International vehicle registration code

The country in which a motor vehicle's vehicle registration

plate was issued may be indicated by an international
licence plate country code, formerly known as an
International Registration Letter[1] or International
Circulation Mark.[2] It is referred to as the Distinguishing
sign of the State of registration in the Geneva Convention
on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road
Traffic of 1968.
Example of a white oval plate or
The allocation of codes is maintained by the United Nations
sticker; this one represents
Economic Commission for Europe as the Distinguishing Signs
Switzerland
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
of ISO 3166 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).[6]

The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic entered into force on A 1960 Borgward Isabella showing
26 March 1952. One of the main benefits of the convention for the international vehicle code NL
motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognize (Netherlands)
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. Estonian registration plate in EU
standard format with international
code EST
History

1909 Paris Convention

The display of a national distinctive mark on a white oval plate, Indian vehicle registration plate in
30 cm × 18 cm (12 in × 7 in) with black letters was first Indian standard format with
introduced by the 1909 International Convention with respect international code IND
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]
 1909 Paris Convention distinctive marks
State Mark

Germany D

Austria A Brazilian vehicle registration plate in

Belgium Mercosur standard format with
B
international code BR
Spain E

United States of America US

France F

Great Britain and Ireland GB

Greece GR

Hungary H
Italy I

Montenegro MN

Monaco MC

The Netherlands NL

Portugal P

Russia R
Romania RO

Serbia SB

Sweden S

Switzerland CH

Bulgaria BG

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.[8]
 1924 Paris Convention distinguishing marks
State or territory Mark Notes

For the original German name

Germany D[a] Deutschland

United States of
America US[a]

Austria A[a]

Belgium B[a]
Volkswagen Golf Mk1 with both
Brazil BR International vehicle registration
codes, the Åland Islands (AX) and
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland GB[a] Finland (SF)

Alderney GBA

Gibraltar GBZ
Guernsey GBG

Jersey GBJ

Malta GBY

British India BI

Bulgaria BG[a]
Chile RCH

China RC

Colombia CO

Cuba C

Denmark DK

Danzig DA

Egypt ET

Ecuador EQ

Spain E[a] España

Estonia EST

From Finnish Suomi, Swedish

Finland SF
Finland.

France, Algeria
and Tunis F[a]

French India F

Guatemala G

Greece GR[a]
Haiti RH

Hungary H[a]
Part of the United Kingdom at the
Irish Free State SE time of the 1909 convention. Initials
stand for Irish Saorstát Éireann.

Italy I[a]
 State or territory Mark Notes

Latvia LV

Liechtenstein FL

Lithuania LT

Luxembourg L

Morocco F

Mexico MEX

Monaco MC[a]
Panama PY current code is PA

Paraguay PA current code is PY

Netherlands NL[a]
Indies IN

Peru PE

Persia PR
Poland PL

Portugal P[a]
Roumania R[a]

Territory of the Saar SA League of Nations mandate

Kingdom of Serbs, Croats

SHS
and Slovenes

Siam SM

Sweden S[a]
Switzerland CH[a]
Syria and Lebanon LSA French League of Nations mandate

Czechoslovakia CS

Turkey TR

Union of Soviet Socialist

SU Russia had been a party to the 1909 convention.
Republics

Uruguay U

a. Originally in 1909 convention

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 Geneva 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 the vehicle 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 the European
Economic Area, 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.[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.

Current codes
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

A Austria 1911 Austria in English or Autriche in French

AFG 1971 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

Afghanistan

AL Albania 1934 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

AND Andorra 1957 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

AM Armenia 1992 SU
3166-1 alpha-2 code.
AUS Australia 1954 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

AZ Azerbaijan 1993 SU
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

B Belgium 1910

BD 1978 PAK Formerly East Pakistan

Bangladesh

BDS Barbados 1956

Burkina Until August 2003, 1984; (République de) Haute Volta

BF 1990 RHV / HV
Faso (Upper Volta)

BG Bulgaria 1910 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly British Honduras. Still officially registered as BH

BH Belize 1938 as of 2007. New driving licenses appear to have 'BZ'
instead of 'BH' as Belize's code.[10]
Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина (Bosnian).
SHS 1919–
Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and
Bosnia and 29
BIH 1992 Slovenes Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca (Serbo-
Herzegovina Y 1929–53
Croatian), then part of Yugoslavia. Coincides with ISO
YU 1953–92
3166-1 alpha-3 code.

