A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate, license 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.
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.
Vehicle registration plates of Poland indicate the region of registration of the vehicle given the number plate.
In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located.
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate, license plate or licence plate, 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. An example of such format is the common EU format, with the EU flag above the country code issued in EU member states.
Vehicle registration plates of Serbia are issued using a two-letter region code, followed by three or four-digit numeric and a two-letter alpha license code, separated by a hyphen.
License plates in Moldova were introduced on November 30, 1992. Currently issued plates consist of six black characters on a white background: three letters and three numbers. On the left part of the plates there is a modified, wider than usual blue euroband having the Moldovan flag instead of the EU symbol and the international country code MD underneath it. The plates are 520 mm wide and 112 mm high, made of metal with embossed characters using the FE-Schrift font.
Thailand's vehicle registration plates are issued by the Department of Land Transport (DLT) of the Ministry of Transport. They must be displayed on all motorized road vehicles, as required by the Motor Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 and the Land Transport Act, B.E. 2522. The plates vary in design, colors and dimensions according to the type of vehicle, but usually display a registration number and the vehicle's province of registration. Specifications are given in Ministry of Transport regulations. Current style started in 1975 for most vehicle types, but with small changes in 1997, and 1997 for motorcycles.
Uruguay requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.
Vehicle registration plates of Vietnam generally take the form DDL-DDDDD for vehicles. Standard license plates have black characters on white background. Front plates measure 47 × 11 cm, rear ones are 27 × 20. In 2020 and 2021, both plates measure 6 x 12. The current scheme for civilian vehicles omits the letters I, J, O, Q and W, with the letter R reserved for trailers, and includes the Vietnamese D.
The vehicle registration plates of Cameroon is a legal form requiring the citizens of Cameroon to have their cars registered.
The vehicle registration plates of Benin is a legal form requiring the citizens of Benin to have the car registered.
The vehicle registration plates of the Republic of the Congo is a legal form requiring the citizens of the Republic of the Congo to have the car registered. Its international road code is RCB, despite unofficially displaying RC on its current plates.
The vehicle registration plates of Niger is a legal form requiring the citizens of Niger to have the car registered.
The vehicle registration plates of Togo is a legal form requiring the citizens of Togo to have the car registered.
Peru requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
Jamaica requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
The vehicle registration plates of the Central African Republic allows the identification of vehicles registered in the Central African Republic.
The vehicle registration plates of Chad is a legal form requiring the citizens of Chad to have the car registered.
