CH_international_vehicle_registration_oval

The country in which a

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of people or cargo. The ...

vehicle registration plate A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificat ...

was issued may be indicated by an international licence plate country code, formerly known as an International Registration Letter or International Circulation Mark. It is referred to as the Distinguishing sign of the State of registration in the

Geneva Convention on Road Traffic The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty promoting the development and safety of international road traffic by establishing certain uniform rules among the contracting pa ...

of 1949 and the

Vienna Convention on Road Traffic The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by establishing standard traffic rules among the co ...

of 1968. The allocation of codes is maintained by the

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE or UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to promote economic cooperation and ...

as the ''Distinguishing Signs Used on Vehicles in International Traffic'' (sometimes abbreviated to DSIT), authorised by the UN's Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Many vehicle codes created since the adoption of

ISO 3166 ISO 3166 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines codes for the names of countries, dependent territories, special areas of geographical interest, and their principal subdivisions (e.g., ...

coincide with ISO two- or three-letter codes. The 2004 South-East Asian ''Agreement ... for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and People'' uses a mixture of ISO and DSIT codes: Myanmar uses MYA, China CHN, and Cambodia KH (ISO codes), Thailand uses T (DSIT code), Laos LAO, and Vietnam VN (coincident ISO and DSIT codes). The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic entered into force on 26 March 1952. One of the main benefits of the convention for motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognize the legality of vehicles from other signatory countries. When driving in other signatory countries, the distinguishing sign of the country of registration must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. This sign must be placed separately from the registration plate and may ''not'' be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate.

History

1909 Paris Convention

The display of a national distinctive mark on a white oval plate, 30 cm × 18cm with black letters was first introduced by the 1909 International Convention with respect to the Circulation of Motor Vehicles signed in Paris. The plate was required to be affixed to the rear of the vehicle, separate from the number plate displaying the vehicle's national registration mark. The 1909 convention only allowed distinctive marks to be of one or two Latin letters.

1924 Paris Convention

The term ''distinguishing mark'' was adopted by the 1924 International Convention Relative to Motor Traffic signed in Paris, which extended the maximum length of mark from two to three Latin letters, and permitted not just distinguishing marks for states, but also for non-sovereign territories which operated their own vehicle registration systems.

Location

Since the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic entered into force on 21 May 1977, in signatory countries it replaces previous road traffic conventions, including the

, in accordance with its Article 48. According to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, the distinguishing sign of the country of registration must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The sign may either be placed separately from the registration plate as a white oval plate or sticker, or be incorporated in the

. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated in the registration plate, it must also appear on the front registration plate of the vehicle. The requirement to display a separate distinguishing sign is not necessary within the

European Economic Area The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the ''Agreement on the European Economic Area'', an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade As ...

, for vehicles with license plates in the common EU format, which satisfy the requirements of the Vienna Convention, and so are also valid in non-EU countries signatory to that convention. Separate signs are also not needed for Canada, Mexico and the United States, where the province, state or district of registration is usually embossed or surface-printed on the vehicle registration plate.

Current codes

}, , Congo (

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ln, Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville ( nl, Leopoldstad), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once a site of fishing and trading villages situated along the Congo River, Kinshasa is now one of ...

), , , - , CH , , 1911 , , , - , CI , () , 1961 , F , Formerly a territory of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, - , CL , , 1961 , , Formerly Ceylon. However, "SL" is being used on current driver licenses. , - , CO , , 1952 , , , - , CR , , 1956 , , , - , CY , , 1932 , , , - , CZ , , 1993 , CS , Formerly (

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) , - , D , , 1910 , , ; also used until 1974 by , which then used DDR until German reunification in 1990 , - , DK , , 1914 , , , - , DOM , , 1952 , , , - , DY , , 1910 , Part of AOF
() − 1960 ,

Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a region ...

(name until 1975). Uses RB unofficially () , - , DZ , , 1962 , F − 1911 , ( arq, جزائر); formerly part of

, - , E , , 1910 , , , - , EAK , , 1938 , , East Africa Kenya , - , EAT , , 1938 , EAT & EAZ , East Africa Tanzania; formerly East Africa

Tanganyika Tanganyika may refer to: Places * Tanganyika Territory (1916–1961), a former British territory which preceded the sovereign state * Tanganyika (1961–1964), a sovereign state, comprising the mainland part of present-day Tanzania * Tanzania Main ...

and East Africa

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islan ...

