Australian vehicle registration plates, or number plates, and license plates are issued by state, territory, and Commonwealth governments, and the Australian Defence Force. The plates are associated with a vehicle and are generally intended to last during the time that the vehicle remains registered in the state, though as they become unreadable (or for other reasons) they may be remade with a like for like replacement. Motor vehicle registration in Australia can be renewed monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annually depending on the state or territory where the vehicle is registered.

Current standard issue plates

Standard issue State or territory Text/background colour Serial format Legend/slogan Current series Notes Australian Capital Territory Blue/white Yaa·nna CANBERRA – THE NATION'S CAPITAL, CANBERRA – THE BUSH CAPITAL YRU·00A Slogan embossed at bottom. Slogans alternate by series. First prefix letter always Y. Thus Y can be in serial format. Otherwise only 'a' and 'n'. Jervis Bay TerritoryBlue/whiteYJJ·nnaJERVIS BAY TERRITORYYJJ·00BSlogan screened at bottom. New South Wales Black/yellow Da·nn·aa NEW SOUTH WALES DT·00·BB Slogan embossed at bottom. Suffix letters IA-IZ and OA-OZ not used. D is current prefix letters, T prefix allocated to trailers. At the beginning of September 2025, some now have embossed EV symbols stamped into in place of a dot separator located prior to suffix letter. Northern Territory Ochre/white Ca·nn·aa N.T OUTBACK AUSTRALIA CG·70·AA Slogan embossed at bottom. Series began as a prefix C. Last two letters move first. Queensland Maroon/white nnn·Ran QUEENSLAND – SUNSHINE STATE 000·RN7 Slogan embossed at bottom. New series commenced in September 2020, starting at 000·AA2, No 0 or 1 used in suffix position. South Australia Black/white Snnn·Daa SOUTH AUSTRALIA S000·DNU Slogan embossed at bottom, State standard suffix letter is S throughout series. Middle suffix Q allocated for government vehicles; all 25 other letters used. T is allocated for trailers. D is current prefix letters. Tasmania Blue/white N nn aa Tasmania – Explore the possibilities. N 00 MM State logo (a thylacine in reeds) screened at left. Slogan screened at bottom. Suffix letters IA-IZ and OA-OZ not used. N is current prefix letter. Victoria Blue/white 2Ga·naa VICTORIA – THE EDUCATION STATE 2GJ·1AA Slogan screened at bottom, No 0 used in 1st or 4th position. All 26 other letters used in all letter positions. Western Australia Blue/white 1Jaa·nnn WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1JDI·000 Motif screened at top featuring a white background, blue skyline, desert sun and legend. No 0 used in 1st numeric position, Allocated are F for platinum slimline, Q for government, and T, U, V, and W for trailers.

