RTO Maharashtra: Complete List of MH Codes, Offices, Fees and Services

When Sunil was buying a new car in Pune, he had narrowed it to a diesel and a CNG variant of the same model and was surprised to learn the road tax would not be the same on the two. The Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department, under the Commissioner of Transport, operates the state’s Regional Transport Offices under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This page carries the full MH code list with office locations, the registration and licence fees, the road tax by fuel type, the number-plate colours and the routes for checking an MH vehicle online.

Complete list of RTO offices in Maharashtra with MH codes

Maharashtra runs one of India’s largest RTO networks. The Maharashtra registration series currently extends from MH-01 to MH-60. Of these, 58 offices are operational, while MH-59 (Jat) and MH-60 (Palghar) have been sanctioned but are not yet operational according to the current official directory. The table below maps each code to its office, verified address and published contact. Where the current government directory does not publish a phone number, that is stated rather than sourced from an aggregator.

Timings are the general Maharashtra Government office schedule, 9:45 AM to 6:15 PM, Monday to Friday, with Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays closed; these are not separately confirmed RTO counter or token hours, so confirm the working window for a specific office before a visit.

How to read a Maharashtra vehicle registration number

A Maharashtra registration number reads in four parts. MH is the state code for Maharashtra, the two digits that follow identify the RTO, a one or two letter series comes next and a four-digit number completes it. In a plate reading MH-12-AB-1234, MH is the state, 12 is the Pune office, AB is the series and 1234 is the unique number.

Mumbai is the point of most confusion, because the city alone spans several codes. MH-01 covers South Mumbai from Tardeo, MH-02 the western suburbs from Andheri, MH-03 the eastern side from Wadala and MH-47 the northern suburbs from Borivali, with Thane, Kalyan, Vashi and Vasai-Virar carrying their own codes around the metropolitan region. A Mumbai vehicle’s code therefore depends on which office registered it, not on the city as a whole.

Mumbai RTO codes explained

Mumbai and its surrounding region generate the bulk of Maharashtra vehicle queries so the metropolitan codes are worth setting out on their own.

Each office holds jurisdiction over the area shown and a vehicle generally remains associated with the original registering RTO for its later services unless it is formally transferred.

What the Maharashtra RTO does

The RTO is the authority that applies the Motor Vehicles Act locally and its functions fall into a few clear groups.

• Vehicle registration and RC issuance, new, temporary and renewal

• Driving licence and learner’s licence issuance, with the associated testing

• Vehicle inspection and fitness certification

• Motor vehicle tax and road tax collection

• Permit issuance, including national and tourist permits

• NOC issuance and ownership transfer

• Emission and PUC compliance

Vehicle registration process at a Maharashtra RTO

A new vehicle moves from a dealer’s temporary registration to a permanent one through this sequence.

1. The dealer issues a temporary registration valid for one month unless extended under applicable provisions at the point of sale.

2. Apply for permanent registration within the prescribed window.

3. Submit the documents and pay the registration fee and road tax.

4. Present the vehicle for inspection at the RTO where required.

5. The RTO allots the permanent registration number.

6. The smart-card registration certificate is dispatched to the registered address.

A permanent registration certificate for a private vehicle is valid for 15 years and is then renewable in five-year blocks. Maharashtra has moved much of this online through the Vahan portal, so the application, document upload and fee payment are handled online, with the vehicle inspection remaining the primary in-person step.

Documents required for vehicle registration in Maharashtra

The exact form numbers are the detail most people come here for.

