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The country in which amotor vehicle'svehicle registration plate was issued may be indicated by aninternational vehicle registration code, also calledVehicle Registration Identification code orVRI code, formerly known as anInternational Registration Letter[1] orInternational Circulation Mark.[2] It is referred to as theDistinguishing sign of the State of registration in theGeneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and theVienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968.
The allocation of codes is maintained by[citation needed] theUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe as theDistinguishing Signs Used on Vehicles in International Traffic[3] (sometimes abbreviated to DSIT), authorised by the UN's Geneva Convention on Road Traffic[4] and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.[5] Many vehicle codes created since the adoption ofISO 3166 coincide with ISO two- or three-letter codes. The 2004 South-East AsianAgreement ... 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).[6]
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 maynot be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate.
The display of a national distinctive mark on a white oval plate, 30 cm × 18 cm (12 in × 7 in) 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.[7]
| State | Mark |
|---|---|
 Austrian Empire | A |
 Belgium | B |
 Bulgaria | BG |
 France | F |
 Germany | D |
 Great Britain and Ireland | GB |
 Kingdom of Greece | GR |
 Hungary | H |
 Kingdom of Italy | I |
 Monaco | MC |
 Montenegro | MN |
 The Netherlands | NL |
 Kingdom of Portugal | P |
 Romania | RO |
 Russian Empire | R |
 Serbia | SB |
 Spain | E |
 Sweden | S |
 Switzerland | CH |
 United States of America | US |
The termdistinguishing 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 distinguishing marks not just for states, but also for non-sovereign territories which operated their own vehicle registration systems.[8]
Since the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic entered into force on 21 May 1977, in signatory countries it replaces previous road traffic conventions, including theGeneva Convention on Road Traffic, 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 thevehicle registration plate. 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 theEuropean Economic Area, for vehicles with license plates inthe common EU format, which satisfy the requirements of the Vienna Convention, and so are also valid in non-EU countries signatory to that convention.[9] 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.[citation needed]
| Code | Country | From | Previous code(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |  Austria | 1911 | Austria in English orAutriche in French | |
| AFG |  Afghanistan | 1971 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| AL |  Albania | 1934 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| AM |  Armenia | 1992 | SU | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| AND |  Andorra | 1957 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. Used on plates since 2011, name fully spelt out since 1958. | |
| AUS |  Australia | 1954 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| AX |  Åland | 2025 | FIN | Formerly FIN and SF like the rest of Finland[10] |
| AZ |  Azerbaijan | 1993 | SU | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| B | Belgium | 1910 | ||
| BD |  Bangladesh | 1978 | PAK | FormerlyEast Pakistan |
| BDS |  Barbados | 1956 | ||
| BF |  Burkina Faso | 1990 | RHV / HV | Until August 2003, 1984;(République de) Haute Volta (Upper Volta) |
| BG | Bulgaria | 1910 | BUL | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| BH |  Belize | 1938 | FormerlyBritish Honduras. Still officially registered as BH as of June 2024. New driving licenses appear to have 'BZ' instead of 'BH' as Belize's code.[11] Belize License Plates have always displayed full name of the country since name change in 1973. | |
| BIH |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1992 | SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–92 | Bosna i Hercegovina /Босна и Херцеговина (Bosnian). Formerly part of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and SlovenesKraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca (Serbo-Croatian), then part ofYugoslavia. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| BOL |  Bolivia | 1967 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| BR |  Brazil | 1930 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Displayed on license plates since 2018 alongside full name. | |
| BRN |  Bahrain | 1954 | ||
| BRU |  Brunei | 1956 | ||
| BS |  Bahamas | 1950 | Fully name displayed since the 1970s | |
| BVI |  British Virgin Islands | 1910 | ||
