TN vehicle registration: the TN96 Kovilpatti area and every Tamil Nadu code by zone
In TN vehicle registration, the code TN 96 belongs to the Kovilpatti office in Thoothukudi district, part of the Tirunelveli transport zone. Kovilpatti once issued plates as a unit office under TN 69 Z. Tamil Nadu's 2023 state list holds 145 offices and unit offices in 12 zones, from TN 01 Ayanavaram in Chennai to TN 99 Coimbatore West.
Key takeaways
- TN 96 = Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district, Tirunelveli zone; its old series was TN 69 Z.
- Thoothukudi district has three codes: TN 69 Thoothukkudi, TN 96 Kovilpatti and TN 92 Tiruchendur.
- The State Transport Authority list of August 2023 has 145 entries: 91 offices and 54 unit offices.
- N or AN series plates are state transport buses; G combinations are government vehicles.
- Chennai alone uses more than a dozen codes, from TN 01 to TN 22, plus suburban offices.
- Moving inside Tamil Nadu changes the RC address, not the number; a move from another state brings a new TN number after 12 months.
On this page · 42 sections
TN 96 RTO which district does the code belong to?
The answer to TN 96 RTO which district is Thoothukudi. The code is issued by the Kovilpatti regional transport office, which the Tamil Nadu State Transport Authority lists in its Tirunelveli zone. A car, bike or lorry showing TN 96 was first registered at Kovilpatti, wherever it is parked today.
Zone name versus district name
People often read the zone heading and assume TN 96 is a Tirunelveli plate. The zone is only an administrative group of offices. The revenue district is Thoothukudi, and Tirunelveli district has its own office, TN 72.
Where this answer comes from
We used the state’s own registration series list dated 4 August 2023, read through an archived copy, and checked it against the Wikipedia list of RTO districts. Both put Kovilpatti at TN 96.
What is the TN96 registration area?
The TN96 registration area is the part of Thoothukudi district whose residents register vehicles at Kovilpatti rather than at Thoothukkudi or Tiruchendur. Kovilpatti is the main town of the district’s northern, inland half, so the office mostly serves that dry belt along NH 44.
Taluks in the Kovilpatti division
The district’s Kovilpatti revenue division holds five taluks: Kovilpatti, Ettayapuram, Vilathikulam, Ottapidaram and Kayathar. That division is the natural catchment for the office, though no published source gives the RTO’s exact village-level boundary.
Confirm your own village
Jurisdiction follows your address, and boundaries between offices do get redrawn. If you live near the edge of the division, ask the office or check the RTO shown when your dealer files the application.
Was Kovilpatti once registered under TN 69 Z?
Yes. The state list gives Kovilpatti’s old registration series as TN69Z, the series of a unit office under the Thoothukkudi RTO (TN 69). The office later received its own code, TN 96. The list does not give the date of that change.
Old plates stay valid
A vehicle registered as TN 69 Z keeps that number for life. Re-coding an office never changes existing registrations, so both TN 69 Z and TN 96 plates are common on Kovilpatti roads.
A trace in place listings
Some public pages still show the old series. The Wikipedia infobox for Ettayapuram, for example, lists TN 69 Z as the town’s registration plate.
What kind of town is Kovilpatti?
Kovilpatti is a municipal town of 95,057 people (2011 census) spread over about 6.5 sq km, roughly 101 m above sea level. It sits on National Highway 44 with two bus stations and its own railway station, which makes it a busy trading stop between Madurai and Tirunelveli.
Known for peanut candy
The town’s best-known product is kadalai mittai, a peanut and jaggery candy sold all along the highway. Small trade like this explains the many goods carriers and two-wheelers that carry TN 96 plates.
Nearby landmarks
Kalugumalai, a dome-shaped rock with two rock-cut temples, lies on the road from Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil, which itself has a separate code, TN 79, in Tenkasi district.
How do TN 69, TN 92 and TN 96 split Thoothukudi district?
