Vehicle registration plates of Australia

Australian vehicle registration plates or number plates are issued by state, territory, and Commonwealth governments, and the armed forces of Australia. The plates are associated with a vehicle and are generally intended to last for the time the vehicle remains registered in the state, though as they become unreadable (or for other reasons) they may be recalled or replaced with newer ones.

History

From the 1970s until the late 1990s, most Australian plates were of the form xxx·xxx (with x being either letters or numbers)—for example, aaa·nnn in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory; naa.nnn in Western Australia, where the starting number was between six and nine; and nnn.aaa in Queensland. More recently as these series have become exhausted the states and territories have adopted different numbering schemes. The most recent adoption of a new sequence plate is in Victoria, which from 2013 issues plates in the format naa.naa. Nevertheless, standard issue plates continue to have the same dimensions regardless of their state-of-issue.

Current standard issue plates

Federal numbering scheme

Standards and federal allocations for all vehicles

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Northern Territory

Since 1936, Australian plates were to be uniform in size and embossing in standard Australian dies, beginning with New South Wales, FCT (now ACT) and Victoria. By 1956 the remaining states and territories moved into standard Australian embossing from either stamped or enamel, standardising in dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) × 134 mm (5.3 in).

From 1951–52, Australian automobiles were to adopt a broad scheme across all states and territories for vehicle number plates. Both NSW and Victoria had previously issued plates with 2-letters, 3-digits, white on a black background. However, while implemented, this was not entirely popular as some states and territories preferred their own identity reflected on their vehicles instead. They were meant to use the following proposed scheme:

• New South Wales: AAA-000 to FZZ-999 – Exited scheme July 2004 (AAA-000 to ZLF-999 issued, ZLG-000 to ZZY-999 not issued, I not used as first letters).
• Victoria: GAA-000 to MZZ-999 (Iaa-nnn series skipped initially, but used after the Laa-nnn series) – Exited scheme August 2013 (AAA-000 to ZZZ-999 issued, M reserved for government and V reserved for special use).
• Queensland: NAA-000 to QZZ-999 (Oaa-nnn series initially skipped by Queensland) – Exited scheme July 1977 (NAA-000 to QZZ-999 issued, Q not used as passenger plates).
• South Australia: RAA-000 to TZZ-999 – Exited scheme October 2008 (RAA-000 to XUN-299 issued, XUN-300 onwards not issued, T not used as first letters it used trailers and motorcycles).
• Western Australia: UAA-000 to VZZ-999 (V was not used; issued X after U ran out) – Exited scheme January 1979.
• Tasmania: WAA-000 to WZZ-999 (later 2 letters and 4 digits) – Exited scheme 1970 (only in W-prefix).
• Northern Territory: XAA-000 to XZZ-999 (not taken up; stayed with 6 numeric digits, 800-000 series reserved for government) – Exited scheme June 2011.
• Australian Capital Territory: YAA-000 to YZZ-999 – Exited scheme July 1998 (only in Y-prefix).
• Commonwealth Government ZAA-000 to ZZZ-999 (with the first Z in red), issued Australia-wide.

Western Australia deemed itself too large to fit into the proposed scheme and adhered to one of its own devising; plates in the Iaa-nnn series were to be skipped (as a capital I was believed to be easily mistaken for a number 1). This allowed the two populous states with greater registrations of vehicles 6 letter-series each (New South Wales had A to F, Victoria had G to H, and J to M), and others with 3 letter-series (Queensland N, and P to Q, South Australia R to T, Western Australia was allocated U to V). Tasmania was only given one, W, due to its size, and the Australian Capital Territory Y. Z was for federal government department use Australia-wide, the 2nd letter reflecting the commonwealth department. Letters I and O were deemed to be too similar to 1 and 0 and weren't part of the scheme.

NSW adopted yellow background and black lettering, ACT white background and blue lettering, Victoria adopted a black background with white lettering for its initial scheme allocation. Once this was exhausted, Victoria began using from AAA-000 to FZZ-999 on white background with green lettering (later blue commencing at NAA-000). Queensland used a black background with white lettering, Tasmania a white background with blue lettering, SA white background and black lettering, and WA white background (later changed to yellow) and black lettering. NT kept to their white background and all-numbers in ochre that all numerics ended in June 2011 and began using CA-00-AB onwards.