| BW[3] |  Botswana | 2003 | BP | Officially used by Botswana since 2003. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Formerly RB (Republic of Botswana) until 2004;Bechuanaland Protectorate before 1966. |
| BY |  Belarus | 1992 (2004) | SU | Belarus; formerly part of theSoviet Union. The UN was officially notified of the change from SU to BY only in 2004.[citation needed] Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| CAM |  Cameroon | 1952 | F & WAN | Formerly a territory ofFrance, plus a strip of territory from eastern Nigeria (WAN). Unofficially using CMR on their plates. |
| CDN |  Canada | 1956 | CA | CDN for "Canada Dominion"[citation needed] |
| CGO |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1997 | CB, RCL, ZRE | French:Congo Belge,République de Congo Léopoldville, Congo (Kinshasa),Zaïre,République Démocratique du Congo (French) |
| CH | Switzerland | 1911 | Confoederatio Helvetica (Latin). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| CI |  Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) | 1961 | F | Formerly a territory ofFrance. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| CL |  Sri Lanka | 1961 | Formerly Ceylon. However, "SL" is being used on current driver licenses. | |
| CO |  Colombia | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| CR |  Costa Rica | 1956 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| CU[3] |  Cuba | 1930[citation needed] | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| CY |  Cyprus | 1932 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| CZ |  Czech Republic | 1993 | CS | FormerlyČeskoslovensko (Czechoslovakia). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| D |  Germany | 1910 | Deutschland (German); also used until 1974 by East Germany, which then used DDR until German reunification in 1990 | |
| DK |  Denmark | 1914 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| DOM |  Dominican Republic | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| DY |  Benin | 1910 | Part of AOF (Afrique occidentale française) − 1960 | Dahomey (name until 1975). Uses RB unofficially (République du Bénin) |
| DZ |  Algeria | 1962 | F − 1911 | Djazayer (Algerian Arabic:جزائر); formerly part ofFrance. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| E |  Spain | 1910 | España (Spanish) | |
| EAK |  Kenya | 1938 | East Africa Kenya | |
| EAT |  Tanzania | 1938 | EAT & EAZ | East Africa Tanzania; formerly East AfricaTanganyika and East AfricaZanzibar, EAZ used on plates issued in Zanzibar since 2008. |
| EAU |  Uganda | 1938 | East Africa Uganda | |
| EAZ |  Zanzibar | 1964 | East Africa Zanzibar | |
| EC |  Ecuador | 1962 | EQ | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| EG[12] |  Egypt | 2024 | ET 1927–2024 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| ER |  Eritrea | 1993 | AOI | Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| ES |  El Salvador | 1978 | ||
| EST |  Estonia | 1993 | EW 1919–1940 & 1991–1993 SU 1940–1991 | Eesti Vabariik (Estonian; old styleEesti Wabariik). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| ETH |  Ethiopia | 1964 | AOI − 1941 | Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| F |  France | 1910 | ||
| FIN |  Finland | 1993 | SF | Suomi /Finland (Finnish/Swedish). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| FJI |  Fiji | 1971 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| FL |  Liechtenstein | 1923 | Fürstentum Liechtenstein (German: 'Principality of Liechtenstein') | |
| FO |  Faroe Islands | 1996 | FR | Føroyar. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| G |  Gabon | 1974 | ALEF − 1960 | Afrique Équatoriale Française. Unofficially using RG on their license plates. |
| GBA |  Alderney | 1924 | GB 1923–1924 | (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Alderney |
| GBG |  Guernsey | 1924 | GB 1914–1924 | (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Guernsey |
| GBJ |  Jersey | 1924 | GB 1914–1924 | (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Jersey |
| GBM |  Isle of Man | 1932 | (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Isle of Man | |
| GBZ |  Gibraltar | 1924 | GB 1911–1924 | (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland – Gibraltar (Z was assigned because G was already used for Guernsey)[citation needed] |
| GCA |  Guatemala | 1956 | G | Guatemala, CentroAmérica in Spanish / Guatemala, Central America |
| GE |  Georgia | 1992 | SU | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Older licence plates use "GEO" instead of "GE". Also used unofficially and illegally by Equatorial-Guinea (Spanish:Guinea Ecuatorial). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| GH |  Ghana | 1959 | WAC − 1957 | West AfricaGold Coast − 1957. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| GR |  Greece | 1913 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| GUY |  Guyana | 1972 | BRG | FormerlyBritish Guiana − 1966. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| H |  Hungary | 1910 | ||
