Types of Number Plates in India: Colours, Codes Explained

We’ve covered number plates on this blog previously, but it’s time to go a bit further.

After all, number plates aren’t just identifiers for vehicles—they represent so much more. They represent meaning and status, and can often be identifiers of authority. In fact, every number plate colour in India is trying to tell you a story—whether it’s a everyday black-on-white, a self-driving car (soon), or bolder red, white, and green military police vehicles. They all are representative of something…or someone.

Confusing? Don’t worry. We’ll sort it out in this blog for you.

Whether you’re curious about that red number plate, confused by AR number plate, or wondering “KA number plate, which state?” (seriously, we really hope you’re not one of these people); this guide has you covered.

We’ll break down:

• Different types of number plates in India
• What colour coding means for private, rental, electric, and diplomatic vehicles
• State prefix codes for every vehicle
• FAQs like “What does a red number plate mean?” and “Are black number plates legal?”

Let’s decode India’s number plate system—colour by colour, state by state. Time to ignite your high-IQ engines!

Understanding the colour coding of number plates is the first step in identifying who owns what, and what kind of vehicle they’re driving. It goes far further than just understanding “what does a blue number plate in India mean?”

Here’s the most common colour code chart you’ll see across India:

Plate Type	Text Colour	Background Colour	Meaning
Private Vehicles	Black	White	Standard private use
Commercial Vehicles	Black	Yellow	Goods, taxi, or transport use
Rental Vehicles	Yellow	Black	Self-drive rentals (e.g., Zoomcar)
Electric Private	White	Green	Battery EVs for personal use
Electric Commercial (Transport)	Yellow	Green	EV taxis, goods carriers, rickshaws
Diplomatic Corps	White	Blue	Foreign diplomats & UN missions
Military Vehicles	White	Black	Indian Armed Forces
Military Police	Red	White	MP battalions & convoy vehicles
Temporary Plates	Red	Yellow	Temp registration
Trade/Dealer Plates	White	Red	Manufacturer test plates (TC)

Note: CNG cars still follow standard colour rules (white/black or yellow/black), but state-specific stickers or labels often identify fuel type.

Number Plate Format

Most regular Indian number plates follow a simple pattern. You’ll usually see something like XX NN XX NNNN (example: TS 09 AB 1234). The first two letters are the state/UT code, the next two numbers are the RTO code, then you get a letter series, and finally the unique vehicle number.

This matters because the same colour plate can still belong to very different owners. Once you know the format, you can quickly tell where the vehicle was registered and roughly which RTO it belongs to—useful for both 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers, especially when buying used vehicles or reporting an incident.

Each number plate starts with a two-letter code indicating the state or union territory of registration. Let’s break down some popular and lesser-known ones so that you don’t have to Google search “all state number plate code” anymore.

Prefix	Jurisdiction	Example Plate
AN	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	AN 01 Z 0123
AP	Andhra Pradesh	AP 01 A 1234
AR	Arunachal Pradesh	AR 02 A 1234
AS	Assam	AS 01 B 1234
BR	Bihar	BR 01 A 1234
CG	Chhattisgarh	CG 04 A 1234
CH	Chandigarh	CH 01 C 1234
DD	Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (UT) (current)	DD 01 A 1234
DN	Dadra & Nagar Haveli (older/legacy seen on older records)	DN 04 D 1234
DL	Delhi	DL 01 A 1234
GA	Goa	GA 01 A 1234
GJ	Gujarat	GJ 01 A 1234
HR	Haryana	HR 01 A 1234
HP	Himachal Pradesh	HP 01 A 1234
JH	Jharkhand	JH 01 A 1234
JK	Jammu & Kashmir (UT)	JK 01 A 1234
KA	Karnataka	KA 05 E 1234
KL	Kerala	KL 01 A 1234
LA	Ladakh (UT)	LA 01 A 1234
LD	Lakshadweep (UT)	LD 01 A 1234
MH	Maharashtra	MH 01 A 1234
ML	Meghalaya	ML 01 A 1234
MN	Manipur	MN 01 A 1234
MP	Madhya Pradesh	MP 01 A 1234
MZ	Mizoram	MZ 01 A 1234
NL	Nagaland	NL 07 A 1234
OD	Odisha (current; formerly OR)	OD 01 A 1234
OR	Odisha (older/legacy plates)	OR 01 A 1234
PB	Punjab	PB 01 A 1234
PY	Puducherry (UT)	PY 01 A 1234
RJ	Rajasthan	RJ 01 A 1234
SK	Sikkim	SK 01 A 1234
TG	Telangana (current; older plates may show TS)	TG 01 A 1234
TS	Telangana (older/legacy plates)	TS 09 A 1234
TN	Tamil Nadu	TN 01 A 1234
TR	Tripura (formerly TO)	TR 01 A 1234
TO	Tripura (older/legacy plates)	TO 01 A 1234
UK	Uttarakhand	UK 01 A 1234
UP	Uttar Pradesh	UP 01 A 1234
WB	West Bengal	WB 01 A 1234
BH	Bharat Series (Pan-India)	24 BH 1234 AA
CD	Diplomatic Corps (Embassy vehicles)	123 CD 4567
CC	Consular Corps (Consulate vehicles)	123 CC 4567
UN	United Nations vehicles	123 UN 4567
IOD	International Organisation Diplomat (non-UN)	123 IOD 4567

Special case: The TO number plate was previously used for Tripura and has now been updated to TR. Similarly, CC plates signify consular (not a state), and follow international diplomatic conventions.

