How to Check Bike Owner Details by Registration Number in India (2026)

What is the Registration Number in the Registration Certificate (RC)?

The Registration Number, commonly known as the license plate or number plate, is a unique alphanumeric combination of letters and numbers given to each vehicle upon registration with their local RTO.

This registration number is commonly called bike number when it is registered with the RTO under the laws of the country. The same registration number is printed on the physical number plate attached to the bike and mentioned in the official document called the Registration Certificate (RC). This number acts as the primary identification for a bike, known as the proof of its registration and legal status in India.

Key Components of Registration Certificate (RC)

The Registration Certificate (RC) is a vital document that contains information about the bike and its owner. The critical components of the RC include:

• Registration Number
  It contains the unique identification number assigned to the bike, also known as the bike number.
• Owner's Details
  The bike owner's name, address, and contact information are included in the bike's RC. This information acts as legal ownership of the owner in their bike.
• Vehicle Details
  The RC features include the bike's make, model, variant, engine number, chassis number, fuel type, and manufacturing year. Moreover, it has the vehicle's class and category, which includes the type of vehicle (private or commercial) and its purpose of use.
• Bike Insurance Policy Details
  The bike's RC includes details of thebike insurance, such as the policy number, validity, and insurer's information.
• Tax Details
  The RC of the bike includes the payment status and validity of road tax.

Understanding the Format of Indian Bike/Vehicle Number Plates

Indian vehicle number plates follow a standard format, explained below:

• The first two letters indicate the state or union territory code & e.g. “MH” for Maharashtra, “DL” for Delhi, “KA” for Karnataka, etc.
• The next two digits represent the RTO (Regional Transport Office) or district code where the bike was registered.
• Then comes the series code (one, two or sometimes more letters, depending on when the bike got registered) and a unique four-digit number & together forming a unique identifier for the vehicle.
  Example: `KA 01 AB 1234`, where “KA” is the state code, “01” is the RTO code, “AB” is the series, and “1234” is the unique number
• Because of this structured format, you can often decode a number plate to get a rough idea of where the bike was registered (state + RTO) which is useful for background verification.

What Information Does the RC/Vehicle Record Provide?

When you pull up RC/registration data for a bike (via number plate), you can access multiple useful pieces of information. According to official portals and trusted sources, these include:

• Owner's name (in many cases, partially masked for privacy) & helps verify who the registered owner is
• Vehicle registration number& the number plate itself
• Vehicle details & manufacturer/brand, model, variant (if data is available), fuel type, vehicle class (two-wheeler, etc.), sometimes colour
• Registration and RC status& registration date, whether registration is valid, RC expiry/renewal status.
• Two Wheeler Insurance/PUC/Tax/ Hypothecation status (if applicable) & depending on data availability; may show if insurance is valid or if there is loan (hypothecation) on the vehicle.

This makes a number-plate-based check a powerful tool when you want to verify a bike's background, especially before a resale or transfer of ownership.

How to Check Bike Owner Details by Number Plate or Registration Number in India 2026?

Thanks to technological advancements. Now, checking bike owner details by registration number has become hassle-free. Here's the process of bike number check process in India:

1. Through Policybazaar.com

   To get the bike owner details with the help of the registration number, follow the below procedure:

   • Step 1:Visit the'Check Bike Owner Details by Registration Number'page available on the official website of Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited.
   • Step 2: Enter a valid bike number you want to check and click'Continue'.
     Example: DL1SB1234.
   • Step 3:Enter your full name & mobile number and click on'View Details'to get all details of a two-wheeler. It includes, all the RC details, such as:
   • Bike specifications (make, model, variant)
   • Bike insurance expiry date
   • Number of challans
   • Details of PUC for bike

   Note:If want to renew or buy bike insurance online for your own two-wheeler, you can check and compare plans offered by thebike insurance companieson the same page.

