Vehicle registration plates of Albania

A car with a plate in the new format

In Albania, vehicle registration plates are issued by the regional directorates of transport.

New format

The new format is not based on regional district abbreviations while old plates are still valid.

A new format similar to the post-1994 Italian and post-2009 French plate designs has been introduced since 16 February 2011. The plates start with a blue strip at the left with 'AL' and redesigned double-headed eagle in white, 2 serial letters, security hologram, 3 digits, 2 serial letters on a rectangular white background, and end on the right with year of registration and regional code in white on a blue strip. It has been observed that the last two identification elements are de facto not included while the font is more emphasized than the post-2002 one. Plates of all vehicles would experience a similar change. Critics claim that the color of the double headed eagle and strip is not representative of red and black colors of the Albanian flag.

Old Serial Format

Plate with smaller font and regional code issued from 2002 to 2011. 'KO' stands for Korçë District. Old plates are still valid even though new plates were introduced.

Plate with DIN 1451 font issued from 1995 to 2002. 'TR' stands for Tirana District. Note the inclusion of the national identification strip on the left.

The old post-1995 format is still valid even though the new 2011 plates were introduced in February 2011. The old format was introduced around 1995 with the addition of the national identification strip on the left and a new bigger DIN 1451 font. Spacing between characters changed numerous times and a security hologram was added. The format starts with a two-letter abbreviation of an Albanian district name. For instance, the abbreviation for Korçë District is KO. A four-digit number follows with a serial letter indicating the order of allocation of each series of numbers. Thus, a plate ending in "B" will have been more recently released than one ending in "A" in the same district. Since 2002, a smaller font was introduced while plates with the older font are still valid.

The numbers and letters running on a Latin alphabet system show the number of vehicles registered in a district. If the last letter of a plate is "U", it means that a particular district has ~200 000 (two hundred thousand) registered cars.

During communism, plates of trucks would be painted upon on the sides with district name initials and a four digit serial number. State vehicles bared a white plate with the communist red star, district initials and serial number in black or white. Once private ownership was re-established after the fall of Communism, a new format with standard size was introduced similar to the post ~1995 model but with different font and missing national identification strip.

Regional District Abbreviations

Pre-1990 diplomatic plate. Notice the red star and plate material.

Map of regional codes.

Code	District
BC	Tropojë
BR	Berat
BZ	Bulqizë
DI	Dibër
DL	Delvinë
DR	Durrës
DV	Devoll
EL	Elbasan
ER	Kolonjë
FR	Fier
GJ	Gjirokastër
GR	Gramsh
HS	Has
KJ	Kavajë
KO	Korçë
KR	Krujë
KU	Kukës
KV	Kuçovë
LA	Kurbin
LB	Librazhd
LE	Lezhë
LU	Lushnjë
MA	Malësi e Madhe
MK	Mallakastër
MR	Mirditë
MT	Mat
PE	Peqin
PG	Pogradec
PR	Përmet
PU	Pukë
SH	Shkodër
SK	Skrapar
SR	Sarandë
TP	Tepelenë
TR	Tirana
VL	Vlorë

Other types

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	Diplomatic	CD 00-00 A	Green serial and border.
	Taxi	AA 000 T	Red serial and border. Blue contour left and right.
	Police Car	MB 000 A	"MB"(Ministria e Brendshme-Albanian) means Ministry of Interior

See also

• Transport in Albania

External links

• Images of new Design Plates, Shqiperia.TV
• Albanian License Plates History
• Pre-2011 Albanian License Plates
• Drejtoria e Pergjithshme e Sherbimeve te Transportit Rrugor