A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate or licence plate (American English and Canadian English respectively), is a metal or plastic plate or plates attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing authority's database. In Europe most countries have adopted a format for registration plates that satisfies the requirements in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which states that cross-border vehicles must display a distinguishing code for the country of registration on the rear of the vehicle. This sign may be an oval sticker placed separately from the registration plate, or may be incorporated into the plate. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate, it must also appear on the front plate of the vehicle, and may be supplemented with the flag or emblem of the national state, or the emblem of the regional economic integration organisation to which the country belongs. [1] An example of such format is the common EU format, with the EU flag above the country code issued in EU member states.
The vast majority of European countries issue registration plates that are:
This is one of the basic standard sizes worldwide.
The others are:
Some European countries use registration plates in other formats:
The common EU format of having a blue section on the extreme left with EU circle of stars and the country code was introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 [2] and entered into force on 11 November 1998. It was based on a model registration plate which three member states had already introduced: Ireland (1991), [3] Portugal (1992) [4] and Germany (1994). [5] Luxembourg plates had displayed the EU flag on the left since 1988. Vehicles with registration plates in the EU format do not need to display the white oval international vehicle registration code while within the European Economic Area, [6] or in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (except if the plate is issued in Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Spain). [7]
Several non-EU European states have implemented formats similar to the EU format, with national flags or symbols in place of the circle of stars. Vehicles with such registration plates, issued in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, do not need to display the white oval international vehicle registration code while within countries signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. [7]
Several countries have made efforts to avoid duplicating registration numbers used by other countries. This is not completely successful and there are occasional difficulties in connection with parking fines and automatic speed cameras.
AB 12345
), while trailers use two letters and four digits. The plates look very similar, but Denmark has a red border around the plate. Use of the country code on the plate may mitigate this problem (Norway began using the system on 1 November 2006). Denmark has begun running out of combinations in this style and has now introduced combinations previously reserved for the Faroe Islands for EU style registration plates (which will use different letters from non-EU style plates).AB-12-CD
, 12-34-AB
, 12-AB-34
, AB-12-34
, etc. However, Portuguese plates since 90s have a white background, while those of Netherlands (after 1 January 1978) have a yellow one, though both countries also use white letters on blue plates for classic cars. Furthermore, newer plates on Dutch vehicles only contain consonants, to avoid coincidental abbreviations or words. Also some sensitive letter combinations, such as SS or SD, are not used. The combination 'AA' is reserved for cars of the royal family. Dutch company registered bus, truck and/or minivan plates always start with a B
or a V
. Dutch taxis use blue registration plates. The number of new combinations ran out in 2008. New registered cars in the Netherlands now use the format of three letters-two digits-one letter (ABC-12-D
).ABC-123
between 1973 and 2008. When these combinations ran out in 2008, the inverse sequence 123-ABC
was adopted, with the first plate in the new series issued on 25 June 2008. With the introduction of the EU format registration plates on 15 November 2010, a seven-character combination 1-ABC-234
is used and the previous 123-ABC
was discontinued. However, the six-character plates will remain valid, and no date is set for their expiration. Since Belgian plates are linked to an owner rather than to a vehicle, these older plates are likely to remain in use for a considerable time. As a way to phase out the six-character plates, future vehicle subscriptions will only be possible on the seven-character plates. Private numbers, not following any notation, are also allowed.AB 1234
). Plates with 5 digits (12345
) and 4 digits (1234
) are also issued upon request. Older series with two letters and three digits (AB 123
), and one letter and 4 digits (A 1234
) are no longer issued but are still in use. Special plates for diplomats, the government, the grand-ducal family, military vehicles and temporary registrations exist and follow specific rules. Two letters and three digits (AB 123
) is also used in Northern Cyprus, and until 1973 it was used on the entire island of Cyprus.AB 12 CDE
. The Romanian rear plates are white whereas UK ones are yellow. There is also a difference in the spacing and the font. In 2010, Bucharest, the capital of Romania, adopted the form B 123 AAA
, three digits and three letters, because the number of cars had risen. In the United Kingdom, B 123 AAA