Thoothukudi district uses three codes. TN 69 covers the port city and its surroundings, TN 92 serves the coastal temple town of Tiruchendur, and TN 96 serves inland Kovilpatti. All three started from the Thoothukkudi office: both TN 92 and TN 96 were once its unit series.
| Code | Office | Old series in state list |
|---|---|---|
| TN 69 | Thoothukkudi | TAC |
| TN 96 | Kovilpatti | TN 69Z |
| TN 92 | Tiruchendur | TN 69Y |
The district at a glance
Thoothukudi district was created on 20 October 1986 out of Tirunelveli district. It covers 4,707 sq km, had 17.5 lakh people in 2011 and borders Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram and the Gulf of Mannar.
Coast versus interior
The split roughly follows geography. Thoothukkudi and Tiruchendur serve the coastal taluks along the Gulf of Mannar, while Kovilpatti takes the drier interior taluks to the north-west.
Which codes share the Tirunelveli transport zone?
The Tirunelveli zone groups the state’s southern tip: Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts. It holds eight full offices and two unit offices. Kovilpatti’s nearest neighbours on the list are Thoothukkudi, Tiruchendur and Sankaran Koil.
| Code | Office | Note in the state list |
|---|---|---|
| TN 72 | Tirunelveli | Old MDT, MDI, TNI, TNT, TCT |
| TN 72V | Valliyur | Unit office |
| TN 76 | Tenkasi | None |
| TN 76Y | Ambasamudram | Unit office, old TN 76V |
| TN 79 | Sankaran Koil | Old TN 76Z |
| TN 74 | Nagercoil | Old MDK, TAT and others |
| TN 75 | Marthandam | None |
Same family pattern
Like Kovilpatti, Sankaran Koil began as a unit series (TN 76Z) under Tenkasi before getting TN 79. Growth in traffic usually turns busy unit offices into full RTOs.
Kanniyakumari’s two codes
At the southern tip, Nagercoil (TN 74) and Marthandam (TN 75) serve Kanniyakumari district. Nagercoil kept a long list of old series, from MDK to TDK.
How does TN vehicle registration work for a new vehicle?
For a new vehicle, TN vehicle registration is normally done by the dealer. The dealer files Form 20 with the sale certificate (Form 21) and the maker’s roadworthiness certificate (Form 22), the owner pays the tax and fee, and the office for the buyer’s address allots the next free number.
Which office you get
The code depends on your address proof, not on where the showroom stands. A buyer living in Ettayapuram who shops in Madurai should still end up with a TN 96 number if the address falls in the Kovilpatti area.
Tax and the full process
Road tax is collected at registration. For rates, see our guide to road tax in Tamil Nadu, and for the state-wide procedure from start to finish, read the RTO Tamil Nadu guide.
Which papers does the RTO check at registration?
A registration file usually carries the application, sale certificate, roadworthiness certificate, valid insurance, address proof and identity proof of the owner, plus proof that tax has been paid. Imported, rebuilt or body-built vehicles need extra papers such as the body builder’s certificate.
Address proof matters most
Because the office is chosen by address, a mismatch between the Aadhaar address and the delivery address causes most delays. Fix the address first, then book the vehicle.
What you get back
The office issues the certificate of registration, now usually a smart card or digital RC. Our page on the certificate of registration explains what each field on it means.
How do you read a TN vehicle registration number?
A TN vehicle registration number has four parts: the state letters TN, a two-digit office number, one to three series letters, and a running number up to 9999. In TN 96 AB 1234, the 96 is Kovilpatti, AB is the series and 1234 the vehicle’s place in it.
Suffix letters on the office
Unit offices add a letter to the office number, such as TN 69 Z or TN 31 Y. That letter belongs to the office, so the series that follows it is shorter on the plate.
Spacing is not part of the number
Plates print gaps for readability, but databases store TN96AB1234 as one string. Always type it without spaces when you search.