, - , EAU , , 1938 , , East Africa Uganda , - , EAZ , , 1964 , , East Africa Zanzibar , - , EC , , 1962 , EQ , , - , ER , , 1993 , AOI , , - , ES , , 1978 , , , - , EST , , 1993 , EW 1919–1940 & 1991–1993
SU 1940–1991 , (

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also * ...

; old style ) , - , ET , , 1927 , , , - , ETH , , 1964 , AOI − 1941 , , - , F , , 1910 , , , - , FIN , , 1993 , SF , '' / Finland'' ( Finnish/ Swedish) , - , FJI , , 1971 , , , - , FL , , 1923 , , (

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, Principality of Liechtenstein) , - , FO , , 1996 , , , - , G , , 1974 , ALEF − 1960 , . Unofficially using RG on their license plates. , - , GBA , , 1924 , GB 1923-1924 , (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Alderney , - , GBG , , 1924 , GB 1914-1924 , (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Guernsey , - , GBJ , , 1924 , GB 1914-1924 , (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Jersey , - , GBM , , 1932 , , (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Isle of Man , - , GBZ , , 1924 , GB 1911-1924 , (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Gibraltar (Z was assigned because G was already used for Guernsey) , - , GCA , , 1956 , G , Guatemala, Central America , - , GE , , 1992 , SU , Formerly part of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...

. Older licence plates use "GEO" instead of "GE". Also used by Equatorial-Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial). , - , GH , , 1959 , WAC − 1957 , West Africa Gold Coast − 1957 , - , GR , , 1913 , , , - , GUY , , 1972 , BRG , Formerly

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was ...

− 1966 , - , H , , 1910 , , , - , HKJ , , 1966 , JOR , Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , - , HN , , ? , , Unofficial: no other code found for Honduras , - , HR , , 1992 , SHS 1919–29
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–92 , . Formerly part of

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label= Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavij ...

. Immediately after Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, it was common to see unofficial oval stickers with the letters "CRO". Despite the initial anticipation that Croatia's international vehicle registration code would be "CRO", Croatia opted for "HR" () instead.
SHS was for the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (). , - , I , , 1910 , , , - , IL , , 1952 , , "Israel" is also written on the plate in Hebrew () and Arabic () , - , IND , , 1947 , BI , , - , IR , , 1936 , PR , , - , IRL , , 1992 , GB − 1910-24
SE − 1924-38
EIR − 1938-62
EIR/IRL − 1962-92 , Formerly a part of the United Kingdom, ,

Éire () is Irish for "Ireland", the name of both an island in the North Atlantic and the sovereign state of the Republic of Ireland which governs 84% of the island's landmass. The latter is distinct from Northern Ireland, which covers the remaind ...

. , - , IRQ , , 1930 , , , - , IS , , 1936 , , , - , J , , 1964 , , , - , JA , , 1932 , , , - , K , , 1956 , , Known as Kampuchea 1976–89. Formerly a territory of

. KH currently being used (Khmer) on driving licenses. , - , KG , , 1992 , SU − 1991 , Formerly part of the

. The Kyrgyz government notified the change from "KS" to "KG", which featured on the new car registration plates from March 2016, in August that year to the UN Secretary-General. Additionally, most vehicles use "KGZ" oval stickers instead of "KS". , - , KSA , , 1973 , SA , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , - , KWT , , 1954 , , , - , KZ , , 1992 , SU − 1991 , Formerly part of the

, - , L , , 1911 , , , - , LAO , , 1959 , F – 1949 , Formerly a territory of

(

French Indochina French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China),; vi, Đông Dương thuộc Pháp, , lit. 'East Ocean under French Control; km, ឥណ្ឌូចិនបារាំង, ; th, อินโดจีนฝรั่งเศส, ...

) , - , LAR , , 1972 , I − 1949, LT , Libyan Arab Republic , - , LB , , 1967 , , , - , LS , , 1967 , BL , Basutoland − 1966 , - , LT , , 1992 , SU 1940–1991 , , - , LV , , 1992 , LR 1927–1940
SU 1940–1991 , , - , M , , 1966 , GBY 1924–66 , , - , MA , , 1924 , , , - , MAL , , 1967 , PRK – 1957
FM 1954–57
PTM 1957–67 , Formerly

Perak Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand' ...

, then

Federated Malay States )Under God's Protection , capital = Kuala Lumpur1 , religion = Islam , legislature = Federal Legislative Council , type_house1 = State level , common_languages = , title_leader = Monarch , leader1 ...