BOL Bolivia 1967 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

BR Brazil 1930 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

BRN Bahrain 1954

BRU Brunei 1956

BS Bahamas 1950

Previously known as Burma. Coincides with the former

BUR Myanmar 1956 BA, BUR
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

British
BVI 1910
Virgin Islands
Officially used by Botswana since 2003. Formerly RB
BW[3] Botswana 2003 BP (Republic of Botswana) until 2004; Bechuanaland
Protectorate before 1966.

Belarus; formerly part of the Soviet Union. The UN was

1992
BY Belarus SU officially notified of the change from SU to BY only in
(2004)
2004. Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly a territory of France, plus a strip of territory from

CAM Cameroon 1952 F & WAN eastern Nigeria (WAN). Unofficially using CMR on their
plates.
CDN Canada 1956 CA CDN for "Canada Dominion"
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

Democratic French: Congo Belge, République de Congo Léopoldville,

CB, RCL,
CGO Republic of the 1997 Congo (Kinshasa), Zaïre, République Démocratique du
ZRE
Congo Congo (French)

Switzerland Confœderatio Helvetica (Latin). Coincides with ISO 3166-

CH 1911
1 alpha-2 code.
Ivory Coast Formerly a territory of France. Coincides with ISO 3166-1
CI 1961 F
(Côte d'Ivoire) alpha-2 code.

Formerly Ceylon. However, "SL" is being used on current

CL Sri Lanka 1961
driver licenses.

CO Colombia 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

CR Costa Rica 1956 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

CU[3] Cuba 1930 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

CY Cyprus 1932 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Czech Formerly Československo (Czechoslovakia). Coincides

CZ 1993 CS
Republic with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Deutschland (German); also used until 1974 by East

D Germany 1910 Germany, which then used DDR until German
reunification in 1990

DK Denmark 1914 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Dominican
DOM 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
Republic

Part of AOF
(Afrique
Dahomey (name until 1975). Uses RB unofficially
DY Benin 1910 occidentale
(République du Bénin)
française) −
1960

Algeria Djazayer (Algerian Arabic: ‫ ;)جزائر‬formerly part of France.

DZ 1962 F − 1911
Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

E Spain 1910 España (Spanish)

EAK Kenya 1938 East Africa Kenya

East Africa Tanzania; formerly East Africa Tanganyika and

EAT Tanzania 1938 EAT & EAZ
East Africa Zanzibar

EAU Uganda 1938 East Africa Uganda

EAZ Zanzibar 1964 East Africa Zanzibar

EC Ecuador 1962 EQ Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian). Coincides with ISO

ER Eritrea 1993 AOI
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

ES El Salvador 1978

EW 1919–
1940 &
Eesti Vabariik (Estonian; old style Eesti Wabariik).
EST Estonia 1993 1991–1993
Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
SU 1940–
1991

ET Egypt 1927

Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian). Coincides with ISO

ETH Ethiopia 1964 AOI − 1941
3166-1 alpha-3 code.
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

F France 1910

Suomi / Finland (Finnish/Swedish). Coincides with ISO

FIN Finland 1993 SF
3166-1 alpha-3 code.
FJI Fiji 1971 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

Fürstentum Liechtenstein (German: 'Principality of

FL 1923
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein')

Faroe
FO 1996 FR Føroyar. Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
Islands

Afrique Équatoriale Française. Unofficially using RG on

G Gabon 1974 ALEF − 1960
their license plates.

