A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate, 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.
Vehicle registration plates in China are mandatory metal or plastic plates attached to motor vehicles in mainland China for official identification purposes. The plates are issued by the local traffic management offices, which are sub-branches of local public security bureaus, under the rules of the Ministry of Public Security.
Vehicle license plates in the Philippines are issued and regulated by the Land Transportation Office of the Philippines, a government agency under the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr).
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.
License plates of Honduras are issued by the Honduran Secretaría de Obras Públicas, Transporte y Vivienda and identify motor vehicles in the country.
In the United States, the appearance of license plates is frequently chosen to contain symbols, colors, or slogans associated with the issuing jurisdiction, which are the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the 5 inhabited U.S. territories, and Native American tribes, each of which independently registers motor vehicles. Regular-issue license plates for passenger vehicles typically have 5-7 characters, with vanity plates having up to 8 characters in some states. This article describes the designs and serial formats for regular-issue plates.
The U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. Only rear plates have been required since 1976.
Vehicle registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are categorised using prefixes based on the type of vehicle and feature up to four succeeding digits. Registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are supposed to be either white figures on a black background or black figures on a white background. All motor vehicles that are operating in the roads of Trinidad and Tobago are required by law to have a registration plate affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle at all times except during very specific situations. This current system has been present for over 40 years.
Vehicle registration plates of Bahrain have the Flag of Bahrain and the country's name in Arabic and Latin script. Special vehicles such as diplomatic cars have a colored bar in the upper section of the license plate without the flag. License plates for private vehicle owners are blue with a white background. In 2010, Bahrain switched to the version which is in use today.
The Caribbean Netherlands requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
Bermuda requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.
Anguilla requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates, changed in 2007, have a blue and white background with black letters and are North American standard 6 × 12 inches. Vehicle plates have an 'A' followed by four digits. The letter denoting the type of vehicle has been moved to the front and 'P' is now designated for personal vehicles.
The British Virgin Islands requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Many plates have 'Virgin Islands' and 'Nature's Little Secrets' above and below the sequence respectively. Before 1996, European standard 520 mm × 110 mm sizes and British stamping dies were used, but current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches as used in the US Virgin Islands.
The Cayman Islands requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Vehicles plates usually have six numbers on them, separated into groups of three. Most plates have 'Cayman Islands' written beneath the numbers and are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
Belize requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
The Dominican Republic requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
Guatemala requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
Saint Lucia requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches. Older license plates are owner provided and come in different styles.
Sint Maarten requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches. Some plates start with different letters, sometimes similar to plates of the Netherlands: V for commercial vehicles, TX for taxi, D for governmental vehicles, AB for buses.
Saint Barthélemy requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are European standard 520 mm × 110 mm, and use French stamping dies. The overseas departments and territories of France have three-digit codes, starting with 97, which was originally the single code for them all.
