Thiruvananthapuram: The regional transport office (RTO) in Thiruvananthapuram has overtaken Ernakulam in the progression of vehicle registration series for the first time since the present vehicle registration system came into force, reflecting the capital district’s sustained growth in vehicle ownership.The milestone was reached after Thiruvananthapuram RTO began issuing vehicles under KL-01 DL series, while Ernakulam RTO is continuing with KL-07 DK series. Since alphabetical series advance sequentially as registration numbers are exhausted, Thiruvananthapuram’s move into the next series indicates that the district has registered more vehicles than Ernakulam under their respective RTO jurisdictions, said sources close to RTO.During 2026, Thiruvananthapuram RTO registered 21,907 vehicles under KL-01 series, compared with 15,416 vehicles registered under KL-07 in Ernakulam. In 2025, KL-01 recorded 35,396 registrations against 27,058 in KL-07.Motor vehicles department officials describe the development as unprecedented, as Ernakulam — long regarded as Kerala’s commercial capital — has traditionally remained ahead in vehicle registrations owing to its strong industrial, business and trading base.The achievement is particularly significant as KL-01 represents only Thiruvananthapuram RTO’s jurisdiction. The district also has several sub-RTOs — Kazhakkoottam, Neyyattinkara, Parassala, Kattakada and Nedumangad — issuing vehicles under separate registration codes. Ernakulam likewise has multiple RTOs and SRTOs with independent registration series.A senior RTO official said the steady progression of KL-01 series reflects a sustained increase in vehicle demand rather than a temporary spike.“The registration series advances only when the existing sequence is exhausted. Reaching DL series ahead of Ernakulam indicates that vehicle registrations under Thiruvananthapuram RTO have consistently remained higher over a prolonged period. It is a reflection of the district’s expanding urban footprint, rising purchasing power and growing preference for personal mobility,” said the official.Industry analysts attribute the growth to rapid expansion of the IT sector, educational institutions, healthcare infrastructure and residential townships across the capital region. Increasing adoption of electric vehicles, premium passenger cars and two-wheelers has also contributed to higher registration volumes.A senior staff member at a leading car dealership in the district said customer demand remained strong despite fluctuations in the automobile market. “We have been witnessing steady inquiries and bookings across segments, especially for SUVs and electric vehicles. Buyers from the city and suburban areas are driving sales. The overall market in Thiruvananthapuram has been consistently healthy over the past few years,” he said.Vehicle registration series are issued alphabetically after the numerical sequence from 0001 to 9999 is exhausted, making the running series a useful indicator of cumulative vehicle registrations within an RTO’s jurisdiction.The district was leading in state in overall vehicle registrations when figures from all RTOs and sub-RTOs were combined.