GB 1923- (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland –

GBA Alderney 1924
1924 Alderney
GB 1914- (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland –
GBG Guernsey 1924
1924 Guernsey

GB 1914- (United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland –

GBJ Jersey 1924
1924 Jersey

(United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland –

GBM Isle of Man 1932
Isle of Man
(United Kingdom of) Great Britain & Northern Ireland –
GB 1911-
GBZ Gibraltar 1924 Gibraltar (Z was assigned because G was already used
1924
for Guernsey)

GCA Guatemala 1956 G Guatemala, Central America

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Older licence plates

use "GEO" instead of "GE". Also used by Equatorial-
GE Georgia 1992 SU
Guinea (Spanish: Guinea Ecuatorial). Coincides with ISO
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

West Africa Gold Coast − 1957. Coincides with ISO 3166-

GH Ghana 1959 WAC − 1957
1 alpha-2 code.

GR Greece 1913 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly British Guiana − 1966. Coincides with ISO 3166-

GUY Guyana 1972 BRG
1 alpha-3 code.

H Hungary 1910
HKJ Jordan 1966 JOR Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Unofficial: no other code found for Honduras. Coincides

HN Honduras ?
with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Hrvatska (Croatian). Formerly part of Yugoslavia.

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
SHS 1919– "CRO", Croatia opted for "HR" (Hrvatska) instead.
29
HR Croatia 1992
Y 1929–53
YU 1953–92 SHS was for the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats
and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i
Slovenaca). Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2
code.

I Italy 1910
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

"Israel" is also written on the plate in Hebrew (‫ )ישראל‬and

IL Israel 1952
Arabic (‫)إسرائيل‬. Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

IND India 1947 BI Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

IR Iran 1936 PR Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

GB − 1910–
24
SE − 1924–
38 Formerly a part of the United Kingdom, Saorstát Éireann,
IRL Ireland 1992
EIR − 1938– Éire. Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
62
EIR/IRL −
1962–92

IRQ Iraq 1930 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

IRQ KR Kurdistan 1991 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

Ísland (Icelandic). Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

IS Iceland 1936
code.

J Japan 1964

JA Jamaica 1932

Known as Kampuchea 1976–89. Formerly a territory of

K Cambodia 1956 France. KH currently being used (Khmer) on driving
licenses, which coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. The Kyrgyz

government notified the change from "KS" to "KG", which
featured on the new car registration plates from March
KG Kyrgyzstan 1992 SU − 1991
2016, in August that year to the UN Secretary-General.[11]
Additionally, most vehicles use "KGZ" oval stickers
instead of "KS". Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Saudi
KSA 1973 SA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Arabia

KWT Kuwait 1954

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO
KZ 1992 SU − 1991
Kazakhstan 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

L 1911
Luxembourg

Formerly a territory of France (French Indochina).

LAO Laos 1959 F – 1949
Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

LAR Libya 1972 I − 1949, LT Libyan Arab Republic, unused, unofficial LY used instead.
LB Liberia 1967

Basutoland − 1966. Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

LS Lesotho 1967 BL
code.

SU 1940–
LT Lithuania 1992 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
1991
LR 1927–
1940 Latvijas Republika (Latvian). Coincides with ISO 3166-1
LV Latvia 1992
SU 1940– alpha-2 code.
1991

GBY 1924–
M Malta 1966
66
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

MA Morocco 1924 Maroc (French). Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

PRK – 1957
FM 1954–57 Formerly Perak, then Federated Malay States, then
MAL Malaysia 1967
PTM 1957– Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malay)
67

MC Monaco 1910 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

MD Moldova 1992 SU − 1991
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

MEX Mexico 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

MN 1913–
1919
Independent nation until 1918. After that, part of the
SHS 1919–
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba,
29
Hrvata i Slovenaca – Serbo-Croatian), then part of
MNE 2006 Y 1929–53
Montenegro Yugoslavia and then Serbia and Montenegro (Srbija i
YU 1953–
Crna Gora – Serbian). Independence restored in 2006.
2003
Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
SCG 2003–
2006