What do N and G series mean on a Tamil Nadu number plate?
On a Tamil Nadu number plate, a series starting with N or AN marks a State Transport Corporation vehicle, and a series built on G (G, AG, BG, CG, DG and so on) marks a government-owned vehicle. The state list also shows these two as separate rows: TN-/N for transport undertakings and TN-/G for state government vehicles.
| Series starts with | What it signals | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N or AN | State transport undertaking bus | TN 72 N for Tirunelveli region buses |
| G, AG, BG, CG, DG | State government vehicle | TN 96 G |
| Other letters | Private owners and companies | Most cars, bikes and trucks |
Old bus series
Before the current scheme, state transport vehicles used series such as MSN, TMN, TML and TCB, according to the same list.
Why are there no TN 08, 17, 26 or 35 codes?
Tamil Nadu does not assign any office a number whose digits add up to 8. That rules out 08, 17, 26, 35, 44, 53, 62, 71, 80, 89 and 98. The source list records the practice; no notification explaining it has been published, so treat any reason you read online as folklore.
Why it matters for checks
If someone offers a vehicle with a TN 26 or TN 44 plate, the number cannot be a genuine Tamil Nadu registration. Verify it before you pay anything.
Not a rule elsewhere
The practice is specific to Tamil Nadu. Other states, such as Kerala and Karnataka, do issue codes like 08 and 17.
What were the old Tamil Nadu series like MDT and TAC?
Before the two-digit codes, Tamil Nadu used three-letter series. The state list keeps them in an “old series” column: Tirunelveli had MDT and TNT, Thoothukkudi had TAC, Salem West had MDS and TNS, and Chennai Central had MSP and TMP among others.
You still see them
Old registrations remain valid, so vintage cars and long-kept two-wheelers can still wear an MDT or TMS plate. When you search such a vehicle, type the old number exactly as printed.
Linked to today’s offices
The column tells you which modern office now holds the old record. A buyer of an MDT-plated car should go to TN 72 Tirunelveli for transfer work.
How long is the TN number plate list?
The TN number plate list published by the State Transport Authority in August 2023 has 145 numbered entries. Of these, 91 are offices with their own code and 54 are unit offices marked U.O. They are grouped into 12 transport zones.
Why the count changes
New offices open as towns grow, and unit offices get promoted. Kallakurichi, Tirupattur, Udumalpet and Kumarapalayam, for example, now appear with “MA” codes such as TN 15MA and TN 78MA, so recheck the latest list before relying on any count.
Tamil Nadu RTO code list by zone
This Tamil Nadu RTO code list summarises each zone and the codes it holds. Unit offices are left out here and named in the zone sections below. Use the table to find the zone first, then jump to its section.
| Zone | Main office codes |
|---|---|
| Chennai North | TN 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 12, 13, 18, 20 |
| Chennai South | TN 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 14, 19, 21, 22, 85, 87 |
| Villupuram | TN 15, 15MA, 16, 25, 31, 32, 91, 97 |
| Vellore | TN 23, 24, 70, 73, 83, 83MA |
| Salem | TN 29, 30, 52, 54, 77, 90, 93 |
| Thanjavur | TN 49, 50, 51, 55, 68, 82 |
| Tiruchirapalli | TN 45, 46, 47, 48, 61, 81 |
| Erode | TN 28, 33, 34, 34MA, 36, 56, 86, 88 |
| Coimbatore | TN 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66, 78, 78MA, 99 |
| Madurai | TN 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 94 |
| Virudhunagar | TN 63, 65, 67, 84, 95 |
| Tirunelveli | TN 69, 72, 74, 75, 76, 79, 92, 96 |
Decode a plate yourself
What is the Tamil Nadu vehicle code?
The Tamil Nadu vehicle code is TN, the two letters at the start of every plate registered in the state since the current national format came in under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Before that the state used three-letter series beginning with M or T.