, then , - , MC , , 1910 , , , - , MD , , 1992 , SU − 1991 , Formerly part of the

, - , MEX , , 1952 , , , - , MNE , , 2006 , MN 1913–1919
SHS 1919–29
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–2003
SCG 2003–2006 ,

Independent nation Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...

until 1918. After that, part of the

Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...

( –

Serbo-Croatian Serbo-Croatian () – also called Serbo-Croat (), Serbo-Croat-Bosnian (SCB), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS), and Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS) – is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia an ...

), then part of

and then

Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro ( sr, Cрбија и Црна Гора, translit=Srbija i Crna Gora) was a country in Southeast Europe located in the Balkans that existed from 1992 to 2006, following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of ...

( –

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also * * * Old Serbian (disambiguation ...

). Independence restored in 2006. , - , MGL , , 2002 , , MNG displayed on current plates. Nevertheless, the new format includes MGL once again. , - , MOC , , 1975 , MOC: 1932–56
P: 1957–75 , Formerly part of

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

. , - , MS , , 1938 , , , - , MV , , 1965 , , , - , MW , , 1965 , EA 1932–38
NP – 1938–70
RNY option 1960–65 , Formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate , - , N , , 1922 , , , - , NAM , , 1990 , SWA , Formerly

South West Africa South West Africa ( af, Suidwes-Afrika; german: Südwestafrika; nl, Zuidwest-Afrika) was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1990, after which it became modern-day Namibia. It bordered Angola (Portuguese colony before 1 ...

, - , NAU , , 1968 , , , - , NEP , , 1970 , , , - , NIC , , 1952 , , , - , NL , , 1910 , , , - , NMK , , 2019 , YU − 1992
MK 1992–2019 , Formerly part of

. Known as ''Republic of Macedonia'' until 2019. Mix of English ''North'' and

Macedonian Macedonian most often refers to someone or something from or related to Macedonia. Macedonian(s) may specifically refer to: People Modern * Macedonians (ethnic group), a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group primarily associated with North Ma ...

, - , NZ , , 1958 , , , - , OM , , ? , , , - , P , , 1910 , , Unofficially used by Palestine as well , - , PA , , 1952 , , , - , PE , , 1937 , , , - , PK , , 1947 , , , - , PL , , 1921 , , , - , PNG , , 1978 , , , - , PY , , 1952 , , , - , Q , , 1972 , , , - , RA , , 1927 , , , - , RC , , 1932 , , Unofficially also used by car license plates in the Republic of Congo (). , - , RCA , , 1962 , , , - , RCB , , 1962 , , . Unofficially using RC on current plates. , - , RCH , , 1930 , , , - , RG , , 1972 , , . Also used unofficially by Gabon. , - , RH , , 1952 , , , - , RI , , 1955 , , , - , RIM , , 1964 , , , - , RKS , Flag of Kosovo

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a international recognition of Kosovo, partiall ...

, 2010 , SHS 1919–29
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–92
SCG 2003–2006
SRB 2006–2010 , Republic of

, - , RL , , 1952 , , , - , RM , , 1962 , , , - , RMM , , 1962 , AOF − 1960 , . Formerly part of French West Africa () , - , RN , , 1977 , AOF − 1960 , . Formerly part of French West Africa () , - , RO , , 1981 , R - 1981 , , - , ROK , , 1971 , , Republic of Korea. Unofficially using KOR on their plates. , - , RP , , 1975 , , (Republic of the Philippines) , - , RSM , , 1932 , , , - , RU , , 1962? , , Belgian territory of

Ruanda-Urundi Ruanda-Urundi (), later Rwanda-Burundi, was a colonial territory, once part of German East Africa, which was occupied by troops from the Belgian Congo during the East African campaign in World War I and was administered by Belgium under milita ...

. Unofficially using BU on their plates. , - , RUS , , 1992 , , Formerly part of the Soviet Union , - , RWA , , 1964 , RU − 1962 , Formerly part of

− 1962 , - , S , , 1911 , , , - , SD , , 1935 , , Formerly Swaziland , - , SGP , , 1952 , , , - , SK , , 1993 , CS 1919–39,1945–92
SQ 1939–45 , Formerly (

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) , - , SLO , , 1992 , SHS 1919–29
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–92 , Formerly part of the

, then part of

, - , SME , , 1936 , , , - , SN , , 1962 , , , - , SO , , 1974 , SP , Formerly Somaliland Protectorate , - , SRB , , 2006 , SB – 1919
SHS 1919–29
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–2003
SCG 2003–2006 , Formerly part of the

Kingdom of Serbia The Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Краљевина Србија, Kraljevina Srbija) was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Prin ...

