History
1897-1901
The very first Italian plates had to have the owner's name and the local communal number visible.1901-1905
These early Italian number plates gave the unabbreviated name of the place of origin, followed by a number, as GENOVA 83 and PADOVA 2. These were first plates to be made of metal and had to be manufactured by the car's owner. Today, only two plates of this time remain, GENOVA 83 and PADOVA 2, conserved in museums. Schematic representation:1905-1927
Plates in this period were black-on-white. The registration number was a numeric code (in red), different for each province, and a progressive number on a single line, unique for that province (in black). E.g. – 2993, where 63 is the code for1927-1976
In 1927,1976-1985
The front plate was kept intact as in the 1927-1976 period. The rear plate, instead, began to be manufactured in two pieces. One, sized 10,7 × 33 cm, had black background with white digits, contained the progressive number and, in a very small font, the repetition of provincial code above and the Republic emblem. The other had black background with orange letters and contained the official provincial code and had two variants. One was 10,7 × 33 cm large, the other one was 10,7 × 20 cm large. Only one of the latter two was used depending on the type of plate holder that the plate was destined for: for a rectangular plate holder, the small provincial code piece was installed left of the progressive code, put together with rivets in specifically designed holes in the progressive code For cars that were designed with the previous number plate holder (Square), or too small for a rectangular plate, the long provincial code piece was installed above the progressive code. This change resolved the plate positioning problem on cars of foreign production, eventually the rectangular European system was preferred over the squared plate holder of Italian designed cars. Schematic representations: Rear plate (Squared)1985-1994
In 1985, plates began to use black digits on white reflective background. Rear plates remained identical as in the 1976-1985 period. Front plates became larger (32.5 × 10.7 cm) but remained slightly smaller than rear plates. The progressive code was moved after the provincial code, as it was already for rear plates. The reflective background had an official code that appears on the background in small letters, PGS B1 or PGS A1. (PGS means "Provveditorato Generale dello Stato" and A or B is the city where the reflective was made and 1-2 means white or yellow reflective) This new system made so that provinces with less than 6 digits had to have a 0 in place of the missing digits (LC 004239). The highest combination reached with the 1927 system was MI 01D000 for the1994-present
From 28 February 1994 an entirely new numeration system was introduced which omitted any explicit reference to the place of origin. A simple alpha-numeric serial code takes the form AA 999 AA. Here ‘A’ can be any letter of theSpecial plates
Motorcycle plates
1994 standard
Former provincial code system (1927-1994)
From 1927 until 1994 motorcycles, like cars, used to have the Provincial Code instead of the two letters on two lines, followed by a maximum of 6 digits From 1927 to 1932, Motorcycles used to have white digits on a black background and the provincial code was after the digits on the second line, in 1932 (to 1985) the motorcycle plates changed to a white background with blue digits, the provincial code was moved before the digits and like cars, Motorcycles used the Garamond font until 1951. In 1951 motorcycles, unlike cars, had a font transition that was completed in 1963, when plates started to be made of plastic but keeping the old format. From 1985 to 1994, motorcycles changed to a white reflective background and black digits and returned to be made of metal Example of 1932-1985 Motorcycle plate from the province of Milan 1927-1932 Motorcycle plate 1985-1994 Motorcycle plateMoped plates
Registration plates of smallTrailer plates
Car and truck trailers had two plates: the trailer's own one was quite small and bore the word "RIMORCHIO" (trailer) and a two letters-five digit code, the other had the same size of vehicles' rear plates and bore the same registration of the prime mover with black decal-characters on a retroflective yellow base. From February 2013 new trailer plates were introduced: they use the same pattern of standard vehicle plates, the numeric scheme is XL 000 LL where "L" is a generic letter, "0" is a digit and "X" is the reserved letter. Mover repetition plates are no longer needed on trailers registered with new plates, however they are still compulsory for old trailers with small plates and small unregistered "appendix trailers". From 1932 to 1959 trailer plates were the same as car plates (white digits on a black background), only with the word "RIMORCHIO" under the numbers, written in italic. After 1959 to 1985, the trailer plates were like the front vehicles number plates (black background with white digits), with the digits before the provincial code, with the word "RIMORCHIO" above the digits followed by the provincial code. From 1985 until 1994 the trailer plates were enlarged, had black digits on a white reflective background with the provincial code before the digits and the word "RIMORCHIO" assumed red coloration. Until 1993 they had to be displayed on the right of the trailer. Trailer plate Schematic representation (2013): 1994-2013 Trailer plate 1985-1994 Trailer plate 1959-1985 Trailer plate 1932-1959 Trailer platePolice plates