Other issue State or territory Text/background colour Serial format Legend/slogan Current series Notes Australian Capital Territory Blue/white Yaa·nna ACT YSX·00A ACT "Premium" slimline; no slogan.New South Wales Black/white Gaa·nna NSW Serial format should consist of only 'a' and 'n', since first letter varies GFF·00A NSW "Premium" slimline; no slogan. At beginning of Sept 2025, some now have embossed EV symbols stamped into in place of a dot separator. White/black CAa·nna NSW CAS·00A NSW "Premium" slimline; no slogan. Always starts with CA (For foreseeable future). Silver/black DGa·nna NSW DGS·00A NSW "Premium" slimline; no slogan. Always starts with DG (For foreseeable future). Black/white Yaa·nna NSW YRV·00A Slimline; dealer or fleet manager logo printed at bottom. Dealer/fleet branded plate is either sold or leased together with vehicle. Since 2022, Business branded plates are offered if minimum 5 or more are ordered. Read more. Indigo/white nnnnn·J NSW – HISTORIC VEHICLE 92000·J Slogan now embossed on plate since May 2024, plate is motorcycle sized & smaller than slimline, vehicles must be at least 30 years old to apply. Green/white nnnnn·E NSW – CONDITIONAL 79000·E Slogan now embossed on plate since July 2024. Maroon/white nnnnn·R NSW – RALLY PERMIT 13000·R Slogan screen printed on plate, vehicles must be on a rally track. Maroon/white nnnnn·F NSW – CLASSIC VEHICLE 11000·F NSW - Slogan embossed on plate, vehicles must be on CVS scheme starting on 1 July 2024. Confirmed sighted as F suffix series.. Maroon/white nnnn·D NSW – CLASSIC CYCLE 5000·D NSW - Slogan embossed on plate, vehicles must be on CVS scheme starting on 1 July 2024. Combination as example at this stage until actual issue.South AustraliaBlack/white Fa·nnna SA FF·000F "Premium" slimline; no slogan.White/black Xa·nnna SA XG·000Z "Premium" slimline; no slogan.Blue/whiteSnnn·BQaSA GOVERNMENTS000·BQNFor SA Government Vehicles only, Q Represents "Queen".VictoriaWhite/black Eaa·nnn VIC (vertically on left) EJA·000 "Premium" slimline, no slogan.Red/white Maa·nnn VICTORIA – THE EDUCATION STATE MDU·000 Slogan screen printed on plate, for VIC government owned/leased vehicles only.Blue/white nnnnn·P PRIMARY PRODUCER VICTORIA – THE EDUCATION STATE 12000·P Slogan screen printed on plate, for vehicles engaged solely or substantially in agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, dairying, pastoral or other like pursuits.White/green BSnn·aa VIC – ACCREDITED BUS SERVICE BS15·AA Slogan screen printed on bus plate.White/burgundy nnn·Hnn CLUB PERMIT VICTORIA 300·H00 Slogan screen printed at top "Club Permit", Victoria at bottom, vehicles must be at least 25 years old to apply.White/burgundy nnnnn·M CLUB PERMIT VICTORIA 07000·M Slogan screen printed at top "Club Permit", Victoria at bottom, for highly modified vehicles, vehicles must be at least 25 years old.White/navy blue nnnn·RP RALLY PERMIT VICTORIA 7000·RP Slogan screen printed at top "Rally Permit", Victoria at bottom, for vehicles used in rallies organised by a national motorsport organisation recognised by VicRoads.Queensland White/black nnn·Ana QLD 000·A9E QLD Sequential Series; no slogan. Commenced on 6 September 2024. Numbers change first.Maroon/whiteT·nnnnnTaxisT·63000Standard Slogan "Queensland – Sunshine State". Maroon/white 1a·nnn QLD Farm plates 1C·000 QLD Farm plates.Maroon/whiteF·nnnnnQLD Farm platesF·99000QLD Farm plates.Maroon/whiteQG·aannQLD Government used vehiclesQG·WY00Standard Slogan "Queensland – Sunshine State". Western Australia Silver/black 1Faa·nnn WA (vertically on left) 1FDU·000 "Platinum" slimline, No Slogan, No 0 used in 1st position. Western Australia White/blue 1QCa·nnn WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1QCN·000 For WA Government Vehicles only, Motif screened at top featuring a blue background, white skyline, desert sun and legend, No 0 used in 1st position.

