Format of Vehicle Registration Plates
The format, dimensions and technical specifications of registration plates to be displayed on motor vehicles are laid down by law in the Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations 1992 (Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 318/92 as amended by Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 432/99).
The main requirements are:
- the assigned registration number comprising numbers and letter/s in black on a white reflective background;
- the name of the county of registration in Irish at the top of the plate;
- the flag of the European Communities and the letters "IRL" on the left-hand side of the plate, the flag comprising twelve gold stars in a circle, the letters in white beneath it, all on a blue reflective background.
Acceptable plate formats are show in the following diagrams.
Diagram 1:
Diagram 2:
No other numbers, letters or marks, etc. should appear on the plate.
The above formats do not apply to vehicles registered prior to 1 January, 1991, or to vehicles registered in the "ZV", "ZZ" or Trade Licence series.
The use of Registration Plates in a format other than those shown above is Prohibited by Law and vehicle owners who use them may incur fines of up to €5,000.
May 2004