Local police forces have the word "POLIZIA LOCALE" (local police) in blue. They have the same pattern as trailer and civilian plates, the scheme is YL 000 LL where "L" is a letter, "0" is a digit and the "Y" is the reserved letter (for motorcycles YL 00000, mopeds Y00 000). Unlike civilian plates they don't show up the code. National police plates have "POLIZIA" in red followed by letter, then numbers (formerly numbers only until 1983). Customs police plates start with prefix "GdiF" in red. The serial letters and three serial numbers are in black. Pre-1983 National Police rear plate Pre-1983 Front National Police plate Current National Police plate Current Guardia di Finanza (Customs) plate ''Local Police Plates (From 2009)''Diplomatic plates
From 1932 to 1951 the diplomatic plates are square 32.0 x 22.0 cm, white digits on a black background using the Garamond font with the "CD" prefix instead of the province followed by a max of 5 digits, the first two digits was the country's code. From 1951 to 1976 the diplomatic plates are square 27.5 x 20.0 cm, white digits on black background, changed to a more linear font, but the system was identical from the previous period. ex: CD 22843 From 1976 to 1985 the diplomatic plates are on a single line, black background with white digits, with the letters "CD" vertically aligned, followed by 5 digits, the first two represented the country, the other three a progressive number. In 1985 to 1995 the diplomatic plates have white reflective background with black digits, with blue letters and change to a CD 000 AA system, with the letters representing the country. The Italian Republic emblem appears on top of the first two letters of the plate and on the top right the international white oval with a black letter representing Italy's international code (I) Diplomatic plates have blue letters since 1985 and have 4 numbers to avoid confusion with the new civilian plates issued since 1994. These have the "CC" (Corpo Consolare), "CD" (Corpo Diplomatico) and four numbers, while "UN" ( Nazioni Unite (Permanent)), "UNP" (Nazioni Unite (Specialists)), and "UNT" (Nazioni Unite (Transit)) plates have three. Scheme is CC 0000 AA or UNP 000 AA. The "AA" is a country code (blue) while "0" is a digit. Front and rear plates are identical and both measure 34 by 11 cm. There are no diplomatic motorcycle plates used.Military plates
Military plates have the prefixes EI (Esercito Italiano, Army), AM (Aeronautica Militare, Air Force) and MM (Marina Militare, Navy), all of them red, the trailers have the indication "RIMORCHIO". There is a code same as mentioned before, but it is small and it is black. The scheme is EI LL 000. While "EI" is the prefix, "LL" is a letter and "0" is a digit to prevent confusion with civilian plates issued from 1994. Between the letter and number there is a green dot. In 1980 Army plates adopted the 11 by 34 cm size for both front and rear plates, but more recent plates use the 1994-99 civilian plate standard for rear plates. Starting from 2004, historical military vehicles that no longer possess the original plate use instead the scheme EI VS 000, "VS" is colored green. Until 1995 army plates used an EI 000 AA system and before 1985 used an EI 000000 system with the same dimension of civilian plates (smaller front plate) where certain number ranges were reserved for types of vehicles EX: EI 900000 to EI 999999 were reserved to trailers and EI 400000 to 450000 were reserved for recon vehicles. However, the pre-1979 numbers only system is still used for armored vehicles and tanks. Current Army motorcycle plate Current Army motorcycle plate Current Army Trailer plates 1979-1995 Army Trailer plates Pre-1979 Army Trailer platesRed Cross plates
Have the prefix "CRI" (Croce Rossa Italiana) in red, the style is CRI 000LL (pre-2007 was CRI L000L, motorcycles CRI 00000), while "L" is a letter, and "0" is a number on a white reflective background. Between "CRI" and the other characters there is the Red Cross sign. They use the same style of pre-1999 plates; the final code of two-line plates always starts with the letter "Z". Trailer plates have the word "RIMORCHIO" above the digits using a CRI 0000 system. Before 1985 Red Cross plates had a dot after every number and had the same format of civilian plates (smaller front plate) Until 1985 Red Cross plates were numbers only, after late Seventies ambulances had to have the L000L format, while service cars continued to have numbers only until 2002 where all new Red Cross vehicles had to have the L000L system.Firefighters
Before 1938 Firefighters vehicles used civilian plates Since 1938 have the prefix "VF" (Vigili del Fuoco) in red . They have the same style and dimension of Port Authority plates, but they don't have text in the bottom section. Firefighters of autonomous regions use special Firefighters plates issued locally. Their schemes were VF 0L0 AA (formerly VF L00 AA), where "AA" at the end can be TN or BZ. Trailers have small red "R" between prefix and numbers.Port Authority plates
Have the prefix "CP" (Capitaneria di Porto) in red. They have the text "GUARDIA COSTIERA" at the bottom. Those plates are considerably shorter than a standard one (circa 35 by 52mm), front and rear plates have the same size and square rear plates are not available. Schematic representation:SMOM plates
Uses prefix "SMOM" (Sovrano militare ordine di Malta) in red, followed by two numbers (previously red). They have the text "SMOM" at the bottom. These plates used only byTemporary plates
