List of international license plate codes

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This is a list of vehicle country identification codes:

A sign with the code inside an oval must be attached to the rear of the vehicle when driving outside the country the vehicle registration plate is issued in. This is not needed for vehicles registered in Canada, the United States or Mexico if driving in one of these three countries because the plates themselves are issued by states and provinces, not the federal government (all three countries are federations) and indicate the state or province the vehicle is registered in. Inside the European Union, as an alternative, a blue stripe on the short edge of the plate, with the code inside, is accepted. This stripe is usually built into newer registration plates.


Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Code Country From Before Notes
A Austria 1910
AFG Afghanistan 1971
AG Antigua and Barbuda
AL Albania 1934
AND Andorra 1957
ANG Angola 1975 PAN: 1932-1957, P: 1957-1975
ARK* Antarctica
ARM Armenia 1992 SU
ARU* Aruba NA
AUS Australia 1954
AX Åland 2002 SF
AXA Anguilla
AZ Azerbaijan 1992 SU

Code Country From Before Notes
B Belgium 1910
RB Benin 1991 RPB until 1991: République Populaire du Bénin
BD Bangladesh 1978 PAK
BDS Barbados 1956
BF Burkina Faso 1984 RHV / HV until August 2003, 1984: (République(de))Haute Volta (Upper Volta)
BG Bulgaria 1910
BHT Bhutan
BIH Bosnia-Herzegovina 1992 YU Bosna i Hercegovina (Bosn.)
BOL Bolivia 1967
BR Brazil 1930
BRN Bahrain 1954
BRU Brunei 1956
BS Bahamas 1950
BU Burundi 1962 RU until 1962: part of former Belgian-mandated UN territory of Ruanda-Urundi
BY Belarus 1992 SU Беларусь (formerly Byelorussia)
BZ Belize 1938-1980s BH until 1973, British Honduras

Code Country From Before Notes
C Cuba 1930
CAM Cameroon 1952 F & WAN
CGO Democratic Republic of the Congo 1997 CB,RCL,CGO,ZR,ZRE Belgian Congo, Rép.de Congo (Léopoldville, Congo(Kinshasa),Zaire
CDN Canada 1956 CA
CH Switzerland 1911 Confœderatio Helvetica (Latin)
CI Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 1961 F
CL Sri Lanka 1961 formerly Ceylon
CO Colombia 1952
COM Comoros F
CR Costa Rica 1956
CV Cape Verde 1975 P
CY Cyprus 1932
CZ Czech Republic 1993 CS

Code Country From Before Notes
D Germany 1910 Deutschland (Germ.)
DJI Djibouti F
DK Denmark 1914
DOM Dominican Republic 1952
DY Benin 1910 Part of AOF (Afrique Occidentale Francais)-1960 formerly Dahomey-1976
DZ Algeria 1962 F-1911 Al Djazaïr (Arab.)

Code Country From Before Notes
E Spain 1910 España (Span.)
EAK Kenya 1938 East Africa Kenya
EAT Tanzania 1938 East Africa Tanzania
EAU Uganda 1938 East Africa Uganda
EC Ecuador 1962
ER Eritrea 1993 AOI -1941 Africa Orientale Italiana (It.)
ES El Salvador 1978
EST Estonia 1993 EW 1919-40 & 1991-93, SU 1940-91 1940-91 part of Soviet Union
ET Egypt 1927
ETH Ethiopia 1964 AOI -1941 Africa Orientale Italiana (It.)

Code Country From Before Notes
F France 1910
FIN Finland 1993 SF SF from "Suomi – Finland" (Finnish/Swedish)
FJI Fiji 1971
FL Liechtenstein 1923 Fürstentum Liechtenstein (Germ.)
FO Faroes 1996 FR Sometimes FØ or Fø
FSM Federated States of Micronesia

Code Country From Before Notes
G Gabon 1974 ALEF - 1960 Afrique Equatorial Francais
GB United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1910 Before 1922 it was used for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
GBA Alderney 1924 Great Britain - Alderney
GBG Guernsey 1924 Great Britain - Guernsey
GBJ Jersey 1924 Great Britain - Jersey
GBM Isle of Man 1932 Great Britain - Man
GBZ Gibraltar 1924 Great Britain - Gibraltar [Z was assigned as G was already used for Guernsey]
GCA Guatemala 1956 Guatemala Central America
GE Georgia 1992 SU Soviet Union
GH Ghana 1959 WAC-1957 West Africa Gold Coast - 1957
GW, RGB Guinea-Bissau 1974 P Portuguese Guinea - 1974. República da Guiné-Bissau
GQ* Equatorial Guinea E Spanish Guinea - 1968
GR Greece 1913
GUY Guyana 1972 BRG formerly British Guiana - 1966

Code Country From Before Notes
H Hungary 1910
HK Hong Kong 1932
HN Honduras
HR Croatia 1992 SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-92 Hrvatska (Croat.)