MNG displayed on current plates. Nevertheless, the new

MGL Mongolia 2002 format includes MGL once again.[12] Coincides with ISO
3166-1 alpha-3 code.
MOC: 1932–
Formerly part of Portugal. Moçambique (Portuguese).
MOC 1975 56
Mozambique Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
P: 1957–75

MS Mauritius 1938

MV Maldives 1965 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

EA 1932–38
NP – 1938–
Formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate. Coincides with ISO
MW Malawi 1965 70
3166-1 alpha-2 code.
RNY option
1960–65

N Norway 1922

Formerly South West Africa. Coincides with ISO 3166-1

NAM Namibia 1990 SWA
alpha-3 code.
NAU Nauru 1968

NEP Nepal 1970

NIC Nicaragua 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

NL 1910 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Netherlands
YU − 1992 Formerly part of Yugoslavia. Known as Republic of
North
NMK 2019 MK 1992– Macedonia until 2019. Mix of English North and
Macedonia
2019 Macedonian Makedonija.

New
NZ 1958 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
Zealand

OM Oman ? Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Unofficially used for Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza
P Portugal 1910
Strip.[13]

PA Panama 1952 PY 1924– Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)
1952

PE Peru 1937 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

PK Pakistan 1947 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

PL Poland 1921 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Papua New
PNG 1978 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
Guinea

PA 1924–
PY Paraguay 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
1952

Q Qatar 1972

RA Argentina 1927 República Argentina (Spanish)

Republic of Unofficially also used by car license plates in the Republic

RC 1932
China (Taiwan) of Congo (République du Congo).

Central
RCA African 1962 République Centrafricaine (French)
Republic

Republic of République du Congo Brazzaville (French). Unofficially

RCB 1962
the Congo using RC on current plates.

RCH Chile 1930 República de Chile (Spanish)

République de Guinée (French). Also used unofficially by

RG Guinea 1972
Gabon.

RH Haiti 1952 République d'Haïti (French)

RI Indonesia 1955 Republik Indonesia (Indonesian)

RIM Mauritania 1964 République islamique de Mauritanie (French)

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

RL Lebanon 1952 République Libanaise (French)

RM 1962 République de Madagascar (French)

Madagascar

République du Mali (French). Formerly part of French

RMM Mali 1962 AOF − 1960
West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française)
République du Niger (French). Formerly part of French
RN Niger 1977 AOF − 1960
West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française)

RO Romania 1981 R - 1981 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

South
ROK 1971 Republic of Korea. Unofficially using KOR on their plates.
Korea

RP Philippines 1975 Republika ng Pilipinas (Republic of the Philippines)

RSM San Marino 1932 Repubblica di San Marino (Italian)

Belgian territory of Ruanda-Urundi. Unofficially using BU

RU Burundi 1960
on their plates.
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

RUS Russia 1992
3166-1 alpha-3 code.

Formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi − 1962. Coincides with

RWA Rwanda 1964 RU − 1962
ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

S Sweden 1911

SD Eswatini 1935 Formerly Swaziland

SGP Singapore 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

CS 1919–
Formerly Československo (Czechoslovakia). Coincides
SK Slovakia 1993 39,1945–92
with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
SQ 1939–45

SHS 1919–
Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and
[14] 29
SLO Slovenia 1992 Slovenes Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca (Serbo-
Y 1929–53
Croatian), then part of Yugoslavia.
YU 1953–92

SME Suriname 1936

SN Senegal 1962 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly Somaliland Protectorate. Coincides with ISO

SO Somalia 1974 SP
3166-1 alpha-2 code.
SB – 1919
SHS 1919– Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbia.
29 Then part of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Y 1929–53 (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca – Serbo-Croatian).
SRB Serbia 2006
YU 1953– Then part of Yugoslavia.
2003 Then Serbia and Montenegro (Srbija i Crna Gora –
SCG 2003– Serbian). Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
2006

SUD Sudan 1963

SY Seychelles 1938

SYR Syria 1952 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.

