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As of April 18, 2025, Pune’s vehicle registration system is entering a new era. After 37 years of continuous use, the iconic MH-12 code is being retired by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) because all possible alphanumeric combinations under the existing format have been exhausted. The new code, MH-61, will be assigned to all new vehicles starting Monday, April 21, 2025.
The Pune RTO holds the highest number of registered vehicles among all RTOs in Maharashtra—over 44.88 lakh live vehicles as of latest counts. It is the first city in the state to exhaust the 9,999 combinations in the final ZZ series under the MH-12 prefix. Officials confirmed that the last MH-12 registration digit was issued earlier this week, triggering the transition.
According to a senior RTO official, the process for issuing fancy numbers—which are sold at a premium—has already begun. Once that round closes, standard registrations under MH-61 will commence. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is currently conducting backend testing to ensure the new series integrates smoothly with the state’s vehicle database.
This shift is not merely a cosmetic change. The MH-12 code has been a symbol of Pune’s identity for decades, appearing on everything from scooters to luxury cars. The code was introduced on July 1, 1989, when India adopted a standardized alphanumeric system for vehicle registration plates. Under that system, each registration number consists of a state code (MH for Maharashtra), a two-digit RTO identifier (12 for Pune city), up to two letters, and a unique four-digit number (e.g., MH-12 AB 1234). Excluding the letters I and O to avoid confusion, the format theoretically yields over 59 lakh unique combinations.
Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar told PTI that three alternatives were proposed as the existing combinations neared exhaustion: the new MH-61 code, a format with one digit and one letter instead of two letters (MH-12 1A), and a format with one letter and one digit (MH-12 A1). The preferred option—keeping the MH-12 identity with a modified character sequence—requires an amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR). That process is expected to take at least 45 days, including a public notification and feedback period.
A senior officer at the Transport Commissioner’s office revealed that a previous proposal to use a three-letter suffix (MH-12 AAA) was rejected because it would expand the registration number to 11 characters, necessitating major changes to the NIC’s software architecture and amendments to the CMVR. Despite multiple