BH Series Plates

BH (Bharat Series) plates are designed for people with transferable jobs, so they can move across states without re-registering every time. This is especially useful if you expect transfers or long stays outside your home state—BH is meant to reduce paperwork and repeat road-tax hassles. read more about BH series number plate (Eligibility + Fees).

BH series is generally available to government employees and private-sector employees whose company has offices in 4+ states/UTs (subject to state implementation rules)

India’s vehicle ecosystem also includes non-standard plates used by the military, diplomats, and dealers.

Armed Forces & Military Police

• White on black: Indian Army vehicles (often with broad arrow symbol)
• Red on white: Military Police (distinctive and rare)
  
• Red Plate With Emblem:  These are used for official vehicles of high-ranking constitutional authorities (for example, the President, Governors, and Lieutenant Governors).

Diplomatic & Consular Plates

• White on blue: Diplomatic missions (CD), UN missions (UN), and recognized international organizations (IOD)

• Yellow on blue: Consulates (CC)
  These plates also use a mission code + type code (CD/CC/UN/IOD) + serial number format instead of state–RTO codes.

These plates typically include numeric codes like 99, 100, or 500+, indicating specific embassies.

Trade & Temporary Registrations

• TC Plates (white on red): Issued to dealers/manufacturers for test rides, demos, and delivery
• Temporary Plates (red on yellow): Temporary registration for new vehicles while you wait for the permanent number

Historic colour Schemes

Before 2002, the colours were reversed:

• Commercial: Black on white
• Private: White on black

This changed with amendments in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, with the updated colour scheme enforced in phases – transport vehicles by 1 February 2002, and other vehicles by 1 July 2002.

HSRP (High Security Registration Plate) Explained

HSRP (High Security Registration Plate) is a tamper-resistant plate with security features meant to reduce fake plates and improve traceability. Typical features include a chromium hologram, laser numbering, and a non-reusable snap lock to make tampering harder.

Key features of an HSRP include:

• A chromium hologram
• Retro-reflective film with “India” inscription
• Laser-etched unique number (linked to approved manufacturers/testing agencies)
• Embossed registration number
• A non-reusable snap lock on the rear plate to make tampering difficult
• A third registration mark (sticker) that can self-destruct if tampered with (used on the windshield for many vehicle categories)

Why HSRP matters for bike & car owners

HSRP makes it easier for authorities to verify genuine plates and helps reduce the misuse of fake or altered number plates. For owners, it’s mainly about staying compliant and avoiding hassles during checks or while selling/transferring your vehicle.

Quick check: Do you already have HSRP?

If your plate looks like a plain old plate with normal printing and no visible security elements (like hologram/laser marking), you may not have an HSRP. The easiest way is to check your state transport/HSRP portal instructions and confirm what your state requires for your vehicle’s registration year. Want the step-by-step process? Get all necessary details How to book HSRP online.

Vehicles Without Plates

Driving a vehicle without proper registration/display can lead to penalties. Under Section 192 (using a vehicle without registration), the fine can range from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, and for subsequent offences ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 (states may enforce additional action depending on the case).

So if you’re wondering “whose car has no number plate in India?”, it’s either under special permission or is operating illegally.

AR Plates

The AR number plate signifies Arunachal Pradesh—that’s the real meaning in regular civilian registration. If you’re looking at a defence vehicle, it usually won’t follow state codes at all (you’ll often see a different defence-style format). So if you spot AR on a normal-looking civilian plate, it’s almost certainly just Arunachal Pradesh.

Black number plates in India, as well as Yellow, aka “Gold” number plates, drive a lot of conversation and discussion. Want to clear your doubts? Just read it below.

Rental Black Plates

• Yellow text on black background: Legal for rental vehicles and self-drive hire cars
• Common with apps like Zoomcar, Revv, and tourism vehicles

If a car has a black number plate with white numbers, it’s illegal for private use. Only yellow-on-black is permitted for rentals.

Black & Gold Plates

• Some high-end vehicles use black and gold custom plates for aesthetic appeal
• These are not officially recognized and can attract fines if not compliant

Always ensure plate colours match their legal vehicle category—no exceptions.

1. What does a green number plate mean?

For EVs, the important rule is that the background is green, and the letter colour changes based on usage. Private EVs use white letters on green, while commercial EVs typically use yellow letters on green (used by taxis and fleet/commercial EVs)

2. Why are some number plates red?

Here are some

• White text on red: Trade Certificate (dealer/demo/test)
• Red text on yellow: Temporary registration

3. What does a blue plate represent?

High status. It is used by foreign diplomats, consulates, and UN missions in India.

4. Are black number plates legal?

Only when the text is yellow and the vehicle is used for rental purposes. Black background with white text is illegal for private vehicles.

Conclusion: Decode the Road Like a Pro

From electric scooters with green plates to diplomatic limousines with blue tags, India’s number plates reveal more than you think.

Next time you’re on the road, pay attention to what the plates are saying. You’ll know who owns it, where it’s from, and what kind of journey it’s meant for.

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