| HK |  Hong Kong | 1961 | Hong Kong remains in the United Nations list of country road codes. Reattached to the People's Republic of China in 1997 with a strong autonomy.[13] | |
| HKJ |  Jordan | 1966 | JOR | Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
| HN |  Honduras | 2018 | Unofficial: no other code found for Honduras. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Full name used on license plates. | |
| HR |  Croatia | 1992 | SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–92 | Hrvatska (Croatian). Formerly part ofYugoslavia. 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" (Hrvatska) instead. SHS was for the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| I |  Italy | 1910 | ||
| IL |  Israel | 1952 | "Israel" is also written on the plate in Hebrew (ישראל) and Arabic (إسرائيل). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| IND |  India | 1947 | BI | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code, displayed on plates since 2005. |
| IR |  Iran | 1936 | PR | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| IRL |  Ireland | 1992 | GB − 1910–24 SE − 1924–38 EIR − 1938–62 EIR/IRL − 1962–92 | Formerly a part of the United Kingdom,Saorstát Éireann,Éire. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| IRQ |  Iraq | 1930 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. Name fully spelt out on plates from 2008-2024 | |
| IRQ KR |  Kurdistan | 1991 | See above for 'IRQ'. | |
| IS |  Iceland | 1936 | Ísland (Icelandic). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| J |  Japan | 1964 | ||
| JA |  Jamaica | 1932 | ||
| KG |  Kyrgyzstan | 1992 | SU − 1991 | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. The Kyrgyz government notified the change from "KS" to "KG", which featured on the newcar registration plates from March 2016, in August that year to the UN Secretary-General.[14] Additionally, most vehicles use "KGZ" oval stickers instead of "KS". Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| KH[15] |  Cambodia | 1956 (KHM) | K | Known asKampuchea 1976–89. Formerly a territory ofFrance. KH currently being used (Khmer) on driving licenses, which coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Change ratified fromK (previously KHM) toKH in 2009 to the United Nations.[16] |
| KSA |  Saudi Arabia | 1973 | SA | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SA used on plates from 1972 to 1981 |
| KWT |  Kuwait | 1954 | Full name used on plates since 1995, KWT used on plates in 1991-1994 and plates for international travel starting in 1970s, KT used in 1950s to the late 60s | |
| KZ |  Kazakhstan | 1992 | SU − 1991 | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| L |  Luxembourg | 1911 | ||
| LAO |  Laos | 1959 | F – 1949 | Formerly a territory ofFrance (French Indochina). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| LAR |  Libya | 1972 | I − 1949, LT | Libyan Arab Republic, unused, unofficial LY used instead. |
| LB |  Liberia | 1967 | Displayed on plates since 2015, full name used on license plates since 1940s. | |
| LS |  Lesotho | 1967 | BL | Basutoland − 1966. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| LT |  Lithuania | 1992 | SU 1940–1991 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| LV |  Latvia | 1992 | LR 1927–1940 SU 1940–1991 | Latvijas Republika (Latvian). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| M |  Malta | 1966 | GBY 1924–66 | |
| MA |  Morocco | 1924 | Maroc (French). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| MAL |  Malaysia | 1967 | PRK – 1957 FM 1954–57 PTM 1957–67 | FormerlyPerak, thenFederated Malay States, thenPersekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malay) |
| MC | Monaco | 1910 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Name fully spelt out since 1950, displayed on plates since 2011. | |
| MD |  Moldova | 1992 | SU − 1991 | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| MEX |  Mexico | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. Displayed on all Mexican plates from 1966 until 2001 | |
| MNE |  Montenegro | 2006 | MN 1913–1919 SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–2003 SCG 2003–2006 | Independent nation until 1918. After that, part of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca –Serbo-Croatian), then part ofYugoslavia and thenSerbia and Montenegro (Srbija i Crna Gora –Serbian). Independence restored in 2006. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| MGL |  Mongolia | 2002 | MNG displayed on current plates. Nevertheless, the new format includes MGL once again.[17] Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| MOC |  Mozambique | 1975 | MOC: 1932–56 P: 1957–75 | Formerly part ofPortugal.Moçambique (Portuguese). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| MS |  Mauritius | 1938 | ||