T Thailand 1955 SM

TCH Chad 1973 Tchad (French)

Formerly République Togolaise (French). Coincides with

TG Togo 1973 RT
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, used code "PT" for

Республика Таджикистан

TJ Tajikistan 1992 SU − 1991 on plates from 1993 to 2003. Coincides with ISO
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

TM 1992 SU − 1991
Turkmenistan 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly a territory of France. Coincides with ISO 3166-1

TN Tunisia 1957 F − 1956
alpha-2 code. Unoffical code TU is common.
TO Tonga 1995 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

TR Turkey 1923 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Trinidad
TT 1964 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
and Tobago
 Previous
Code Country From Notes
code(s)

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

UA Ukraine 1992 SU
3166-1 alpha-2 code.

United
UAE 1971
Arab Emirates
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
United GB (1910– changed its international vehicle registration code from
UK 2021
Kingdom 2021) "GB" to "UK". (This does not affect territories for which the
United Kingdom controls international relations outside
Great Britain and Northern Ireland.)[15][16]
United
USA 1952 US Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
States

UY Uruguay 2012 ROU Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Coincides with ISO

UZ Uzbekistan 1992 SU
3166-1 alpha-2 code.
CV (Italian: Città del Vaticano) is used as a prefix on the
licence plate number itself. The prefix used on official and
V Vatican City 1931
government vehicles is SCV (Latin: Status Civitatis
Vaticanae)

VN Vietnam 1953 Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

WAG Gambia 1932 West Africa Gambia

Sierra West Africa Sierra Leone; on local licence plates SLE is

WAL 1937
Leone 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

Formerly Western Samoa. Coincides with ISO 3166-1
WS Samoa 1962
alpha-2 code.

Saint
WV Vincent and the 1932 Windward Islands Saint Vincent
Grenadines

North Yemen formerly known as the Yemen Arab

YAR Yemen 1960
Republic.

YV Venezuela 1955

Formerly Northern Rhodesia. However, "ZM" is used on

Z Zambia 1964 RNR
current driving licences.

South Zuid-Afrika (from Dutch; in Afrikaans it is Suid-Afrika).

ZA 1936
Africa Coincides with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Formerly Southern Rhodesia until 1965, Rhodesia

ZW Zimbabwe 1980 SR, RSR unrecognised until 1980. Coincides with ISO 3166-1
alpha-2 code.

Codes no longer in use

 Used
Code Country Replaced by Notes
until

From 1938, also known as South Yemen,

ADN Aden 1980 Y People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
(1967)

BA Burma 1956 BUR From 1937

Bechuanaland
BP 1966 Now Botswana
Protectorate

CA Canada 1956 CDN

Split into Czech Republic and Slovakia.

CS Czechoslovakia 1992 CZ / SK
Coincided with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
D (1939–1945)
DA Danzig, Free City of 1939 Danzig (German for Gdańsk)
PL (since 1945)

From 1974 (used D until 1974), Deutsche

German Democratic
DDR 1990 D Demokratische Republik. Coincided with ISO
Republic
3166-1 alpha-3 code.

EIR Éire 1992 IRL Now Ireland

EW Estonia 1993 EST Eesti Vabariik (Estonian)

FR Faroe Islands 1996 FO Føroyar (Faroese)

Changed to UK to be inclusive of Northern

Ireland (which is not part of Great Britain),
GB United Kingdom 2021 UK though the previous GB did also apply to
Northern Ireland. Coincided with ISO 3166-1
alpha-2 code.

GBY Malta 1966 M Changed after independence from UK

Grønland (Danish language) / Kalaallit Nunaat

GRO Greenland 1910 KN (Greenlandic language). Unofficial. The official
code is DK.

Upper Volta
Upper Volta. Coincided with ISO 3166-1
HV (French: Haute-Volta), 1984 BF
alpha-2 code.
now Burkina Faso
1992– Ratified by the United Nations as KG in March
KS Kyrgyzstan KG
2016 2016.

1927–
LR Latvia SU, LV Latvijas Republika (Latvian)
1940

Republic of 1992– Became North Macedonia in 2019. Coincided

MK NMK
Macedonia 2019 with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved in
NA Netherlands Antilles 1957
2010.