TN versus neighbouring states
Next door, Puducherry uses PY, Kerala KL, Karnataka KA and Andhra Pradesh AP. Border towns like Hosur (TN 70) see all of them daily, so the two letters are the quickest guide to where a vehicle is from.
Three-letter history
Old series such as MDT, MSP and TAC show the earlier pattern, where the letters themselves pointed to a region. The two-digit office number replaced that system.
Which codes make up the Chennai North zone?
The Chennai North zone covers the city’s northern offices and Tiruvallur district. It lists TN 01 Ayanavaram, TN 02 Anna Nagar, TN 03 Tondiarpet, TN 04 Basin Bridge, TN 05 Vyasarpadi, TN 13 Ambattur, TN 18 Red Hills, TN 20 Tiruvallur and TN 12 Poonamallee, with Gummidipoondi and Thiruthani as unit offices.
Codes that moved
Ambattur’s old series was TN 18Z and Poonamallee’s was TN 20Y, so both began as unit offices. For Poonamallee’s own area, see our Poonamallee RTO page.
Tiruvallur district offices
Tiruvallur (TN 20), Red Hills (TN 18) and Poonamallee (TN 12) sit in Tiruvallur district but are grouped with the north Chennai offices, as are the Gummidipoondi and Thiruthani units.
Which codes make up the Chennai South zone?
The Chennai South zone runs from the southern city offices out to Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu districts. It lists TN 06 Mandaveli, TN 07 Tiruvanmiyur, TN 09 K.K. Nagar, TN 10 Valasaravakkam, TN 22 Meenambakkam, TN 85 Kundrathur, TN 11 Tambaram, TN 14 Sholinganallur, TN 21 Kancheepuram, TN 87 Sriperumbudur and TN 19 Chengalpattu.
Unit offices in the south
Thirukazhugundram (TN 19Y) and Madurantagam (TN 19Z) work under Chengalpattu. Sholinganallur was once TN 11Z and Sriperumbudur TN 21W. For the Adyar side of the city, read about RTO Thiruvanmiyur.
What is the Chennai number plate code for each office?
Each Chennai number plate code points to one office. The state list names the office location next to the code, which is the most reliable way to match a plate to a part of the city.
| Code | Office in state list | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| TN 01 | Chennai Central, Ayanavaram | North |
| TN 02 | Chennai North West, Anna Nagar | North |
| TN 03 | Chennai North East, Tondiarpet | North |
| TN 04 | Chennai East, Basin Bridge | North |
| TN 05 | Chennai North, Vyasarpadi | North |
| TN 06 | Chennai South East, Mandaveli | South |
| TN 07 | Chennai South, Tiruvanmiyur | South |
| TN 09 | Chennai West, K.K. Nagar | South |
| TN 10 | Chennai South West, Valasaravakkam | South |
| TN 13 | Ambattur | North |
| TN 22 | Meenambakkam, Alandur | South |
Names in other lists
Some lists name TN 04 as Royapuram, TN 05 as Kolathur or TN 10 as Virugambakkam. These are nearby localities for the same offices; the code is what counts.
Which Chennai car number plate matches your address?
A Chennai car number plate follows the owner’s address at the time of registration. Someone in Anna Nagar gets TN 02, while a buyer in Tambaram gets TN 11 and one in Sholinganallur TN 14. The dealer picks the office from your address proof, not from the showroom location.
Suburbs have their own codes
The city’s growth pushed registrations to Poonamallee (TN 12), Red Hills (TN 18), Kundrathur (TN 85) and Sriperumbudur (TN 87). These are Chennai-area plates even though the offices sit in Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram or Chengalpattu district.
Fines follow the number
Traffic cameras record the plate, and pending fines attach to that number. To see dues on a Chennai vehicle, use the TN challan check guide.
TN 01 which area does it cover?
For TN 01 which area, the answer is Chennai Central, with the office at Ayanavaram in the Chennai North zone. It is also the office where SETC and MTC buses are registered, under the series TN 01 N.
