RTO Codes in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has 88 Regional Transport Offices. All vehicle registration numbers in Tamil Nadu begin with TN followed by the district RTO code.
Registration Format
What Are RTO Codes in Tamil Nadu?
Every Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Tamil Nadu is assigned a unique two-digit code by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). This code forms the second segment of a vehicle's registration number, immediately after the state prefix TN.
For example, a vehicle registered at Chennai (Central): Ayanavaram carries the code TN-01 in its number plate. This system helps law enforcement, insurance companies, and traffic authorities instantly identify where a vehicle was originally registered.
Tamil Nadu currently has 88 registered RTOs spread across its districts and cities, each serving vehicle owners in that region.
88 RTO Offices in Tamil Nadu
Chennai (Central): Ayanavaram
Chennai (North West): Anna Nagar
Chennai (North East): Tondiarpet
Chennai (East): Royapuram
Chennai (North): Kolathur
Chennai (South East): Mandavelli
Chennai (South): Adyar
Chennai (West): K. K. Nagar
Chennai (South West): Virugambakkam
Tambaram
Poonamallee
Ambattur
Sholinganallur
Ulundurpet
Tindivanam
Red Hills
Chengalpattu
Tiruvallur
Kanchipuram
Meenambakkam
Vellore
Krishnagiri
Thiruvannamalai
Salem
Namakkal (North)
Dharmapuri
Salem (West)
Cuddalore
Villupuram
Erode (East)
Tiruchengode
Gobichettipalayam
Coimbatore (South)
Coimbatore (North)
Tirupur (North)
Mettupalayam
Pollachi
Tirupur (South)
Ooty
Tiruchirapalli (West)
Perambalur
Karur
Srirangam
Thanjavur
Tiruvarur
Nagapattinam
Sankagiri
Salem (East)
Pudukottai
Perundurai
Dindigul
Madurai (South)
Madurai (North)
Theni
Ariyalur
Sivaganga
Madurai (Central)
Ramanathapuram
Coimbatore (Central)
Virudhunagar
Kumbakonam
Thoothukudi
Hosur
Tirunelveli
Ranipet
Nagercoil
Marthandam
Tenkasi
Attur
Dharapuram
Sankarankovil
Tiruchirapalli (East)
Mayiladuthurai
Vaniyambadi
Srivilliputhur
Kundrathur
Erode (West)
Sriperumbudur
Namakkal (South)
Salem (South)
Chidambaram
Thiruchendur
Mettur
Palani
Sivakasi
Kovilpatti
Arani
Coimbatore (West)
How to Read a Tamil Nadu Number Plate
- 1.State code — First 2 letters:
TNidentifies Tamil Nadu - 2.RTO code — Next 2 digits: identifies the specific district RTO (e.g. 01 for Chennai (Central): Ayanavaram)
- 3.Series letters — 1-2 letters assigned sequentially as a series fills up
- 4.Unique number — 4-digit number unique within that series
Use the Vehicle Owner Check tool to look up any Tamil Nadu vehicle by its registration number.
Tamil Nadu Transport Department
- Online portal:
- tnsta.gov.in
- Helpline:
- 044-25384999
Apply for a driving licence, register a vehicle, or pay road tax on the official state portal. Nationwide services run through parivahan.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many RTO offices are there in Tamil Nadu?↓
What does TN mean on a number plate?↓
What is the capital city RTO code for Tamil Nadu?↓
How do I find which RTO a Tamil Nadu vehicle belongs to?↓
RTO Codes in Other States
Source: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Parivahan portal.