New vehicle registration

• Form 20, the application for registration

• Form 21, the sale certificate and Forms 22 and 22A, the roadworthiness certificate

• Form 34 or the financier’s NOC where the vehicle is purchased on loan

• Temporary registration and the purchase invoice

• Valid insurance certificate

• Proof of identity and proof of address

• PAN card or Form 60 where PAN is not available

• Customs clearance for an imported vehicle and the relevant paperwork for commercial use

Re-registration from another state

• The original registration certificate

• Form 25, the application, with road tax payment proof

• Valid insurance certificate

• Fitness certificate and PUC certificate

• NOC from the previous state’s RTO

Maharashtra RTO registration charges

The amounts below follow the central Central Motor Vehicles Rules schedule. Maharashtra adds its own service charges and the figure shown on the portal at the time of payment is the amount payable.

Maharashtra road tax and motor vehicle tax

Road tax is by far the largest cost at registration and Maharashtra is distinctive in taxing private four-wheelers by fuel type, with different slabs for petrol, diesel and CNG/LPG vehicles. It is levied as a one-time tax under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax Act, calculated as a percentage of the vehicle’s cost and the percentage differs for petrol, diesel and CNG or LPG cars.

Four-wheeler road tax by fuel type

Diesel cars are taxed more heavily than petrol on environmental grounds and CNG or LPG cars less, which is the Maharashtra-specific feature worth considering before choosing a variant. The CNG and LPG rates were raised to these levels by the 2025 amendment to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax Act, effective 1 July 2025, which also raised the statutory maximum one-time tax from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh. A car that is imported or registered in a company’s name is taxed at a higher rate.

This was the difference that surprised Sunil. Between his diesel and CNG options, the CNG variant carried a lower road-tax percentage as well as a lower running cost, which shifted the total on-road figure enough to matter to his decision. Checking the fuel-wise tax before committing, rather than after registration, is what let him compare the two variants on their true cost.

Two-wheeler road tax

Electric vehicles receive a substantial road tax concession in Maharashtra as an adoption incentive. A provision in the 2025 amendment for a 6% tax on battery-electric vehicles costing above Rs. 30 lakh was specifically excluded from commencement, so it does not currently apply. Where a vehicle is brought in permanently from another state and re-registered, Maharashtra road tax is payable again on the vehicle’s current value, with a refund of the unused portion claimable from the state it came from. Since rates are revised periodically, confirm the current figure through the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department portal or the Pay Your Tax facility on Vahan.

Driving licence fees at Maharashtra RTOs

Licence fees follow the central schedule, with the amount payable confirmed on the portal.

Fitness certificate and permit charges

These serve commercial operators, a substantial audience in Maharashtra’s logistics corridors. Fitness test fees follow the Central Motor Vehicles (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025, which set them by vehicle class.

Fitness test fees

Older vehicles are charged higher age-based fitness fees. For a vehicle between 15 and 20 years old the fee rises to Rs. 500 for a motorcycle, Rs. 1,000 for an LMV, Rs. 1,300 for a medium vehicle and Rs. 1,500 for a heavy vehicle and it rises again beyond 20 years.

Permit charges

Types of number plates issued in Maharashtra

The plate colour signals how a vehicle may be used, which is useful when identifying a vehicle or registering a new one.

How to check vehicle and owner details for an MH vehicle

The record of any MH vehicle can be viewed online without visiting the office.

1. Open the Parivahan portal and select Know Your Vehicle Details under Informational Services.

2. Create an account with a mobile number or email or sign in.

3. Enter the registration number and the captcha.

4. View the details returned.

The mParivahan app offers the same check on a mobile device. The lookup returns the masked owner name, the registration date, the registering RTO, the fuel type, the insurance and PUC validity and the fitness status. To check the status of a registration application in progress, use the application status option on the Vahan or Maharashtra transport portal with the application number. This vehicle check is worth running before buying a used car, to confirm the RTO, the fuel type and that insurance and fitness are current.

Other Maharashtra RTO services you can access online

Most routine RTO tasks now run through a central portal rather than the counter.