Code Country From Before Notes
I Italy 1910
IL Israel 1952
IND India 1947
IR Iran 1936
IRL Republic of Ireland 1962 EIR-1938, SE-1924, GB-1910
IRQ Iraq 1930
IS Iceland 1936 Ísland (Iceland.)

Code Country From Before Notes
J Japan 1964
JA Jamaica 1932
HKJ Jordan JOR Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Code Country From Before Notes
K Cambodia 1956 F - 1949 Kampuchea 1976-89
KAN* Saint Kitts and Nevis
KN Greenland GRO Kalaallit Nunaat
KS Kyrgyzstan 1992 SU-1991 formerly Kirgizia S.S.R. - 1991
KIR Kiribati formerly the Gilbert, Line & Phoenix Islands - 1975. Part of the Gilbert & Ellice Islands Colony.
KP North Korea Korea, Democratic People’s Republic
KSA Saudi-Arabia Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia
KWT Kuwait 1954
KZ Kazakhstan 1992 SU - 1991

Code Country From Before Notes
L Luxembourg 1911
LAO Laos 1959 F - 1949 formerly part of French Indo-China - 1949
LAR* Libya 1972 I - 1949, LT Libyan Arab Republic
LB* Liberia 1967
LS Lesotho 1967 BL Basutoland - 1966
LT Lithuania 1992 SU
LV Latvia 1992 SU

Code Country From Before Notes
M Malta 1966 GBY 1924-66
MA Morocco 1924 Maroc, El Maghreb
MAL Malaysia 1967 FM - 1957, PTM 1957-67 formerly Federated Malay States, then Perseketuan Tanah Malayu
MAN Isle of Man 1910
MC Monaco 1910
MD Moldova 1992 SU - 1991
MNE Montenegro 2006 MN - 1913-1919, SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-2003, SCG 2003-2006
MEX Mexico 1952
MGL Mongolia
MH Marshall Islands
MK Macedonia 1992 YU - 1992
MOC Mozambique 1975 MOC: 1932-56, P: 1957-75 Moçambique
MS Mauritius 1938
MV* Maldives
MW Malawi 1965 EA 1932-38, NP - 1938-70, RNY option 1960-65 formerly The Nyasaland Protectorate
MYA Myanmar 1989 BUR-89

Code Country From Before Notes
N Norway 1922
NA Netherlands Antilles 1957
NAM Namibia 1990 SWA South-West Africa
NAU Nauru 1968
NC New Caledonia
NEP* Nepal 1970
NIC Nicaragua 1952
NL Netherlands 1910
NZ New Zealand 1958

Code Country From Before Notes
OM Oman

Code Country From Before Notes
P Portugal 1910
PA Panama 1952
PAK Pakistan 1947
PAL Palau formerly part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands - 1980
PE Peru 1937
PL Poland 1921
PMR* Transnistria 1990 SU-1991, MD 1991 PMR stands for the initials of Приднестровская Молдавская Република (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic), the full name of Transnistria
PNG* Papua-New Guinea 1978
PS Palestinian Authority
PY Paraguay 1952
PR Puerto Rico

Code Country From Before Notes
Q Qatar 1972

Code Country From Before Notes
RA Argentina 1927 República Argentina (Span.)
RB Botswana 1967 Republic of Botswana
RC Republic of China (Taiwan) 1932 Republic of China (Taiwan)
RCA Central African Republic 1962 République Centrafricaine (French)
RCB Republic of the Congo 1962 République du Congo Brazzaville (Fr.)
RCH Chile 1930 República de Chile (Span.)
RG Guinea 1972 République de Guinée (Fr.)
RH Haiti 1952 République d'Haïti (Fr.)
RI Indonesia 1955 Republik Indonesia (Indones.)
RIM Mauritania 1964 République islamique de Mauritanie (Fr.)
RL Lebanon 1952 République Libanaise (Fr.)
RM Madagascar 1962 République de Madagascar(Fr.)Formerly Malagasy Republic 1970-79
RMM Mali 1962 AOF-60 République du Mali (Fr.) Formerly French Sudan - 1960
RN Niger 1977 AOF - 1960 République du Niger (Fr.) Formerly part of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française - 1960)
RO Romania 1981 R
ROK Korea 1971 Republic of Korea
ROU Uruguay 1979 República Oriental del Uruguay (Span.)
RP Philippines 1975 Republic of the Philippines
RSM San Marino 1932 Repubblica di San Marino (It.)
RT Togo 1960 TT, TG Republique Togolaise (French.)formerly French Togoland - 1960
RUS Russia 1992 SU-91
RWA Rwanda 1964 RU-62 formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi - 1962