| MV |  Maldives | 1965 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| MW |  Malawi | 1965 | EA 1932–38 NP – 1938–70 RNY option 1960–65 | Formerly theNyasaland Protectorate. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| MYA[18] |  Myanmar | 2019 | BA, BUR | Previously known as Burma. Coincides with the formerISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| N |  Norway | 1922 | ||
| NAM |  Namibia | 1990 | SWA | FormerlySouth West Africa. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| NAU |  Nauru | 1968 | ||
| NEP |  Nepal | 1970 | ||
| NIC |  Nicaragua | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| NL | Netherlands | 1910 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| NMK |  North Macedonia | 2019 | YU − 1992 MK 1992–2019 | Formerly part ofYugoslavia. Known asRepublic of Macedonia until 2019. Mix of EnglishNorth andMacedonianMakedonija. |
| NZ |  New Zealand | 1958 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| OM |  Oman | ?[citation needed] | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| P |  Portugal | 1910 | Unofficially used forPalestine in theWest Bank andGaza Strip.[19] | |
| PA |  Panama | 1952 | PY 1924–1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. RP used 1928—-1936 for República de Panamá, name fully spelt out since 1937. |
| PE |  Peru | 1937 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Used on plates 1958—2009, name fully spelt out since 2010. | |
| PK |  Pakistan | 1947 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| PL |  Poland | 1921 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| PNG |  Papua New Guinea | 1978 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. Used on plates since 1971. | |
| PY |  Paraguay | 1952 | PA 1924–1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Name fully spelt out since 1972. |
| Q |  Qatar | 1972 | ||
| RA |  Argentina | 1927 | República Argentina (Spanish) | |
| RC |  Taiwan | 1932 | Republic of China. Unofficially also used by car license plates in the Republic of Congo "République du Congo". | |
| RCA |  Central African Republic | 1962 | République Centrafricaine (French) | |
| RCB |  Republic of the Congo | 1962 | République du Congo Brazzaville (French). Unofficially using RC on current plates. | |
| RCH |  Chile | 1930 | República de Chile (Spanish) | |
| RG |  Guinea | 1972 | République de Guinée (French). Also used unofficially by Gabon. | |
| RH |  Haiti | 1952 | République d'Haïti (French) | |
| RI |  Indonesia | 1955 | Republik Indonesia (Indonesian) | |
| RIM |  Mauritania | 1964 | République islamique de Mauritanie (French) | |
| RKS |  Kosovo | 2010 | SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–2003 SCG 2003–2006 SRB 2006–2010 | Republic ofKosovo |
| RL |  Lebanon | 1952 | République Libanaise (French) | |
| RM |  Madagascar | 1962 | République de Madagascar (French) | |
| RMM |  Mali | 1962 | AOF − 1960 | République du Mali (French). Formerly part of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française) |
| RN |  Niger | 1977 | AOF − 1960; 1960-1977 - NIG (?) | République du Niger (French). Formerly part of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française). Still listed as NIG under the UN list. |
| RO | Romania | 1981 | R - 1981 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| ROK |  Republic of Korea | 1971 | Republic of Korea. KOR used on European size plates since 2019. | |
| ROU[20] |  Uruguay | 1981 | U 1926–1981 | Stands for República Oriental del Uruguay. |
| RP |  Philippines | 1975 | Republika ng Pilipinas (Republic of the Philippines) | |
| RSM |  San Marino | 1932 | Repubblica di San Marino (Italian) | |
| RU |  Burundi | 1960 | Belgian territory ofRuanda-Urundi. Unofficially using BU on their plates. | |
| RUS | Russia | 1992 | Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| RWA |  Rwanda | 1964 | RU − 1962 | Formerly part ofRuanda-Urundi − 1962. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| S | Sweden | 1911 | ||
| SD |  Eswatini | 1935 | Formerly Swaziland | |
| SGP |  Singapore | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| SK |  Slovakia | 1993 | CS 1919–39,1945–92 SQ 1939–45 | FormerlyČeskoslovensko (Czechoslovakia). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| SLO[21] |  Slovenia | 1992 | SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–92 | Formerly part of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and SlovenesKraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca (Serbo-Croatian), then part ofYugoslavia. |
| SME |  Suriname | 1936 | Now displaying 'SUR' on current driving licenses. | |
| SN |  Senegal | 1962 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| SO |  Somalia | 1974 | SP | Formerly Somaliland Protectorate. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| SRB |  Serbia | 2006 | SB – 1919 SHS 1919–29 Y 1929–53 YU 1953–2003 SCG 2003–2006 | Formerly part ofKingdom of Serbia (Kraljevina Srbija –Serbian),Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca –Serbo-Croatian),Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija –Serbo-Croatian), andSerbia and Montenegro (Srbija i Crna Gora –Serbian). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| SUD |  Sudan | 1963 | ||