was issued to cars registered from August 1984 to August 1985. Aside from this, some county codes can clash (MH, in Romania it stands for Mehedinți, and in the United Kingdom, it stands for Manchester).ABC 123
system was introduced gradually from July 1973 until June 1974. All vehicles had to switch plates, the old were not permitted after this.MM 123AB
and Croatia uses MM 123-A
, MM 123-AB
, MM 1234-A
or MM 1234-AB
(MM being the two-letter city code). Both countries use the national coat of arms after first two letters. Croatia uses only Croatian Latin letters without diacritics, except for city codes, like ČK for Čakovec.MM 12-34
, MM 123-45
or MM 123-456
(MM being two letter abbreviation of municipality), and having state flag (of former Yugoslavia, later Serbia and Montenegro) between municipality and numbers. Montenegro left that system in 2007, and introduced new format: MM AB 123
with Montenegrin coat of arms in circular shape between municipality and letter sequence. Blue strip with MNE country code is placed in the left side, with vacant place for EU stars, in case of joining the Union. Serbia also uses new system since 2011, with blue strip country code SRB: MM 123-AB
and MM 1234-AB
, with Serbian coat of arms between municipality and number sequence. The first two letters on the Serbian plates represent the municipality code, written in Latin letters, and repeated in Cyrillic characters with small letters under the coat of arms. The following system is used for taxi vehicles:BG 123 TX
or BG 1234 TX
and recently even BG 12345 TX
, where a TX combination is reserved for this purpose only (another taxi vehicles have private vehicle plates). Since 2017, Serbia stopped issuing plates with last two letters containing W, Q, Y, X (except TX), Č, Ć, Š, Ž, and Đ, however Serbian Latin letters with diacritics are still used to mark the municipality code, like ČA for Čačak or ŠA for Šabac.AAA 123A
. In Poland these were issued from 1976 to 2000, in the UK, they were issued from 1963 to 1983, with those issued prior to 1973 being the same colour as their Polish counterparts (white on black). While in United Kingdom black plates are still valid, in Poland, black registration plates will lose its validity after 2023. [ citation needed ]Individual European countries use differing numbering schemes and text fonts:
The plate must be at +/-5° to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle. Lower edge must be higher than 0.3m and upper edge lower than 1.2m. [15]
According to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, vehicles in cross-border traffic are obliged to display a distinguishing sign of the country of registration on the rear of the vehicle. This sign may either be placed separately from the registration plate or, after the convention was amended in 2006, may be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate. One of the main benefits of the convention for motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognise the legality of vehicles from other signatory countries. The following requirements must be met when driving outside the country of registration:
The common EU format of having a blue section on the extreme left with EU circle of stars and the country code was introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 and entered into force on 11 November 1998. According to Article 3 of the regulation shall member states that require vehicles registered in another member state to display a distinguishing registration sign also recognise distinguishing signs issued in accordance with the regulation (the common EU format). [2] After the amendment of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 2006, registration plates issued in the common EU format also satisfies the requirements of the named convention and hence is also valid in all countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (if the issuing country is party to the convention).
Mopeds are exempt, and do not need to wear a distinguishing sign. If their country does not require a license plate, then the vehicle can cross borders without a license plate as well. Example: Swedish moped class II or the German insurance plate, which isn't an official license plate and only shows that insurance has been paid.
After Brexit the European Commission confirmed that British cars with registration plates with the distinguishing sign incorporated do not need a separate sign when driving in EU countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. If the registration plate does not include the distinguishing sign, or if the vehicle is driven in an EU country not party to the Vienna Convention, a separate sign has to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle. All EU countries except Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Spain are party to the convention. [16]
Some European countries are not party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Spain are examples of non-signatory countries. Those who have not ratified the convention may be parties to the older 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is the case of the aforementioned countries. According to the Geneva convention, a distinguishing sign of the country of registration must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. This sign must be placed separately from the registration plate and may not be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate. The letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal.