Trailers State or territory Text/background colour Serial format Legend/slogan Current series Notes Australian Capital Territory Blue/white T nnnn a ACT T 0000 N Legend embossed at top.New South Wales Black/yellow Ta·nn·aa NSW – TRAILER TP·00·TC Legend embossed at bottom. New series commenced in December 2014, serials began at TA·00·AA, the whole TI & TO suffix series are both skipped. Suffix letters IA-IZ and OA-OZ not used. Black/white TU·nn·aa NSW TU·00·DG Serials began at TR·00·AA. Suffix letters IA-IZ and OA-OZ not used. Northern Territory Ochre/white Ta·nnnn N.T. – OUTBACK AUSTRALIA – TW·0000 Legend embossed at bottom.QueenslandMaroon/white nnn·Uaa QUEENSLAND – SUNSHINE STATE 000·UYH Issued to large trailers (over 1.02t ATM). Legend embossed at bottom. Ga·nnnn QLD GC•0000 Issued to small trailers (up to 1.02t ATM). South Australia Black/white Snnn·Taa SOUTH AUSTRALIA S000·TNA Legend embossed at bottom. Letter Q not used and reserved for government vehicles; all 25 other letters used. Tasmania Blue/white X nn aa Tasmania – Explore the possibilities X 00 DP State logo (a thylacine in reeds) screened at left. Legend screened at bottom. Serials Z 00 AA through Z 99 ZZ issued first, followed by Y 00 AA onwards, continuing to the next available prefix letter. Suffix letters IA-IZ and OA-OZ not used.VictoriaBlue/white nnn·nnDVICTORIA – THE EDUCATION STATE 700·00E Standard trailer plates have used a suffix series since September 2022. This change was implemented because of the high volume of active registrations in the previous series. Notably, the digit '0' is not used as the first number in this new format. White/black nnn·nnZ VIC 018·00Z VIC Slimline; no slogan. Released March 2026.Blue/white nnnn·SnVICTORIA – THE EDUCATION STATE 4400·S2 Issued to truck semi-trailers. nnnnn·A 27000·A Primary Producer plate, issued to articulated trailers. Additional "PRIMARY PRODUCER" legend screened at top. Western Australia Blue/white 1Uaa·nnn WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1UDE·000 Motif screened at top featuring a white background, blue skyline, desert sun and legend. No 0 used in 1st position.

Motorcycles State or territory Text/background colour Serial format Legend/slogan Current series Notes Australian Capital Territory Blue/white C·nnnn ACT C·3000 New South Wales Black/yellow Iaa·nn NSW ILA·00 Serials progress backwards from ZZZ•99 to IAA•00. Combinations is expected to be replaced by late 2026 as an estimate only. Black/white Baa·nn NSW BOB·00 Serials progress forwards from AAA•00 to HZZ•99. Note: Dealer Branded and plain black on white general series used. Combinations expected to be replaced approx 2026 as an estimate only. In the interim issued unused gaps of blocks. Northern Territory Ochre/white D·nnnn NT D·3000 Queensland Maroon/white 2Ea·nn QLD 2FF·00 Amended info as become available as of week beginning from 21 August 2023. South Australia Black/white Snn·Caa SA S00·CFC Letter Q not used and reserved for government vehicles; all 25 other letters used. Tasmania Blue/white Cnnna TAS C000G Victoria Blue/white 3a·naa VIC 3K·1AA No 0 used in 1st or 3rd position. All 26 other letters used in all letter positions. White/black 5a·naa VIC 5E·1AA New release. No 0 used in 3rd position. All 26 other letters used in all letter positions. Western Australia Blue/white 1Ra·nnn WA 1RO·000 No 0 used in 1st position.Switched to standard Aussie motorcycle size starting from 1RA-000 onwards. 1LN-999 is the last issued in this old size. On all other motorcycle plates, the legend is embossed on top of the state or territory.

History and Federal numbering scheme

Standards and federal allocations for all vehicles From 1910 onwards, vehicle registration plates for each state started at number 1 and were manufactured in enamel.

Starting in 1936, it was decided that Australian plates were to be uniform in size and embossed using standard Australian dies, beginning with New South Wales, the Federal Capital Territory (now Australian Capital Territory) and Victoria. By 1956, the other states and territories had moved to standard Australian embossing using painted or enamelled metal, with dimensions of × . The embossed Australian dies was standardised in all states and territories in 1954.

In the early 1950s, a uniform scheme for vehicle registration plates was developed, which was to apply across all states and territories. Previously, both New South Wales and Victoria had issued plates with two letters and three digits, in white on a black background. However, that was not entirely popular, and some states and territories preferred to have their own identity reflected on their registration plates.

The following scheme was meant to be implemented Australia-wide after 1952: