View source for Vehicle registration plate

{{short description|Device displaying a character string that uniquely identifies a particular commercial vehicle}}
{{redirect-distinguish|License plate|Bag tag|Builder's plate}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{use dmy dates |date=December 2019}}
[[File:Two Fiat 500s Voltio.png|thumb|Two [[Fiat 500 (2007)| Fiat 500]]s, which are operated in [[Madrid]] by the same company. Note that both vehicle registration plates finish in MYF. This is due to the company buying these [[en masse]].]]

A '''vehicle registration plate''', also known as a '''number plate''' ([[British English|British]], [[Indian English|Indian]], [[Pakistani English]] and [[Australian English]]), '''license plate''' ([[American English]]) or '''licence plate''' ([[Canadian English]]), is a [[metal]] or [[plastic]] plate attached to a [[motor vehicle]] or [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] for official identification purposes. All countries require registration plates for commercial road vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, for hire. 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 [[Unique identifier|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 plate]]s.

== Legal requirements ==
[[File:British car registration plate labels-UK.svg|thumb|A car registration plate from the United Kingdom. The "GB" or "UK" marks have been used in the United Kingdom in various years.<ref name="XI-B-19"/>]]
In Europe, most governments require a registration plate to be attached to both the front and rear of a vehicle,<ref>{{Cite web |title=En quoi consiste le numéro SIV (Système d'Immatriculation des Véhicules) ? |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17638 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.service-public.fr |language=Fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Displaying number plates |url=https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> although certain jurisdictions or vehicle types, such as [[motorcycle]]s, require only one plate, which is usually attached to the rear of the vehicle. Special vehicles, such as agricultural and construction equipment, might have the license plate attached to other parts of the vehicle. National databases relate this number to other information describing the vehicle, such as the make, [[car model|model]], [[car colour|colour]], year of manufacture, [[engine]] size, type of [[fuel]] used, [[Odometer|mileage]] recorded (and other similar data in jurisdictions where vehicles are regularly [[vehicle inspection|inspected for roadworthiness]] every year or two), [[vehicle identification number]] (chassis number), and the name and address of the vehicle's registered owner or keeper.

[[File:Letafors. Far from home - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Two Swedish snowmobiles with license plates attached to the side of the vehicles]]

In the vast majority of jurisdictions, the government holds a monopoly on the manufacturing of vehicle registration plates for that jurisdiction. Either a government agency or a private company with express contractual authorization from the government makes plates as needed, which are then mailed to, delivered to, or picked up by the vehicle owners. Thus, it is normally illegal for private citizens to make and affix their own plates, because such unauthorized private manufacturing is equivalent to [[forgery|forging]] an official document. Alternatively, the government will merely assign plate numbers, and it is the vehicle owner's responsibility to find an approved private supplier to make a plate with that number.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Jon |date=2021-10-01 |title=Everything You Need to Know About DVLA Number Plates |url=https://www.newreg.co.uk/number-plates-information/dvla-number-plates/ |access-date=2021-10-01 |website=New Reg}}</ref> Additionally, citizens can create custom plates, following specific guidelines and naming conventions approved by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Using Private Registration Plates |url=https://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/guides/ask-nvc/can-i-add-a-private-registration-plate-to-my-lease-vehicle |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=Nationwide Vehicle Contracts |language=en}}</ref>

In some jurisdictions, plates will be permanently assigned to that particular vehicle for its lifetime. If the vehicle is either destroyed or exported to a different jurisdiction, the plate number is retired or reissued; exported vehicles must be re-registered in the jurisdiction of import. China requires the re-registration of any vehicle that crosses its borders from another country, such as for overland tourist visits, regardless of the length of time it is due to remain there; this has to be arranged with prior approval.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}  Other jurisdictions follow a "plate-to-owner" policy, meaning that when a vehicle is sold the seller removes the current plate(s) from the vehicle. Buyers must either obtain new plates or attach plates they already hold, as well as register their vehicles under the buyer's name and plate number. A person who sells a car and then purchases a new one can apply to have the old plates put onto the new car. One who sells a car and does not buy a new one may, depending on the local laws involved, have to turn the old plates in or destroy them, or may be permitted to keep them. Some jurisdictions permit the registration of the vehicle with "personal" ("vanity" or "cherished mark") plates.

In some jurisdictions, plates require periodic replacement, often associated with a design change of the plate itself. Vehicle owners may or may not have the option to keep their original plate number, and may have to pay a fee to exercise this option. Alternately, or additionally, vehicle owners have to replace a small [[decal]] on the plate or use a decal on the windshield to indicate the expiration date of the [[vehicle registration]], periodic safety and/or emissions inspections or vehicle taxation. Other jurisdictions have replaced the decal requirement through the use of computerization: a central database maintains records of which plate numbers are associated with expired registrations, communicating with [[automated number plate recognition|automated number plate readers]] to enable law-enforcement to identify expired registrations in the field.

=== Placement ===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2016}}
[[File:Masked number plate.jpg|thumb|It is illegal to mask number plates to elude traffic enforcement in most jurisdictions.]]

Plates are usually fixed directly to a vehicle or to a plate frame that is fixed to the vehicle. Sometimes, the plate frames contain advertisements inserted by the vehicle service centre or the dealership from which the vehicle was purchased. Vehicle owners can also purchase customized frames to replace the original frames. In some jurisdictions registration plate frames are illegal or have design restrictions. For example, many states, like Texas, allow plate frames but prohibit plate frames from covering the name of the state, province, district, Native American tribe or country that issued the license plate (when that information appears on the plate). Plates are designed to conform to standards with regard to being read by eye in day or at night, or by electronic equipment. Some drivers purchase clear, smoke-colored or tinted covers that go over the registration plate to prevent electronic equipment from scanning the registration plate. Legality of these covers varies. Some cameras incorporate filter systems that make such avoidance attempts unworkable, usually with infra-red filters.

Vehicles pulling [[trailer (vehicle)|trailers]], such as [[Caravan (towed trailer)|caravans]] and [[semi-trailer truck]]s, are typically required to display a third registration plate on the rear of the trailer.

== Plate design considerations ==
An engineering study by the [[University of Illinois]] published in 1960 recommended that the state of Illinois adopt a numbering system and plate design "composed of combinations of characters which can be perceived quickly and accurately, are legible at a distance of approximately {{convert|125|ft|m}} under daylight conditions, and are readily adapted to filing and administrative procedures". It also recommended that a standard plate size of {{convert|6|in|cm}} by {{convert|14|in|cm}} be adopted through the United States to replace the earlier {{convert|6|in|cm}} by {{convert|12|in|cm}} size to allow longer registration numbers to be displayed without excessively tight spacing or excessively thin or narrow characters.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Functions and Design of Motor Vehicle License Plates|first1=John E. |last1=Boerwald |first2=Delbert F.|last2=Karmeier |first3=C. Gordon |last3=Herrington |series=University of Illinois Engineering Experiment Station Bulletin No. 457|year=1960}}</ref>

In order to combat registration plate fraud, from the 1920s several jurisdictions developed their own [[anti-fraud]] typefaces so that characters cannot be painted or modified to resemble other characters. Since the 1990s, many jurisdictions have adopted the [[FE-Schrift]] typeface.

English uses twenty-six letters (languages such as [[German language|German]], [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and [[Danish language|Danish]] have more letters), so assuming that the letters vs. digits must appear in particular locations (common on plates in most jurisdictions, for instance four decimal digits and two letters where the letters must come first, allowing AB1234 but excluding A12B34), allowing for repeating letters and digits, the combinations for each of these will be:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+{{nowrap|Possible combinations}}
! scope="row" style="width: 200px;"          | Combinations possible<br />with particular arrangements
! scope="row" style="width: 200px;"          | All possible combinations
! scope="row" style="width:  50px;"          | Digits
! scope="row" style="width:  50px;"          | Letters
! scope="row" style="width:  75px;"          | Sample
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 2,600,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 15,600,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 5
| style="text-align: center;"                | 1
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | 123 45A
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 26,000,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 182,000,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 6
| style="text-align: center;"                | 1
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | 123 A 456
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 6,760,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 101,400,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
| style="text-align: center;"                | 2
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | AB 12 34
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 67,600,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 1,419,600,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 5
| style="text-align: center;"                | 2
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | AB 123 45
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 17,576,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 351,520,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | ABC 123
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 175,760,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 6,151,600,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | 12 ABC 34
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 456,976,000
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 15,994,160,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
| style="font-family: monospace, monospace;" | AB 123 CD
|}

If letters and digits can appear in any order, it is problematic to allow both the letter O and the digit 0 to be used. Even if the license plate uses distinguishable characters for the two, someone transcribing the plate may not know which symbol has which meaning, and the owner of plate EM6F9VO may get in trouble for something the owner of plate EM6F9V0 did. Other letter–digit pairs, like I and 1, may be similarly problematic to a lesser degree. Allowing for repeating letters and digits, the combinations for each of these will be:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+{{nowrap|Possible combinations}}
! scope="row" style="width: 200px;"          | Combinations possible<br />with ''digit 0'' excluded
! scope="row" style="width: 200px;"          | Combinations possible<br />with ''letter O'' excluded
! scope="row" style="width:  50px;"          | Digits
! scope="row" style="width:  50px;"          | Letters
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 9,211,644
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 15,000,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 5
| style="text-align: center;"                | 1
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 96,722,262
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 175,000,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 6
| style="text-align: center;"                | 1
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 66,528,540
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 93,750,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
| style="text-align: center;"                | 2
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 838,259,604
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 1,312,500,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 5
| style="text-align: center;"                | 2
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 256,258,080
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 312,500,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 4,036,064,760
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 5,468,750,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
|-
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 11,659,742,640
| style="text-align: right;"                 | 13,671,875,000
| style="text-align: center;"                | 3
| style="text-align: center;"                | 4
|}

== History ==
[[France]] was the first country to introduce the registration plate with the enactment of the Paris Police Ordinance on 14 August 1893,<ref name="Robertson1974">{{cite book|last=Robertson|first=Patrick|title=The book of firsts|url=https://archive.org/details/bookoffirsts00robe|url-access=registration|access-date=13 August 2011|year=1974|publisher=C. N. Potter : distributed by Crown Publishers|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookoffirsts00robe/page/51 51]|isbn=9780517515778}}</ref> followed by [[Germany]] in 1896.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deautogids.nl/begin/pagina.asp?page=33 |title=Geschiedenis van de kentekenplaat |trans-title=History of the license plate |website=Autogids |location=The Netherlands |language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216083447/http://www.deautogids.nl/begin/pagina.asp?page=33 |archive-date=2012-02-16}}</ref> The [[Netherlands]] was the first country to introduce a national registration plate, called a "driving permit", in 1898. Initially these plates were just sequentially numbered, starting at 1, but this was changed in 1906.

In the [[United States]], where each state issues plates, [[New York State]] has required plates since 1903 (black numerals on a white background) after first requiring in 1901 only that the owner's initials be clearly visible on the back of the vehicle.<ref>Laws of New York Chap 531, §&nbsp;169a, Apr 25, 1901; Chap. 625, §&nbsp;169a, May 15, 1903</ref> At first, plates were not government-issued in most [[jurisdiction]]s and [[Driving|motorists]] were obliged to make their own. In 1903, [[Massachusetts]] was the first state to issue plates.  In 1928, [[Idaho]] was the first state to put a logo on the plate (the "Idaho Potato").<ref>{{cite news |title=Artistic License |url=https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/artistic-license/ |access-date=10 March 2021 |work=[[99% Invisible]] |date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

In [[Spain]], the first law to define rules on non-animal vehicle traction was {{lang|es|Real orden de 1897 de circulación de vehículos cuyo motor no sea la fuerza animal}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://todosobretrafico.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/real-orden-1897.pdf |title=Real orden de 1897 de circulación de vehículos cuyo motor no sea la fuerza animal |trans-title=Royal order of 1897 of movement of vehicles whose engine is not the animal force |newspaper=Gaceta de Madrid |location=Spain |language=es |date=13 August 1897 |access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref> and the registration of vehicles was defined as a provincial task in the {{lang|es|Reglamento de 1900 para el servicio de coches automóviles por las carreteras}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://todosobretrafico.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/reglamento-de-1900_original.pdf |title=Reglamento de 1900 para el servicio de coches automóviles por las carreteras |trans-title=1900 regulation for the service of motor cars on the roads |newspaper=Gaceta de Madrid |location=Spain |language=es |date=20 September 1900 |access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://todosobretrafico.com/normativa-hasta-1910/ |title=Normas 1897–1910 – Caminos |trans-title=Rules 1897–1910 – Roads |location=Spain |language=es |year=1910 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135047/https://todosobretrafico.com/normativa-hasta-1910/ |archive-date=2017-08-24}}</ref>

The first Spanish registration plate, PM–1, was issued for a [[Clément-Talbot]] on 31 October 1900 in [[Palma de Mallorca]].<ref name="Espana">{{cite web |url=http://www.dgt.es/images/Primeros-Vehiculos-matriculados-en-Espana–1900–1964-Biblioteca-DGT-1008562.pdf |title=Primeros vehículos matriculados en España |trans-title=First registration of vehicles in Spain |location=Spain |language=es}}</ref> 256 vehicles were registered between 1901 and 1905.<ref name="Espana" />

=== Materials ===
The earliest plates were made  of [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]] on metal or ceramic with no backing, which made them fragile and impractical.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Few of these early plates survived.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Later experimental materials include [[Paperboard|cardboard]], [[leather]], [[plastic]], and, during wartime shortages, [[copper]] and pressed [[soybean]]s.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="120px">
File:1916 Wyoming License Plate 3088.jpg|The damage to the enamel on this [[Vehicle registration plates of Wyoming|Wyoming license plate]] from 1916 exposed the iron, causing it to rust.
File:1944 Wyoming License Plate 17 12.jpg|In 1944, [[Vehicle registration plates of Wyoming|Wyoming license plates]] were made of soybean-based fiberboard due to metal conservation for World War II.
File:First Minnesota license plate.jpg|Black leather automobile license tag with a brass number on the center front. The first automobile license plate in Minnesota, 1903.
</gallery>

As of the 21st century, most plates are made out of [[aluminium]].<ref name="Bossier_Page_377">{{cite book |last1=Bossier |first1=Didier |editor1-last=Stauffer |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Bonfanti |editor2-first=Monica S. |title=Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles |date=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780080477886 |pages=367–388 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA377 |access-date=25 January 2022 |chapter=Chapter 14: Examination of Vehicle License Plates}}</ref>  Metal plates are manufactured through one of two processes: embossing or riveting.<ref name="Bossier_Page_377" />  For embossing, a plate is placed between dies on each side corresponding to the desired characters and compressed by a press.<ref name="Bossier_Page_378">{{cite book |last1=Bossier |first1=Didier |editor1-last=Stauffer |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Bonfanti |editor2-first=Monica S. |title=Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles |date=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780080477886 |pages=367–388 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA378 |access-date=25 January 2022 |chapter=Chapter 14: Examination of Vehicle License Plates}}</ref>  For riveting, holes are drilled through the plate and then individual letters are riveted one-by-one to the plate.<ref name="Bossier_Page_379">{{cite book |last1=Bossier |first1=Didier |editor1-last=Stauffer |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Bonfanti |editor2-first=Monica S. |title=Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles |date=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780080477886 |pages=367–388 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA379 |access-date=25 January 2022 |chapter=Chapter 14: Examination of Vehicle License Plates}}</ref>

New technology has allowed for the development of digital license plates. In 2018, Michigan approved Public Act 656, making electronic license plates legal.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/digital-license-plates/ |title=Do You Need a Digital License Plate? One Startup Thinks So |first=Alex |last=Davies |magazine=Wired |location=US |date=21 January 2019 |access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref>

=== Sizes ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
[[File:License plate sizes.svg|thumb|upright=2|License plate size comparison]]

Early 20th century plates varied in size and shape from one jurisdiction to the next, such that if someone moved or the car was resold in a new area, new holes would need to be drilled into the automobile (often on the bumper) to support the new plate, or an adapter plate be made. [[Standardization]] of plates came in 1957, when automobile manufacturers came to agreement with governments and international standards organizations. While peculiar local variants exist, there are four basic standards worldwide:
* {{convert|520|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} or {{convert|520|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in the bulk of [[Europe]]an countries and many of their former overseas territories, as well as [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].
* {{convert|400|by|130|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in the [[Mercosur]] member countries: [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]], and [[Paraguay]], originally based on the 1990 Brazilian standard.
* {{convert|300|by|150|mm|in|abbr=in}} – in the majority of [[North America]] and [[Central America]], and parts of [[South America]]; occasionally in [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]]; and many [[Persian Gulf]] countries, also allowed for imported vehicles in the [[United Kingdom]].
* {{convert|372|by|135|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Australia]] and some other [[Pacific Rim]] countries, about halfway between the dimensions of the other two standards, longer than Western Hemisphere plates but taller than European ones.

Additional sizes include:
* {{convert|275–240|by|200–220|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – two line pattern, optional in several European countries for 4×4 and imported vehicles;
* {{convert|290|by|170|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Russia]] for imported Japanese and American vehicles.
* {{convert|300|by|80|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]].
* {{convert|310|by|155|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Saudi Arabia]].
* {{convert|330|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Andorra]].
* In [[Vietnam]]:{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
** from {{convert|330|by|165|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} to {{convert|520|by|110|mm|in|abbr=in}} – for car,
** {{convert|190|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – for bike.
* {{convert|330|by|165|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Japan]].{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
* In [[Monaco]]:
** {{convert|340|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – for the rear,
** {{convert|260|by|90|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – for the front.
* {{convert|340|by|150|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Thailand]].
* {{convert|360|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Italy]] (front plates), and [[Oman]].
* {{convert|360|by|125|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[New Zealand]].
* {{convert|360|by|130|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Chile]].
* {{convert|380|by|160|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Taiwan]].
* {{convert|390|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[San Marino]].
* {{convert|390|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in the [[Philippines]]
* {{convert|404|by|154|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Ecuador]].
* {{convert|430|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Jordan]].
* In [[Indonesia]]
** {{convert|275|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – for two-or-three-wheeled vehicles, in the front and rear.
** {{convert|460|by|135|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – for four-or-more-wheeled vehicles, in the front and rear.
* {{convert|440|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[South Africa]] and [[Finland]].
* {{convert|440|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[China]], but {{convert|480|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} for [[Vehicle registration plates of China#New Energy vehicles license plates|New Energy vehicles]].
* {{convert|450|by|100|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Syria]]{{Update inline|date=July 2025}} and [[Tunisia]] (front plates).

Previous sizes included:
* {{convert|190|by|140|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Vietnam]] before 2021 for all vehicles.
* {{convert|320|by|90|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Iraq]] before 2024.
* {{convert|320|by|150|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Paraguay]] and [[Taiwan]]{{When|date=July 2025}}.
* {{convert|330|by|155|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[South Korea]]{{When|date=July 2025}}.
* {{convert|340|by|110|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Belgium]] before 2013.
* {{convert|340|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Luxembourg]] before 2003.
* {{convert|350|by|155|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Uruguay]] before 2016.
* {{convert|390|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Finland]] before 2001.
* {{convert|420|by|120|mm|in|1|abbr=in}} – in [[Serbia]] before 2011, based on [[Yugoslavia]]'s standard.

== Africa ==

=== Algeria ===
{{Excerpt|Vehicle registration plates of Algeria}}
=== Angola ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Angola}}

=== Botswana ===
[[File:Botswana-rear-plate.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Vehicle registration plates of Botswana|Botswana plate]]]]
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Botswana}}

Normal vehicles have number plates starting with the letter ''B'', followed by three digits, followed by three letters. The digits and letters are assigned by a registrar. The three letters never include the letter ''Q'', to avoid confusion with ''O''. [[Botswana]] number plates have a reflective white front and yellow rear background, and black lettering.

Government vehicles all have the prefix "BX", these number plates have a white reflective background with red lettering at the front and white on red at the rear. After 'BX' are the last two numerals of the date of issue and then up to four digits issued serially.

Botswana Defence Force vehicles have the prefix "BDF" in white on an 'army' green background.

Diplomatic vehicles' number plates start with two numerals which indicate the embassy to which they are attached, then two letters CD (Corps Diplomatique), CC (Consular Corps status) or CT (Foreign Technical and Advisory personnel) and another three digits which are serial. The official car of the Head of Mission uses the letters CMD rather than CD and the private vehicle uses CDA.
This series is allocated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.<ref>Road Transport (Permits) Act, Chapter 69:03</ref>

Botswana is the former British Protectorate of [[Bechuanaland]], and number plates then used a 'BP' prefix (then BPA, BPB, etc.) followed by up to three digits, in white on black background, the plates being made in the characteristic style of South Africa at that time.

=== Burkina Faso ===
{{main| Vehicle registration plates of Burkina Faso}}
[[File:Burkina Faso passenger vehicle plate.jpg|thumbnail|upright|Burkina Faso passenger plate|alt=GJ 34]]

Vehicles are fitted with registration plates in the front and rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles (50cc or more) must be licensed and only bear rear plates. Registration is performed at the local police or Gendarmerie station. The first digits of the plate indicate the province in which the vehicle is registered. Only plates which meet government standards and are sold by licensed dealers may be fitted.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Michaël|first1=Pacodi|title=Sécurité routière : Des faussaires de plaques sur le marché|url=http://www.lefaso.net/spip.php?article43938|access-date=17 July 2015|work=Le Faso|date=13 September 2011|language=fr}}</ref>

Private passenger car registration plates have a white background with black letters and digits. Plates exist in a long pattern and a rectangular pattern, similar in size and appearance to French plates. The plate is adorned with a small flag of Burkina Faso in the shape of the country, inscribed in a black circle. The letters "BF" appear below the circle, also in black. This circle and BF design is to the right of the long plate and to the upper right of the rectangular plate. Motorcycle plates are similar to rectangular automobile plates, but smaller.

Commercial registration plates are similar in appearance to private plates, but the background is blue, and the writing and circle are white.

Security forces plates are black with white letters. They are adorned with the emblem of the relevant security service.

=== Cameroon ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Cameroon}}
[[File:КАМЕРУН НОМЕР 1.gif|thumb|Cameroonian license plate]]

The current scheme of regular license plates was introduced in 1985. It has AB1234V formats or AB123VH where AB is the code region, 1234 is the number, and SH is the series. The regular plate has an orange background with black marks. Since 2005, to reflect the German [[FE-Schrift|FE font]] used, on the left side of the plate are the emblems of the Economic Community of Central African States code and the CMR emblem.

=== Egypt ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Egypt}}

=== Kenya ===
[[File:KENYA passenger license plate 1950-1989 Flickr - woody1778a.jpg|thumb|An old Kenyan number plate from the 1970s]]
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Kenya}}

The current series of '''vehicle registration plates''' in '''[[Kenya]]''' are on a white plate with black lettering and look quite similar to UK suffix style registrations. The format is LLL 000L, where 'L' denotes a letter and '0' denotes a digit. The older series of number plates were black with white or silver lettering. The rear plates in the older series of number plates were yellow and black lettering. According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics there are over 1,626,380 vehicles on Kenyan roads as at 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/|title=Home – Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nairobi, Kenya|website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>

=== Morocco ===
[[File:Morocco license plate 2451أ Agadir Inezgane - Ait Melloul.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Morocco]], [[Agadir]] registration plate]]

New-style (post-1983, black lettering on white) [[Morocco|Moroccan]] vehicle registrations have one or two digits to the right of the plate to indicate the town of registration.
Each number is separated by a vertical line.   To the left of the plate are a series of up to 5 digits issued consecutively.  These are separated from the town of registration digits by a hyphen.

Earlier plates (1972–1983, black lettering on white.  Pre-1972, white lettering on black) differed in that they could have either one or two numbers to indicate the town of registration.  The group of digits was separated from the rest of the plate by a vertical line.

The current plates use numerals without script. Earlier plates used numerals and included [[Arabic script]].

=== South Africa ===
[[File:South Africa Limpopo province 1995 license plate.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Limpopo Province|Northern Province]] number plate (1995)]]
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of South Africa}}

[[South Africa]]n number plates are unique in each of the [[Provinces of South Africa|provinces]]. Each province has its own number plate design and colors, as well as numbering scheme.
=== Togo ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Togo}}

== Americas ==

=== Argentina ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Argentina}}
[[File:Matrícula automovilística argentina 2016 (Mercosur)-B.png|thumb|upright|[[Argentina|Argentinian]] registration plate]]

The history of registration plates in Argentina can be broken down in two major phases: the decentralized phase (until 1972) and the centralized one (since 1972). During the decentralized phase, registration plates were assigned by each municipality or by the provinces, while during the second phase, the national state took charge of standardizing and centralizing the design and style.

Argentina has used the '''ABC 123''' format since 1995. However, from 2016, new registration plates with the logo of Mercosur and the '''AB 123 CD''' format were implemented. Both formats coexist temporarily.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Mercosur finally agrees: unified number plates for new cars beginning 2016|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2014/10/09/mercosur-finally-agrees-unified-number-plates-for-new-cars-beginning-2016|work=MercoPress}}</ref>

=== Bolivia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Bolivia}}
[[File:Matrícula automovilística Bolivia 2006 1852PHD La Paz.jpg|thumb|upright|Bolivian registration plate issued in [[La Paz]], as indicated by the "L" sticker in the top right corner]]

[[Bolivia]]'s current registration plate system consists of four numbers followed by three letters. At the top of the plate, "BOLIVIA" is spelled out. At the top left corner, the Bolivian flag may be present, and at the top right corner, a letter denoting the department in which the car is registered, according to the [[ISO 3166-2:BO]] code, is displayed on either a metal tab on older plates or a sticker on newer plates. The current registration plate design consists of a white background with a blue borderline and blue letters and numbers.

Serial digits progress sequentially from right to left, with the 000 AAA format followed by the '''1'''000AAA format and currently the '''4'''000AAA format.

Older plate serials consisted of three numbers followed by three letters (A to Z, except O and Q). They had a white background with black letters and numbers.

=== Brazil ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Brazil}}
[[File:Brazilian vehicle license plate (2018-).jpg|thumb|upright|Plate for a private vehicle issued in 2018 from [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil]]

[[Brazil]] adopted its former system in 1990, which uses the form ABC•1234, with a dot between the letters and the numbers. A combination given to a particular vehicle follows it from first issue to the scrapyard: it cannot be transferred to another vehicle. Above the combination there was a metallic band with the state abbreviation (SP = [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], RJ = [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]], PR = [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], AM = [[Amazonas (Brazilian state)|Amazonas]], etc.) and the name of the municipality in which the vehicle title owner resides. During the first registration of a new vehicle, the registering state issues a registration plate to the vehicle rather than owner, and the serial stays with the vehicle for its life.

Brazil, as a member of [[Mercosur]], from September 2018 on, began a new registration system where plates have a blue band at the top with the logo of Mercosur on the left, the country's name centered and [[Flag of Brazil|country flag]] on the right. On the bottom left, there is the international vehicle registration code for Brazil: '''BR'''. The plates are always white: the letter coloring indicates the category (e.g., black on white: private; blue on white: official, police, fire departments, etc.; red on white: taxis, buses, paid freight, etc.). A new format based on the previous one, ABC1D23, was implemented. All used cars, when transferred to another owner, must change to the new format keeping their registration, where only its second number (the fifth position of the alphanumeric combination) shall change to a letter, following the pattern: 0=A, 1=B, 2=C, 3=D, ... 9=J. {{As of|2020}}, both formats coexist for the time being.<ref name="auto"/>

=== Canada ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Canada}}
[[File:License plates of Ontario 2120.jpg|thumb|An Ontario licence plate, demonstrating the standardised North American size]]
[[File:Canada Federal license plate 78579.jpg|thumb|A Canadian plate used by the federal government]]

In Canada, license plates are issued on the provincial or territorial level. Federally issued plates are only used by the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]]. All provinces issue plates in which the letters and numbers are embossed so that they are slightly raised above its surface. The territory of [[Nunavut]] introduced the first flat registration plate in Canada in July 2012.

In the Canadian provinces and territories of [[Alberta]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], the [[Northwest Territories]], [[Nova Scotia]], [[Nunavut]], [[Prince Edward Island]], [[Quebec]], [[Saskatchewan]], and the [[Yukon]], registration plates are currently only required on the rear of the vehicle. The remaining provinces{{snd}}[[British Columbia]], [[Manitoba]], and [[Ontario]]{{snd}}require the registration plates to be mounted on both the front and rear of the vehicle, with the exception of some special registration classes in BC such as dealer licenses and "collector floater" plates where only one plate is issued. When a person moves from one province to another, they are normally required to obtain new registration plates issued by the new place of residence, with some agreements between individual provinces allowing temporary workers, and post secondary students to keep their home plates.

In 1956, all North American passenger vehicle registration plates (except for French-controlled [[St. Pierre and Miquelon]]), were standardized at a size of {{convert|6|x|12|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}, although a smaller size is used for certain vehicle classes, such as [[motorcycle]]s, and for the state of Delaware's historic alternate black and white plates, which are {{convert|5.25|x|9.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}. The plates of the Northwest Territories are shaped like a [[polar bear]] but bolt to the standard holes. Nunavut inherited this design on its creation but switched to rectangular plates in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-unveils-new-licence-plate-1.1184000 |title=Nunavut unveils new licence plate |date=March 7, 2012 |work=CBC News |access-date=2010-11-29}}</ref> [[Canadian Forces]] vehicles that travel on regular roads display registration plates. These vehicles have registration plates issued by the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]]. Domestic plates were issued by the DND after 1968.

Most Canadian provinces offer personalized or vanity license plates, where one can display their own unique combination of characters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanity license plates in Canada |url=https://www.policyadvisor.com/magazine/vanity-license-plates-in-canada/ |website=policyadvisor |access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>

Prison inmates in Ontario make registration plates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/corr_serv/adult_off/treat_prog/treat_prog_trilcor/treat_prog_trilcor.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717173317/http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/corr_serv/adult_off/treat_prog/treat_prog_trilcor/treat_prog_trilcor.html|url-status=dead|title=Trilcor Industries |publisher=Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (Ontario)|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rehabilitation programs and services for offenders {{!}} ontario.ca |url=http://www.ontario.ca/page/rehabilitation-programs-and-services-offenders |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.ontario.ca |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Northwest Territories]] issues licence plates in a [[Vehicle registration plates of the Northwest Territories|unique polar bear–shaped design]].

=== Colombia ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Colombia}}
[[File:Matrícula automovilística Colombia 2001 Cali CAN•732.jpg|right|Colombian vehicle registration plate]]

Private black-on-yellow plates with the ABC·123 format are used in Colombia. The [[Municipalities of Colombia|municipality of issuance]] is embossed at the bottom of the plate.

=== Chile ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Chile}}

=== Ecuador ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Ecuador}}
Vehicle number plates in Ecuador have only one design, with the word "Ecuador" appearing in uppercase letters centred at the top of the plate and a unique letter-number combination which consists of three letters (except for motorbikes, diplomatic vehicles and vehicles owned by international organisations) followed by three or more numerical digits. Formats in use are ABC-123 (old format) and ABC-1234 (new format).

The first letter in the letter-number combination indicates the province of issue. The second letter might be sequential or a "key letter" identifying the type of registration plate; the following letters and numbers are assigned in sequential order to the date the vehicle has been registered.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 13, 2018|title=Reglamento General para la Aplicación de la Ley Orgánica de Transporte Terrestre, Tránsito y Seguridad Vial|url=http://www.cte.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ReglamentoGralAplicaLOTTTSV.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713015349/http://www.cte.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ReglamentoGralAplicaLOTTTSV.pdf|archive-date=13 July 2018|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Greenland ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Greenland}}
[[File:Greenland license plate.jpg|thumb|Greenland registration plate. All current plates have the '''GR''' 12 345 format.]]

Greenlandic vehicle registration plates normally have two letters and five digits. The combination is simply a serial and has no connection with a geographic location, but the digits have a number series based on vehicle type.

=== Mexico ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Mexico}}
[[File:Matrícula automovilística México 2004 Baja California AHL-71-17 europlaca legaloid.jpg|thumb|[[Baja California]]n Euro-style registration plate (unofficial)]]
[[File:Sonora mexico license plate.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mexico]] – [[Sonora]] registration plate]]

Each [[Mexico|Mexican]] state issues registration plates of a different design. Most states change designs more or less every third year, with each state on its own plate replacement cycle. Every year Mexicans pay the {{lang|es|tenencia}} or {{lang|es|revalidación de placas}} ("car plates renewal tax"). A set of Mexican plates includes one pair of plates, a windshield sticker, and in a few states a plate sticker. In 2001 the size of the plate number was reduced to accommodate the addition of the state number, a legend indicating the position of the plate on the vehicle ({{lang|es|delantera}} (front) or {{lang|es|trasera}} (rear)), and additional graphics. European-sized plates do exist in Mexico, but are not official or legal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/mex_plates/otras/euro.html |title=Euro-size |work=License Plates of Mexico |publisher=Yahoo! GeoCities |date=2009-10-27 |access-date=2010-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027094218/http://geocities.com/mex_plates/otras/euro.html |archive-date=2009-10-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2022}} These generally contain the same design as the standard-size plate in use at the time, and bear the standard letter and number sequence.

Mexican plates come in several different classifications: private, private border, public, public border, federal public service, fiscal and customs inspection, Mexico Army, and diplomatic. The border plates were introduced in 1972 and are available in the Mexico–USA border zone. This zone is formed by the states of [[Baja California]] and [[Baja California Sur]], as well as parts of [[Sonora]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Coahuila]], and [[Tamaulipas]]. While the state of [[Nuevo León]] shares a {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} border with the U.S., it does not have any cities within the border zone.

=== Panama ===
{{main| Vehicle registration plates of Panama}}
In Panama, the design of registration plates changes every year and the plates are the standard North American size and shape. They used to be made by prison inmates but are now produced on demand and on site using a press. Plates used to have 6 numbers, but since 2013 new plates for new vehicles have 2 letters and 4 numbers. The 2 letters go before the numbers. They have a sticker on one of the corners indicating in which month of the year the plate was issued. On the bottom center of the plate is the year when the plate was issued. They also have holograms on the right edge of the plate. On the top center the plate has the word PANAMA. Government vehicles always begin with GO. Taxis begin with T and are always yellow. School buses say COLEGIAL instead of the year the plate was issued. Motorcycles begin with M. Metro buses begin with MB. Plates for motorcycles are about half the standard size. Plates of vehicles belonging to the national assembly are always white and have the logo of the national assembly on the left and two numbers on the right and are always white. Vehicles of government executives have no registration plate. Vehicles from Central America can be used freely in Panama without having to change plates but only if the vehicle will not be staying indefinitely in Panama. Vehicles must be checked every year when changing the plate. The plate must be changed every year and once the vehicle is checked a sticker must be attached to the back of the vehicle's windshield. The color of the sticker changes every year.

=== Peru ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Peru}}

=== United States ===
{{Main|Vehicle license plates of the United States}}
[[File:California license plate, August 2012.png|thumb|upright|Standard [[California]] plate as of 2011|alt=]]

The first registration plates in [[North America]] appeared in 1903 in the [[U.S. state|Commonwealth]] of [[Massachusetts]]. Soon after, other states followed suit, with virtually every state having adopted a form of registration plates by 1918.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vehicles |first=The State of Delaware-Division of Motor |title=DMV History |url=https://www.dmv.de.gov/About/history/index.shtml |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Division of Motor Vehicles |language=en}}</ref>

The first registration plates in the United States were made out of [[leather]], [[rubber]], [[iron]], and [[porcelain]], painted on the front in usually two different colors{{snd}}one for the background and one for the lettering. This scheme held true for most states until about 1920. The front of the plate would usually contain the registration number in large digits, and in smaller lettering on one side of the plate, the two- or four-digit year number, and an abbreviated state name. Each year, citizens were usually required to obtain a new registration plate from the state government, which would have a different color scheme than the previous year, making it easier for police to identify whether citizens were current with their vehicle registration.

Even before 1920, some states had adopted the technique of [[Embossing (manufacturing)|embossing]] the metal plates with raised lettering and numbering, without porcelain, and applying [[paint]] all over the plate, directly onto the metal. [[Minnesota]] introduced some registration plates during this period with three different years embossed into the plate, so that the plates were valid for three consecutive years (e.g., 1918, 1919, and 1920).

In the United States, registration plates are issued by each state.<ref name="Bossier_Page_375">{{cite book |last1=Bossier |first1=Didier |editor1-last=Stauffer |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Bonfanti |editor2-first=Monica S. |title=Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles |date=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780080477886 |pages=367–388 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA375 |access-date=25 January 2022 |chapter=Chapter 14: Examination of Vehicle License Plates}}</ref> The [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] issues plates only for its own [[vehicle fleet]] and for vehicles owned by [[diplomat|foreign diplomats]]. In the United States, many [[Tribal sovereignty in the United States|Native American tribal governments]] issue [[Vehicle registration plates of Indian tribes|plates for their members]], while some states provide special issues for tribal members. Within each jurisdiction, there may also be special plates for groups such as firefighters or military veterans, and for state or municipality-owned vehicles.

The appearance of plates is frequently chosen to contain symbols or slogans associated with the issuing [[jurisdiction]].<ref name="Bossier_Page_376">{{cite book |last1=Bossier |first1=Didier |editor1-last=Stauffer |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Bonfanti |editor2-first=Monica S. |title=Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles |date=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780080477886 |pages=367–388 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA376 |access-date=25 January 2022 |chapter=Chapter 14: Examination of Vehicle License Plates}}</ref> Some of these are intended to promote the region. A few make political statements; for example, most plates issued in [[District of Columbia]] include the phrase "[[Taxation Without Representation]]" to highlight D.C.'s lack of a voting representative in the [[United States Congress]]. More recently, some states have also started to put a [[web address]] pertaining to the state (such as [[Pennsylvania]], which posts the address of its [[tourism]] site). In some states ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Iowa]], [[Kentucky]], [[Mississippi]], [[Tennessee]], [[Ohio]], and some versions in [[Florida]]), the issuing [[county]] is listed at the bottom, while [[Kansas]] does so with a letter-coded registration sticker; [[Utah]] did so until 2003. [[Indiana]] identifies counties with a two-digit code in the lower right corner of its plates. [[Alabama]], [[Idaho]], [[Montana]], [[Ohio]], [[South Dakota]], [[Wyoming]], most [[Nebraska]], and some [[Oklahoma]] standard issue plates designate the county by unique codes, usually numeric (Idaho uses a one-letter or one-number/one-letter code; Oklahoma uses a one-letter code), either in the plate number or registration sticker. Some states, such as [[New Hampshire]], [[New Mexico]], and [[New York (state)|New York]], formerly used county-coded or county-labeled plates before switching to standard-progression plates.

[[File:2022_Tennessee_License_Plate_Base_-_Standard_Automobile.png|thumb|Standard [[Tennessee]] plate, with the county name, seen in use in February 2022|alt=]]

Most states use plates onto which the letters and numbers are embossed so that they are slightly raised above its surface. Characters on [[Vermont]] plates are  [[Engraving|engraved]] onto a large, slightly raised portion of the plate. Seventeen states{{snd}}Alabama, [[Arizona]], [[Delaware]], Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article208136299.html|title=New Kansas License Plates getting a Makeover|publisher=The Wichita Eagle|access-date=11 January 2019}}</ref> Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, [[New Jersey]], Oklahoma, [[South Carolina]], South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming{{snd}}and both the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have moved to entirely digitally printed "flat" registration plates. Several other states, such as [[Colorado]], Mississippi, [[Missouri]], New York, Ohio, [[Oregon]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and [[West Virginia]] produce a flat registration plate only for certain plates, such as [[personalized license plates]] and special interest plates. [[Nevada]] reverted from using flat registration plates to using embossed plates, after using flat plates as a standard issue for a few years. Additionally, [[Wisconsin]] used flat plates for their endangered resources specialty plates from 2010 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewturnbull.net/plates/flat.html|title=March of the Flats|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leewardpro.com/articles/licplatefonts/licplate-fonts-nam-flat.html|title=Flat Digital registration plates in the US – End of the Embossed Era?|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Pennsylvania 2017 license plate.jpg|thumb|upright|Standard [[Pennsylvania]] plate using sample lettering]]

The numbering system of registration plates also varies among the jurisdictions. Some states issue a motorist a serial that stays with that person as long as they live in that state, while other states periodically issue new serials and completely rotate out any old ones. Some states issue registration plates to vehicles rather than owners, and the serial stays with the vehicle for its life. Several states do not regularly use certain letters – most commonly the letters [[I]], [[O]], and/or [[Q]] – in their plates, except on [[vanity plates]], so as not to confuse observers with the numbers one and zero.

When a person moves from one state to another, they are normally required to obtain new registration plates issued by the new place of residence.<ref name="Bossier_Page_375" /> Some U.S. states will even require a person to obtain new plates if they accept employment in that state, unless they can show that they return to another state to live on a regular basis. The most prominent exceptions to this policy are active duty military service members, who legally do not change residence when they move to a new posting. Federal law specifically allows them to choose to either retain the state vehicle registration of their original residence or change registration to their state of assignment.

In the United States, 22 states – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, [[Arkansas]], Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, [[Louisiana]], [[Michigan]], Mississippi, [[New Mexico]], [[North Carolina]], Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia – do not require an official front registration plate. In Nevada, front plates are optional if the vehicle was not designed for a front plate and the manufacturer did not provide an add-on bracket or other means of displaying the front plate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmvnv.com/platesmain.htm#Display |title=Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles |publisher=Dmvnv.com |access-date=2010-11-29}}</ref> In [[Massachusetts]], certain old rear-only plates are grandfathered, but newly issued registrations require both front and rear plates. Vehicles owned by the [[United States Postal Service]], unlike other federally owned civilian vehicles, do not bear registration plates, but rather a postal service number such as on the [[Grumman LLV]].

In 1956, all North American passenger vehicle registration plates, except for French-controlled [[St. Pierre and Miquelon]], were standardized at a size of {{convert|6|x|12|in|mm|2|abbr=on}}, although a smaller size is used for certain vehicle classes, such as [[motorcycle]]s, and for the state of Delaware's historic alternate black and white plates, which are {{convert|5.25|x|9.5|in|mm|2|abbr=on}}. However, in 2012 Puerto Rico began issuing optional [[Vehicle registration plates of Europe#Format|European-style plates]] that incorporate the design language of the standard-issue plates in a longer and narrower size typically seen in Europe.

Tactical vehicles of the United States military do not bear registration plates, even if they travel regularly on public streets and highways.

In many U.S. states, registration plates are made by prison inmates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.state.nc.us/EPRISE/about/work.html |title=Putting Inmates to work in Prison Industries |publisher=Correction Enterprises (North Carolina Department of Corrections) |access-date=2010-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117020329/http://www.doc.state.nc.us/EPRISE/about/work.html |archive-date=November 17, 2010 }}</ref> Because of this, colloquial terms include "license plate factories" for prison and "making license plates" for serving a prison sentence.

== Asia ==

=== Afghanistan ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Afghanistan}}
[[File:License plate of Afghanistan Kabul Privat.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Afghanistan]] LP – [[Kabul]]]]

Afghan registration plates primarily use [[Persian script]] text and numerals.  The current version was introduced in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/AS_AFGH.html|title=License Plates of Afghanistan|publisher=Worldlicenseplates.com|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

=== Bangladesh ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Bangladesh}}

[[Bangladesh]]i registration plates use [[Bengali alphabet]]s and [[Bengali numerals]].
In [[Bangladesh]], the [[Bangladesh Road Transport Authority|Road Transport Authority (BRTA)]] issues vehicle registration plates for motor vehicles. The vehicle registration plates in Bangladesh use [[Bengali alphabet]]s and [[Bengali numerals]]. The current version of Vehicle registration plates started in 1973. The International vehicle registration code for Bangladesh is '''BD'''.

The general format of vehicle registration plates in Bangladesh is "City – Vehicle Class alphabet and No – Vehicle No". For example, : "DHAKA-D-11-9999". The "DHAKA" field represents the city name in [[Bengali alphabet]]s, the "D" field represents the vehicle class in [[Bengali alphabet]]s, the "11" field represents the vehicle registration serial in [[Bengali numerals]] (newer registrations have a higher serial number) and finally, the "9999" field represents the vehicle number of the vehicle in [[Bengali numerals]].

The plates are installed in both the front and rear of the vehicle, with the rear plate permanently attached to the vehicle. The plate is only removed when the vehicle has reached the end of service and has been sold for scrap. New vehicles are not delivered to the purchaser until the plates have been attached at the dealership.

{{Clear}}

=== China ===

==== Mainland ====
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of China}}
[[File:湘 license plate of Hunan, People's Republic of China.jpg|thumb|upright|Blue [[Vehicle registration plates of China|PRC]] registration plate of the 1992 standard]]

The [[People's Republic of China]] issues vehicles registration plates at its Vehicle Management Offices, under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

The current plates are of the 2007 standard (GA36-2007), blue background and consist a one-character provincial abbreviation, a letter of the [[Latin alphabet]] corresponding to a certain city in the province, and five numbers or letters of the alphabet (e.g. 京A-12345, for a vehicle in [[Beijing]] or 粤B-12345 for a vehicle from [[Shenzhen]] in [[Guangdong]] province). The numbers are produced at random, and are computer-generated at the issuing office. (A previous registration plate system, with a green background and the full name of the province in Chinese characters, actually had a sequential numbering order, and the numbering system was eventually beset with corruption).

Yellow plates are issued to motorcycles and large vehicles, such as coaches and buses. Black plates are issued to vehicles belonging to diplomatic missions and foreigners (including [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]]). Vehicles registered in Hong Kong or Macau and permitted to enter China would be required to have a separate black plate from China as Hong Kong and Macau operate their own vehicles registration system. The Chinese plates for these cars followed the pattern of the provincial character for Guangdong (粤), the Latin letter "Z", 4 letters and/or numbers, ending in the abbreviated character for the territory (e.g. 港 for Hong Kong and 澳 for Macau).

For motorcycles, the front plate only included five numbers and rear contained the full information (e.g. for a motorcycle registered in Shanghai as 沪C•12345, the front plate would be "12345" and the rear plate bears the entire set).

==== Hong Kong ====
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Hong Kong}}
[[File:Hong Kong number plates 2009.png|thumb|upright|[[Hong Kong car numbers|Hong Kong registration plates]]]]

Hong Kong number plates follow the British system of colouring, with front white and rear yellow plates. The numbering system is two letters and (up to) four digits, e.g. AB1234. Registration plate numbers starting with "AM" are reserved for government use. The front white and rear yellow background is a reflective material to comply with the BS AU145a standard.

In addition, Hong Kong started a new scheme in 2006 to allow personalised registration plates, with up to eight selectable letters or numbers.

{{Clear}}

==== Macau ====
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Macau}}
[[File:Macau licence plates for private vehicles 2009.png|thumb|right|200px|Macau number plates for private vehicles, as observed in 2009]]

Macau local registration plates follow the [[Vehicle registration plates of Portugal|Portuguese]] pre-1992 system of colour and sequence. Plates have a black background with white numbers. Numbering system starts from M, and then one letter, and then 4 numbers, and separated by "-", e.g. MA-12-34. Earlier numbers will only have M instead of MA or MB or MC, etc.

{{Clear}}

=== Taiwan ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Taiwan}}

In the [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan), vehicle registration plates are issued by the [[Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Republic of China)|Ministry of Transportation and Communications]]. The registration numbers contain [[Latin alphabet|Latin letters]] (A to Z), [[Arabic numerals]] (0 to 9) and [[dash]] (–), and plates also bear [[Chinese characters]].

=== India ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of India|List of Regional Transport Office districts in India}}
[[File:Indian Vehicle Registration Plate - Kolkata 2011-07-29 4088 (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|Indian vehicle registration plate ([[West Bengal]]). WB-06 stands for Kolkata.]]

Vehicle registration plates, usually known as number plates, are issued by the [[Regional Transport Office]] of each district. Most motor vehicles which are used on public roads are required by law to display them.
The new system which is followed currently in all the states and cities came into effect in the early 1990s. The scheme comprises:
* A two letter identification for the state in which the vehicle is registered.
* A two number code to identify the [[Regional Transport Office]] (RTO) where the vehicle is registered.
* An alphabet code to define the series. (one or two Alphabet, depending on vehicle density of the district/RTO)
* A four digit serial.

For Example,  in the case of "MH 10 EL 5311", "MH" stands for [[Maharashtra]], "10" stands for [[Sangli]] city RTO, and "EL 5311" denotes the series and serial number.

The Delhi NCR however uses a modified system wherein an additional alphabet is inserted after the RTO code to classify vehicle type. For example, a Delhi registration plate may read "DL 12 C AB 0496" where "DL" stands for Delhi, "12 C" stands for Car, and "AB 0496" is the series and number. In this scheme, 'C' denotes Car, 'S' denotes Scooter/Motorcycle, 'R' stands for rickshaw (three-wheeler), 'F' stands for "Fancy" or VIP numbers irrespective of vehicle type; and "P" for Public transport vehicles.

Some states have been adapting the dual letter series code system, for example car series' are CA, CB, CC; motorbike series' are MA, MB and so on. Most states however still use the standard series code, denoted by a single letter of the alphabet.

=== Indonesia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Indonesia}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| header            = 
| image1            = 2008 indonesian plate.png
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = '''Former (until June 2022) design''' of Indonesian registration plates for private vehicles. The Indonesian Police Traffic Corps logo can be seen on the lower left. The plates are still valid during a five-year transition period (until 2027).
| image2            = 2023 Indonesian plate (regular, private).svg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = '''Current (from November 2022{{efn|Customized plates or vanity plates have been using this design from June 2022}}) design''' of Indonesian registration plates for private vehicles
| image3            = 2023 Indonesian plate (regular, public).svg
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = Design used for commercial vehicles or public transport
| image4            = 2023 Indonesian plate (regular, govt).svg
| alt4              = 
| caption4          = Design used for government-owned vehicles
| image5            = 2023 Indonesian plate (regular, FTZ).svg
| alt5              = 
| caption5          = Design used for vehicles exclusively used in free-trade zones
| image6            = 2023 Indonesian plate (regular, private, EV).svg
| alt6              = 
| caption6          = For electric vehicles, the design has additional blue trim at the expiry date row.
| image7            = 2023 Indonesian plate (2-3-wheeler, private).svg
| alt7              = 
| caption7          = For two-or-three wheelers, the design has the same colour scheme, but with a smaller height and width, and has not yet implemented the FE-Schrift typeface.
}}

Indonesian vehicle plates share the legacy of the Dutch colonial era, which do not reflect the regional divisions of the country into [[provinces]], but the old system of ''karesidenan'' or [[Residency (country subdivision)|residencies]]. Their prefixes are therefore based on this system. There are four main colour schemes (white, red, yellow, green) that are used in Indonesia and consist of a combination of alphabet and numbers.

* For privately owned vehicles, a white background with black typeface (from June 2022, and the newer FE-Schrift font from November 2022). Before that, a black background with white typeface.
* For government-owned vehicles, a red background with white typeface.
* For commercial and public vehicles, a yellow background with black typeface.
* For vehicles exclusively used in [[Free trade zones|free-trade zones]] i.e. [[Batam]] (see [[Indonesia–Malaysia–Singapore Growth Triangle]]), a green background with black typeface. 
* For electric vehicles, there is additional blue trim at the expiry date row.
* For two-or-three wheelers (motorcycles, autorickshaws, etc.), the design has the same colour scheme but with a smaller height and width, and has not yet implemented the FE-Schrift font. Electric two-or-three wheelers also have blue trim at the expiry date row.
* Dealer plates are white background with red typeface, usually for vehicles yet to have legal and confirmed information and owner.

Besides these normal plates, there are also military plates for Army, Navy, Air Force, and also the Police. While diplomatic corps get special white plates and black numbering with "CD" prefix. The normal scheme comprises a one or two letters identification for the regencies, followed by an up to four digit numbers for the car's identification, and the last one to three letters are the serial code or district identification. The expiry date of the license is embossed along the bottom and some on the top of the plate. At the middle of the plate number, the numbers are usually random or requested by the vehicle owner and has a maximum of four digits and a maximum of three letters at the end of the vehicle's plate number, for example it could be: '''(B 1 A)''', '''(B 12 AB)''', '''(B 123 AB)''', and '''(B 1234 ABC)'''. Sometimes the last maximum three letters at the end of the plate identifies the district region of the registered vehicle by the first letter, for example: '''(B 1234 WIE)''' which "'''W'''" identifies the vehicle is from the region of Southern [[South Tangerang]] city (Kota Tangerang Selatan), Banten province. Vehicle owners may request their vehicle's last letters plate for their own desire, but would need more affairs by the local police registering it, for example that the owner's name is "Adi" then he would make his vehicle's plate number like so: '''(B 1234 ADI)'''.

Example:
* '''B 1234 AB''', is mainly a vehicle registered in [[Jakarta]], distinguishable from the letter code from the first letter of the plate, "'''B'''" represents the following cities: [[Jakarta]], [[Depok]], [[Tangerang]] (includes [[South Tangerang]]), and [[Bekasi]]. Mainly, vehicles registered in 2008 and later starts using three letters at the end of the whole plate, for example:''' B 1234 ABC'''
* '''L 123 MN''', is a vehicle registered in [[Surabaya]], the provincial capital of East Java  Surabaya code is "'''L'''"
* '''DB 787 AA''', is a vehicle registered in [[North Sulawesi]] which includes [[Minahasa]] and [[Manado]] which is the capital city of the province. North Sulawesi code is "'''DB'''"
* '''KT 8910 T''', is a vehicle registered in [[East Kalimantan]] Province, [[Tarakan]] municipality, on Borneo island. East Kalimantan code is "'''KT'''"
* '''F 8888 LU''', is a vehicle registered in [[Bogor]] city, [[West Java]]. Bogor city code is "'''F'''"

The plates usually have their expiration dates shown below or very few on the top of the serial numbers, indicating its expiry month and year, so if it says (12•26) it means that the plate expires at December 2026, so the owner of the vehicle should pay tax and get a new plate at that time, to which the process is redone every five years. A new plate design introduced in April 2011 eliminates a white line circling the whole plate and has a thinner typeface until it was replaced in 2022.

=== Iran ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Iran}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| header            = 
| image1            = پلاک شخصی.png
| caption1          = Plates used for private vehicles (here: '''12B365-11''')
| image2            = Pelak melie dolati.png
| caption2          = Plate used for governmental automobiles (letter "'''الف'''" or "'''A'''")
| image3            = پلاک تاکسی.png
| caption3          = Plates used for taxis (letter "'''ت'''" or "'''T'''")
| image4            = Pelak_melie_polis.png
| caption4          = Plates used for [[Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran|police]] (letter "'''پ'''" or "'''P'''") ''<small>(Letter "'''ث'''" or "'''Ṣ'''" is used for [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC]] in the same green color.)</small>''
| image5            = Pelak_melie_malulin.png
| caption5          = Plates used for people with disabilities (wheelchair symbol or letter "'''ژ'''" or "'''Ž'''")
| image6            = Iran - Private Vehicle License Plate Guide.png
| caption6          = Private vehicle license plate guide
}}

Iranian license plates have had European standard dimensions since 2005. Each province in Iran has multiple unique, two-digit codes that are included at the right end of the license plates in a distinguished square outline, above which the word "[[Iran|ایران]]" or "[[Iran]]" has been written. A province's license plates will not be issued with a new code unless all possible combinations with the old code have been issued.

In Tehran, the first code to be issued for the province was code 11, and subsequent codes all increased by 11 as well (meaning codes 11, 22, 33, ..., 99 are unique to Tehran.) Ever since code 99 was fully issued, the new codes for Tehran have started from 10 and subsequently increased by 10 (10, 20, 30, ...).

Private vehicles' plates are black on white with a blue strip on the left. The code in the square represents the [[Vehicle registration plates of Iran#Area codes|regional codes]]. The letter can be dependent on where the car's owner's principal address is located. For example, while regional code "'''83"''' belongs to [[Fars province|Fars Province]], letter "'''م"''' (M) is dedicated to residents of [[Larestan County]], while letter "'''هـ"''' (H) is dedicated to [[Jahrom County]] residents.

Iran's license plate format is entirely in [[Persian alphabet]]. It follows the format '''## X ### - NN'''

* '''## ###''' is the registration code
*'''X''' is the series letter. Each unique classification of vehicles is assigned a unique letter. For private vehicles, for example, if numbers start from ''11 B 111'', the letter ''B'' will not change until numbers reach '''99 B 999'''. Then, plates will go up to ''11 C111''. These details are explained further in each section of this article.
* '''NN''' is the province code.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="14" |Private vehicle letter series on Iranian license plates
|-
!Letter
|ب
|ج
|د
|س
|‌ص
|ط
|ق
|ل
|م
|ن
|و
|هـ
|ی
|-
!Latin equivalent
|B
|J
|D
|S
|Ṣ
|Ṭ
|Q
|L
|M
|N
|V
|H
|Y
|}
Example:

* '''12 V 345-93''', is a vehicle registered in [[Shiraz]]. distinguishable from the last two digits of the plate,"'''93'''" representing [[Fars province]]. And the letter "'''V'''" representing Shiraz city.
* '''12 Q 345-99''',  is a vehicle registered in [[Tehran]]. distinguishable from the last two digits of the plate, "'''99'''" representing Tehran City.

=== Iraq ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Iraq}}

{{multiple image
| align             = center
| total_width       = 600
| image_gap         = 5
| header            =

| image1            = Iraq - Kurdistan - License Plate - Private.png
| caption1          = [[Kurdistan Region]] registration plate since 2022

| image2            = Iraq - License Plate - Governmental.png
| caption2          = [[Iraq]] Governmental registration plate

| image3            = Iraq - License Plate - Private.png
| caption3          = Iraq private car license plate, province of [[Basrah]]
}}

=== Israel ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Israel}}

Israeli civil registration plates are rectangular with reflecting yellow background and embossed with black registration number. Under the first dash of the registration number (see below form of registration numbers) there is a stamp of approval of the Standards Institute of Israel. On the left side of the plate there is a euroband embossed with the Israeli flag and beneath it the letters IL and ישראל (Israel) written in Hebrew and below it إسرائيل (Israel) written in Arabic. Old plates do not hold this euroband. In North American standard plates (300 x 150mm), the digits are narrower and the blue rectangle is at the bottom of the plate, as the letters are to the right of the flag.

{{multiple image
| align             = center
| image_gap         = 5
| header            =

| image1            = Plak-IL-Shakhsi 8 digits.svg
| width1            = 200
| caption1          = Israeli vehicle registration plate with a size compliant with that of European Union license plates

| image2            = Plak-IL-Shakhsi-15x30 8 digits.svg
| width2            = 120
| caption2          = Israeli vehicle registration plate with a size compliant with that of American license plates

| image3            = Plak-IL-Moto 8 digits.svg
| width3            = 80
| caption3          = Israeli motorcycle, moped, and scooter license plate
}}

=== Japan ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Japan}}
[[File:Japanese green on white license plate.png|thumb|upright|[[Vehicle registration plates of Japan|Japanese registration plate]] (schematic illustration). This sample registration plate is registered to [[Tama, Tokyo|Tama]].]]

Japanese vehicle registration plates fall into two classes: Prefectural, used nationwide, and Municipal. Municipal registration is typically applicable to motor vehicles that will not leave the area, such as light motorcycles.

In the prefectural system, the top line names the office at which the vehicle is registered, and includes a numeric code that indicates the class of vehicle. The bottom contains one serial letter (typically a [[kana]]), and up to four digits. The classes of registration plate are divided by vehicle type and engine size. For private vehicles [[kei car|less than {{convert|660|cc|cuin|abbr=on}}]], registration plates have black text on a yellow background. Above {{convert|660|cc|cuin|abbr=on}}, a white plate with green text is used. For commercial, non-private vehicles, the colors of the number plate are inverted. An official seal is applied over one (typically the left) screw, preventing the plate being removed and applied to another car.

Municipal registration plates in Japan may vary in color and design.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

{{Clear}}

=== Jordan ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Jordan}}
[[File:Private car registration plates from Jordan.jpg|thumb|upright|Jordanian private vehicle registration plate]]

Jordan requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.

{{Clear}}

=== Korea ===

==== North Korea ====
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of North Korea}}
[[File:North Korea state owned license plate Pyongyang 1992.jpg|thumb|upright|[[North Korea]]n registration plate from [[Pyongyang]] (1992)]]

[[North Korea]]n vehicle plates follow the pattern XX-##-###, where "XX" is replaced with two [[Hangul syllables]] spelling the [[Provinces of North Korea|province]] name.

The most common plates are embossed black-on-white to indicate state ownership; plates indicating [[Korean People's Army|KPA]] use are white-on-black. Motorcycle plates are black-on-yellow or black-on-orange. The very few privately owned motor vehicles which exist in North Korea bear black-on-red plates, while diplomatic plates are white-on-blue. Other types of vehicles (trolleys, emergency vehicles, buses/taxis) are indicated with additional numerical prefixes. Unusually, North Korea requires that [[bicycle]]s also have license plates, bicycles do not have license plates in most other countries. In a 2024 interview with [[NK News]], the Swedish diplomat August Borg noted the bicycle policy during his time working in North Korea and considered it "unreasonable".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nknews.org/2015/03/the-daily-life-of-a-swedish-diplomat-in-north-korea/ |title=The daily life of a Swedish diplomat in North Korea |first=Jojje |last=Olsson |work=NK News |location=North Korea |date=2015-03-27 |access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref>

==== South Korea ====
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of South Korea}}
[[File:South Korean License Plate for Rent Passenger car - Ho.jpg|thumb|upright|South Korean vehicle registration plate]]

In South Korea, 6 types of registration number plates (3 variations of size, both non-commercial and commercial) are issued currently. Prior to 2006, sizes of plates were {{convert|335|by|155|mm|1|abbr=on}} for normal vehicles and {{convert|440|by|200|mm|1|abbr=on}} for large vehicles (buses with length over {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=off}} and trucks with payload over {{convert|4|t|1|abbr=on}})<!-- (?) -->. In November 2006, standard plate size for normal vehicles was changed to {{convert|520|by|110|mm|1|abbr=on}}, resembling the European Union standard. Nonetheless, older {{convert|335|mm|1|abbr=on}} plates are still effective for older vehicles and some models not fit for new standard, which are mostly imported cars. One example is the Ford Mustang. Even cars with {{convert|520|mm|1|abbr=on}} plate in front and {{convert|335|mm|1|abbr=on}} plate in rear are not rare.

Non-commercial vehicles (nationwide registration number "00-X-0000": X is one Hangeul character denoting type of vehicle) bear plates with white background and black letters, while commercial vehicles (Region name is added as prefix like "Seoul 12 GA 3456") with yellow background and black letters. In older system, non-commercial vehicles plates had green background and white letters.

There are a few exceptions, including diplomats and [[United States Forces Korea|United States military]].

===Lebanon===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Lebanon}}

Lebanese vehicle registration plates generally have a blue bar to the left like in [[Vehicle registration plates of the European Union|European Union]] countries (except without the 12 golden stars) if the plate is European standard. The blue bar is to the top if the plate is North American standard. The blue bar consists of the name of Lebanon in Arabic ({{lang|ar|لبنان}}), the Lebanese [[Cedrus libani|Cedar tree]] in the middle, and the vehicle's classification all in white. The rest of the plate is white, with a Latin letter representing the vehicle's registration area and [[Arabic numerals|Arabic numbers]] next to the letter in bold. Different colors represent different usages (e.g., red ones are used by taxis and public transport, green ones are for rental vehicles, etc.).

=== Malaysia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia}}
[[File:Malaysia penang license plate front.JPG|right|thumb|A standard [[Peninsular Malaysia]]n registration plate, registered in [[Penang]] and affixed on a dealership plate frame]]

[[Malaysia]]n registration plates are displayed at the front and rear of all private and commercial [[motor vehicle|motorised vehicles]] in [[Malaysia]], as required by law. The issuing of the registration plates is regulated and administered by the [[Malaysian Road Transport Department]] ({{langx|ms|Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia}}) or JPJ.

{{Clear}}

=== Nepal ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Nepal}}
[[File:Nepal number plate.jpg|thumb|Standard Nepali vehicle registration plate]]

Nepal embossed plate was started from 2017. In Nepal, all road vehicles with or without a motor (except bicycles) are tagged with a registration number. Registration plates are commonly known as number plates. The registration plate number is issued by the zonal-level Transport Management Office, a government agency under the Department of Transport Management. The registration plates must be placed in the front as well as back of the vehicle.

The president of Nepal travels in an official vehicle that has no number on its plates. Instead it has the coat of arms of Nepal embossed on it.

'''Current system'''

The current format was introduced on 21 August 2017. This format consists of L LL NNNN where:

L is the category of vehicle,
LL is a "counter" comprising two letters, which increments after the sequence number reaches 9999.
NNNN is a sequence number from 0001 to 9999.
These plates come with a RFID microchip that enables the government to maintain uniformity in issuance of number plates and prevent duplication. Similarly, the new number plates also help authorities to maintain digital records of vehicles plying on the roads, collect revenue on time and control auto theft.

=== Pakistan ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Pakistan}}

Eight types of registration plates are used in Pakistan. Each province and territory issues its own number plate; the federal government issues number plates for foreign diplomats and vehicles owned by the military, police and federal departments (red for foreign diplomats and green for the federal government.) Sindh's number plates are yellow with black letters and numbers for private vehicles and Black number plates with white letters for commercial vehicles; Islamabad, NWFP, [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir]], Balochistan and Northern Areas have white number plates with black letters and numbers. The number plates also have the province or territory's name at the bottom. In [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] however, number plates can be of any color the vehicle owner chooses. The first 2 letters represent the city the vehicle is registered in.

From January 1, 2006, [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] has started issuing official number plates for all cars registered in Punjab. Number plates are of Green and White color. The green part is the same all over Punjab and has a sign of plant design that symbolizes fertile land and plains while the white part has the number of the vehicle.

For example:
* RIZ 3725, is a vehicle registered in [[Rawalpindi]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]].
* MN 3909, is a vehicle registered in [[Multan]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]].
* LEL 06 4520, is a vehicle registered in [[Lahore]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. (''06 represents year 2006'')
All number plates use the Latin alphabet.

=== Philippines ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines}}

=== Saudi Arabia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Saudi Arabia}}
[[File:Saudi Arabia license plate 2014 European size.jpg|thumb|2014-style [[Saudi Arabia]] registration plate]]

[[Saudi Arabia]]n vehicle plates display both Arabic and Latin characters.

{{Clear}}
=== Syria ===
{{main| Vehicle registration plates of Syria}}

=== Singapore ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Singapore}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| header            =

| image1            = Singapore licence plate 2000 front and rear.png
| caption1          = ''Black'' on '''white''' ''(front)'' and ''black'' on '''yellow''' ''(rear)'' number plate scheme in [[Singapore]]

| image2            = Singapore licence plate 2000 front.png
| caption2          = A ''white'' on '''black''' number plate scheme in [[Singapore]]
}}

In general, every motor vehicle in Singapore has a vehicle registration number. Two colour schemes are in use: white-on-black scheme that is standard on cars from dealerships, or the Euro black-on-white (front of the vehicle) and black-on-yellow (rear) scheme, of which the number plate has to be made of a reflective plastic or metallic with textured characters which are black (for white-yellow), or white or silver (for black ones). No standardised typeface is used, though all typefaces are based on the [[Charles Wright (typographer)|Charles Wright]] number plate typeface used in the UK. Thinner-looking variants are commonly used by [[SBS Transit]] buses, taxis and goods vehicles. Rarely, the [[FE-Schrift]] font used in Germany can be seen&nbsp;– though the use of this font is prohibited by the [[Land Transport Authority]] (LTA).<ref>{{citation|title=This Continental touch can land you in trouble|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=22 February 2008}}</ref>

A typical vehicle registration number comes in the format "SBA 1234 A":
* '''S''' – Vehicle class ("S", with some exceptions, stands for a private vehicle since 1984)
* '''BA''' – Alphabetical series ("I" and "O" are not used to avoid confusion with "1" and "0")
* '''1234''' – Numerical series
* '''A''' – Checksum letter ("F", "I", "N", "O", "Q", "V" and "W" are never used as checksum letters; absent on special government vehicle plates and events vehicle plates)

=== Sri Lanka ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Sri Lanka}}
[[File:Plaque d'immatriculation-Sri Lanka (2).jpg|thumb|Sri Lankan number plate for front of vehicle]]
[[File:Sri Lanka-Southern Province-Plaque d'immatriculation.jpg|thumb|Sri Lankan number plate for rear of vehicle]]

Vehicle registration plates of [[Sri Lanka]] (known in Sri Lanka as "number plates") started soon after introduction of motorcars in 1903. Initially the numbers started with Q, and the oldest existing plate is "Q 53" of a 1903 Wolsley. Later the island was divided into sections from "A " to "Z" (Ex A 123 ), then after World War II it changed to the two [[Roman script|Roman]] letter plates combining pairs of letters in the word CEYLON . These series were CL XXXX, EY XXXX, EL XXXx . Afterwards in 1956 a new system with the [[Sinhala script]] letter [[Sri]] (ශ්‍රී) in the middle was introduced, this started from Reg no "1 Sri 1".

The current series of car registrations in Sri Lanka was introduced in 2000 and is on yellow number plates with black characters and a black border. On the left hand side of the number plate is the country emblem, below which is a two-letter region identifier e.g. WP represents the Western Province. The format of the remainder of the registration is LL – DDDD, with L being a letter and D being a number. The previous series of registrations had been in effect since 1956 and was on brighter yellow plates with the format DD – DDDD. Also they did not have any national emblem or region identifier. Taxis have white number plates with red lettering.

=== Thailand ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Thailand}}

=== United Arab Emirates ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of the United Arab Emirates}}

=== Vietnam ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Vietnam}}
[[File:Vietnamese plate for Ho Chi Minh City.jpg|thumbnail|Vietnamese civilian vehicle registration plate. 51 denotes that the province is [[Ho Chi Minh City|Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)]].]]
[[File:2020 Vietnamese vehicle reg. plate - Motorbikes.jpg|thumb|2020 standard template for motorbikes]]
In [[Vietnam]], most license plates, following the 2010 model, consist of a province code, a registration series, and five natural numbers, or the 1976 model with a province code, a registration series, and four natural numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoài Thanh |date=2010-10-30 |title=Từ 6/12/2010 sẽ cấp biển số xe 5 số |url=https://baochinhphu.vn/tu-6-12-2010-se-cap-bien-so-xe-5-so-10244232.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=baochinhphu.vn |language=vi}}</ref> Military license plates are a typical exception.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Tìm hiểu biển số xe quân sự: Ý nghĩa các chữ cái? |url=https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tim-hieu-bien-so-xe-quan-su-y-nghia-cac-chu-cai-192207265.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Báo Giao thông |language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nam |first=Luật sư Việt |date=2023-08-19 |title=Màu biển số xe theo mã định danh |url=https://lsvn.vn/quy-di-nh-cu-a-pha-p-lua-t-hie-n-ha-nh-ve-mau-bien-so-xe-theo-ma-dinh-danh-1692414826-a134208.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Luật sư Việt Nam |language=en}}</ref> According to Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, license plates are made of metal, have a reflective film, and an embedded police security mark produced by units licensed by the Ministry of Public Security and managed by the Traffic Police Department. Temporary registration license plates are printed on paper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PHẦN III: Thông tư 24/2023/TT-BCA quy định về cấp, thu hồi đăng ký, biển số xe cơ giới |url=http://sba.vn/index.php?module=news&act=view&id=1148 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=PHẦN III: Thông tư 24/2023/TT-BCA quy định về cấp, thu hồi đăng ký, biển số xe cơ giới |language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Thông tư 24/2023/TT-BCA cấp, thu hồi đăng ký, biển số xe cơ giới |url=https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Giao-thong-Van-tai/Thong-tu-24-2023-TT-BCA-cap-thu-hoi-dang-ky-bien-so-xe-co-gioi-559088.aspx |access-date=2024-11-07 |website= |language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vũ |first=Lương Huy |date=2022-12-08 |title=Tra cứu phạt nguội |url=https://checkphatnguoi.vn |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=checkphatnguoi.vn |language=Vietnamese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Nhiều thắc mắc sau ngày đầu đăng ký biển số xe định danh |url=https://doisong.kienthuc.net.vn/nhieu-thac-mac-sau-ngay-dau-dang-ky-bien-so-xe-dinh-danh-post215440.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Đời sống {{!}} Tri thức & Cuộc sống |language=vi}}</ref> In terms of size, cars are equipped with two license plates, one short plate measuring 330 × 165&nbsp;mm and one long plate measuring 520 × 110&nbsp;mm. Tractors, trailers, and semi-trailers are equipped with one license plate at the rear, measuring 330 × 165&nbsp;mm. Motorcycles are equipped with one license plate at the rear, measuring 190 × 140&nbsp;mm.

The current Vietnamese registration plate design consists of a white background with black characters, each province has a regional number (located on the left side of the plate).
Official and government cars bear blue registration plates, central government plates bear the number 80 followed by the letter A, B or M, diplomatic plates are white with NG wrote in red, company members vehicles are also white registration plate bearing LD letters in black. Military registration plates are red with white letter.

For example, 51X-XXXX would be used for civilian vehicles, 80X-XXXX with blue background for central government vehicles, 80-XXX-NG-XX for diplomatic vehicles, TC-XX-XX for military vehicles and XXLD-XXX.XX for company vehicles.

== Europe ==
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Europe}}
[[File:License plate Bosnia and Herzegowina 2009.jpg|thumb|A plate of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], showing the typical European style of black-on-white lettering, a blue strip on the left, and in one column (except motorcycles), issued through most of the continent]]

In the [[European Union]] (EU), white or yellow number plates of a common format and size are issued throughout, although they are still optional in some member states. Nevertheless, some individual member states still use differing non-EU formats – [[Belgium]], for example, still permits vehicles to display the older small white number plates with red lettering, and the registration plates that are issued by the government body which assigns these are of the smaller format, too. In 1908 number plates were only three digits and one letter long. [[Italy]] still permits smaller plates to be attached to the front of a vehicle, while the rear plate complies to the usual EU format. The common design<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31998R2411:EN:NOT |title=EUR-Lex – 31998R2411 – EN |publisher=Eur-lex.europa.eu |access-date=2010-11-29}}</ref> consists of a blue strip on the left of the plate, which has the EU motif (12 yellow stars), along with the [[List of international vehicle registration codes|country code]] of the member state in which the vehicle was registered. Lettering on the plate must be black on a white or yellow reflective background. Most plates in Europe bar few exceptions are white, with a notable exception being the [[Netherlands]] which issues yellow (the UK also has yellow but only for rear plates, formerly also in France).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yellow number plates in France and UK |url=https://www.eplaque.fr/en/yellow-number-plates |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Eplaque |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:46-GZB-8 license plate of the Netherlands.JPG|thumb|[[Netherlands]] is one of few countries in Europe to use yellow plates throughout (front and rear).]]

According to the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]], vehicles in cross-border traffic are obliged to display the [[international vehicle registration code]] as 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 may be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate. With registration plates in [[Vehicle registration plates of the European Union|the common EU format]], vehicles registered in the EU are no longer required to carry an international code plate or sticker for traveling within the [[European Economic Area]]. The common EU format is also recognized in countries signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. As are registration plates of other European countries similar to the EU format, such as Norwegian ones; with the Norwegian flag replacing the circle of stars, or in Turkey's case where the blue stripe with the country code is standard but omits the flag over it. Both the common EU format, and e.g. Norwegian registration plates satisfy the requirements laid out in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic; According to the convention, when the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate, it must also appear on the front registration 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 organization to which the country belongs.

Diplomatic plates are usually denoted by the letters "CD" in Europe which stands for ''Corps Diplomatique'' located usually at the beginning of the number plate (France, Belgium, Italy) or middle (Netherlands, Portugal). The United Kingdom uses "D" for "diplomat".

In order to combat registration plate fraud, Germany developed a typeface which is called ''fälschungserschwerende Schrift'' (abbr.: ''[[FE-Schrift]]''), meaning "falsification-hindering script". It is designed so that, for example, the ''O'' cannot be adjusted to look like a ''Q'', or vice versa; nor can the ''P'' be painted to resemble an ''R'', amongst other changes. This typeface can more easily be read by radar or visual registration plate reading machines, but can be harder to read with the naked eye, especially when the maximum allowed number of eight characters in "''Engschrift''" (narrower script used when available space is limited) are printed on the plate. Many countries have since adopted ''FE-Schrift'', or developed their own anti-fraud typeface.

=== Albania ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Albania}}
=== Austria ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Austria}}

=== Belgium ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Belgium}}

=== Czech Republic ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of the Czech Republic}}

=== Denmark ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Denmark}}

Denmark offers both a European and a domestic style registration plate. They have a fairly similar look, with the EU strip with the letters DK. Both styles are in the XX 12 345 format.

The first two letters run sequentially with no ties to any geographic region.

The first two digits designate the type of vehicle. For example, 10 through 18 are reserved for motorcycles.
=== Estonia ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Estonia}}

=== Finland ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Finland}}
[[File:Finland registration plate 2007.jpg|thumb|Standard Finnish registration plate as seen in 2007]]

EU registration plates were introduced in Finland in 2001. EU plates are automatically given to all vehicles unless the owner makes a separate request for old model plates. If desired, EU plates can be changed for old model ones at inspection sites. Registration plates used in Finland are made of aluminium with a reflective membrane coating. Numbers and letters are embossed and painted. The embossing height is 1–1.2&nbsp;mm.

The number sequence of the registration plate cannot start with a zero, nor can zero be the only number. The letter combination CD is reserved for diplomatic vehicles. Usually the next available ID is given as the plate number. Special registration plates with a selected ID are also available upon request. A special registration plate is a regular plate with a special ID. The ID is subject to certain restrictions and requires a separate application subject to a fee. The application fee for a special registration plate is EUR 900. A vehicle has one or two plates depending on the vehicle class. In certain cases, a vehicle can also be given an additional plate.

=== Germany ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Germany}}
=== Greece ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Greece}}
=== Hungary ===
{{main| Vehicle registration plates of Hungary}}

=== Iceland ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Iceland}}

=== Latvia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Latvia}}

=== Lithuania ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Lithuania}}

=== Netherlands ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of the Netherlands}}

=== Norway ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Norway}}

The registration numbers of cars in Norway are maintained by the [[Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications]]. As in most countries, cars are identified only by number plates read visually. The current alphanumerical system (two letters followed by five digits) was introduced in 1971. The design of the plates remained the same until 2002, when the road authorities decided on a new [[font]] which standardized the width of each character.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dinside.no/22709/nye-bilskilt-paa-trappene |title=Nye bilskilt på trappene |last=Aabakken |first=Jogrim |work=DinSide |date=21 March 2001 |access-date=22 March 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194257/http://www.dinside.no/22709/nye-bilskilt-paa-trappene |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new design was unsuccessful due to legibility issues, for example the letters "A" and "R" were often hard to distinguish. From 2006 the font was changed again to improve legibility, and space was provided for a blue nationality stripe with a Norwegian flag.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vg.no/bil-og-motor/artikkel.php?artid=128104 |title=Nye bilskilt blir lettere å lese – og kan koste deg dyrt |last=Hattrem |first=Hanne |date=29 August 2006 |publisher=VG |language=no |access-date=2010-03-22}}</ref> From 2009, plates were made of plastic, and produced in a factory at [[Tønsberg]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostfold/1.6432875 |title=Mer miljøvennlige bilskilt |last=Lillerud |first=Anja |date=14 January 2009 |publisher=NRK Østfold |language=no |access-date=2010-03-22}}</ref> From 2012, plates are again produced in aluminium.<ref name="vg111011">{{cite news |url=http://www.vg.no/bil-og-motor/artikkel.php?artid=10015826 |title=Nå kan du bytte til nye bilskilt |last=Bugge |first=Stella |date=10 November 2011 |publisher=VG |language=no |access-date=17 April 2011}}</ref> Also, [[electric cars]] have access to plates that begin with either "EL", "EK", "EV", "EB", "EC", "ED", "EE", "EF", or "EH".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Skiltserier|url=https://www.vegvesen.no/kjoretoy/Eie+og+vedlikeholde/skilt/skiltserier|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Statens vegvesen|language=nb}}</ref>

=== Poland ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Poland}}
[[File:Tablica rejestracyjna grawerunki laserowe.jpg|thumb|upright|Standard Polish registration plates (with laser engraving)]]

Currently used scheme of Polish registration plates was introduced in 2000. There are 9 types in use:
# Standard plates - normal plates, black characters on white background, format '''XY(Z) ####(#)''', where X represents [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]], Y(Z) county (some counties have one additional letter, while some have two) and ####(#) for a set of letters and digits. (there are currently 11 formats, 2 used for 2-letter counties, 6 for 3-letter counties and 3 for both)
# Motorcycle/moped/agriculture vehicle plate - color scheme identical to standard plates, the only differences are two rows instead of one and using only 4 characters after location code. Format: '''XY(Z) ####'''.
# Classic car plates - black text on yellow background and a picture of a vintage car on the right. Format: '''XY ###''' or '''XYZ ##'''.
# Temporary/export plates - red text on white background, format: '''X0 ####''' where 0 stands for a digit.
# Electric car plates - identical to standard plates with the only difference being light green background instead of white.
# Competition car plates - the newest type of registration plates, introduced on 1 June 2024, yellow background and red text, formats are the same as in standard plates.
# Service car plates - plates issued to different kinds of services. (mainly Police and Border Guard, also Central Bureau of Anticorruption, Government Protection Bureau, Internal Security Agency, Foreign Intelligence Agency, Military Counterintelligence Agency and Military Intelligence Agency, in the past also Customs Service and Fiscal Control) Format: '''H@% ####''' where @ stands for a letter representing service and % stands for a letter representing certain region.
# Military plates - plates issued for military vehicles, color scheme same as standard plates, format: '''U@ 00000''' or '''U@ 0000T''' where @ stands for a type of a vehicle.
# Diplomatic plates - white text on blue background. Poland is one of the few countries not using ''CD'' to indicate a diplomatic plate. Format: '''X 000000''' where the first three digits indicate country, and the last three - function of the vehicle.{{Efn|group="only_w_used"|The letter is supposed to represent the voivodeship, but in practice only letter W is used as production of these plates is controlled by Masovian voivode.}}

=== Russia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Russia}}
[[File:Russian registration 2621.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Vehicle registration plates of Russia|Russian registration plate]]]]

Current Russian registration plates are a mix of French FNI, traditional Arabic "windows", and Soviet "small characters", introduced in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/EU_USSR.html |title=License Plates of the Soviet Union |website=World License Plates |access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref>

There are six types of Russian registration plates.
# Civil plates – white background with black characters. The character format is "'''@###@@ | RR'''", where @ is a letter, using only the Cyrillic letters ''А'', ''В'', ''Е'', ''К'', ''М'', ''Н'', ''О'', ''Р'', ''С'', ''Т'', ''У'', ''Х'' (those that resemble Latin letters), # is a digit and RR is a region number (two or three digits).
# Government plates – white background with black characters. The character format is "'''@###@@ | FL'''" where FL is the tricolor flag of Russia (canceled in 2007).
# Police plates – blue background with white characters, format "'''@#### | RR'''".
# Diplomatic plates – red background with white characters, format "'''###@### | RR'''".
# Military plates – black background with white characters, format "'''####@@ | RR'''".
# Route vehicles (buses, trolleys and fixed-run taxies) – yellow background with black characters, format "'''@@### | RR'''".

=== Sweden ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Sweden}}
[[File:BigOriginal.jpg|thumb|right|Swedish registration plates]]

Vehicle registration plates are white with black characters. The plates have three letters, a space, two digits and lastly one digit or letter. The combination is simply a serial and has no connection with a geographic location. Vehicles like police cars, fire trucks, public buses and trolley buses use the same type of plate as normal private cars, and cannot be directly distinguished by the plate alone. It is possible, for a fee, to get a personal plate with one to seven digits.

Taxis have yellow plates, with the same combination of letters and digits as 'normal' cars.

The diplomatic corps have blue plates. The two first letters indicate the country or organization of the user.

Military vehicles have four to six yellow digits on black background, and may be used for all kinds of vehicles from ordinary automobiles to tanks.

=== Turkey ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Turkey}}
[[File:Turkey licenceplate.JPG|thumb|right|Turkish vehicle registration plate]]

Turkish car number plates use an indirect numbering system associated with geographical info. In Turkey, registration plates are made by authorized private workshops.
The registration plate is rectangular in shape and made of aluminum. On the left, there is the country code "TR" in a 4×10&nbsp;cm blue stripe like in EU countries (without the 12 golden stars). The text is in black characters on white background, and for official vehicles white on black. On all vehicles, two plates have to be present, one in front and the other in the rear except for motorcycles and tractors. The serial letters use the letters common to the [[Turkish alphabet|Turkish]] and English alphabets, avoiding the Turkish letters Ç, Ğ, İ, Ö, Ş, Ü, and the English letters Q, W, X.

=== Ukraine ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Ukraine}}
[[File:License plate of Ukraine 2015.png|thumbnail|upright|UA number plate]]

Ukrainian regular registration plates are issued in European style, using the format AB1234CE (the prefix refers to the region), using Cyrillic letters that resemble Roman letters (''А'', ''В'', ''Е'', ''І'', ''К'', ''М'', ''Н'', ''О'', ''Р'', ''С'', ''Т'', ''Х''). The plates have, at the far left, the [[Ukrainian flag]] and UA (country code) in a 4×10&nbsp;cm blue stripe like in EU countries (without the 12 golden stars). There were single-line plates for vehicles and trailers, double-line plates for vehicles with special shaped mounting place, three-lined plates for cycles (except scooters with small two-line plates). A plate with a yellow background is used for public-use vehicles such as taxis or route buses. Single-line plates are the standard European size {{convert|52|x|11|cm|in|1|abbr=in}}.{{citation needed|date = August 2015}}

Ukrainian vanity plates are unique in that purchasers may choose any image to be printed on the surface of the plate, to the right of the characters.{{Citation needed|date = August 2015}}

=== United Kingdom ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom}}

Vehicle registration plates, usually known as number plates, have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904.  Most motor vehicles that are used on public roads are required by law to display them. The [[Motor Car Act 1903]], which came into force on 1 January 1904, required all motor vehicles to be entered on an official [[vehicle register]], and to carry number plates. The Act was passed in order that vehicles could be easily traced in the event of an accident or contravention of the law. Vehicle registration number plates in the UK are rectangular or square in shape, with the exact permitted dimensions of the plate and its lettering set down in law. Most plates are white at the front of the vehicle and yellow at the back, with black lettering, with the exception of classic vehicles, which bear black plates at both front and rear with silver text.

Within the UK itself there are currently two numbering and registration systems: one for the island of [[Great Britain]], which is administered by the [[Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency]] (DVLA), and one for [[Northern Ireland]], administered by the [[Driver & Vehicle Agency]] (DVA): both have equal status. It is optional to show a national identifier on British number plates. Number plates including the "GB" code are valid in countries party to the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] if displayed on its own or together with the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|Union Jack]].

In 2019, the UK government announced that it was considering introducing green number plates for [[zero emissions vehicle]]s, making them easier to recognize.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50122268 |title=Green number plates planned for electric cars |work=BBC |location=UK |date=22 October 2019 |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> Consequently, from 2020, zero-emissions vehicles can receive a green band on the left-hand side of number plate (in the same place as the blue coloured band of the national identifier.)

From 28 September 2021, the UK changed its mark from GB to UK, both in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.<ref name="XI-B-19">{{cite news |date=8 November 1968 |title=Convention on Road Traffic |publisher=United Nations |location=Vienna |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/MTDSG/Volume%20I/Chapter%20XI/XI-B-19.en.pdf |id=XI B 19 |page=13}}</ref>

Current code format: AB##CDE<ref>{{cite web |title=Vehicle registration numbers and number plates (INF104) |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694e379fc8e12ac3edafc60/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf#page=3 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency |access-date=9 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624050350/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694e379fc8e12ac3edafc60/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2025 |page=3}}</ref>

1983–2001 code format: A###BCD<ref name=rtfcu/>

1962–1982 code format: ABC###D<ref name=rtfcu>{{cite web |url=https://www.regtransfers.co.uk/number-plate-guides/car-registration-plates |title=Car registration formats: What the letter and number codes mean |website=Regtransfers.co.uk |location=UK |author=<!-- staff --> |access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
File:British (Northern Ireland) vehicle registration plate (UK side badge).svg|The Europlates were officially used in the UK pre-Brexit. However, after 2022, the Europlates were reissued in the UK.
File:United Kingdom license plate DE57 UGK front and back.jpg|alt=|United Kingdom number plates
File:British vehicle registration plate GB.PNG|alt=|Registration plate post-Brexit, with pre-September 2021 national identifier (Great Britain)
File:Northern Ireland Rear Registration Plate (Blank identification band).png|alt=|Northern Irish license plate: The UK is a mark used in the UK since 28 September 2021.<ref name="XI-B-19" />
File:UK Rear Registration Plate.png|alt=|The UK and associated Union Flag is a mark used in the UK after the 28 September 2021 change.<ref name="XI-B-19" />
File:Great Britain Zero Emission Vehicle Number Plate (ZEV).jpg|alt=|Registration plate with green patch as for zero-emissions vehicles (GB)
File:UK ZEV Front Registration Plate.png 
File:UK ZEV Rear Registration Plate.png|alt=|UK zero-emission vehicles front (left) and rear (right) number plates.The national identifier on British number plates is optional. A "UK" code has replaced the "GB" code from 28 September 2021 and is valid in countries party to the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] if displayed on its own or together with the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|Union flag]].
</gallery>

== Oceania ==
=== Australia ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Australia}}
[[File:2005 New South Wales registration plate CB♦33♦GO.jpg|thumbnail|upright|NSW number plate]]
[[File:2018 Victoria registration plate 1NC 1QD The Education State.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] number plate]]
[[File:2002 Queensland registration plate 374♦HQR Sunshine State.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Queensland]] number plate]]
[[File:1997 Western Australia registration plate 1EYB♦674.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Western Australia]] number plate]]
[[File:2009 South Australia registration plate S279♦AVB.jpg|thumbnail|upright|[[South Australia]] number plate]]
[[File:1998 Australian Capital Territory registration plate YCW♦32Z Canberra - Heart of the Nation.jpg|thumbnail|upright|A.C.T. number plate]]
[[File:2008 Tasmania registration plate A 22 ZJ.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tasmania]] number plate]]
[[File:2001 Northern Territory registration plate CC♦73♦IQ Outback Australia.jpg|thumbnail|upright|Northern Territory number plate]]

In Australia, vehicle registration plates, usually known as number plates or 'rego plates', are normally issued by the [[States and Territories of Australia|State or Territory government]]; until 2000 some were issued by the [[Commonwealth government]]. Plates are associated with a vehicle and generally last for its life, though as they become unreadable (or for other reasons) they may be recalled or replaced with newer ones. New plates are issued when the vehicle is registered in another state, or if the owner requests them (though this depends on state laws).

Australian number plates were originally issued with white characters on black plates, black on white, black on yellow and blue on white, with each state and territory being allocated a range of plates inside the larger range AAA000 to ZZZ999. [[New South Wales]], for example, was allocated AAA000 to FZZ999, [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] was allocated from GAA000 to MZZ999, [[Queensland]] was allocated NAA000 to QZZ999 and [[South Australia]] was allocated from RAA000 to TZZ999. Western Australia was allocated UAA000 and XAA000, Tasmania and the Australia Capital Territory were allocated the series beginning with W and Y respectively. This system worked for a few decades but had been almost completely abandoned by 1980, particularly because some states had exhausted their allocated range of combinations. The [[Northern Territory]] never adopted the system.

The states then chose their own systems. New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia all retained xxx-nnn, but each started again from AAA-000. Queensland reversed the arrangement to nnn-xxx. Western Australia took nxx-nnn, and the ACT kept the Y plate range but substituted the last digit for a letter, giving Yxx-nnx. In 2013, Victoria became the last state to abandon the xxx-nnn format.

Current arrangements are listed below.

All current plates are manufactured to uniform dimensions and are made of pressed aluminium, except for certain special series plates; the form of which differs by state and design.

In 1942, the government released a new special series only alphabet (XB-AA OPS).

==== Current standard Australian number plate formats ====
{{hatnote|Note: as of 22 February 2011; 'x' represents a sequential letter, 'n' represents a sequential digit. This list excludes special issue or personalized plate designs.}}
; Australian Capital Territory: Blue text on white background, with "ACT" above and ''"CANBERRA – THE NATION'S CAPITAL"'' below.{{paragraph}}Code format: YAB-12C.
; New South Wales: Black text on yellow background, with ''"NEW SOUTH WALES"'' below the plate code. Also in circulation are plates showing ''"NEW SOUTH WALES – THE FIRST STATE"'' and ''"NEW SOUTH WALES – THE PREMIER STATE"'' with code xxx-nnn, from the 1980s.{{paragraph}}Code format: AB-12-CD.
; Victoria: Blue on white background, with ''"VIC – THE EDUCATION STATE"'' under the plate code. Older plates show, ''"VIC – STAY ALERT STAY ALIVE"'', ''"VICTORIA – THE PLACE TO BE"'', ''"VICTORIA – ON THE MOVE"'', or ''"VICTORIA – THE GARDEN STATE"'' in green on white.{{paragraph}}Code format: 1AB-2CD.
; Queensland: Maroon text (previously green) on white background, with ''"QUEENSLAND – SUNSHINE STATE"'' or ''"QUEENSLAND – THE SMART STATE"'' under the plate code. {{paragraph}}Code format: 123-AB4.
; South Australia: Black on white with ''"SOUTH AUSTRALIA"'' under code. {{paragraph}}Code format: S123-ABC.
; Western Australia: Blue on white with ''WESTERN AUSTRALIA'' on blue band at top of plate. Older plates black on yellow with format nxx-nnn. {{paragraph}}Code format: 1ABC-234. Even older Western Australian plates use a locality code, followed by a sequential number, e.g. AL 123 being for Albany, plate number 123. Some rural locations added a central dot to signify if the plate was issued for shire- or town-based drivers. This locality based system is still active, although it needs to be offered or asked for at the time of licensing the vehicle.
; Tasmania: Blue on white with ''"TASMANIA – Explore The Possibilities"'' at bottom and a [[thylacine]] between the first letter and two digits. Older plates may show ''"TASMANIA – HOLIDAY ISLE"'' or ''"TASMANIA – YOUR NATURAL STATE"''.{{paragraph}}Code format: A-12-BC.
; Northern Territory: Orange text on white background with ''"NT – OUTBACK AUSTRALIA"'' over code. {{paragraph}}Code format: CA-12-BC.

To show that a vehicle is registered in Australia, a sticker must be displayed in the lower left corner of either the rear left window or windscreen in annual colors on a six-year cycle: blue, red, purple, brown, green and orange. This sticker is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle upon payment of the next year's registration fee, and shows the expiry date of the registration. They are color-coded for easy recognition of the year of expiry. The sticker shows the plate number, vehicle identification number, make, model, and color of the vehicle, along with other such information. This acts as an anti-theft device, because transplanting the plates from one car to another will be in contrast to the details on the sticker.

[[File:KP Nov 11 2012 gnangarra-21.jpg|thumb|[[Governor of Western Australia]]'s official vehicle|206x206px]]

Code format: 123-A4B

[[File:Official convoy Op Catalyst Welcome Home Parade.JPG|thumb|A motorcade transporting senior members of the official party to an event in Canberra in November 2009. The black car, at left, with the number plate ''ADF1'', carried the Chief of the Defence Force; the white car behind it, with the number plate ''C1'', carried the Prime Minister; and the black car, second from the right, carried the Governor-General.|left]]

The Western Australia registration sticker shows only the month and year of expiry. However, since the Western Australian police now have such easy access to registration information based on the number plate via in-car computer systems found in all police vehicles, registration stickers in Western Australia have been completely scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Registration stickers a thing of the past |url=https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/19943.asp |date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813110853/http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/19943.asp |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |website=www.transport.wa.gov.au |location=Australia}}</ref> As of 1 January 2010 they will no longer be required or made – a move that is said to save at least $2 million over 4 years in costs for printing and postage. Car owners will also feel the relief of not having to perform the tedious task of removing and re-applying the registration sticker every 6–12 months. As of 1 January 2013 NSW have also scrapped registration stickers. NT also scrapped registration stickers as of 1 January 2014. Tasmania scrapped registration stickers as of 1 January 2014.

In the Australian Capital Territory, vehicles under 4.5 tonnes are no longer required to display registration labels as of 1 July 2013.

In Queensland, when all of the 123-ABC combinations had been taken, the plates have the combination 123-AB4. When they run out of combinations for that series the number will move to the left.

Cars owned by the government have special number plates, some also have a crown and symbols.

=== Fiji ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of Fiji}}
=== Guam ===
{{main|Vehicle registration plates of Guam}}

=== New Zealand ===
{{Main|Vehicle registration plates of New Zealand}}

The current system used in New Zealand was adopted in 1964, all vehicles were required to have their plates replaced to this system. The original format in this system was xx-nnnn with the original plate being AA1 plates were on a black background with silver text. In 1986 this was changed to a white reflective background with black text with the first plate in this style being NA1. In 2001 the final plate ZZ9999 was printed and the format was changed to ABC-123. In 2006 the text format was changed on all number plates registered after this time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/PA_NZEA.html |title=Licence Plates of New Zealand |publisher=Worldlicenseplates.com |access-date=2010-07-05}}</ref>

Personalized number plates were introduced to New Zealand in 1987. Due to the smaller size and population of New Zealand, the same system is used across all of the country. Number plates are usually issued by the New Zealand Transport Agency.<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
File:New zealand license plate gg.jpg|alt=|Old [[New Zealand]] plate, issued in 1973
File:NEW ZEALAND 2006 -LICENSE PLATE, AAA-000 SERIES SHORT DIES - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg|alt=|Current [[New Zealand]] plate issued in 2006
</gallery>{{clear right}}

== Antarctica ==
[[File:Antarctica license plate Devron Six 31.jpg|thumb|upright|Rare [[Antarctica]] registration plate{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}]]

There are no private cars in [[Antarctica]], and therefore there is no vehicle registration authority. There are other vehicles such as tractors and AWDs; however, they are not required to display registration plates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldlicenseplates.com/|title=Licence Plates of the World|author=Michael Kustermann|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref>

{{clear right}}

== Vanity and specialty plates ==
{{Main|Vanity plate}}
[[File:2012 Texas license plate CHWBCA vanity.jpg|thumb|left|An example of a vanity registration plate from [[Texas]], 2012 issue. This plate references the ''[[Star Wars]]'' character [[Chewbacca]].]]