2. Through PARIVAHAN Website

   Follow the below procedure for finding bike owner details through bike number online via PARIVAHAN (commonly known as VAHAN):

   • Step 1:Visit the official website of the PARIVAHAN.
   • Step 2:Find'Informational Services'on the page's top menu bar and choose the'Know Your Vehicle Details'tab from the drop-down list.
   • Step 3:Complete the Citizen Login by entering your mobile number and verifying it on your screen. Then click on'Next.'
   • Step 4:Generate OTP and enter it
   • Step 5:Next, enter your bike's registration number, the correct captcha code, and click on'Vahan Search'.'
   • Step 6:Finally, you will see all the details of your vehicle, including bike owner details

3. Through SMS

   

   Another way to find bike owner details is via SMS without the internet. Just follow the below steps to find:

   • Step 1:Enter VAHAN <space> Bike Registration Number or Bike Number
     Example:VAHAN HP03D3510
   • Step 2:Send this SMS to 7738299899.
     Once you have sent the SMS, you will receive all the details of the bike owner. It provides all the details related to the bike, such as the make and model, registered RTO, mandatorythird-party bike insurancedetails,PUC Certificatedetails, RC expiry details, etc.

Why Do You Need to Check RC Status Online?

Checking the bike number or registration number helps ensure compliance and legality and facilitates various aspects of ownership of the vehicle.

Here are the major reasons explained below why RC status check is essential:

1. Legal Compliance
   The RC status check facilitates knowing whether a vehicle's RC is up-to-date or not. An inactive or invalid RC may lead to legal consequences. Hence, regular checks help adhere to transportation regulations
2. Ownership Proof
   Since the RC of the bike is an unquestionable proof of the bike's ownership, it confirms the real and rightful owner of the motorcycle. It further helps during resale or any legal matter, such as third-party damages in an accident
3. Bike Insurance Verification
   The bike insurance company always asks for the registration number or bike number during bike insurance policy renewal or claim settlement process. Hence, checking the bike number ensures that the motorcycle is accurately represented in the policy documents.
4. Regulatory Compliance
   In India, some states have specific regulations related to vehicle registration. Therefore, a bike number check ensures that the vehicle adheres to these regulations, such as vehicle pollution standards and safety norms.
5. Validity of the RC
   The RC of any bike has a validity period. Hence, checking the RC details helps in knowing the motorbike's registration date and gives a clear idea of the expiry date.
6. Servicing History
   If you are planning to buybuy second-hand bike, checking the RC status online gives a fair idea about the bike's service history. In simpler terms, the RC provides information about the previous owners and the bike's condition.
7. Prevent Fraudulent Activities
   A bike RC check helps prevent fraudulent activities related to any bike ownership ortransfer of bike ownership. It protects against instances where incorrect or misinformation is presented.

What If Bike Number Doesn't Appear/RC Not Found?

Sometimes, when doing a number-plate check (on VAHAN or app), you may get “No record found” or incomplete data. This might happen due to several reasons:

• Vehicle registration not updated properly / recent registration not yet reflected.
• Data entry error (wrong number plate, incorrect series, digits, state/RTO code).
• RC not issued yet (for very new vehicles), or temporary registration pending.
• There might be a delay in central database sync, especially for very new registrations.

What You Can You Do Next?

• Double-check you have entered the exact and full registration number (state code + RTO + series + digits).
• If still no record, you can ask the seller/owner for RC (hard copy or digital), and cross-check engine/chassis number.
• As a buyer you can request official documents, past service records, bike insurance copy, and if possible, a no-objection certificate (NOC) from RTO in case of inter-state transfer.
• If needed, visit the local RTO office for manual verification or to raise a query, sometimes manual cross-check helps when online data isn't updated.

What to Check Before Buying a Second-Hand Bike & A Pre-Purchase Checklist

If you're buying a used bike, doing a number-plate/RC verification is just one step. Here's a quick checklist you should follow for safer and legal transaction:

• Use the registration number to check details on VAHAN/mParivahan. It is useful in verifying owner name, vehicle model, registration date, RTO info.
• Ask for the original RC (hard copy or digital), check engine number, chassis number, registration date, record of two wheeler insurance and PUC.
• Confirm whether the vehicle has any hypothecation (loan). If yes, ensure loan is cleared and NOC is provided before transfer.
• Check two wheeler insurance and PUC status, see if either has expired or is near expiry.
• Physically inspect the bike for authenticity (engine number matches RC, bike condition matches declared model/variant).
• If the bike is older or from a different state you must consider re-registration or transfer formalities to avoid legal issues.
• Ensure seller provides valid ID and address proof to match with RC (if possible), and fill out required transfer forms (Form 29/30/NOC as per your RTO).