Oldest Chennai series
The state list gives TN 01 the longest run of old series, from MSP, MSV and MSY to TMP, TMV and TSE. Many of the city’s oldest surviving registrations trace back here.
Spotting a city bus
A TN 01 N plate on a bus almost always means a state-run MTC or SETC vehicle, not a private operator.
What is the TN 09 registration area?
The TN 09 registration area is Chennai West, served by the office at K.K. Nagar in the Chennai South zone. Residents of the western city localities around K.K. Nagar register there, while those further west fall under TN 10 Valasaravakkam.
Old series for TN 09
The list gives TN 09’s old series as TMA, TCW, TSA, TSF and others. A vintage car with one of those plates has its record at this office.
Same zone, different office
Despite the name Chennai West, TN 09 is grouped in the Chennai South zone, along with TN 06, TN 07 and TN 10.
Which codes belong to the Villupuram zone?
The Villupuram zone holds the northern coastal and inland districts: Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai. Its offices are TN 32 Villupuram, TN 15 Ulundurpet, TN 15MA Kallakurichi, TN 16 Tindivanam, TN 31 Cuddalore, TN 91 Chidambaram, TN 25 Tiruvannamalai and TN 97 Arani.
Unit offices in the zone
Gingee (TN 16Z), Panruti (TN 31Z), Neyveli (TN 31Y), Virudhachalam (TN 91Z) and Cheyyar (TN 97Z) are unit offices.
Two districts, one zone
Kallakurichi and Villupuram were one district until the split, which is why Ulundurpet and Kallakurichi still show Villupuram unit series as their old codes.
What is the TN 31 registration area?
The TN 31 registration area is Cuddalore district’s main office at Cuddalore. It is the parent of two unit offices, Neyveli (TN 31Y) and Panruti (TN 31Z), and its old series were MDF, TNF, TDF, TCF and TAF.
Codes that left TN 31
Chidambaram was once TN 31U and Virudhachalam TN 31V. Chidambaram now has TN 91, and Virudhachalam works under it as TN 91Z.
Buses at TN 31
The Wikipedia list notes that TNSTC Villupuram, Cuddalore region buses are registered under TN 31 N.
TN 91 which RTO issues it?
For TN 91 which RTO, the answer is the Chidambaram office in Cuddalore district. Any TN 91 registration belongs to Chidambaram or its unit office at Virudhachalam (TN 91Z), both in the Villupuram zone.
From unit series to full code
The state list shows Chidambaram’s old series as TN 31U, a sign that it once worked under Cuddalore, much as Kovilpatti worked under Thoothukkudi.
Temple town traffic
Chidambaram’s Nataraja temple draws pilgrims from across the state, so many vehicles you see there carry other codes. Only locally registered ones show TN 91.
What is the TN 15 registration area?
The TN 15 registration area is Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi district. The state list shows Kallakurichi town with a separate code TN 15MA, while the Wikipedia list describes Kallakurichi as sharing the TN 15 series. Both are in the Villupuram zone.
Earlier codes
Ulundurpet’s old series was TN 32Z and Kallakurichi’s TN 32W, both unit series of Villupuram. Kallakurichi district itself was carved out of Villupuram, which explains the link.
What is the TN 25 registration area?
The TN 25 registration area is Tiruvannamalai, a large district north of Villupuram. Arani in the same district has its own code, TN 97, with Cheyyar as unit office TN 97Z. The old series for Tiruvannamalai was TAI.
More on Tiruvannamalai
For the district’s taluks and nearby Erode codes, see our page answering TN 25 which district.
Which codes belong to the Vellore zone?
The Vellore zone covers Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Krishnagiri districts. Its offices are TN 23 Vellore, TN 83 Vaniyambadi, TN 83MA Tirupattur, TN 73 Ranipet, TN 24 Krishnagiri and TN 70 Hosur, with Gudiyatham (TN 23T), Ambur (TN 83Y) and Arakkonam (TN 73Z) as unit offices.