However, this system was not as popular as expected: the Northern Territory refused and continued its previous all-number system. Western Australia soon adopted the scheme, taking charge of the previously NT allocated XAA-000 to XZZ-999 (WAG-000 to WAG-999 they reserved for WA Government vehicles, then extending to XZZ-999). However many WA rural shires chose to issue their own series plates, with initial letters being Shire abbreviations followed by digits, in the WA colour scheme.

Queensland, after initially skipping the O-series (as a capital-O was often confused for a number 0), were left with too few combinations for a growing number of registrations. The Q series plates were reserved for Queensland government use. In 1978, having exhausted Naa-nnn to Paa-nnn combinations Queensland reversed the format, starting at 000-NAA continuing through to 999-PZZ in 1987, when plates commencing at 000-AAA were issued. Colours were white reflective background and green lettering (later maroon). There are still a number of vehicles in Queensland with the old white-on-black Q and six black on white digits at this time. Only one of these was issued, for display at the rear.

All the remaining states and territories stuck to their initial allocations, until the number of registrations became too large for each state and "overflowed" into series otherwise allocated to another state. NSW overflowed from FZZ-999 to GAA-000 (otherwise issued to Victoria) in 1972, Victoria (having reserved the Maa-nnn series for state government registrations) overflowed from LZZ-999 to IAA-000 (previously skipped) in 1974, and then from IZZ-999 to AAA-000 (otherwise issued to NSW) in 1977. South Australia did similar, overflowing from SZZ-999 to UAA-000 etc. (having reserved the Taa-nnn series for trailer registrations).

Common features

Plates tend to bear the State or Territory name and perhaps a state motto or slogan at the top and/or bottom of the plate. Recent issues of plates (since the 1980s) also often use the state's colours and may include some imagery related to the state (such as the state's logo as the sequence separator).

Vehicles running on autogas or compressed natural gas must have a metal diamond with a white lettering LPG on a retro-reflective red background or metal disc with white lettering CNG on red background. The tag must be mechanically fixed (and is usually riveted) onto both of the registration plates. If multiple gas tanks are fitted to vehicle, multiple tags are required – one tag for each tank installed. Subsequently, vehicle manufacturers who manufacture cars with LPG as standard fitting, provide LPG stickers already stuck to the vehicle's registration plate areas, and some state and territory registration authorities also are producing plastic "flat" printed registration plates, and therefore need to provide LPG stickers to avoid damage to the plates if drilled for pop rivets.

All hybrid electric vehicles must have a green diamond sticker with the word "Hybrid" written in white letters. This became a mandatory requirement on all hybrid vehicles registered in Victoria from 1 April 2009,^[4] and is designed to warn emergency services in the case of an accident that the vehicle contains high voltage cabling throughout the vehicle.

Commonwealth and military

Army

Defence Force

Military plates were nnn-nnn with the first digit corresponding to the military district number:

• 1 – Queensland
• 2 – New South Wales
• 3 – Victoria
• 4 – South Australia
• 5 – Western Australia
• 6 – Tasmania

However, new plates issued to the Army are now in this format: nn-nnnn, where the first two digits represent the year the vehicle was registered. r.g. 05-1832.

Current Australian Army registration plate format is Annnnn with this newer format beginning in 2003. The A represents "Army" with the next two digits representing the year the vehicle was first registered. For instance, a 2008 model Toyota Coaster used to transport army cadets might have the plate A08227. This format has also been adopted by the Defence Force, Navy, and Air Force with combinations Dnnnnn, Nnnnnn and Rnnnnn respectively.

The official car of Chief of the Defence Force carries plates ADF1 and official cars for the three service chiefs carry plates ARMY1, NAVY1 or RAAF1.

Chief of Army plate

Commonwealth of Australia

The Commonwealth Government of Australia used the Z prefix for its government owned vehicles up until 2000 when the Commonwealth Vehicle Registry was closed.

These plates were on a black on white background, usually marked with "C of A" at the top of the plate – an abbreviation of Commonwealth of Australia and the leading Z being red to further distinguish it from other state plates.

Issuance of Z prefixed plates used for same purposes was passed onto the states after 2000. Australian Capital Territory plates started at ZYA-000, Victoria plates started at ZED-000, Queensland plates started at ZQ-0000, New South Wales plates started at ZZZ-000, South Australia plates started at ZSA-000, Western Australia plates started at ZAA-00F and Tasmania plates started at ZTA-000. Only New South Wales and Victoria chose to use their state base colours rather than the standard black on reflective white, with the use of red embossed Z prefix.