• Learner’s licence and driving licence services, through the Sarathi portal

• Registration certificate services, through the Vahan portal

• E-challan status check and payment, through the Parivahan e-challan portal

• PUC certificate check and download

• HSRP number-plate booking, through the authorised portal

• Road tax payment, through the Vahan portal or the Maharashtra transport portal

• NOC application for moving a vehicle out of the state

Documents to carry while driving in Maharashtra

• Driving licence

• Vehicle registration certificate

• Valid insurance certificate

• PUC certificate

• Fitness certificate and permits, for commercial vehicles

Digital copies held in DigiLocker or mParivahan are accepted for verification in the same way as the originals.

Why valid motor insurance is part of RTO compliance

A valid insurance certificate is not only a roadside requirement. It is mandatory for new registration, for re-registration, for RC renewal and for fitness certification, so a lapsed policy holds up the RTO work itself, not just a traffic check.

Zurich Kotak General Insurance may require current registration details during policy issuance, renewal or an ownership transfer and the registration record and the policy are expected to describe the same vehicle. Keeping the policy current and aligned with the registration record keeps registration and renewal work moving without an avoidable delay.

Conclusion

Maharashtra’s RTO network is large, its codes run from MH-01 to MH-60 and its most distinctive feature for a buyer is that road tax on a private car is charged by fuel type, with diesel taxed more than petrol and CNG or LPG less. Knowing your RTO code, understanding the applicable fuel-wise tax and identifying which steps can be completed online makes the registration process much easier, the way it let Sunil compare his two variants on their real on-road cost. Confirm the exact office details and the current tax figure on the Parivahan and Maharashtra transport portals before acting, since fees and slabs are revised periodically. A valid, matching insurance policy underpins registration, renewal and fitness alike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many RTO offices are there in Maharashtra? 

Maharashtra operates one of India’s largest RTO networks, with codes running from MH-01 to MH-60 across its districts and metropolitan zones. The full current list is on parivahan.gov.in and transport.maharashtra.gov.in .

What does the MH code in a Maharashtra registration number mean? 

MH is the state code for Maharashtra and the two digits after it identify the district or zone RTO that registered the vehicle. In MH-12, for example, 12 is the Pune office.

Why does Mumbai have more than one RTO code? 

The city is served by several offices that is why there are different RTO codes. MH-01 covers South Mumbai from Tardeo, MH-02 the western suburbs from Andheri, MH-03 the east from Wadala and MH-47 the north from Borivali, so a Mumbai vehicle’s code depends on which office registered it.

How soon must a new vehicle be registered with a Maharashtra RTO? 

A new vehicle runs on a dealer-issued temporary registration and must be permanently registered within the prescribed window, with the road tax paid at registration.

How long is a vehicle Registration Certificate valid in Maharashtra? 

A registration certificate for a private vehicle is valid for 15 years from registration and is then renewable in five-year blocks.

How is road tax calculated in Maharashtra and does it differ by fuel type? 

It is a one-time tax charged as a percentage of the vehicle’s cost and yes, it differs by fuel type for private cars. Diesel is taxed at a higher percentage than petrol and CNG or LPG at a lower one. Confirm the current slab on the Maharashtra transport portal.

Can I register a new vehicle completely online in Maharashtra? 

Much of the process, the application, document upload and fee payment, is online through Vahan. The vehicle inspection remains an in-person step where required.

How do I check vehicle owner details for an MH-registered vehicle? 

Enter the registration number on the Parivahan Know Your Vehicle Details page or use the mParivahan app. The owner name is shown in masked form, with the full record available to the owner through DigiLocker or mParivahan.

Do I need to re-register my vehicle if I move it to Maharashtra from another state?

Where the vehicle is kept in Maharashtra permanently, yes. Re-registration requires an NOC from the previous state’s RTO and payment of Maharashtra road tax, with a refund of the unused tax claimable from the origin state.

What should I do if my Registration Certificate has expired? 

Apply for renewal using Form 25 with the original RC, road tax proof, insurance, a fitness certificate and PUC. Driving on an expired registration is not permitted until the renewal is complete.

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