pradesh short form?
The Arunachal Pradesh short form is AR on vehicles, and its GST code is 12. The published list has about 20 office codes, from AR 01 up to AR 22 with some gaps. AR 01 and AR 02 are both issued by the Itanagar office.
Arunachal district codes
AR 03 is Tawang and AR 12 is Changlang. Other districts have their own numbers; check the full registration on Vahan for the exact office.
AR versus AP
Do not mix up AR (Arunachal Pradesh) with AP (Andhra Pradesh). The GST numbers are also far apart: 12 for Arunachal and 37 for Andhra.
State code of India: every vehicle prefix
This state code of India table lists every vehicle prefix with its GST number. There are 36 vehicle codes, one for each of the 28 states and 8 union territories. GST numbers run from 01 to 38, with gaps where old codes were retired.
| Plate code | State or UT | GST code |
|---|---|---|
| AN | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 35 |
| AP | Andhra Pradesh | 37 |
| AR | Arunachal Pradesh | 12 |
| AS | Assam | 18 |
| BR | Bihar | 10 |
| CG | Chhattisgarh | 22 |
| CH | Chandigarh | 04 |
| DD | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 26 |
| DL | Delhi | 07 |
| GA | Goa | 30 |
| GJ | Gujarat | 24 |
| HP | Himachal Pradesh | 02 |
| HR | Haryana | 06 |
| JH | Jharkhand | 20 |
| JK | Jammu and Kashmir | 01 |
| KA | Karnataka | 29 |
| KL | Kerala | 32 |
| LA | Ladakh | 38 |
| LD | Lakshadweep | 31 |
| MH | Maharashtra | 27 |
| ML | Meghalaya | 17 |
| MN | Manipur | 14 |
| MP | Madhya Pradesh | 23 |
| MZ | Mizoram | 15 |
| NL | Nagaland | 13 |
| OD | Odisha | 21 |
| PB | Punjab | 03 |
| PY | Puducherry | 34 |
| RJ | Rajasthan | 08 |
| SK | Sikkim | 11 |
| TG | Telangana | 36 |
| TN | Tamil Nadu | 33 |
| TR | Tripura | 16 |
| UK | Uttarakhand | 05 |
| UP | Uttar Pradesh | 09 |
| WB | West Bengal | 19 |
How to use this table
Find the state in the middle column, then read the plate letters on the left or the GST number on the right. Confirm tax codes on the official GST portal before filing, because this list is compiled from secondary sources.
Codes that changed
TG replaced TS, UK replaced UA, DD now covers Dadra and Nagar Haveli too, and OD is the current Odisha code. Older plates with the previous letters remain valid.
State code list for GST registrations
The GST state code list is a set of two-digit numbers, from 01 Jammu and Kashmir to 38 Ladakh, plus 97 for “Other Territory”. The number shows the state where a business is registered and decides whether an invoice carries IGST or CGST and SGST.
How a GSTIN is built
A GSTIN has 15 characters. The first two are the state code, the next ten are the PAN, then comes an entity number, a default letter Z and a check character. So 27 plus a PAN is a Maharashtra registration.
Retired GST codes
Code 25 (Daman and Diu) and code 28 (undivided Andhra Pradesh) are historical. The merged union territory uses 26, and Andhra Pradesh now uses 37. Old invoices may still show the retired numbers.
How do you read a state code on a number plate?
To read a state code on a plate, look at the first two letters, then the digits after them. In MH 12 AB 1234, MH is Maharashtra, 12 is the Pune RTO, AB is the series and 1234 is the vehicle’s own number. Every standard Indian plate follows this order.
Plate colours give extra clues
A white plate is a private vehicle, yellow is commercial, and green is electric. The colour changes nothing about the state code; MH on a green plate is still Maharashtra.
High security plates
Newer plates carry a chromium hologram, a laser-etched number and “IND” in light blue. The state code still comes first in the registration mark.
Why do some states have more than one code?
A state ends up with more than one code when it is renamed, split or merged. Uttaranchal became Uttarakhand (UA to UK), Telangana moved from TS to TG, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli merged with Daman and Diu in January 2020, moving Silvassa from DN to DD.
Old codes stay valid
None of these changes forces owners to replace plates. The old registration remains on the Vahan record, and the vehicle is only renumbered if it is re-registered.
Union territory mergers
The 2020 merger gave Silvassa the new code DD 01. Daman and Diu kept DD 03 and DD 02.
Which plate codes are not states at all?
Some plates start with letters that are not state codes. The BH series for owners who move between states has the year first, then BH, a number and a series. Diplomatic plates use CD, CC or UN, and armed forces vehicles use their own format with an upward arrow.
The BH series
BH plates were notified by MoRTH on 26 August 2021 and follow the format YY BH #### XX. Eligibility and fees are covered on our BH number plate page.
Temporary and trade plates
Temporary plates start with T and the month and year of purchase, in red on yellow. Trade certificate plates are white on red. Neither shows a permanent state code in the usual position.
Can a state code tell you where the owner lives?
No. A state code only shows where the vehicle was first registered, or re-registered. An owner can move cities without changing the plate, so an MH vehicle may be driven every day in Bengaluru. The current owner and address are held only in the Vahan record.
What the code does tell you
It tells you which transport department holds the file and which office handles transfer, NOC or duplicate RC requests. That is useful when buying a used vehicle.
Privacy of owner details
Official lookups show masked owner names. Sites that promise full owner details from a number are not official and should not be trusted.
How can you decode a state code online?
You can decode a code with the tool below, which matches the letters to a state, or by searching the full number on Vahan citizen services. The tool is quick for the letters; Vahan is the official source for the full registration record.