Vehicle registration plates of each country are described in the following table:
Motorcycle plates are used for motorcycles and vehicles where mounting space is an issue, such as taxis which display their taxi licence plate beside the vehicle registration plate[ clarify ], and vehicles imported from countries where the mounting space was not originally designed to take European-sized plates (e.g. USA).
Moped plates are used for 2-wheeled moped and, in the European Union and EER countries for 4-wheeled mopeds (light quadricycle)
Country | Code | Strip | Example | Motorcycle plates | Moped |
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![]() | AL | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | AND | ![]() | ![]() | ||
![]() | A | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | BY | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | B | ![]() | | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | BIH | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | BG | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | HR | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | CY | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | CZ | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | DK | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | EST | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | FIN | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | F | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | D | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | GR | ![]() | ![]() | | |
![]() | H | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | IS | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | IRL | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | I | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | LV | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | FL | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | LT | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | L | ![]() | | ![]() | |
![]() | M | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | MD | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | MC | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | MNE | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | NL | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | NMK [fn 1] | ![]() | ![]() | | |
![]() | N | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | PL | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | P | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | RO | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | RSM | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | SRB | ![]() | ![]() | | |
![]() | SK | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | SLO | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | E | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | S | ![]() | | ![]() | |
![]() | CH | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | UA | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | UK [fn 2] | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | V [fn 3] | ![]() |
Territory | Code | Strip | Example | Motorcycle plates |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | AM | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | AZ | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | GE | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | RUS | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | TR | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Territory | Code | Strip | Example | Motorcycle plates |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() ( | FIN [fn1 1] | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | GBA | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() ( | FO | ![]() | | ![]() |
![]() | GBZ [lower-alpha 1] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | GBG | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | GBM | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | GBJ | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Territory | Code | Strip | Example | Motorcycle plates |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ABH | ![]() | ||
![]() | RKS | ![]() | | ![]() |
![]() | RSO | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | PMR | ![]() | ![]() | |
Timeline of Vehicle registration plates of Europe from 1960 until today | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Country | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
Dependencies and disputed territories [21]
Timeline of Vehicle registration plates of disputed, dependent and other territories in Europe from 1960 until today | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Territory | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
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A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate or license plate or licence plate, is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. All countries require registration plates for road vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Whether they are required for other vehicles, such as bicycles, boats, or tractors, may vary by jurisdiction. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric ID that uniquely identifies the vehicle or vehicle owner within the issuing region's vehicle register. In some countries, the identifier is unique within the entire country, while in others it is unique within a state or province. Whether the identifier is associated with a vehicle or a person also varies by issuing agency. There are also electronic license plates.
Number plates in Belgium are driver specific, meaning that they are transferred to a new vehicle from the owner's previous one.
The country in which a motor vehicle's vehicle registration plate was issued may be indicated by an international vehicle registration code, also called Vehicle Registration Identification code or VRI code, formerly known as an International Registration Letter or International Circulation Mark. It is referred to as the Distinguishing sign of the State of registration in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968.
The most common format for vehicle registration plates in Romania consists of black letters on white background in the format CC 12 ABC
, where CC
is a two letter county code, 12
is a two digit group, and ABC
is a three letter group. For Bucharest, the format is B 12 ABC
or B 123 ABC
, where B
is code for Bucharest city, 12
and 123
is a two or three digit group, and ABC
is a three letter group. The left side of the plate bears a blue vertical strip displaying the 12 stars of the European Union and the country code of Romania (RO). Between 1992 and 2007 the band featured the Romanian flag instead of the 12 stars. All lettering comes from the Latin alphabet.
The Italian vehicle registration plates are the compulsory alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of motor vehicles registered in Italy. They have existed in the country since 1897.
Austrian car number plates are mandatory vehicle registration plates displaying the registration mark of motor vehicles in Austria. They are used to verify street legality, proof of a valid liability insurance and to identify and recognise the vehicle.
Turkish vehicle registration plates are number plates found on Turkish vehicles. The plates use an indirect numbering system associated with the geographical info. In Turkey, number plates are made by authorized private workshops.
