List of South African number plates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South African number plates are unique in each of the provinces. Each province has their own number plate design and colours, as well as numbering scheme.
Contents |
[edit] The Nine Provinces
| Province | Standard Plates | Personalised Plates | Colouring | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Cape Province | Cab # | xzzzzz WP | Black on white (Black on yellow still legal) | None |
| KwaZulu-Natal Province | Nab # | xzzzzz ZN | Blue on white (Green on white for personalised plates) | None |
| Mpumalanga Province | aaa+++ MP | xzzzzz MP | Black on white | Stylised rising sun |
| Eastern Cape Province | aaa+++ EC | xzzzzz EC | Green on white | Elephant and aloe |
| Limpopo Province | aaa+++ N | xzzzzz L | Black on white | Baobab tree and provincial crest |
| Gauteng Province | aaa+++ GP | xzzzzz GP | Blue on white | Provincial crest |
| Northern Cape Province | aaa+++ NC | xzzzzz NC | Green on white | Gemsbok and sanddune |
| Free State Province | aaa+++ FS | xzzzzz FS | Black on graphic | Cheetah |
| North West Province | aaa+++ NW | xzzzzz NW | Black on graphic | Maize cob, elephant, sunflower and mine shaft |
| Government Vehicles | Gaa+++ G | None | Red on white | None |
| Police Vehicles | Baa+++ B | None | Black on white | None |
| Military Vehicles | aaa+++ M | None | Black on white | None |
Key:
- UPPER CASE LETTERS: Literal letters in the numberplate
- a: compulsory letter (A - Z)
- b: letter (A - Z) or nothing
- x: compulsory character (A - Z, 0 - 9)
- z: character (A - Z, 0 - 9) or nothing
- #: an integer number (1 - 999,999)
- +: a compulsory digit (0 - 9)
[edit] Western Cape & KwaZulu-Natal Provinces
The Western Cape Province and KwaZulu-Natal Province are the only two remaining provinces, after 1998, that can be drawn to identifiable regions. The first two or three letters at the start of each number plate can be used to identify where the vehicle was licenced.
[edit] Western Cape Province
The towns in the Cape Province were originally listed in order from largest to smallest and were assigned the corresponding letters. Thus CA represented Cape Town and CB would have represented Port Elizabeth. In 1994, however, the Cape Province was subdivided into three provinces (Western, Easern and Northern Cape Provinces). The Eastern and Northern Cape have changed their licencing system and thus some locations, such as CB (Port Elizabeth) have been lost. Other political changes have seen some towns shift provinces completely (Kokstad), and even countries (Walvis Bay).
- CA - Cape Town
- CAB - Aberdeen
- CAC - Burgersdorp
- CAD - Alexandria & Paterson
- CAE - Aliwal North
- CAF - Barkly East
- CAG - Barkly West
- CAH - Port Alfred & Bathurst
- CAJ - Bedford
- CAL - Britstown
- CAM - Caledon & Kleinmond
- CAN - Calvinia, Brandvlei & Loeriesfontein
- CAO - Carnarvon
- CAP - Cathcart (Eastern Cape)
- CAR - Clanwilliam & Lambert's Bay
- CAS - Colesberg
- CAT - Cradock
- CAU - Fort Beaufort
- CAV - Fraserburg
- CAW - George
- CAY - Upington
- CAZ - Graaf-Reinet & Nieu-Bethesda
- CB - Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape)
- CBA - Hanover
- CBB - Griquatown (Eastern Cape)
- CBC - Douglas
- CBE - Hopetown & Strydenburg
- CBF - Humansdorp & Jeffreys Bay
- CBG - Jansenville
- CBH - Kenhardt
- CBJ - Komga
- CBK - Kuruman
- CBL - Ladismith
