List of international vehicle registration codes

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The country in which a motor vehicle's vehicle registration plate was issued is indicated by an international licence plate country code displayed in bold block uppercase on a small white oval plate or sticker near the number plate on the rear of a vehicle.

The allocation of codes is maintained by the United Nations as the Distinguishing Signs of Vehicles in International Traffic, authorized by the UN's Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968. Many vehicle codes created since the adoption of ISO 3166 coincide with ISO two- or three-letter codes.

In the European Union vehicles from one member state do not need to display the oval while within another provided the number plate is in the common EU standard format, which includes the IVR code on the plate.[1]

Note: an asterisk (*) indicates that this code is unofficial.

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

[edit] A
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 Formerly a territory of Portugal
ARK* Antarctica
ARM  Armenia 1992 SU Formerly part of the Soviet Union
ARU*  Aruba NA Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles
AUS  Australia 1954
AX*  Åland Islands 2002 SF Territory of Finland. FIN is the official code.
AXA  Anguilla
AZ  Azerbaijan 1992 SU Formerly part of the Soviet Union

[edit] B
Code Country From Before Notes
B  Belgium 1910
BD  Bangladesh 1978 PAK Formerly East Pakistan
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 and Herzegovina 1992 YU Bosna i Hercegovina (Bosnian)
BOL  Bolivia 1967
BR  Brazil 1930
BRN  Bahrain 1954
BRU  Brunei 1956
BS  Bahamas 1950
BU  Burundi 1962 RU until 1962; part of Belgian territory of Ruanda-Urundi
BY  Belarus 1992 SU Byelorussia; formerly part of the Soviet Union
BZ  Belize 1938-1980s BH until 1973; British Honduras

[edit] C
Code Country From Before Notes
C  Cuba 1930
CAM  Cameroon 1952 F & WAN Formerly a territory of France
CDN  Canada 1956 CA Canadian Dominion
CGO  Democratic Republic of the Congo 1997 CB,RCL,CGO,ZR,ZRE Congo Belge (French), République de Congo Léopoldville (French), Congo (Kinshasa), Zaïre
CH  Switzerland 1911 Confœderatio Helvetica (Latin)
CI  Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 1961 F Formerly a territory of France
CL  Sri Lanka 1961 Formerly Ceylon
CN  People's Republic of China
CO  Colombia 1952
COM  Comoros F Formerly a territory of France
CR  Costa Rica 1956
CV  Cape Verde 1975 P Formerly a territory of Portugal
CY  Cyprus 1932
CYM*  Wales Part of the United Kingdom, CYM from Cymru, Welsh for Wales
CZ  Czech Republic 1993 CS Formerly Československo (Czechoslovakia)

[edit] D
Code Country From Before Notes
D  Germany 1910 Deutschland (German); also used until 1974 by  East Germany, which then used DDR until German reunification in 1990
DJI  Djibouti F Formerly a territory of France
DK  Denmark 1914
DOM  Dominican Republic 1952
DY  Benin 1910 Part of AOF (Afrique occidentale française) -1960 Dahomey (name until 1975)
DZ  Algeria 1962 F -1911 Dzayer (Algerian Arabic); Formerly a territory of France

[edit] E
Code Country From Before Notes
E  Spain 1910 España (Spanish)
EAK  Kenya 1938 East Africa Kenya
EAT  Tanzania 1938 EAT & EAZ East Africa Tanzania; formerly East Africa Tanganyika & East Africa Zanzibar
EAU  Uganda 1938 East Africa Uganda
EC  Ecuador 1962
ENG*  England
ER  Eritrea 1993 AOI -1941, ETH 1964-1993 Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian), Ethiopia
ES  El Salvador 1978
EST  Estonia 1993 EW 1919-1940 & 1991-1993; SU 1940-1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
ET  Egypt 1927
ETH  Ethiopia 1964 AOI -1941 Africa Orientale Italiana (Italian)

[edit] F
Code Country From Before Notes
F  France 1910
FIN  Finland 1993 SF Suomi Finland (Finnish/Swedish)
FJI  Fiji 1971
FL  Liechtenstein 1923 Fürstentum Liechtenstein (German)
FO  Faroe Islands 1996 FR Sometimes FØ or Fø
FSM  Federated States of Micronesia

[edit] G
Code Country From Before Notes
G  Gabon 1974 ALEF -1960 Afrique Équatoriale Française
GB  United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 1910 Before 1922 it was used for the 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 - Isle of Man
GBZ  Gibraltar 1924 Great Britain - Gibraltar [Z was assigned because G was already used for Guernsey]
GCA  Guatemala 1956 Guatemala, Central America
GE  Georgia 1992 SU Formerly part of the 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 Formerly a territory of Spain - Spanish Guinea -1968
GR  Greece 1913
GUY  Guyana 1972 BRG Formerly British Guiana -1966

[edit] H
Code Country From Before Notes
H  Hungary 1910
HK  Hong Kong 1932
HKJ  Jordan JOR Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
HN  Honduras
HR  Croatia 1992 SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-92 Hrvatska (Croatian). Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca - Croatian), then part of Yugoslavia.