- Find the first two letters. They are the state or union territory code at the start of the plate.
- Match the letters to a state. Use the decoder above or the full table on this page.
- Read the RTO number. The digits after the letters name the office that registered the vehicle.
- Confirm on Vahan. Search the full number on vahan.parivahan.gov.in for the official record.
When the decoder is not enough
For a full record, including registration date and validity, you need the complete number on Vahan or the mParivahan app. The decoder works only on the code itself.
Finding district codes
District codes used in census and land records are a different system again. Our page on the district code explains those numbers.
Which mistakes do people make with state codes?
Most mistakes come from mixing the vehicle and tax systems, or using an old code on a new form. Typing MH into a GSTIN field, writing TS for a new Telangana registration and adding a zero to Delhi codes are the errors we see most often.
Old Andhra Pradesh GST code
Some old templates still show 28 for Andhra Pradesh. That code belongs to the undivided state; current Andhra registrations use 37.
Wrong UP numbers
UP 01 to UP 10 belong to old registrations from districts now in Uttarakhand. A new UP vehicle will never get those numbers.
Which state codes belong to union territories?
Eight union territories have their own codes: AN Andaman and Nicobar, CH Chandigarh, DD Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, DL Delhi, JK Jammu and Kashmir, LA Ladakh, LD Lakshadweep and PY Puducherry. Each also has a GST number.
Chandigarh’s four codes
Chandigarh uses CH 01 to CH 04, all from one office. PB 01 is also seen in the city on rented and self-drive cars.
Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir
Ladakh became a separate union territory in 2019 and received LA for vehicles and 38 for GST. Jammu and Kashmir kept JK and GST code 01.
Which state codes look alike?
Several pairs differ by one letter: AP Andhra Pradesh and AR Arunachal Pradesh, MP Madhya Pradesh and MH Maharashtra, ML Meghalaya and MN Manipur, and HP Himachal Pradesh and HR Haryana. On a dirty or worn plate, these are easy to misread.
MH and MP
MH is Maharashtra in the west; MP is Madhya Pradesh in the centre. The two states border each other, so both codes are common on highways near Nagpur and Indore.
MN, MZ and ML
These three north-eastern codes, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya, all start with M. Check the second letter carefully.
Where do vehicle and GST state codes differ?
They differ in format and purpose. Vehicle codes are two letters set by transport authorities and printed on plates. GST codes are two digits used in the tax system. The order also differs: GST starts in the north with Jammu and Kashmir, while vehicle codes have no numeric order.
Letters in tax software
Some billing software adds its own letter abbreviations next to GST numbers, and these do not always match plate codes. For tax filing, rely on the two-digit number.
Which code to use where
Use letters for RTO, insurance, PUC and challan forms. Use numbers for GST, e-way bills and invoices. Phone STD codes and PIN codes are separate again.
How do RTO numbers follow the state letters?
After the state letters comes a one- or two-digit RTO number. It identifies the office, usually a district, that registered the vehicle. A high number often means a newer office rather than a smaller place.
Same district, several numbers
Big cities often have several offices. Bengaluru has eleven KA numbers, Chennai more than a dozen TN numbers and Mumbai at least four MH numbers.
Where to find full RTO lists
Each state’s RTO list is covered on its own page in our RTO codes section. Use the office number to know where to go for registration services.
Official links
Vahan citizen servicesVehicle registration records ↗Parivahan Sewaparivahan.gov.in ↗GST portalSearch a GSTIN and state jurisdiction ↗Ministry of Road Transport and HighwaysRegistration mark notifications ↗Maharashtra state code questions
What is the Maharashtra state code for GST?
It is 27. A GSTIN registered in Maharashtra starts with 27, followed by the ten-character PAN of the business.
Is MH the same as the Maharashtra GST code?
No. MH is the vehicle registration code. GST uses only numbers, and Maharashtra's number is 27.
Why do some Telangana plates say TS and others TG?
Vehicles registered from June 2014 got TS. After the March 2024 gazette notification, new registrations get TG. Both are valid.
Which state code is KA?
KA is Karnataka. Bengaluru vehicles usually show KA 01 to KA 05 or one of the newer suburban codes such as KA 51 or KA 53.
Does the state code change if I move to another state?
Only if you re-register the vehicle in the new state. Until then it keeps its original code. The BH series is the exception for eligible owners.
What is the Delhi state code for GST?
Delhi's GST state code is 07. Its vehicle code is DL, written without a leading zero before the office number.
Which state code is CG on a number plate?
CG is Chhattisgarh. CG 04 is Raipur and CG 07 is Durg; CG 01 to CG 03 are kept for the Governor, government and police.
What is the Tamil Nadu GST state code?
It is 33. The vehicle code is TN, and Chennai offices use low numbers such as TN 01, TN 07 and TN 09.
Which state uses code 19 in GST?
West Bengal. Its vehicles carry WB, and Kolkata offices sit in the WB 01 to WB 10 range.
Is NL on a plate a foreign vehicle?
No. NL is Nagaland. Many goods vehicles with NL plates run across India on national permits.
What was UA on old Uttarakhand plates?
UA was used from November 2000 to October 2007, when the state was called Uttaranchal. New registrations carry UK.
Can I find the owner from the state code?
No. The code only shows where the vehicle was registered. Owner details come from the Vahan record and are shown in masked form.
Parivahan Sewa (parivahansewa-in.com) is an independent information website and is not affiliated with MoRTH, Parivahan or any state transport department. Confirm fees and rules on the official portal before you pay or apply.