Registered goods 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: truck, van
Japan license plates
47 registration series, sourced from 国土交通省 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) — 地方運輸局/運輸監理部/運輸支局/自動車検査登録事務所 for registered vehicles; 軽自動車検査協会 (Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization) administers kei inspection.
Try a plate
Type any Japan registration — valid plates render below, on their real designs.
Try the API
Everything on this page — formats, validity, colours, the renders themselves — is one request away.
GET /v1/plates/jp/match?plate=…
GET /v1/plates/jp/match?plate=3FC%2078-91
{ "plate": "3FC 78-91",
"valid": true, "exact": true,
"matches": [{ "id": "jp-registered-passenger-alnum",
"render_url": "…svg?serial=3FC%2078-91" }] }
Get API access
standard plates 50
the default series issued to private road vehicles
Registered bus 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: bus
Registered passenger 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car
Registered small goods 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car
Registered special purpose 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
Kei goods 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–2005
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: van, truck
Kei passenger 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–2005
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car
Kei special purpose 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–2005
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck
Registered classcode 1-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car, van, truck, bus, tractor, machine
Registered US forces
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car, van, truck
Kei US forces
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car, van
Registered goods 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: truck, van
Registered bus 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: bus
Registered passenger 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: car
Registered small goods 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: car
Registered special purpose 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
Kei goods 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2005 → today
issued for: van, truck
Kei passenger 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2005 → today
issued for: car
Kei special purpose 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2005 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck
Registered goods alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: truck, van
Registered bus alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: bus
Registered passenger alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: car
Registered small goods alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: car
Registered special purpose alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
Kei goods alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: van, truck
Kei passenger alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: car
Kei special purpose alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck
Registered goods 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: truck, van
Registered bus 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: bus
Registered passenger 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car
Registered small goods 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car
Registered special purpose 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
Registered classcode 1-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car, van, truck, bus, tractor, machine
Registered US forces 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: car, van, truck
Registered goods 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: truck, van
Registered bus 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: bus
Registered passenger 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: car
Registered small goods 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: car
Registered special purpose 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
Registered goods alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: truck, van
Registered bus alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: bus
Registered passenger alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: car
Registered small goods alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: van, truck
Registered small passenger alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: car
Registered special purpose alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: ambulance, motorhome, truck, bus
motorcycle plates 4
reduced-size series for motorcycles where format/design differs
Motorcycle over 250 cc
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: motorcycle
Motorcycle over 250 cc combination
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: motorcycle
Motorcycle over 250 cc US forces
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: motorcycle
Motorcycle 126 250
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970 → today
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: motorcycle
agricultural plates 12
farm vehicles/equipment where separately serialized
Registered large special 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction 2-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: machine
Registered large special 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
1998 → today
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction 3-digit
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: machine
Registered large special alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
2017 → today
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction alnum
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: machine
Registered large special 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction 2-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
~1970–1999
documented from 1970 — the format is likely older
issued for: machine
Registered large special 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
1998 → today
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction 3-digit 440×220 mm
In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
1998 → today
issued for: machine
Registered large special alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.
2017 → today
issued for: tractor, machine
Registered construction alnum 440×220 mm
In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.
2017 → today
issued for: machine
specialty plates 3
optional-design programs on standard serials (US state programs)
Figure local
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
2018 → today
issued for: car, van, truck, bus
Figure national
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
2022–2027
issued for: car, van, truck, bus
Figure Expo 2027
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
2025–2027
issued for: car, van, truck, bus
dealer plates 1
trade/garage plates bound to a business, not a vehicle
Dealer transport
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
1951 → today
issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle
temporary plates 2
short-validity plates (transit, awaiting registration)
Temporary operation
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
1951 → today
issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle
Temporary kei
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
1951 → today
issued for: motorcycle
government plates 1
civil government fleets with distinct series
Imperial
In the sample, 9 for any digit.
~1951 → today
documented from 1951 — the format is likely older
issued for: car