[edit] I
Code Country From Before Notes
I  Italy 1910
IL  Israel 1952
IND  India 1947
IR  Iran 1936
IRL  Ireland 1962 GB -1910, SE -1924, EIR -1938 Great Britain, Saorstát Éireann, Éire. Currently there is a campaign underway by Irish Language activists to have the name of the country in the native language represented by changing the code back to EIR or ÉIR. This is unnecessary, as Statutory Instrument No. 269 of 1961 provides: "...the letters EIR are used to indicate the name of the State but the letters IRL may be substituted therefor."
IRQ  Iraq 1930
IS  Iceland 1936 Ísland (Icelandic)

[edit] J
Code Country From Before Notes
J  Japan 1964
JA  Jamaica 1932

[edit] K
Code Country From Before Notes
K  Cambodia 1956 F -1949 Known as Kampuchea 1976-89. Formerly a territory of France
KAN*  Saint Kitts and Nevis
KN*  Greenland GRO Kalaallit Nunaat
KOS  Kosovo 2008 SRB 2006-2008 Serbia 2006-2008 (Serbia claims Kosovo as part of its territory)
KS  Kyrgyzstan 1992 SU -1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
KIR  Kiribati
KP  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
KSA  Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
KWT  Kuwait 1954
KZ  Kazakhstan 1992 SU -1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union

[edit] L
Code Country From Before Notes
L  Luxembourg 1911
LAO  Laos 1959 F - 1949 Formerly a territory of France (French Indochina)
LAR*  Libya 1972 I -1949, LT Libyan Arab Republic; Formerly a territory of Italy
LB*  Liberia 1967
LS  Lesotho 1967 BL Basutoland -1966
LT  Lithuania 1992 SU 1940-1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
LV  Latvia 1992 LR 1927-1940,SU 1940-1991 Latvijas Republika (Latvian); Formerly part of the Soviet Union

[edit] M
Code Country From Before Notes
M  Malta 1966 GBY 1924-66
MA  Morocco 1924 Maroc (French)
MAL  Malaysia 1967 FM - 1957, PTM 1957-67 formerly Federated Malay States, then Perseketuan Tanah Malayu (Malay)
MC  Monaco 1910
MD  Moldova 1992 SU -1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
MEX  Mexico 1952
MGL  Mongolia
MH  Marshall Islands
MK  Macedonia 1992 YU -1992 Formerly part of Yugoslavia
MNE  Montenegro 2006 MN - 1913-1919, SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-2003, SCG 2003-2006 Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca - Serbo-Croatian), then part of Yugoslavia and then Serbia and Montenegro (Srbija i Crna Gora - Serbian)
MO  Macau 1930s? former Portuguese overseas province
MOC  Mozambique 1975 MOC: 1932-56, P: 1957-75 Moçambique (Portuguese)
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 -1989 Also known as Burma

[edit] N
Code Country From Before Notes
N  Norway 1922
NA  Netherlands Antilles 1957
NAM  Namibia 1990 SWA Formerly South West Africa
NAU  Nauru 1968
NC  New Caledonia
NEP*  Nepal 1970
NIC  Nicaragua 1952
NI* Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom
NL  Netherlands 1910
NZ  New Zealand 1958

[edit] O
Code Country From Before Notes
OM  Oman

[edit] P
Code Country From Before Notes
P  Portugal 1910
PA  Panama 1952
PAK  Pakistan 1947
PAL  Palau
PE  Peru 1937
PL  Poland 1921
PMR*  Transnistria 1990 SU -1991, MD 1991 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic - officially part of  Moldova. Formerly part of the Soviet Union.
PNG*  Papua New Guinea 1978
PR  Puerto Rico
PS  Palestinian Authority
PY  Paraguay 1952

