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The actual plates

Vehicle registration plates of Cyprus are composed of three letters and three numbers (e.g. ABC 123). The exact permitted dimensions of Cypriot license plates are similar to their British counterparts. Currently, characters must be in black. The front plate has a white background and the rear plate is yellow. The license plates are written in the same Latin script type used on British license plates, and the plates are made of metal instead of plastic.

System

1930 to 1956

1956 to 1990

and

Since 1990:

Since 2003:

Northern Cyprus civilian numberplates are composed of two letters and 3 numbers, e.g AB 123. Rental cars are red numberplates with black writing, it the form of ZHZ 123. Government vehicles (those belonging to the government and the council) are 3 lettered and 3 numbered, such as RHA 123. Taxis are 3 lettered and 3 numbered, similar to South Cyprus's civilian numberplates. Diplomatic vehicles are in the same format as civilian vehicles, only on a Green numberplate. The armed forces vehicles are purely numbers, on a small numberplate, such as 8012352.

special plates

• Car dealer plates - composed of two letters (DL) and two numbers (e.g. DL 12), coloured red font on a white background, slightly smaller than an American plate.
• Taxis - Composed of four letters (THTH) and three letters (e.g. THTH123). The first letter would be a 'T' to indicate it's a taxi.
• Rental cars - Coloured black font on a dark red background, composed of four letters and three numbers. The first letter would be a 'Z' to indicate it's a hired car.
• Lorry/Truck trailers - composed of three numbers and two letters.
• Visitor - Three numbers followed by the letter V followed by two numbers (e.g. 123V45)