Vehicle Numbering system in india Two types of licence plates are used in India.

For commercial vehicles, the plate has a yellow background and black numbering. For private vehicles a white background with black numbering is used. The scheme comprises a two letter identification for the state in which the vehicle is registered. It is followed by a two number code to identify the district. Finally a four-digit number is used to uniquely identify the vehicle. When this number reaches 9999, it is prefixed with the next letter of the alphabet taken in order. When the alphabet reaches Z, the length of the prefix is increased to 2. So after TN-01 9999, the next number is TN-01 A 0001 and after TN-01 Z 9999 it is TN-01 AA 0001 and so on.. eg: PB 10 AM 4737, is a vehicle registered in Ludhiana, Punjab State. TN 09 AB 1237, is a vehicle registered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu State. MH 01 5678 , is a vehicle registered in Bombay, Maharashtra State. KA 05 EH 1254, is a vehicle registered in Bangalore, Karnataka State. Format of the registration is as shown below AA 11 BB 1111 Where AA is the two letter state code; 11 is the two digit district code; 1111 is the unique licence plate number and BB are the optional alphabets if the 9999 numbers are used up. An example would be: MH 01 CA 1002 The first two alphabets MH indicate that the vehicle is from the state Maharashtra. The next two are the district (In this case the capital Mumbai). CA 1002 is the unique licence plate number. In some states (such as the union territory of Delhi) the initial 0 of the district code is omitted; thus Delhi district 2 numbers appear as DL 2 not DL 02. The National Capital Territory of Delhi has an additional code in the registration code: DL 11 C AA 1111 Where DL is the two letter code for Delhi (DL). The additional C (for category of vehicle) is the letter 'S' for two-wheelers, 'C' for cars and SUVs, 'P' for public passenger vehicles such as buses, 'R' for three-wheeled rickshaws, 'T' for tourist licensed vehicles and taxis, 'V' for pick-up trucks and vans and 'Y' for hire vehicles. Thus a Delhi-specific example is: DL 5 S AB 9876

All new vehicles purchased in Delhi will have to be fitted with high security registration plates (HSRP), with the Delhi government implementing the scheme starting Tuesday. The Transport department, however, has only set-up two HSRP centres, when there is a need for 14 such outlets. At present, fitting centres are at Mall Road and Burari. Officials said there are plans to make the other centres functional in a fortnight. For existing vehicles, the fitting of secure registration plates will start on June 15. On Monday, the company responsible for fitting these plates across all RTOs in Delhi Rosmerta Technologies gave a demonstration of the process at the Burari centre. There is an aluminum plate, which has a retro-reflective sheet. A chromium-based hologram is put and IND in blue is inscribed using hot stamping foil. A unique laser code of minimum seven digits is also given to each plate. The registration number is embossed using a machine and a black foil is placed over the number, which has IND written at a 45 degrees angle. This makes duplication impossible. A sticker, which has the engine and chassis number, is also fixed on the windshield of the car, Military Vehicles: Military vehicles have a unique numbering system unlike any other as you have already noticed. The numbers are registered by the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi and have a numbering system which appears very vague. The first (or the third) character is always an arrow pointing upwards. The first two digits signify the year in which the Military procured the vehicle. The up arrow denotes Military Property so not only the cars and trucks even a chair carries the up arrow. In the case of vehicles, the no. after the arrow indicates the year when the vehicle was commissioned into army. Then the class of the vehicle which is also stenciled on the windshield, Eg: A class "A" vehicle is brand new.. whereas a class "F" vehicle would be earmarked for phasing ouy or condemnation/sale. Then the registeration number Another unique tradition they follow is for a sold out vehicle. This vehicle should not be driven out of the Military Transport Park , but it should be pushed out of the gates and then started.