Hosur’s border traffic
TN 70 Hosur sits on the Karnataka border near Bengaluru, so its plates are common in both states. Vaniyambadi was once TN 23Y under Vellore.
Tirupattur and Vaniyambadi
The state list gives Tirupattur a separate TN 83MA code, while Wikipedia says it shares Vaniyambadi’s series. Check the RC to see which office registered the vehicle.
What is the Salem vehicle registration number?
The Salem vehicle registration number depends on the part of the city. TN 30 is Salem West, TN 54 Salem East and TN 90 Salem South. Elsewhere in the district, Sangagiri uses TN 52, Mettur TN 93 and Attur TN 77, with Omalur (TN 30W) and Vazhapadi (TN 77Z) as unit offices.
What happened to TN 27
The Wikipedia list shows TN 27 Salem as not in use, and the state list folds TN-27 into the old series of Salem West. Older TN 27 vehicles are handled by the TN 30 office.
Rest of the Salem zone
The zone also holds TN 29 Dharmapuri with unit offices at Palacode (TN 29W) and Harur (TN 29Z).
Which codes belong to the Thanjavur zone?
The Thanjavur zone covers the Kaveri delta. Its offices are TN 49 Thanjavur, TN 68 Kumbakonam, TN 51 Nagapattinam, TN 82 Mayiladuthurai, TN 50 Tiruvarur and TN 55 Pudukkottai.
Delta unit offices
Pattukottai (TN 49Y), Sirkali (TN 82Z), Mannarkudi (TN 50Z), Thiruthuraipoondi (TN 50Y), Aranthangi (TN 55Z), Illupur (TN 55Y) and Alangudi (TN 55BQ) are unit offices. Alangudi’s two-letter suffix is unusual in the list.
Kumbakonam’s role
TN 68 Kumbakonam is a full office in Thanjavur district, and the Wikipedia list notes TNSTC Kumbakonam region buses under TN 68 N.
Which codes belong to the Tiruchirappalli zone?
The Tiruchirapalli zone groups Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts. Trichy has TN 45 West, TN 81 East and TN 48 Srirangam, while Karur uses TN 47, Perambalur TN 46 and Ariyalur TN 61.
Many small units
Srirangam alone has three unit offices (Thuraiyur, Musiri, Lalgudi) and Karur three more. For the full city picture, read our page on TN 45 which district.
Thiruverumbur’s move
Thiruverumbur’s old series was TN 45Y under Trichy West. It is now TN 81Z, a unit of Trichy East.
Which codes belong to the Erode zone?
The Erode zone joins Erode and Namakkal districts. Erode uses TN 33 East, TN 86 West, TN 36 Gobi and TN 56 Perundurai; Namakkal uses TN 28 North, TN 88 South, TN 34 Tiruchengode and TN 34MA Kumarapalayam.
Unit offices here
Bhavani (TN 36W), Sathyamangalam (TN 36Z), Rasipuram (TN 28Z) and Paramathivelur (TN 88Z, once TN 28Y) work under parent offices.
Namakkal in the Erode zone
Namakkal district has no zone of its own. Its four codes, TN 28, 88, 34 and 34MA, all report to the Erode zone.
Which codes belong to the Coimbatore zone?
The Coimbatore zone spans Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Nilgiris districts. Coimbatore has TN 66 Central, TN 38 North, TN 99 West, TN 37 South, TN 41 Pollachi and TN 40 Mettupalayam. Tiruppur has TN 39 North, TN 42 South, TN 78 Dharapuram and TN 78MA Udumalpet, and Nilgiris has TN 43 Udagamandalam.
Coimbatore city detail
The city’s four offices and their unit offices are covered on our TN 66 which district page.
Hill district codes
The Nilgiris use TN 43 at Udagamandalam (Ooty) and the Gudalur unit office, TN 43Z. Valparai in the Anamalai hills is TN 41W under Pollachi.