In some countries, people can pay extra and get "[[vanity plate]]s": registration plates with custom text. For example, a vanity registration plate might read "MY TOY". Generally vanity plates are not allowed to have [[profanity|profane]], [[wikt:offensive|offensive]] or [[obscene]] messages on them, and of course they must also be unique. (DMVs of US states have sometimes received complaints of offensive vanity plates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/wiscplates1.html|title=Documents|date=12 June 2014|publisher=The Smoking Gun |location=US |access-date=26 May 2016 }}</ref>)

Many countries allow licensed [[amateur radio]] operators to obtain registration plates (labeled "Amateur Radio") with their [[call sign]]s printed on them, allowing public service officials controlling access to [[disaster area]]s to immediately recognize and allow operators into the areas, facilitating their provision of crucial [[amateur radio emergency communications|emergency communications]]. Some U.S. states charge lower fees for ham radio plates than for vanity plates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/plateregular.shtml#ham |title=Oregon DMV Regular-Issue Licence Plates |publisher=Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles |location=US |date=2010-07-29 |access-date=2010-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501142305/http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/plateregular.shtml#ham |archive-date=2008-05-01 }}</ref> For example, in Virginia the annual cost of an amateur radio vanity plate is a mere $1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=HAM |title=Virginia Special: Plates Information |publisher=Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles |location=US |date=2017-12-29 |access-date=2017-12-29}}</ref>

In the U.S., most provinces of Canada, and Australia, vehicle owners may also pay extra for ''specialty plates'': with these, the sequence of letters and digits is chosen by the licensing agency – as with regular plates – but the owners select a plate design that is different from the normal registration plate. Fees for specialty plates are usually channeled to a specific charity or organization. For example, California has issued the "Yosemite plate" and "whale tail plate," both aimed at conservation efforts in the respective domains. Some jurisdictions allow for these special plates to also be vanity plates, usually for an additional fee on top of the cost of the plate.

[[File:2005 Western Australia registration plate W MG 000Z europlate.jpg|thumbnail|A "Euro Plate" issued in the Australian state of [[Western Australia]]]]

In some Australian states, it is possible to purchase "personalized plates", where an individual can choose the color, design, and sometimes even the shape and size of the plate, as well as the displayed text. For example, the government of the state of Queensland offers a wide range of possibilities for customization,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ppq.com.au |title=Personalised Plates Queensland |publisher=Personalised Plates Queensland |location=Australia |date=2010-09-15 |access-date=2010-11-29}}</ref> including some [[emoji]]. Another style of plate that is common in some states of Australia is "Euro Plates", which are the same size as European plates (rather than the narrower taller Australian plates) to fit on the number plate holders in European cars.

The world record for the most expensive registration plate is US$14 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/FunMoney/story?id=4301197 |title=$14.3M License Plate: Auction Sets World Record |first=Lara |last=Setrakian |work=ABC News |location=US |date=16 February 2008 |access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref> The registration plate "1" was bought at an auction in [[Abu Dhabi]].

== Offensive and prohibited registration plates ==
Some registration plate combinations are banned  from being issued by registration authorities. These are typically combinations which, deliberately or otherwise, spell out a message that is likely to offend others. Concerns about what is considered offensive differ from country to country. In the United Kingdom, these have included combinations with sexual connotations such as BO11 LUX and BL04 JOB. The DVLA maintains block lists of possible combinations of letters and digits in an attempt to prevent this.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/25/dvla-cracks-down-offensive-car-numberplates-registrations|title=NO67 FUN: DVLA cracks down on offensive numberplates|agency=Press Association|date=2017-08-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Some prohibited plates reflect religious concerns; for example, in New Jersey, a woman found she was prohibited from registering the plate 8THEIST, but permitted to register BAPTIST. A similar registration for ATHE1ST had been rejected in 2013. Both prohibitions were later lifted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/new-jersey-rejected-this-womans-atheist-license-plate-now-a-judge-says-she-can-sue-44b994934945/|title=New Jersey Rejected This Woman's Atheist License Plate. Now A Judge Says She Can Sue.|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en-US}}</ref> In Manitoba, a plate reading ASIMIL8 was banned as being culturally offensive to indigenous people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/star-trek-inspired-licence-plate-deemed-offensive-in-manitoba/|title=Star Trek inspired registration plate deemed offensive in Manitoba|date=2017-04-27|work=CTVNews|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en-CA}}</ref>
In 2015, Maine passed legislation that removed most censorship from their vanity plate program. Plates like GETFUKT are now allowed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/27/news/law-change-could-make-maine-vanity-plates-more-risque/|title=Law change could make Maine vanity plates more risque|date=Mar 27, 2016|website=Bangor Daily News}}</ref>

In some [[states of Germany]] license plates that could be mistaken for [[fascist symbolism|Nazi codes]] (with a definition further than [[Strafgesetzbuch section 86a]]) are prohibited and in some cases even license plates that had existed for decades were not [[grandfather clause|grandfathered in]] but had to be changed as stricter regulations were applied.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.de/ratgeber/recht/nazi-kennzeichen-verbotene-kennzeichen-und-ihre-bedeutung-31588|title = Nazi-Kennzeichen: Verbotene Kennzeichen und ihre Bedeutung| date=16 September 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autozeitung.de/verbotene-kennzeichen-200217.html|title=Verbotene Kennzeichen: Kürzel/Kombinationen|website=autozeitung.de|date=22 August 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/extra_3/Realer-Irrsinn-Nazi-Kennzeichen,extra12192.html|title = Realer Irrsinn: Nazi-Kennzeichen|date = 30 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stern.de/auto/news/nummernschilder--der-kampf-mit-den-nazi-codes-auf-pkw-kennzeichen-6210936.html|title = GD, 18, und 311 - der unendliche Kampf gegen die Nazi-Codes| date=26 May 2020 }}</ref> The letter combinations [[Nazi concentration camps|KZ]], [[Hitler youth|HJ]], [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] and [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] are not issued for license plates anywhere in Germany due to their Nazi associations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/verbotene-kfz-kennzeichen-keine-nazi-nummernschilder-a-1025284.html|title = Verbotene KFZ-Kennzeichen: Keine Nazi-Nummernschilder|newspaper = Der Spiegel|date = 20 April 2015|last1 = Harder|first1 = Sören}}</ref>

== Temporary registration plates ==
[[File:2004 Ontario license plate 10 day permit.jpg|thumb|left|Temporary registration plate in [[Ontario]]]]
[[File:Temporary license plate from Montenegro.jpg|thumb|right|Temporary registration plate in [[Montenegro]]]]

Some jurisdictions issue temporary registration plates made of cardboard or security paper or even printed on plain paper for newly purchased vehicles, for drivers waiting for plates in the mail, or other registration issues. A common length of time to have temporary plates is 30 days,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dmv.utah.gov/register/temporary-permits |title=DMV Temporary Permits |author=<!-- staff --> |publisher=Department of Motor Vehicles |location=Utah, US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005165617/http://dmv.utah.gov/register/temporary-permits |archive-date=2022-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mva.maryland.gov/vehicles/registration/temporary-registration.htm|title=The 30-Day Temporary Registration}}</ref> although [[Ontario]] offers ten-day permits, and some U.S. states allow temporary tags to be effective for up to 90 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/faq.html|title=Vehicle Services Frequently Asked Questions|date=Sep 22, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020922183430/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/faq.html|archive-date=22 September 2002}}</ref> Temporary registration plates are usually either attached to the vehicle in place of the rear registration plate or both registration plates or taped to the inside of the rear windshield, while some states require it to be in the front windshield. Expiration dates are usually hand written by regulatory employees or dealership sales personnel, but, due to easy alteration of hand written dates, some states now digitally print the date on the tag. If a driver continues to drive after the permit expires the vehicle can face impounding as an unplated vehicle.

== Novelty registration plates ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2016}}

There also exist [[Novelties|novelty]] registration plates often sold in [[gift]] or novelty shops. Similar to vanity plates, these novelties are printed with an individual's name or other words or phrases, but unlike vanity plates they are not intended for legal identification of an automobile. They can be displayed in the rear window, for example, or on the front of vehicles registered in jurisdictions that only require a valid plate on the rear of the vehicle.

Novelty registration plates are usually installed by motorists or automobile dealerships. While automobile dealerships may install such plates for promoting their business, motorists may install novelty registration plates to express their brand preference or an affiliation with a group, state, country, athletic team, hobby, art, or custom.

Antique auto collectors may use novelty replicas of period registration plates to give their show cars a dated look, or import vehicle owners may use a novelty replica of a foreign plate to give it a foreign image. Some states allow [[Antique vehicle registration|year of manufacture]] registrations where an original, official plate expiring on the model year of an antique car is revalidated. [[Wisconsin]], for instance, permits the use of year-of-manufacture plates if the state-issued plates are also carried somewhere within the vehicle. California and Ohio also allow the year-of-manufacture plates.

== Registration plate accessories ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
[[File:miamitagtopper.jpg|thumb|upright|Miami Beach license topper]]

Today, plates are commonly attached with screws that mount into threaded fittings on the vehicle but originally nut-and-bolt combinations were needed to fasten the plate to a [[List of auto parts|bracket]], which led to the use of varied registration plate ornaments, accessories and attachments. The most common of these include fastening bolts with ornamental heads in a myriad of styles; these are generally legal everywhere providing the plate itself is not obscured. Those bolts faced with a colored glass or plastic [[Retroreflector|reflector]] are termed registration plate jewels. Traditionally the front plate would be fastened by an amber or green jewel and the rear by a red jewel, but other colors have become available over the decades including blue, clear and, most recently, purple.

The manufacture and use of registration plate toppers – attachments and accessories mounted atop plates, often as advertising premiums – has diminished because of the design of modern vehicle bodies that incorporate recessed plate mountings. But older vehicles will usually have room for such attachments that may mention vehicle dealerships, tourist attractions and petroleum companies. Some of these commercial toppers also incorporate one or more reflectors or a safety-related message. Large stand-alone glass or plastic reflectors or [[Retroreflector|cataphotes]] – some imprinted with an advertising message – are still common plate toppers whenever registration-plate brackets are able to accommodate them.

== International codes ==
{{Main|List of international vehicle registration codes}}
According to the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]], vehicles in cross-border traffic are obliged to display a [[List of international vehicle registration codes|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 may be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate, it must also appear on the front registration 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 organization to which the country belongs. The distinguishing sign should be displayed on the far left or far right on the registration plate. When a symbol/flag/emblem is also displayed, the distinguishing sign shall obligatorily be placed on the far left on the plate. The distinguishing sign shall be positioned so to be easy identifiable and so that it cannot be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility. The distinguishing sign shall therefore be at least a different color from the registration number, or have a different background color to that reserved for the registration number, or be clearly separated from the registration number, preferably with a line.

The physical requirements for the separate sign are defined in Annex 3 of the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]], which states that the letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal. The distinguishing sign should not be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility.

The allocation of codes is maintained by the [[United Nations]] (UN) as the ''Distinguishing Signs of Vehicles in International Traffic'', being authorized by the UN's [[Geneva Convention on Road Traffic]] (1949) and [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] (1968). Many, but far from all, vehicle codes created since the adoption of [[ISO 3166]] coincide with either the ISO two- or three-letter codes.

=== Imitation international codes ===
In [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and the United States, where the international oval is not used on vehicles from neighboring countries, putting one on a car is a matter of personal choice. This has given rise to a [[tourism|tourist]]-driven industry of imitation international code stickers. For example, the island of [[Martha's Vineyard]] off the coast of [[Massachusetts]] has ''MV'', while the [[Outer Banks]] region of [[North Carolina]] uses ''OBX''. Long Beach Island, New Jersey uses "LBI", with the letter "I" substituted with an illustration of the island's [[lighthouse]]. The city of [[Key West, Florida]], uses ''KW'' as part of its [[Conch Republic]] 'rebellion' from the U.S. There are also YNP ovals, for Yellowstone/Yosemite National Park. Stickers of this sort are usually visibly different from any real international code sticker, but some places sell what could appear to be real stickers, touting that the abbreviation refers to their venue.

In the [[United Kingdom]], imitation international codes are sometimes seen for the various parts of the country. For example, in Scotland, oval stickers with {{lang|fr|Écosse}} or {{lang|gd|Alba}} (Scotland in French and [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] respectively) are occasionally seen. In Wales, drivers commonly display "CYM" to indicate {{lang|cy|Cymru}} (Wales).

In [[Spain]], there are such codes for [[regionalism (politics)|regionalist]] movements, such as CAT for [[Catalonia]] or AST for [[Asturias]], which can be often seen in their respective regions.

==Debate about extending registration to bicycles==
For many years councils in Australia have debated whether registration should also be required for bicycle riders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/drivers-say-its-time-cyclists-paid-a-rego-fee-20090411-a3hg.html|title=Drivers say it's time cyclists paid a rego fee|first=Reid|last=Sexton|date=April 11, 2009|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/18-reasons-why-registering-bicycles-is-a-bad-idea-20150318-1m23gh.html|title=18 reasons why registering bicycles is a bad idea|first=Michael|last=O'Reilly|date=March 18, 2015|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref name="thenewdaily.com.au">{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2014/05/07/cycling-registration-debate/|title=Does Australia need to register bikes?|first=Melissa|last=Mack|date=May 7, 2014|website=The New Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/opinion-bicycle-registration-is-not-the-answer-for-bad-behaviour/zouo0773c|title=OPINION: Bicycle registration is not the answer for bad behaviour|website=SBS News |date=18 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/sport/readers-debate-pros-and-cons-of-licensing-cyclists/news-story/40f822e4c804e48f6fed36301c2c81b7 |title=Readers debate pros and cons of licensing cyclists |work=Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=2015-07-17 |access-date=2023-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/shocking-footage-of-a-cyclist-abusing-a-motorist-renews-calls-for-bike-registrations--c-7561212|title=Shocking footage of cyclist abusing driver renews calls for bike registrations|date=July 18, 2022|website=7NEWS}}</ref>

In 2014, Randwick councilor Charles Matthews proposed to impose a $50 registration fee on bicycle riders, which would be used to help fund cycleways being built by the council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?bid=14821 |title=Randwick Council to charge $50 to register your bicycle |accessdate=11 May 2011 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202095429/http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?bid=14821 |archivedate=2 February 2014 }} StreetCorner, 8 June 2010</ref> This proposal was rejected by other councillors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?bid=14980 |title=No Parking Meters Party Bike Rego Plan Goes Down in Flames at Randwick City Council |accessdate=11 May 2011 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202095429/http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?bid=14980 |archivedate=2 February 2014 }} Murray Matson, StreetCorner, 23 June 2010</ref> In 2014 the Victorian council of [[City of Bayside]] tried a similar proposal.<ref name="thenewdaily.com.au"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/councils-call-to-register-bicycles-shot-down-by-transport-groups-20140506-zr5s3.html|title=Council's call to register bicycles shot down by transport groups|first=Aisha Dow and Carmelene|last=Greco|date=May 6, 2014|website=The Age}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Automatic number plate recognition]] (ANPR)

== Explanatory footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

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