PANG Angola 1956 P (1957-1975) From 1932. Formerly part of Portugal

R Romania 1981 RO

Rhodesia- 1953–
RNY NP, NR, SR Now Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Nyasaland Fed. 1963

1979–
ROU Uruguay UY República Oriental del Uruguay (Spanish)
2012

1965–
RSR Southern Rhodesia SR Now Zimbabwe
1979
République togolaise (French). Formerly
RT Togo 1973 TG
French Togoland − 1960
 Used
Code Country Replaced by Notes
until

Saar Territory
1926–
SA (League of Nations D SA is again Germany's Saarland
1935
mandate)

1947–
SA Saar Protectorate D SA is again Germany's Saarland
1956
The date of the change is unknown. Coincided
SA Saudi Arabia Un­known KSA
with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.

Serbia became part of Kingdom of Serbs,

SB Serbia 1919 SHS
Croats and Slovenes

From Serbian name "Srbija i Crna Gora". Now

Serbia and
SCG 2006 MNE, SRB Montenegro, Serbia. Coincided with ISO
Montenegro
3166-1 alpha-3 code.
EIR (IRL from Under GB until 1924. Name changed to Éire,
SE Saorstát Éireann 1938
1962) now Ireland

SF from "Suomi – Finland" (the names of the

SF Finland 1993 FIN country in its official languages, Finnish and
Swedish)

Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca – Serbo-

Kingdom of Serbs,
SHS 1929 Y Croatian. Kingdom changed its name to
Croats and Slovenes
Yugoslavia
EST, LT, LV, BY,
MD, UA, TJ,
SU Soviet Union 1991 TM, GE, KZ, Coincided with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
UZ, KS, AZ, AM,
RUS

SWA South West Africa 1990 Now Namibia

Territory Zone A (controlled by the United

Free Territory of 1947– Kingdom and United States from 1947 to 1954
TS
Trieste 1954 before given to Italy). Now in Italy, Croatia and
Slovenia.
Y Yugoslavia 1953 YU Yemen started using Y afterwards

Now Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North

BIH, HR, NMK, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and
YU / Yugoslavia 1992 MNE, RKS, Slovenia. MK for Macedonia was in use from
SRB, SLO 1993 until 2019. Coincided with ISO 3166-1
alpha-2 code.

ZRE Zaire 1997 CGO Now the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Unofficial codes
There are unofficial codes in common use, such as "AS" for
Asturias, "CAT" for Catalonia, "SCO" for Scotland, "CYM" for
Wales (Welsh Cymru), "BZH" for Brittany (Breizh), FRL for
Friesland, "VL" for Flanders (Vlaanderen), "V" for
Vojvodina/Vajdaság, "TS" for Transylvania, "P" for Palestine,
"PR" for Puerto Rico, "CSB" for Kashubia (Cassubia) and "SIC"
for Székely Land (from Latin Terra Siculorum). Some of these,
such as "VL" which is used by Flemish separatists, are used Car with Palestinian license plate,
despite being specifically illegal under local laws. bearing Latin letter "P" and Arabic
letter Fāʼ.
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.

Diplomatic licence plate codes

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 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 The unofficial code for Brittany, Bzh
Slovakia in Norway).

See also
Aircraft registration
International Driving Permit
ISO 3166
Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
Vehicle identification number