The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by establishing standard traffic rules among the contracting parties. The convention was agreed upon at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Conference on Road Traffic and concluded in Vienna on 8 November 1968. This conference also produced the Convention on Road Signs and Signals. The convention had amendments on 3 September 1993 and 28 March 2006. There is a European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968), which was concluded in Geneva on 1 May 1971.
Standard Bulgarian vehicle registration plates display black glyphs on a white background, together with – on the left-hand side of the plate – a blue vertical "EU strip" showing the flag of Europe and, below it, the country code for Bulgaria: BG.
Vehicle registration plates in Denmark normally have two letters and five digits and are issued by authorities. Plates can be obtained at authorized car dealers, vehicle inspection stations or official registration centers. The combination is simply a serial and has no connection with a geographic location, but the digits have number series based on vehicle type. The country's official international road code is DK, excluding the Faroes.
In Iceland, vehicle registration plates are issued by the Icelandic Transport Authority. The plates are made of aluminium with reflective base and embossed characters. There are eleven different styles corresponding to the vehicle's type and tax status. Icelandic registration plates follow the EU standard for registration plates, with the Icelandic emblem with the letters IS on the left side with a standard (EU) size of 520 x 110mm.
In Albania, vehicle registration plates are issued by the General Directory of Road Transport Services.
Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, the country has used four main systems of vehicle registration plates.
Vehicle registration plates of Gibraltar are similar to those of the United Kingdom, with the same colours and typeface, similar to the common EU format. Vehicle registration plates, usually called 'number plates', include the international vehicle registration code for Gibraltar, 'GBZ'. GBG is used for Guernsey.
In the United Kingdom, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate motor vehicles on highways and other public roads. It is administered in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). A driving licence is required in England, Scotland, and Wales for any person driving a vehicle on any highway or other "road", as defined in s.192 Road Traffic Act 1988, irrespective of the ownership of the land over which the road passes. Similar requirements apply in Northern Ireland under the Road Traffic Order 1981.
Vehicle registration plates in Northern Ireland use a modified version of the British national registration plate system that was initiated for the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1903. Originally, all counties in the UK were allocated two identification letters. At that time, the whole of Ireland was in the UK, and the letters I and Z were reserved for the Irish counties. The 'I' series was used first, but by the time it came to using the 'Z' series in 1926, the Irish Free State had already come into existence, and so it was agreed that the Northern Ireland would use the AZ – YZ series, while the Free State would use the ZA – ZZ series. In 1987, the Republic of Ireland broke away from the system altogether. As of 2002 there were reportedly 794,477 recorded registration plates in Northern Ireland, compared to only 50 for the island as a whole when the format was first introduced in 1903.
Vehicle registration plates, commonly referred to as number plates, are the mandatory alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle in Jersey. Vehicle registration marks are issued in Jersey by Driver and Vehicle Standards, a Government of Jersey department, and are entirely different from those issued in other jurisdictions.
The vehicle registration plates of Cyprus are composed of three letters and three digits. A simple incremental numbering system is used; numbers run from 001 to 999 per letter sequence (alphabetic), so that, for example, the plate to be issued after MAA 999 would be MAB 001. However, registrants may be allowed to choose a number from available numbers in the extant letter sequence.
The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty promoting the development and safety of international road traffic by establishing certain uniform rules among the contracting parties. The convention addresses minimum mechanical and safety equipment needed to be on board and defines an identification mark to identify the origin of the vehicle. The Convention was prepared and opened for signature by the United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport held at Geneva from 23 August to 19 September 1949. It came into force on 26 March 1952. This conference also produced the Protocol on Road Signs and Signals.
Vehicle registration plates are the alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904. It is compulsory for motor vehicles used on public roads to display vehicle registration plates, with the exception of vehicles of the reigning monarch used on official business.
When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate(s), the following conditions shall apply: [...] When, in addition to the distinguishing sign, a non-numerical symbol and/or a flag and/or a regional or local emblem is displayed on the registration plate, the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall obligatorily be placed on the far left of the plate