.
Then part of

( –

).
Then part of

.
Then

( –

) , - , SUD , , 1963 , , , - , SY , , 1938 , , , - , SYR , , 1952 , , , - , T , , 1955 , SM , , - , TCH , , 1973 , , , - , TG , , 1973 , RT , Formerly République Togolaise , - , TJ , , 1992 , SU − 1991 , Formerly part of the

, used code "PT" for on plates from 1993 to 2003 , - , TM , , 1992 , SU − 1991 , Formerly part of the

, - , TN , , 1957 , F − 1956 , Formerly a territory of

, - , TO , , 1995 , , , - , TR , , 1923 , , , - , TT , , 1964 , , , - , UA , , 1992 , SU , Formerly part of the

, - , UAE , , 1971 , , , - , UK , , 2021 , GB (1910–2021) , Before 1922,

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was a sovereign state in the British Isles that existed between 1801 and 1922, when it included all of Ireland. It was established by the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Grea ...

. Until 2021, "GB" was used, but from 28 September 2021 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed its international vehicle registration code from "GB" to "UK". (This does not affect territories for which the United Kingdom controls international relations outside Great Britain and Northern Ireland.) , - , USA , , 1952 , US , , - , UY , , 2012 , ROU , , - , UZ , , 1992 , SU , Formerly part of the

, - , V , , 1931 , , CV ( it, Città del Vaticano) is used as a prefix on the licence plate number itself. The prefix used on official and government vehicles is SCV ( it, Status Civitatis Vaticanae) , - , VN , , 1953 , , , - , WAG , , 1932 , , West Africa Gambia , - , WAL , , 1937 , , West Africa Sierra Leone; on local licence plates SLE is used , - , WAN , , 1937 , , West Africa Nigeria , - , WD , , 1954 , , Windward Islands Dominica , - , WG , , 1932 , , Windward Islands Grenada , - , WL , , 1932 , , Windward Islands Saint Lucia , - , WS , , 1962 , , Formerly Western Samoa , - , WV , , 1932 , , Windward Islands Saint Vincent , - , YAR , , 1960 , , North Yemen formerly known as the

Yemen Arab Republic The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR; ar, الجمهورية العربية اليمنية '), also known simply as North Yemen or Yemen (Sanaʽa), was a country from 1962 to 1990 in the northwestern part of what is now Yemen.The United States extend ...

, - , YV , , 1955 , , , - , Z , , 1964 , RNR , Formerly

Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in south central Africa, now the independent country of Zambia. It was formed in 1911 by amalgamating the two earlier protectorates of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesi ...

. However, "ZM" is used on current driving licences. , - , ZA , , 1936 , , (from

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

; in

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gr ...

it is ) , - , ZW , , 1980 , SR, RSR , Formerly

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a landlocked self-governing colony, self-governing British Crown colony in southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The reg ...

until 1965,

Rhodesia Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of So ...

unrecognised until 1980 , -

Codes no longer in use

}), now

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana t ...

, 1984 , BF , Upper Volta , - , KS , , 1992–2016 , KG , Ratified by the United Nations as KG in March 2016. , - , LR , , 1927–1940 , SU, LV , Latvijas Republika (

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

n) , - , MK ,

Republic of Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...

, 1992–2019 , NMK , Became

North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...

in 2019 , - , NA , , 1957 , , The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved in 2010. , - , PANG ,

Angola , national_anthem = "Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , religion = , religion_year = 2020 , religion_ref = , coordinat ...

, 1956 , P (1957-1975) , From 1932. Formerly part of

, - , R ,

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

, 1981 , RO , , - , RB , , 2003 , BP , Republic of Botswana. Formerly

Bechuanaland Protectorate The Bechuanaland Protectorate () was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885, by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) in Southern Africa. It became the Republic ...

, - , RNY , Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963)

Rhodesia-Nyasaland Fed. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation or CAF, was a colonial federation that consisted of three southern African territories: the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the ...

, 1953–1963 , NP, NR, SR , Now

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northe ...

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...

and

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

, - , ROU , , 1979–2012 , UY , República Oriental del Uruguay (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

) , - , RSR , Flag of Rhodesia (1964–1968)

, 1965–1979 , SR , Now

, - , RT , , 1973 , TG , République togolaise (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

). Formerly French Togoland − 1960 , - , SA , Saar Territory (League of Nations mandate) , 1926–1935 , D , SA is again Germany's

Saarland The Saarland (, ; french: Sarre ) is a state of Germany in the south west of the country. With an area of and population of 990,509 in 2018, it is the smallest German state in area apart from the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, a ...