These plates are used for vehicles temporarily circulating in Italy, but have to be exported, "EE" stands for "Escursionisti Esteri" (Foreign Hikers or temporary plates). They have the same style of Diplomatic plates, but they start with "EE" (black) instead of "CD". The upper part of the plate has a small space for accommodating expiry date stickers. From 1932 to 1951 they are square 32.0 x 22.0 cm, white digits on a black background with Garamond font, using an EE 00000 system. From 1951 to 1976 they are square 27.5 x 20.0 cm, white digits on a black background with different font style and have the EE prefix instead of the province followed by a max of 5 digits ex: EE 10245 From 1976 to 1985 they are on a single line, white digits on a black background and the letters EE are vertically aligned, followed by a max of 5 digits. From 1985 they are on a single line, black digits on white reflective background with the EE 000 AA system. Motorcycles had the "EE" on the first line then 4 digits on the second line, white background with blue digits from 1932 to 1985 and have the sticker space above the republic emblem.From 1985 motorcycles have the prefix followed by a letter and a progressive number. Schematic Representation: Temporary series from 1976 to 1985 Temporary series from 1932 to 1976 Temporary motorcycle plates from 1932 to 1985 Temporary motorcycle plates from 1985Agricultural plates
Agricultural machines have motorcycle-sized plates following the AA-0/00A scheme written in black on yellow. Agricultural trailers have the text "RIM AGR." in red on the upper part. The style is same as the old trailer plates but background is yellow and the serial is AA-000A. Agricultural trailers have to show both their own plates and a prime mover repetition one. Agricultural plates from 1994 Agricultural trailer plates from 1994 Agricultural trailer plates from 1985 to 1994 Agricultural trailer plates from 1959 to 1985 Agricultural plates from 1948 to 1985 Agricultural plates from 1985 to 1994 Repeater plate used from 1985 to 1994 Repeater plate from 1994Road Machinery plates
The style of these plates is LL LNNN. They are square, red on yellow background. They were introduced in 1992, until 1994 they used a LL LLNNN System, where the first two letters were the provincial code. Due of the low road machinery plates assigned, provinces had been distributing the old system plates over the course of many years before the new ones appeared. Road Machinery plate from 1992 to 1994 Current Road machinery plate 1992-1994 Trailed Road machinery plate Current Trailed Road machinery plateCivil Defence plates
These plates only exist in autonomous regions, they have the prefix "PC" (Protezione Civile) in red and an alphanumeric serial chosen by local authorities (PC ZS0LL in Bolzano (where ZS stands for Zivilschutz in German), PC L00TN in Trento). Cars of the national Civil Defence department have special plates bearing the "DPC" (Dipartimento della Protezione Civile) code followed by an alphanumeric serial (DPC L 0000) in Rome, while operative vehicles usually use civil plates. Emergency plates have the text at the top:"DIPARTIMENTO PROTEZIONE CIVILE RICOVERO DI EMERGENZA", then a provincial designator and four numbers.Carabinieri plates
These plates have the prefix "CC" (Carabinieri) in red from 2000 when the Carabinieri became an independent corp. The style is CC LL 000 where "CC" is a prefix, "LL" is a letter, and "0" is a digit. Motorcycles use a CC A0000 system. Until 2000 "CC" plates didn't exist and used the Army (EI) plates and the first CC plates (which were re-adapted EI plates) had a CC separate piece put over the first part to cover up the "EI" code Schematic representation: Motorcycle plateTrolleybus plates
These plates' format is the two-letter provincial code, followed by the operator's logo and number (normally 3 digits). They use white digits on a blue background, and their size is 320 x 115 mm. Until the 1950s they were circulated along with normal car plates.Test Plates
Testing plates have a square (16.5 by 16.5 cm) size and follows the format XX p X/XXXX (where "X" could be a letter or a digit ) arranged in two lines since 2003. They are the only kind of Italian plates whose code could be chosen by the owner. These plates have a "P" instead of the republic emblem that means Prova (Test) These plates are usually used from car dealers to test the cars on the public road, for cars that don't have an insurance or don't have a regular number plate available. They can be transferred on other cars From 1951 to 1976, testing plates used to be square, black background with white digits, in middle the word "PROVA" was written in red, followed by the provincial code, the official emblem and a progressive number. From 1976 to 1985, these plates used to have black background with white digits on a single line, with the provincial code followed by a progressive number and the word "PROVA" vertically aligned by 90° degrees. Until 1994, Test plates used to have the provincial code instead of the first two digits, followed by a random combination of letters and numbers. From 1994 to 2003, the plates used to be on a single line with two letters followed by the random digits. Current Prova plate 1985-1994 Prova plate Test series from 1948 to 1976 Test series from 1976 to 1985Province codes
Province codes 1927 to present day
These abbreviations for the names ofProvince codes 1905 to 1927
Defunct province codes (post-1927)
Statistics
Based on the data available in the Automobile Club d'Italia's database updated to the year 2017, the 44% of the vehicles immatriculated in Italy was powered by petrol, the 47% by diesel, and only a 9% was powered by a hybrid or bi-fuelled engine alimentation. Vehicles belonging to the emission classes from Euro 0 to Euro2 had a prevalence of petroil alimentation, while diesel engines were increasingly diffused in the Euro3 and Euro4 emission classes.Diplomatic codes
codes are not currently used. Q and U cannot be used in consular corps plates, as such they are ''Bold Italic''.References
External links