St Edward's Crown plate (Governor General)

Prime Ministerial C*1 plate

Each of the states display their state initials as seen above the numbers instead of the old "C of A" legend.

The Northern Territory still uses the older format and same "C of A" legend at top of the plate.

The registration plate of the Prime Ministerial Limousine was C*1 (i.e. Commonwealth No. 1) with a seven-pointed Commonwealth Star. This has been updated in November 2015 showing C (Australian Government crest image) 1.^[5] Other Commonwealth fleet cars for official transport carry "C of A" plates in the form C-nnn.

The Governor-General's official cars do not carry registration plates, but simply depict a representation of the St Edward's Crown. They tend to also have a flag mounted on the official car. Similar plates are used for vehicles carrying Queen Elizabeth II when visiting Australia.

For official visits to Australia, special plates are often put over the top of normal 'Z' plates, depicting the Australian Coat of Arms and, in red 'Visit to Australia' with a numeral. These are not strictly registration plates, but are useful for police and other officials to identify cars in official motorcades.

Diplomatic

Diplomatic plate

Diplomatic plates are issued to foreign diplomats by the Government of the Australian Capital Territory. They grant diplomatic immunity to the vehicle and driver from all traffic laws, speed limits, parking infringements and tolls in all reasonable course of duty by a diplomatic officer, in compliance with international treaty. They follow the format of 'DC nnnn', 'DCnnnnn', 'DX nnnn' or 'DXnnnnn', where the first two or three numbers are the code for the home country of the diplomat, and have black text on a powder blue background. DC plates are issued to members of the diplomatic corps, whereas DX plates are issued to persons who are attached to diplomatic missions but are not themselves diplomats, e.g. household staff.

Older issues have no territory identifier, however newer plates have 'ACT' embossed at the top centre of the plate. Newer plates are also written as 'DC' and 'DX', rather than 'D.C.' and 'D.X.' to allow for the inclusion of a greater number of characters in the sequence. A substantial number of older-style plates are still in use, however.

The first two or three numbers appearing in the plate correspond to a specific country, for example 69 is issued to the United Kingdom. The following two digits are typically issued with lower numbers to higher-ranking officials, usually 01 being issued to the ambassador from that country. So DC 6901 would be found on the vehicle of the British High Commissioner to Australia.

The number issued to each country has no particular relevance, and was allocated by ballot. Countries with many vehicles (such as the USA) are allocated two numbers. Before the blue D.C. plates were introduced, diplomatic cars in Canberra carried plates which had white letters on red.

The numbers then correlated to the length of time the particular diplomatic mission had been in Canberra and the British High Commissioner's car proudly carried the plate D.C.1 The replacement arrangement is more egalitarian.

State registration authorities issue CC plates to consular representatives in their relevant state capital.

The ACT Government issues similar plates to representatives of international organisations in the Territory. These plates are also coloured black on powder blue, and follow a format of IO nnnn.

Registration labels abolition

All states have abolished registration labels for light vehicles:

• Western Australia – 1 January 2010
• South Australia – 1 July 2011
• Tasmania – 1 September 2012
• New South Wales – 1 January 2013
• Australian Capital Territory – 1 July 2013
• Northern Territory – 1 July 2013
• Victoria – 1 January 2014
• Queensland – 1 October 2014

Registration labels for heavy vehicles GVM 14.5 or more have or are soon to be abolished:^[6]

• Western Australia – 1 July 2016
• South Australia – 1 November 2017
• Tasmania – 1 September 2017
• New South Wales – 1 July 2018
• Australian Capital Territory – 1 July 2018
• Northern Territory – Labels still required
• Victoria – 1 July 2018
• Queensland – 1 July 2018

See also

• Vehicle registration plates of Christmas Island

• Vehicle registration plates of Norfolk Island

Notes

References

• Blue Mountains Family History Society (2007) Australian number plates Springwood, NSW: Blue Mountains Family History Society. ISBN 978-0-9756788-4-8
• Nance, Tony (1980) Australian number plates Beaumaris, Vic. ISBN 0-9594474-0-7
• Wright, D.C. (1983) Australasian (motor vehicle) registration plates, 1901–1982 Montmorency, Vic. ISBN 0-9594980-0-1

External links

Custom Plates Issuing Authorities

• NSW: MyPlates
• Victoria: Vplates
• South Australia: EzyPlates
• Queensland: Personalised Plates
• Tasmania: TasPlates
• Western Australia: Dept of Transport WA
• Australian Capital Territory: Access Canberra
• Northern Territory: NT Gov MVR