Greekvehicle registration plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate (e.g.ΑΑΑ–1000) printed in black on a white background. The letters represent the district (prefecture) that issues the plates while the numbers range from 1000 to 9999. As of 2004 a blue strip was added on the left showing thecountry code of Greece (GR) in white text and theFlag of Europe in yellow. Similar plates but of square size with numbers ranging from 1 to 999 are issued for motorcycles which exceed 50 cc in engine size.
With the exception ofAthens andThessaloniki which are represented by just the first letter of the three, all other districts are represented by the first 2 letters. The final one or two letters in the sequence changes in Greek alphabetical order after 8,999 issued plates. For example,Patras plates areΑΧΑ–1000, where ΑΧ represents theAchaia prefecture of which Patras is the capital. WhenΑΧΑ–9999 is reached the plates turn toΑΧΒ–1000 and this continues untilΑΧΧ is finished. The letters are officially letters from theLatin alphabet, but only those letters are used whose shape (as a capital letter) matches a letter from theGreek alphabet, specificallyΑ,Β,Ε,Ζ,Η,Ι,Κ,Μ,Ν,Ο,Ρ,Τ,Υ,Χ (in Greek alphabetical order). This is because Greece is a contracting party to theVienna Convention on Road Traffic, which in Annex 2 requires registration numbers to be displayed in capital Latin characters and Arabic numerals. The rule applies in a similar way inRussia,Ukraine,Belarus,Bosnia and Herzegovina andBulgaria.
Combinations used for overseas residents areL–NNNN (where L = letter and N = number) and are limited. Until 2003, taxis usedL–NNNN; the plate was aligned with the prefecture and the letters were colored red.
Up until 1954 Greek number plates were quite simple: black numbers on a white background, indicating the serial number shown on the car's license. These started at 1 and advanced to approximately 75,000 when the system was changed. The owner had to provide the plates and specifications were minimal: the size of the plates and numbers, as well as their respective colours. This meant that plates were not very uniform. Taxis had to indicate the initial of the city they were licensed in (e.g. "A" for Athens). In 1954 it was compulsory for all vehicles to change to a new system.
For just 2 years the system wasL–NN,L–NNN,L–NNNN orL–NNNNN with black characters on yellow background where L was the initial of the city they were licensed in (e.g. "A" for Athens, "Θ" for Thessaloniki etc.). All these plates display "1953–54" (the initial time period for the change, later revised) in black characters on a white background using a smaller typeface in the top left corner. These plates were compulsorily withdrawn in 1956.
In 1956 the system was again changed to just numbersNNNNNN. NNNNNN could be any number from one to six digits starting once again with "1" and ending this time at about "451000", though not all numbers were allocated. Characters were black on white background with a band at the top of both front and rear plates indicating city/district of registration and type of usage (private, commercial etc.). Sometime after the early 60s the band on the front plate was abandoned and hence that plate became shorter in height, while the band at the rear became blue. This time it was not compulsory to change plates after 1972 when the newer system arrived. Hence these so-called "six-figure plates" can still occasionally (as of 2018) be spotted on a few old vehicles.
In 1972, they became lettered and the system wasLL–NNNN while trucks usedL–NNNN. Again, they were black characters on white background but with a new typeface. It was not compulsory to change these plates when the newer system arrived.
In 1984, the system changed toLLL–NNNN and the first two letters are prefecture letters (with the exception of the biggest prefectures Attica/Athens and Thessaloniki where only the first letter remained the same). Again, it was not compulsory to change to the newer "euro" plates in 2004.
In September/October 2004 the euroband and international country code (GR) were added to the left and the typeface changed. In all other respects the previous systemLLL–NNNN continued with the numbering allocation carrying on as from pre-2004.
Historic vehicle number plates can be issued for vehicles over 30 years old, after they pass the "authenticity" inspection. They came in yellow/blue, white/blue or white/orange depending on the historic vehicle organisation (FILPA or FHVE) and they consist of 4 numbers. Since 2023, new governmental historic plates are now available. They begin with the code IO and they have 5 digits (e.g. IO-12345). Their background is white and they have blue letters.
The first 2 of 3 letters (which are listed below) of a licence plate usually represent theprefecture (nomos) where the car was registered. The almost full list of plates in Greece is below (next to the prefecture / district is its capital or an area within the prefecture that the plates are issued; some prefectures have more than one combination):
Peugeot 406 with Greek diplomatic licence plate at Gerolimenas, Mani ("28" corresponds to Dutch Embassy)PoliceA state vehicle registration plate Works vehiclesTruck Trailer over 3.5 tonnes without a prime mover.
Vehicles that belong to public services and armed forces use special license plates with the following letter combinations followed by numbers:[citation needed]
ΑΝ.Π. (Ανάπηροι Πολέμου,Anapiroi Polemou) — Disabled in war (blue coloured with white lettering; same look as diplomatic plates)
ΔΟΚ (Δοκιμαστικές,Dokimastikes) — Test plates – (issued to dealers when specific criteria are met: can be used interchangeably on all cars in dealers stock which do not have normal number plates)
Very similarly to AFI plates in Italy, AFG plates display the same display with four digits (instead of five in Italy) for cars, three digits for motorcycles. The first letter indicates the military base (A: Athens, I: Heraklion, T: Thessaloniki). AFG plates are solely distributed to US service members on Greek soil.
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