 Licence plate format issued since 2016 (ZG =Zagreb) | |
| Country |  Croatia |
|---|---|
| Country code | HR |
| Current series | |
| Size | 520 mm × 110 mm 20.5 in × 4.3 in |
| Serial format | AB 123-CD (AB being the regional code) |
| Colour (front) | Black on white |
| Colour (rear) | Black on white |
The standardlicence plates inCroatia consist of a two-letter city code which is separated by thecoat of arms of Croatia from three or four numbers and one or two letters.
The standard regular plate consists of three or four randomly assigned numbers, one or two randomly assigned letters, and the first two letters indicate the city, separated by the Croatian coat of arms, while the numbers and the last letters are separated by a dash (example;ZG 000-A, ZG 000-AA, ZG 0000-A or ZG 0000-AA). The letters Q, W, X and Y are not used in Croatian plates because they are not in Croatian alphabet. Since Croatia entered theEuropean Union in 2013, there have been proposals to permanently change the design scheme (consisting of new letter font and ideas to replace the coat of arms with four red squares). However, in July 2016, it was determined to keep the original design and add the blue EU-issued sticker, applying thestandard with EU member states and Vienna Convention. The design of Croatian license plates comes fromold Yugoslav license plates from the 1980s, and it remained the same (with a notable difference of switching the red star, Yugoslav national symbol, with the coat of arms).
There is also a possibility of having a customized plate for a fee. One type of customized plate looks exactly like the standard ones, with the exception that the combination of numbers and letters is personally chosen by the vehicle's owner. The other kind of customized plates can consist of a word with from four to seven letters or a combination of the word with four or five letters and one or two numbers. However, these plates are still quite rare in Croatia, mostly because they can only be used for five years after the first registration and they also require a fee of 2,000kuna (cca. 270 euros).[1]
There are also some special plates. While the numbers and letters on standard licence plates are colored black, plates for foreign citizens permanently living in Croatia, international organizations and temporary registered vehicles have green numbers and letters. On the plates used on biggertrucks and other vehicles that can be oversized for some of the smaller roads, the numbers and letters are red.[2]
Thepolice vehicles are equipped with the plates consisting of six numbers divided in two groups and separated by the coat of arms of Croatia, blue numbers. The first group of numbers denote the police department to which the vehicle belongs. While the background on all of these plates is colored white, on those used onmilitary vehicles it is yellow. However, the system of dividing numbers and letters is the same as on the standard plates, but instead of a city code there are letters HV forHrvatska vojska (Croatian military). At the same time, specialized military vehicles have the letters VP forvojna policija or MP formilitary police (military police) as the final two letters.Plates for diplomatic representatives (embassies, consulates) are blue with yellow numbers and letters. The first three number denote the country, followed by letter A, C, or M, then serial number of the vehicle.
As opposed to all above mentioned plates that are made of metal, the dealer's test plates are stickers that are attached to the plate holder. These plates consist of a city code separated by the coat of arms from five numbers divided in two groups and they can be used for a limited number of days.
Starting from 2008 onwards, special plates with an additional two letters (PP or PV) were introduced, PP stands forprijenosne pločice (transferable plates) and PV stands forpovijesno vozilo (historical vehicle) in a form CC-PV-NNN(N).[3]
Also from 2008 onwards, export plates are introduced, with RH standing for Republika Hrvatska, and a green background with yellow numbers and letters. Croatia's Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed new licence plates with the EU stars.[4]
| Code | Place | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| KN | Krapina | Previously used onYugoslav plates, but never on plates in independentCroatia, lest the code would be mistaken forKnin, capital of, at the time extant,separatistRepublic of Serbian Krajina. Krapina was assigned the new codeKR, previously (and currently) used forKranj,Slovenia. |
| PS | Slatina | The town changed its name back from Podravska Slatina to Slatina in 1992. These plates were phased out in 2005. Slatina was assigned the new codeSL. |
| SI | Sisak | Previously used onYugoslav plates, but never on plates in independentCroatia, lest the code would be mistaken forŠibenikŠI. Sisak was assigned the new codeSK, previously (and currently) used forSkopje,North Macedonia. |
| SP | Požega | Previously used onYugoslav plates, but never on plates in independentCroatia since the city changed its name back from Slavonska Požega to Požega in 1991. Požega was assigned the new codePŽ. |
| TK | Korenica | Previously used onYugoslav plates, but never on plates in independentCroatia since the village changed its name back from Titova Korenica to Korenica in 1996. Korenica was assignedGospićGS code. |
| Code | Country or Organization |
|---|---|
| 010 | Holy See |
| 011 |  Germany |
| 012 |  Austria |
| 013 |  Italy |
| 014 |  Hungary |
| 015 |  Sweden |
| 016 |  Slovenia |
| 017 |  Poland |
| 018 |  France |
| 019 |  Sudan |
| 020 |  United Kingdom |
| 021 |  Switzerland |
| 022 |  China |
| 023 |  Norway |
| 024 |  United States |
| 025 |  Bulgaria |
| 026 |  Iran |
| 027 |  Russia |
| 028 |  Czech Republic |
| 029 |  Slovakia |
| 030 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 031 |  Turkey |
| 032 |  Romania |
| 033 |  UNICEF |
| 034 |  WHO |
| 036 | UNHCR |
| 039 |  Spain |
| 040 |  Malta |
| 041 |  Belgium |
| 043 |  Canada |
| 047 |  Albania |
| 048 |  Netherlands |
| 049 |  Serbia |
| 050 |  North Macedonia |
| 051 |  Malaysia |
| 053 |  Greece |
| 054 |  Ukraine |
| 055 |  Chile |
| 056 | IMF (International Monetary Fund) |
| 057 |  India |
| 058 | UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) |
| 059 |  European Union |
| 063 | OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) |
| 064 |  South Korea |
| 066 |  Finland |
| 067 |  Egypt |
| 069 | World Bank |
| 070 |  Japan |
| 071 |  Israel |
| 073 |  Portugal |
| 074 |  Australia |
| 077 | RACVIAC (Centre for Security Cooperation) |
| 078 |  Libya |
| 079 |  Denmark |
| 081 | International Sava River Basin Commission |
| 082 |  Brazil |
| 083 |  United Nations |
| 084 |  Montenegro |
| 085 |  Algeria |
| 086 |  Kazakhstan |
| 087 |  Kosovo |
| 088 |  Azerbaijan |
| 089 |  Indonesia |
| 090 |  Morocco |
| 091 |  Qatar |
| 092 |  Lithuania |
| 093 | European Commission |
| 094 |  Ireland |
| 095 |  Iraq |
Media related toLicense plates of Croatia at Wikimedia Commons