, - , SA , Protectorate , 1947–1956 , D , SA is again Germany's

, - , SA , , , KSA , The date of the change is unknown. , - , SB ,

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

, 1919 , SHS , Serbia became part of

, - , SCG ,

, 2006 , MNE, SRB , From Serbian name "Srbija i Crna Gora". Now Montenegro, Serbia , - , SE ,

Saorstát Éireann The Irish Free State ( ga, Saorstát Éireann, , ; 6 December 192229 December 1937) was a state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between the ...

, 1938 , EIR (IRL from 1962) , Under GB until 1924. Name changed to

, now , - , SF , , 1993 , FIN , SF from "Suomi – Finland" (the names of the country in its official languages, Finnish and Swedish) , - , SHS ,

, 1929 , Y , Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca –

. Kingdom changed its name to Yugoslavia , - , SU ,

, 1991 , EST, LT, LV, BY, MD, UA, TJ, TM, GE, KZ, UZ, KS, AZ, AM, RUS , , - , SWA ,

, 1990 , , Now

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

, - , TS ,

Free Territory of Trieste The Free Territory of Trieste was an independent territory in Southern Europe between northern Italy and Yugoslavia, facing the north part of the Adriatic Sea, under direct responsibility of the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath ...

, 1947–1954 , , Territory Zone A (controlled by the United Kingdom and United States from 1947 to 1954 before given to Italy). Now in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capi ...

and

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and ...

. , - , Y ,

, 1953 , YU , Yemen started using Y afterwards , - , YU , /

, 1992 , BIH, HR, NMK, MNE, RKS, SRB, SLO , Now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Slovenia. MK for Macedonia was in use from 1993 until 2019 , - , ZRE ,

Zaire Zaire (, ), officially the Republic of Zaire (french: République du Zaïre, link=no, ), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, ...

, 1997 , CGO , Now the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

Unofficial codes

Brittany country code sticker on motorbike

There are unofficial codes in common use, such as "AS", "A" or "AST" for

Asturias Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensiv ...

, "CAT" for

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the no ...

, "SCO" for

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, "CYM" for

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

, "BZH" for

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...

, "VL" for

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...

, "V" for

Vojvodina Vojvodina ( sr-Cyrl, Војводина}), officially the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is an autonomous province that occupies the northernmost part of Serbia. It lies within the Pannonian Basin, bordered to the south by the national capital ...

/ Vajdaság, "TS" for

Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the A ...

, "PR" for

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

, "CSB" for

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

and "SIC" for

Székely Land The Székely Land or Szeklerland ( hu, Székelyföld, ; ro, Ținutul Secuiesc and sometimes ; german: Szeklerland; la, Terra Siculorum) is a historic and ethnographic area in Romania, inhabited mainly by Székelys, a subgroup of Hungarians. I ...

(from Latin ''Terra Siculorum''). Some of these, such as "VL" which is used by Flemish separatists, are used despite being specifically illegal under local laws. In addition, in some areas, vehicle-style stickers have been used to denote and promote other entities, such as towns, islands, businesses, and even associations. These irregular stickers almost always bear an explanation of the code in small print near the edge of the sticker, as the codes used may be unfamiliar.

Kosovo

Diplomatic licence plate codes

A separate system is used for vehicles belonging to the diplomats of foreign countries with license plate from the host country. That system is host country-specific and varies largely from country to country. For example, TR on a diplomatic car in the USA indicates Italian, not Turkish. Such markings in other countries (e.g. Norway) are indicated with numbers only, again different from international standards (e.g. 90 means Slovakia in Norway).

References

External links

{{commons category, International vehicle registration codes
Distinguishing Signs of Vehicles
UNECE
Distinguishing Signs used on Vehicles in International Traffic Notified to the Secretary General of the United Nations
UNECE
Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva
United Nations Treaty Collection
Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna
United Nations Treaty Collection

* [http://www.unece.org/trans/doc/2008/ac10c3/UN-SCETDG-33-INF05e.pdf ''Miscellaneous Proposals of Amendments to the Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Identification of Approval Country in Marking''], UN/SCETDG/33/INF.5 (table compares ISO 3166 and DSIT codes)
''Association Francoplaque: Collectionneurs de Plaques d'Immatriculation''
(data mostly from RPW, above)

(registration required; data mostly from RPW, above) International license plate codes International license plate codes Vehicle registration plates