References
1. Georgano, G. N.; Andersen, Thorkil Ry (1982). The New encyclopedia of motorcars, 1885 to
the present. p. 18. ISBN 0-525-93254-2.
2. Harding, Anthony; Bird, Anthony (1980). Guinness Book of Car Facts and Feats: A Record of
Everyday Motoring and Automotive Achievements. p. 243. ISBN 0-85112-207-8.
3. "Distinguishing Signs used on Vehicles in International Traffic" (https://unece.org/DAM/trans/co
nventn/Distsigns.pdf) (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
4. "Convention of Road Traffic signed at Geneva September, 19 1949 – Annex 4. Distinguishing
Sign of Vehicles in International Traffic" (http://www.adcidl.com/Annex-4-Distinguishing-Sign-of-
Vehicles-in-International-Traffic.html). Auto Driver Club. NYS ZONE INC. Retrieved
2016-11-24.
5. "Convention on Road Traffic on 8 November 1968 – Index Page" (http://www.international-drivi
ng-permit.com/Convention-on-Road-Traffic/8-November-1968/EN/index.aspx). Auto Driver
Club. NYS ZONE INC. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
6. "Annex 2: Registration of Vehicles in International Traffic" (https://web.archive.org/web/201203
04071234/http://www1.mt.gov.vn/hotrovantai/uploads/2006/E_annex_2.pdf) (PDF). Agreement
between and among the Governments of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People's Republic of
China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of
Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of
Goods and People. 2004. Archived from the original (http://www1.mt.gov.vn/hotrovantai/upload
s/2006/E_annex_2.pdf) (PDF) on March 4, 2012.
7. "1909 Paris Convention for the International Circulation of Motor Vehicles" (https://treaties.fcdo.
gov.uk/data/Library2/pdf/1910-TS0018.pdf) (PDF).
 8. "International Convention Relative to Motor Traffic, Paris, 1924" (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/aw
web/pdfopener?md=1&did=64295).
9. "Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98" (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=
OJ:L:1998:299:0001:0003:EN:PDF). Council of the European Union. 3 November 1998.
10. "Driver's license will have a new look" (https://lovefm.com/drivers-license-will-new-look/). Love
FM. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
11. "Convention sur la circulation routière, signée à Vienne, le 8 novembre 1968 - Notification en
vertu du paragraphe 4 de l'article 45 par le Kirghizistan. - Legilux" (https://legilux.public.lu/eli/et
at/leg/div/2016/09/21/n3/jo). legilux.public.lu. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
12. "Discussions of Mongolian license plates / Дискуссии по монгольским номерам" (http://plates
mania.com/newforum/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&controller=topic&id=19420&pa
ge=2). 18 June 2009.
13. "License Plates of Palestine" (http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/AS_PALE.html).
14. "Car: International car registration letters Word Lists" (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/word-li
sts/car-international-car-registration-letters). Collins English Word Lists.
15. Griffiths, Hugo (5 July 2021). "GB stickers no longer valid for driving abroad" (https://www.auto
express.co.uk/driving-abroad/355463/gb-stickers-no-longer-valid-driving-abroad).
autoexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
16. "Convention on Road Traffic Vienna, 8 November 1968: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland: Notification under Article 45 (4)" (https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/20
21/CN.207.2021-Eng.pdf) (PDF).

Further reading
"RPW": Neil Parker and John Weeks, Registration Plates of the World, Europlate; 4th edition
(2004)

External links
Distinguishing Signs of Vehicles (https://unece.org/distinguishing-signs-vehicles), UNECE
Distinguishing Signs used on Vehicles in International Traffic Notified to the Secretary General
of the United Nations (https://unece.org/DAM/trans/conventn/Distsigns.pdf), UNECE
Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva (https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TRE
ATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-1&chapter=11#32), United Nations Treaty Collection
Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna (https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TRE
ATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-19&chapter=11), United Nations Treaty Collection
UN Economic Commission for Europe, Working Party on Road Transport (WP.11) (http://www.u
nece.org/trans/conventn/sc1_legalinst.html)
Miscellaneous Proposals of Amendments to the Model Regulations on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods: Identification of Approval Country in Marking (http://www.unece.org/trans/d
oc/2008/ac10c3/UN-SCETDG-33-INF05e.pdf), UN/SCETDG/33/INF.5 (table compares ISO
3166 and DSIT codes)
Association Francoplaque: Collectionneurs de Plaques d'Immatriculation (http://plaque.free.fr/o
v1e.html) (data mostly from RPW, above)
European Registration Plate Association: Registration Plates of the World Online (https://web.a
rchive.org/web/20100730005841/http://www.europlate.org.uk/buy.htm) (registration required;
data mostly from RPW, above)

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