[edit] Q
Code Country From Before Notes
Q  Qatar 1972

[edit] R
Code Country From Before Notes
RA  Argentina 1927 República Argentina (Spanish)
RB  Botswana 1967 Republic of Botswana
RC  Republic of China (Taiwan) 1932
RCA  Central African Republic 1962 République Centrafricaine (French)
RCB  Republic of the Congo 1962 République du Congo Brazzaville (French)
RCH  Chile 1930 República de Chile (Spanish)
RG  Guinea 1972 République de Guinée (French)
RH  Haiti 1952 République d'Haïti (French)
RI  Indonesia 1955 Republik Indonesia (Indonesian)
RIM  Mauritania 1964 République islamique de Mauritanie (French)
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 République du Niger (French). Formerly part of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française)
RO  Romania 1981 R
ROK  Republic of Korea 1971
ROU  Uruguay 1979 República Oriental del Uruguay (Spanish)
RP  Philippines 1975 Republic of the Philippines
RSM  San Marino 1932 Repubblica di San Marino (Italian)
RT  Togo 1960 TT, TG Republique Togolaise (French). Formerly French Togoland -1960
RUS  Russia 1992 SU Formerly part of the Soviet Union
RWA  Rwanda 1964 RU -1962 Formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi -1962

[edit] S
Code Country From Before Notes
S  Sweden 1911
SA  Saudi Arabia 1973
SCO*  Scotland Part of the United Kingdom
SD  Swaziland 1935
SGP  Singapore 1952
SK  Slovakia 1993 CS Formerly Československo (Czechoslovakia)
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 Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kraljevina Srbov, Hrvatov in Slovencev - Slovenian), then part of Yugoslavia.
SME  Suriname 1936
SMOM  Sovereign Military Order of Malta
SN  Senegal 1962
SO  Somalia 1974
SOL  Solomon Islands
SRB  Serbia 2006 SB - 1919, SHS 1919-29, Y 1929-53, YU 1953-2003, SCG 2003-2006 Formerly part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca - Serbo-Croatian), then part of Yugoslavia and then Serbia and Montenegro (Srbija i Crna Gora - Serbian)
STP  São Tomé and Príncipe 1975 P Formerly a territory of Portugal
SUD*  Sudan 1963
SY  Seychelles 1938
SYR  Syria 1952

[edit] T
Code Country From Before Notes
T  Thailand 1955
TCH*  Chad 1973 Tchad (French)
TG*  Togo 1973 See RT
TJ  Tajikistan 1992 SU -1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
TL  Timor-Leste P, RI Formerly a territory of Portugal, then part of Indonesia
TM  Turkmenistan 1992 SU -1991 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
TN  Tunisia 1957 F -1956 Formerly a territory of France
TO  Tonga
TR  Turkey 1935
TT  Trinidad and Tobago 1964
TUV  Tuvalu

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

[edit] V
Code Country From Before Notes
V  Vatican City 1931
VN  Vietnam 1953
VU  Vanuatu

[edit] W
Code Country From Before Notes
WAG  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 Sahara Español (Spanish); now mostly occupied by Morocco, with some territory administered by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
WV  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1932 Windward Islands Saint Vincent

[edit] Y
Code Country From Before Notes
YEM  Yemen YAR North Yemen formerly known as the Yemen Arab Republic
YV  Venezuela

[edit] Z
Code Country From Before Notes
Z  Zambia 1966
ZA  South Africa 1936 Zuid-Afrika (from Dutch; in Afrikaans it is Suid-Afrika[2])
ZW  Zimbabwe 1977

[edit] Codes no longer in use

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 1990 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 Upper Volta
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 Presumably from Serbian name "Srbija i Crna Gora". Now Montenegro, Serbia
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 Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca - Serbo-Croatian. 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
TS Free Territory of Trieste 1947 - 1954 YU, SLO
Y Yugoslavia 1953 YU Yemen started using Y afterwards
YU Yugoslavia 2003 BIH, HR, KOS, MK, MNE, SRB, SLO Now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia
ZRE Zaire 1997 CB
Note1 
There are unofficial codes in common use, such as "BZH" for Brittany, "VL" for Flanders, "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 indicate from which part of the country they originate. See http://www.kingkong.demon.co.uk/where/where.htm for these origins.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ European Council (1998-11-10). "Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered". Official Journal L 299. Eurlex. pp.1–3. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31998R2411:EN:HTML. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. "Article 3: Member States requiring vehicles registered in another Member State to display a distinguishing registration sign when they are being driven on their territory shall recognise the distinguishing sign of the Member State of registration displayed on the extreme left of the registration plate in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation as being equivalent to any other distinguishing sign that they recognise for the purpose of identifying the State in which the vehicle is registered." 
  2. ^ See article .za
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