Road routes in Victoria assist drivers navigating roads throughout the state, as roads may change names several times between destinations, or have a second local name in addition to a primary name. There are two main route numbering schemes in use: numeric shields, and alphanumeric routes, with the former being replaced by the latter. The original scheme consists of numbered National Highways, National Routes, Metropolitan and State Routes, each identified with a different shield-shaped route marker. The alphanumeric Statewide Route Numbering Scheme, introduced in the 1990s, has replaced the previous scheme outside Melbourne, and some routes within Melbourne. It consists of alphanumeric routes, which are a one-to-three digit number prefixed with a letter – M, A, B, or C – that denotes the grade and importance of the road.^[1]

Route numbers have been allocated to Victoria's roads since 1954, with the introduction of National Routes across all states and territories in Australia, symbolised by a white shield with black writing; National Route 1 ('Highway 1') was one of the best-known numbered national routes, due to its fame for circumnavigating the continent.

To supplement the National Route number system, a new route numbering scheme (now known as the Metropolitan Route Numbering Scheme) allocated blue-and-white shields across Melbourne in 1965,^[2] numbered to fit around existing National Routes; Freeway Routes, using green shields to better mark their specialised status, were spun off from this system between 1970 and 1987.

In 1974, the National Highway network was defined, which allowed some existing National Routes to be upgraded to National Highways. These were marked with the same shield design as the National Routes, except for their gold-on-green colouring and the word NATIONAL added across the top.

A shield system covering regional Victoria (the State Route Numbering Scheme) was introduced in 1985,^[3] marking out urban arterial routes and secondary rural highways. The Metropolitan Route Numbering Scheme across Melbourne received a major refurbishment in the late 1980s,^[4] with the creation of Tourist Routes as a result.^[5]

Beginning in late 1996, regional Victoria (and certain core routes through Melbourne) began to replace their system of National Routes, National Highways and State Routes with an alphanumeric route numbering system, called the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme.^[6] Many existing numbered routes were allocated a letter (M, A, B or C) in addition to its number, with 'M' routes denoting freeways, 'A' routes denoting routes of national significance, 'B' routes denoting routes of state significance, and 'C' routes acting as local access roads.^[7] Instead of shields, route numbers are displayed as yellow text on green rectangular backgrounds, and has now – with the exception of Tourist Routes – become the sole route numbering system in regional Victoria. The Great Ocean Road (signed B100) and Great Alpine Road (signed B500) were the first routes allocated, and with conversion beginning to the M1, in late 1996;^[6] signing work had been completed for all 'M' and 'A' class roads and for approximately half of the 'B' class roads throughout Victoria by the end of June 1998.^[8] Former National Highways route markers initially retained their shield design (including NATIONAL markings) after conversion, but VicRoads – as of September 2013 – removed them, bringing their design in line with the rest of the state.^[9]

Melbourne has been slower to convert between systems, having kept most of its Metropolitan routes, but is currently undergoing a systematic conversion from 2020. Routes listed here may change as a result.