| SY |  Seychelles | 1938 | ||
| SYR |  Syria | 1952 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. | |
| T |  Thailand | 1955 | SM | Siam |
| TCH |  Chad | 1973 | Tchad (French) | |
| TG |  Togo | 1973 | RT | FormerlyRépublique Togolaise (French). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| TJ |  Tajikistan | 1992 | SU − 1991 | Formerly part of theSoviet Union, used code "PT" forРеспублика Таджикистан on plates from 1993 to 2003. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| TM |  Turkmenistan | 1992 | SU − 1991 | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| TN |  Tunisia | 1957 | F − 1956 | Formerly a territory ofFrance. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Unofficial code TU is common. |
| TO |  Tonga | 1995 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Full name displayed on all plates since 1990s. | |
| TR |  Turkey | 1923 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| TT |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1964 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| UA |  Ukraine | 1992 | SU | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| UAE |  United Arab Emirates | 1971 | Currently used on plates issued in Fujairah and Sharjah | |
| UK | United Kingdom | 2021 | GB (1910–2021) | Before 1922,United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 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.)[22][23] |
| USA |  United States | 1952 | US | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code, used on registration plates for US Forces in Germany from 1962 until 2020, US now used by US Forces Germany since 2020. 'U' is currently used for registration plates for US Forces in Portugal (Lajes, Azores). Currently displayed on all plates issued in New Mexico (1969—1975, 1988—Present) Guam (1965—Present), and Northern Mariana Islands (1989—Present). |
| UZ |  Uzbekistan | 1992 | SU | Formerly part of theSoviet Union. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| V |  Vatican City | 1931 | CV (Italian:Città del Vaticano) is used as a prefix on the licence plate number itself. The prefix used on official and government vehicles is SCV (Latin:Status Civitatis Vaticanae) | |
| VN |  Vietnam | 1953 | Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| WAG |  Gambia | 1932 | West Africa Gambia, GPF used on plates since 2019 standing for Gambia Police Force which is the issuing authority. | |
| WAL |  Sierra Leone | 1937 | West Africa Sierra Leone; on local licence plates SLE is used | |
| WAN |  Nigeria | 1937 | West Africa Nigeria, name fully spelt out since 1992. | |
| WD |  Dominica | 1954 | Windward Islands Dominica | |
| WG |  Grenada | 1932 | Windward Islands Grenada | |
| WL |  Saint Lucia | 1932 | Windward Islands Saint Lucia | |
| WS |  Samoa | 1962 | Formerly Western Samoa. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| WV |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1932 | Windward Islands Saint Vincent | |
| YAR |  Yemen | 1960 | North Yemen formerly known as theYemen Arab Republic. | |
| YV |  Venezuela | 1955 | Name fully spelt out on plates since 1955. | |
| Z |  Zambia | 1964[citation needed] | RNR | FormerlyNorthern Rhodesia. ZM set out in national legislation since 2002 and mandatory on plates for new registrations starting 2017. Name fully spelt out on plates since 2002. |
| ZA |  South Africa | 1936 | Zuid-Afrika (fromDutch; inAfrikaans it isSuid-Afrika). Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. | |
| ZW |  Zimbabwe | 1980 | SR, RSR | FormerlySouthern Rhodesia until 1965,Rhodesia unrecognised until 1980. Coincides withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Name fully spelt out on plats since 2006. |
| Code | Country | Used until | Replaced by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADN |  Aden | 1990 | Y | From 1938, also known as South Yemen,People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967) |
| BA |  Burma | 1956 | BUR | From 1937 |
| BUR | Myanmar | 2019 | MYA | Change notified in 1982 and ratified in 2019.[18] |
| BP | Bechuanaland Protectorate | 1966 | BW | NowBotswana |
| CA |  Canada | 1956 | CDN | |
| CS | Czechoslovakia | 1992 | CZ, SK | Split intoCzech Republic andSlovakia. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| DA |  Danzig, Free City of | 1939 | D (1939–1945) PL (since 1945) | Danzig (German forGdańsk) |
| DDR | German Democratic Republic | 1990 | D | From 1974 (used D until 1974), Deutsche Demokratische Republik. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| EIR | Éire | 1992 | IRL | Now Ireland |
| ET | Egypt | 2024 | EG | Ratified to theUnited Nations in 2024. |