What is the TN 78 registration area?
The TN 78 registration area is Dharapuram in Tiruppur district, part of the Coimbatore zone. The state list shows Udumalpet as TN 78MA, with an old unit series TN 78Z. Wikipedia describes Udumalpet as sharing Dharapuram’s series.
Who uses TN 78
Farm towns south of Tiruppur fall here. A TN 78 pickup or tractor most likely comes from the Dharapuram or Udumalpet belt.
Which codes belong to the Madurai zone?
The Madurai zone holds Madurai, Theni and Dindigul districts. Madurai uses TN 59 North, TN 58 South and TN 64 Central; the state list names TN 60 as Periyakulam, which Wikipedia calls Theni; Dindigul uses TN 57 and Palani TN 94.
Unit offices around Madurai
Melur, Vadipatti, Tirumangalam, Usilampatti, Uthamapalayam, Vedasandur, Batlagundu, Natham (TN 57BV) and Oddanchatram are unit offices. Palani was once TN 57Z.
Three Madurai city offices
North (TN 59), South (TN 58) and Central (TN 64) split the city. The state list ties Madurai’s old MDU and TNU series to the North office.
Which codes belong to the Virudhunagar zone?
The Virudhunagar zone covers Virudhunagar, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram districts. Its offices are TN 67 Virudhunagar, TN 84 Srivilliputhur, TN 95 Sivakasi, TN 63 Sivagangai and TN 65 Ramanathapuram.
Sivakasi and Srivilliputhur
Sivakasi got TN 95 after starting as TN 67U, and Srivilliputhur was once TN 67Z. Aruppukottai (TN 67W), Karaikudi (TN 63Z) and Paramakudi (TN 65Z) are unit offices.
What does a U.O. unit office code mean?
A U.O. in the state list is a unit office: a smaller branch that works under a parent RTO and issues its own lettered series, such as TN 69Z for Kovilpatti in the past. Many busy unit offices are later upgraded and given a fresh two-digit code.
The suffix letter
The letter after the office number, such as Y, Z, W or X, identifies the unit. Unit work such as registration and records is supervised by the parent office.
Where to go for services
For transfer, address change or hypothecation, start with the unit office named on your RC. If the unit no longer handles that service, the parent office will.
Is there a TN registration number list PDF?
Yes. The TN registration number list PDF is the State Transport Authority document titled “Registration Series Alloted to Regional Transport offices”, dated 4 August 2023. It is three pages long and gives each office’s current code and old series, zone by zone.
Getting the latest copy
The original sits on tnsta.gov.in. That site did not load from our machine, so we read the archived copy. Check the authority’s site for a newer list before relying on our tables.
Use our tables instead
Every code on this page comes from that PDF, rearranged by zone for easier reading.
Which Tamil Nadu car number plate colour applies to you?
A Tamil Nadu car number plate follows national colour rules. Private vehicles use black letters on white, transport vehicles black on yellow, rental vehicles yellow on black, and electric vehicles white on green (yellow on green if commercial). Temporary registrations use red on yellow.
Colour plus series
On a yellow plate, an N series still marks a state bus. On a white plate, a G series marks a government car.
Electric vehicles
The green plate makes an electric vehicle easy to spot. The TN code, office number and series work the same way as on any other plate.
How do you check a TN vehicle registration number online?
To check a TN vehicle registration number, use the national Vahan search on the Parivahan portal or the mParivahan app. The record shows the registering authority, which confirms the office behind the code. Our guide to vehicle info explains every field.
- Copy the full number. Note every character from the plate or RC, such as TN 96 followed by series letters and digits.
- Open a national search. Use the Vahan citizen services site or the mParivahan app and pick the RC or vehicle search.
- Type it without gaps. Enter the number as one string and finish the captcha or OTP step.
