New Zealand license plates

18 registration series, sourced from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Part 17 of the Land Transport Act 1998).

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Type any New Zealand registration — valid plates render below, on their real designs.

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Everything on this page — formats, validity, colours, the renders themselves — is one request away.

GET /v1/plates/nz/match?plate=…

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GET /v1/plates/nz/match?plate=VIM512

{ "plate": "VIM512",
  "valid": true, "exact": true,
  "matches": [{ "id": "nz-standard-2001",
    "render_url": "…svg?serial=VIM512" }] }

standard plates 3

the default series issued to private road vehicles

Standard 1964

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

1964–1986 issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Standard 1986

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

1986–2001 issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Standard 2001

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2001 → today issued for: car, van, truck, bus

motorcycle plates 2

reduced-size series for motorcycles where format/design differs

Motorcycle 1988

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

1988–2009 issued for: motorcycle, moped, tractor

Motorcycle 2007

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2007 → today issued for: motorcycle, moped, tractor, atv

trailer plates 2

trailers and semi-trailers where separately serialized

Trailer 2002

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2002–2014 issued for: trailer, caravan

Trailer 2024

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2024 → today issued for: trailer, caravan

personalized plates 1

owner-chosen serials inside an official frame

Personalised

In the sample, L stands for any letter.

1988 → today issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle, moped, trailer, caravan, tractor

dealer plates 3

trade/garage plates bound to a business, not a vehicle

Trade 1999

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

1999–2016 issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle, moped, trailer

Trade 2016

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

2016 → today issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle, moped, trailer

Trade heavy

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

2016 → today issued for: truck, bus, trailer

government plates 1

civil government fleets with distinct series

Government CR

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

2011 → today issued for: car, van, bus

diplomatic plates 4

diplomatic corps (embassy) issuance, usually its own decode

Diplomatic DC

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Diplomatic dcc

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: motorcycle, moped, trailer

Diplomatic FC

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Diplomatic fcc

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: motorcycle, moped, trailer

consular plates 2

consular corps where distinct from diplomatic

Consular CC

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Consular ccc

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1995 → today documented from 1995 — the format is likely older issued for: motorcycle, moped, trailer