Pune, 5th August 2026: Pune's iconic MH 12 vehicle registration code is likely to remain unchanged despite the current registration series nearing its end. The issue gained attention after the MH 12 ZZ series, the last sequence under the existing registration format, began in Pune, leading to speculation that the city could receive a new RTO code in future.
Considering the emotional attachment of Pune residents to the MH 12 identity, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday and urged him to ensure that Pune continues using the same registration code.
Sharing details of the meeting, Mohol said the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) is currently issuing vehicle registrations under the MH 12 ZZ series. As this series is close to exhaustion, the process of deciding the next registration format has begun, leading to discussions that the city's MH 12 code could be replaced.
He requested Gadkari to ensure that future vehicle registration series continue under the MH 12 code, saying it has become an important identity of Pune and should not be changed.
Responding to the request, Gadkari assured Mohol that the necessary directions would be issued to retain the MH 12 code while introducing new registration series. The assurance has increased the possibility that Pune's long-standing vehicle registration identity will continue even after the current series ends.
According to RTO officials, the existing two-letter suffix system is nearing its limit after the MH 12 ZZ series. Registrations for two-wheelers are expected to exhaust the available numbers soon, while the four-wheeler series is likely to last for another two months.
To address the shortage of registration numbers, Pune RTO had proposed alternative options for future vehicle numbering. However, following Mohol's meeting with Gadkari, the government is now expected to explore a solution that allows new registration series to continue under the MH 12 code instead of introducing a new RTO code.
The Centre is expected to take a final decision on the future registration format after the existing series is exhausted. If approved, Pune will retain its iconic MH 12 vehicle registration code while adopting a new numbering sequence, preserving a symbol that has long been associated with the city and its motorists.