- Read the registering office. Check the registering authority line; a TN 96 record should name Kovilpatti.
What the search will not show
Public searches mask the owner’s name and hide phone numbers. Full details go only to the owner, police or authorised agencies.
Does the number change when you move to another district?
No. A vehicle keeps its number for life within Tamil Nadu. Under section 49 of the Motor Vehicles Act, you must report a new address within 30 days, to the original office or to the office covering your new address, and the RC is updated.
A TN 96 car in Chennai
If you move from Kovilpatti to Chennai, the car stays TN 96. Only the address on the RC changes, and future paperwork goes to the Chennai office for your new address.
What happens when a vehicle from another state moves to Tamil Nadu?
Section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act says a vehicle kept in another state for more than 12 months must be given a new registration mark there. The owner applies to the local office with the NOC from the original state, and the vehicle gets a fresh TN number.
Tax on arrival
Tamil Nadu may also ask for road tax on an outside vehicle. The rules and refunds from the home state are explained in our guide to road tax in the state.
Inside the 12 months
A vehicle staying less than a year may keep its home-state plate, provided its papers, tax and insurance are in order.
How do you find the Kovilpatti office’s current contact details?
We have not printed an address, phone number or timings for the Kovilpatti RTO because no source we could verify states them. Use the Parivahan RTO directory or the Tamil Nadu transport department site for current details.
Before you go
Most services start online. Check the RTO code guide for how offices across India work, and book any appointment before visiting.
Why we leave it out
Office locations and hours change, and wrong details send people on wasted trips. We add them only when a checkable source confirms them.
Official links
Vahan citizen servicesNational vehicle registration database; shows the registering office ↗Parivahan SewaNational transport portal with the RTO directory ↗Tamil Nadu State Transport AuthorityPublishes the state's registration series list ↗TN vehicle registration questions
TN 96 is which district?
TN 96 is Thoothukudi district. The code belongs to the Kovilpatti regional transport office, which the state list places in the Tirunelveli zone.
Which RTO issues TN 96 number plates?
The Kovilpatti RTO. The State Transport Authority list of 4 August 2023 shows Kovilpatti with the current code TN96 and the old series TN69Z.
Is TN 96 a Tirunelveli number?
No. Tirunelveli is the name of the transport zone. The vehicle's district is Thoothukudi. Tirunelveli district's own office code is TN 72.
What was Kovilpatti's code before TN 96?
The state list gives Kovilpatti's old series as TN 69 Z, a unit-office series under the Thoothukkudi RTO (TN 69). Older vehicles keep that number.
Which codes belong to Thoothukudi district?
Three: TN 69 Thoothukkudi, TN 96 Kovilpatti and TN 92 Tiruchendur.
TN 01 is which area of Chennai?
TN 01 is Chennai Central, with the office at Ayanavaram. SETC and MTC buses are also registered there in the TN 01 N series.
What is the TN 09 registration area?
TN 09 is Chennai West, with the office at K.K. Nagar, in the Chennai South zone.
TN 91 is which RTO?
TN 91 is the Chidambaram RTO in Cuddalore district. Virudhachalam works under it as unit office TN 91Z.
TN 31 is which district?
TN 31 is Cuddalore. Neyveli (TN 31Y) and Panruti (TN 31Z) are its unit offices.
What is the Salem vehicle registration number?
Salem city uses TN 30 (West), TN 54 (East) and TN 90 (South). Sangagiri (TN 52), Mettur (TN 93) and Attur (TN 77) cover the rest of the district.
Why is there no TN 08 code?
Tamil Nadu skips every office number whose digits add up to 8, so 08, 17, 26, 35, 44, 53, 62, 71, 80, 89 and 98 are not used. No official reason is published.
Is there an official PDF of TN registration numbers?
Yes. The State Transport Authority published a three-page list titled Registration Series Alloted to Regional Transport offices, dated 4 August 2023. Check tnsta.gov.in for a newer version.
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.