Code Country From Before Notes
S Sweden 1911
SA Saudi Arabia 1973 see KSA
SRB Serbia 2006 SB - 1919, SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-2003, SCG 2003-2006
SD Swaziland 1935
SGP Singapore 1952
SK Slovakia 1993 CS
SLE* Sierra Leone 2002 officially WAL; SLE is only used on local licence plates, written below the national flag
SLO Slovenia 1992 SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-92
SME Suriname 1936
SMOM Sovereign Military Order of Malta
SN Senegal 1962
SO Somalia 1974
SOL Solomon Islands
STP São Tomé and Príncipe 1975 P
SUD* Sudan 1963
SY Seychelles 1938
SYR Syria 1952

Code Country From Before Notes
T Thailand 1955
TCH* Chad 1973 Tchad (French.)
TG* Togo 1973 SEE RT
TJ Tajikistan 1992 SU
TL Timor-Leste (East Timor) P, RI
TM Turkmenistan 1992 SU - 1991
TN Tunisia 1957 F - 1956
TO Tonga
TR Turkey 1935
TS Free Territory of Trieste 1947 Until 1954
TT Trinidad and Tobago 1964
TUV Tuvalu formerly the Ellice Islands-75 (Gilbert & Ellice)

Code Country From Before Notes
UA Ukraine 1992 SU
UAE United Arab Emirates
USA United States of America 1952 Correctly used by U.S.-registered vehicles abroad. Today, U.S.-owned vehicles registered in Europe use the licence plate code of the country in which they are located.
UZ Uzbekistan 1992 SU

Code Country From Before Notes
V Vatican City 1931 Vanuatu
VN Vietnam 1953

Code Country From Before Notes
WAG The Gambia 1932 West Africa Gambia
WAL Sierra Leone 1937 West Africa Sierra Leone; on local licence plates SLE is used
WAN Nigeria 1937 West Africa Nigeria
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
WSA* Western Sahara 1932 SE - 1976 formerly Spanish Sahara (Sahara Español), mostly occupied by Morocco (MA), some territory administered by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
WV St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1932 Windward Islands Saint Vincent

Code Country From Before Notes
YEM Yemen Formerly YAR (Yemen Arab Republic)
YV Venezuela

Code Country From Before Notes
Z Zambia 1966
ZA South Africa 1936 Zuid Afrika (Dutch)
ZW Zimbabwe 1977
Note
* Non-official

Code Country Until After Notes
ADN Aden 1967 Y
BP Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana 1966 RB
BUR Burma 1989 MYA
CS Czechoslovakia 1992 CZ / SK
DA Free City of Danzig 1939 1939-1945:D, since 1945: PL
DDR German Democratic Republic 1989 D Deutsche Demokratische Republik
EW Estonia 1993 EST Eesti Vabariik (Estn.)
FR Faroes 1996 FO
GRO Greenland KN
HV Haute Volta, now Burkina Faso 1984 BF
LR Latvia 1927-1940 SU, LV Latvijas Republika (Latv.)
R Romania 1981 RO
RSR Southern Rhodesia 1960-1979 ZW Now Zimbabwe
RNR Northern Rhodesia Z Now Zambia
RNY Rhodesia-Nyasaland Fed. MW Now Malawi
SA Saarland 1956 D also D between 1935 and 1945
SB Serbia 1919 SHS Serbia became part of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
SCG Serbia and Montenegro 2006 MNE, SRB Now Montenegro, Serbia
SF Finland 1993 FIN SF from "Suomi – Finland" (the names of the country in both of its official languages, Finnish and Swedish)
SHS Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes 1929 Y Kingdom changed its name to Yugoslavia
SU Soviet Union 1991 EST, LT, LV, BY, MD, UA, TJ, TUR, GE, KZ, UZ, KS, AZ, ARM, RUS
SWA South West Africa 1990 NAM Namibia
Y Yugoslavia 1953 YU Yemen started using Y afterwards
YU Yugoslavia 2003 BIH, HR, MK, MNE, SRB, SLO Now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia
ZRE Zaire 1997 CB
Note1 
There are other, unofficial codes in common use, such as "BZH" for Brittany, "CYM" for Wales, "VL" for Flanders, "NI" for Northern Ireland, "V" for Vojvodina/Vajdaság and "CD" for "Corps Diplomatique". These often signify places which are not internationally recognised as independent states. See http://www.kingkong.demon.co.uk/where/unoff.htm for a list of some of these.
Note2 
Some license plates even tell us from which part of the country they are originating from. See http://www.kingkong.demon.co.uk/where/where.htm for these origins.

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