| EW | Estonia | 1993 | EST | Eesti Vabariik (Estonian) |
| FR | Faroe Islands | 1996 | FO | Føroyar (Faroese) |
| GB | United Kingdom | 2021 | UK | Changed to UK to be inclusive of Northern Ireland (which is not part of Great Britain), though the previous GB did also apply to Northern Ireland. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| GBY | Malta | 1966 | M | Changed after independence from UK |
| GRO |  Greenland | 1910 | KN | Grønland (Danish language) / Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenlandic language). Unofficial. The official code is DK. |
| HV |  Upper Volta (French:Haute-Volta), nowBurkina Faso | 1984 | BF | Upper Volta. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| K | Cambodia | 2009 | KH | Ratified by the United Nations as KH on 18 November 2009.[16] |
| KS | Kyrgyzstan | 1992–2016 | KG | Ratified by the United Nations as KG in March 2016. |
| LR | Latvia | 1927–1940 | SU, LV | Latvijas Republika (Latvian) |
| MK | Republic of Macedonia | 1992–2019 | NMK | BecameNorth Macedonia in 2019. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| NA |  Netherlands Antilles | 1957 | The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved in 2010. | |
| NIG | Niger | Unknown | RN | Still listed asNIG under the UN list.[15] |
| PANG | Portuguese Angola | 1956 | P (1957–1975) | From 1932. Formerly part ofPortugal |
| PI | Philippines | 1973? | RP | Still listed asPI under the UN list.[15] |
| R | Romania | 1981 | RO | |
| RNY | .svg) Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland | 1953–1963 | NP, NR, SR | NowMalawi,Zambia andZimbabwe |
| RNR | Zambia | Unknown | Z? ZM? | FormerlyRhodesia, although still listed as RNR under the UN list (as of May 2024). |
| RSR | .svg) Southern Rhodesia | 1965–1979 | SR | NowZimbabwe |
| RT | Togo | 1973 | TG | République togolaise (French). FormerlyFrench Togoland − 1960 |
| SA |  Territory of the Saar Basin | 1926–1935 | D | League of Nations mandate, returned to Germany in 1935 |
| SA |  Saar Protectorate | 1947–1956 | D | French Protectorate, nowSaarland, Germany |
| SA | Saudi Arabia | Unknown | KSA | The date of the change is unknown. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| SB | Serbia | 1919 | SHS | Serbia became part of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| SCG |  Serbia and Montenegro | 2006 | MNE, SRB | From Serbian name "Srbija i Crna Gora". Split intoMontenegro andSerbia. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
| SE | Saorstát Éireann | 1938 | EIR (IRL from 1962) | Under GB until 1924. Name changed toÉire, now Ireland |
| SF | Finland | 1993 | FIN | SF from "Suomi – Finland" (the names of the country in its official languages, Finnish and Swedish) |
| SHS |  Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes | 1929 | Y | Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca –Serbo-Croatian. The Kingdom changed its name to Yugoslavia |
| SP[24] |  Somaliland | 1960 | SO | Initialism ofSomaliland Protectorate. |
| SU |  Soviet Union | 1991 | EST, LT, LV, BY, MD, UA, TJ, TM, GE, KZ, UZ, KS, AZ, AM, RUS | Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| SWA |  South West Africa | 1990 | NowNamibia | |
| TS |  Free Territory of Trieste | 1947–1954 | Territory Zone A (controlled by the United Kingdom and United States from 1947 to 1954 before given to Italy). Now inItaly,Croatia andSlovenia. | |
| Y |  Yugoslavia | 1953 | YU | |
| YU | /Yugoslavia | 1992 | BIH, HR, NMK, MNE, RKS, SRB, SLO | Now Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Slovenia. MK for Macedonia was in use from 1993 until 2019. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. |
| ZRE |  Zaire | 1997 | CGO | Now theDemocratic Republic of the Congo. Coincided withISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. |
There are unofficial codes in common use, such as "AS" forAsturias, "CAT" forCatalonia, "SCO" forScotland, "CYM" forWales (WelshCymru), "ENG" for England, "BZH" forBrittany (Breizh), "GRD" forGroland (a fictional/satirical 'presipality'), "FRL" forFriesland, "NB" forNorth Brabant, "VL" forFlanders (Vlaanderen), "TS" forTransylvania, "P" forPalestine, "PR" forPuerto Rico, "CSB" forKashubia (Cassubia) and "SIC" forSzékely Land (from LatinTerra Siculorum). Some of these, such as "VL" which is used byFlemish 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.
A separate system is used for vehicles belonging to the diplomats of foreign countries with license plates 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 Italy, not Turkey. 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). In the Australian capital Canberra diplomatic car plates are D.C. followed by a number indicating the country and then digits in descending order, for example the head of mission’s vehicle is 01, the deputy is 02. For overseas staff of diplomatic missions who are not diplomats, the prefix is D.X.