- CBM - Laingsburg
- CBN - Mafikeng
- CBO - Hofmeyr
- CBP - Middelburg
- CBR - Montagu
- CBS - Mossel Bay & Hartenbos
- CBT - Murraysburg
- CBU - Springbok
- CBV - Pearston
- CBW - Peddie
- CBX - Philipstown, Petrusville & Vanderkloof
- CBY - Piketberg
- CBZ - Prieska
- CC - Kimberley (Northern Cape)
- CCA - Prince Albert
- CCB - Richmond
- CCC - Riverdale & Still Bay
- CCD - Robertson & McGregor
- CCE - Somerset East
- CCF - Steynsburg
- CCG - Steytlerville
- CCH - Seymour
- CCJ - Sutherland
- CCK - Swellendam & Barrydale
- CCL - Tarkastad
- CCM - Tulbagh
- CCN - Uitenhage & Despatch (Eastern Cape)
- CCO - Uniondale
- CCP - Vanrhynsdorp & Klawer
- CCR - Victoria West, Loxton & Vosburg
- CCS - Vryburg & Reivilo
- CCT - Willowmore
- CCU - Dordrecht
- CCW - Kokstad (KwaZulu-Natal: NCW)
- CCX - Matatiele (KwaZulu-Natal: NCX)
- CD - King William's Town (Eastern Cape)
- CDA - Elliot
- CDL - Maclear
- CDX - Middledrift
- CDZ - Venderstad
- CE - East London & Gonubie (Eastern Cape)
- CEA - Moorresburg
- CEB - Kirkwood
- CEC - Garies
- CED - Hankey
- CEE - Warrenton
- CEF - Whittlesea
- CEG - Heidelberg
- CEH - Jamestown
- CEJ - Lady Grey
- CEK - Pofadder
- CEL - Noupoort
- CEM - Hermanus, Gans Bay, Onrus River & Stanford
- CEN - Indwa
- CEO - Grabouw
- CEP - Strekstroom
- CER - Bonnievale
- CES - Albertinia
- CET - Joubertine
- CEU - Hartswater & Jan Kempdorf
- CEV - Postmasburg & Daniëlskuil
- CEW - Olifantshoek, Sishen & Kathu
- CEX - Porterville
- CEY - Strand & Gordon's Bay
- CEZ - Williston
- CF - Kuilsrivier & Brackenfell (Since approx 2000)
- CFA - Wolseley
- CFB - Molteno
- CFC - Stutterheim
- CFD - Alice
- CFG - Vredenburg & St Helena Bay
- CFH - Kokamas
- CFG - Adelaide
- CFK - Keiskammahoek
- CFM - Somerset West
- CFO - Keimoes
- CFP - Velddrif (formerly used for Laaiplek)
- CFR - Kuilsrivier & Brackenfell
- CFS - Groblershoop
- CG - Oudtshoorn
- CH - Queenstown
- CJ - Paarl & Franschhoek
- CK - Malmesbury & Darling
- CL - Stellenbosch
- CM - De Aar
- CN - Wellington
- CO - Calitzdorp
- CR - Hopefield & Langebaan
- CS - Bredasdorp & Napier
- CT - Ceres
- CU - Port Nolloth
- CV - Vredendal
- CW - Worcester, De Doorns & Touwsrivier
- CWB - Walvis Bay (Namibia)
- CX - Knysna, Sedgefield & Plettenberg Bay
- CY - Bellville, Durbanville & Kraaifontein
- CZ - Beaufort West
[edit] KwaZulu-Natal Province
The different regions in the KZN province use the place names to determine the letters that are used to identify each region. This pattern does not always hold, especially for smaller areas.
- NA - Alfred
- NB - Bergville
- NBA - Babanango
- NBB - KwaZulu Natal Administration Boards vehicles
- NC - Camperdown
- NCO - Colenso
- NCV - Butterworth
- NCW - Kokstad
- NCX - Matatiele
- ND - Durban city
- NDC - Durban city council
- NDE - Dundee
- NDH - Dannhauser
- NDW - Ndwedwe
- NE - Estcourt
- NES - Eschowe
- NF - Msinga
- NGL - Glencoe
- NH - New Hanover
- NHL - Hlabisa
- NIM - Impendle
- NIN - Ingwavuma
- NIP - Polela
- NIX - Ixopo
- NJ - Inanda
- NK - Richmond
- NKA - Nkandla
- NKK - Kranskop
- NKR - Klip River
- NM - Mapumulo
- NMA - Mahlabatini
- NMG - Magudu
- NMR - Mooi River
- NN - Newcastle
- NND - Nongoma
- NO - Mtonjaneni
- NP - Pietermaritzburg
- NPA - Natal Provincial Administration vehicles
- NPB - Natal Parks Board vehicles
- NPC - Pietermaritzburg city council
- NPN - Pinetown
- NPP - Paulpietersburg
- NPS - Lower Umzimkulu
- NR - Lions River, Howick
- NRB - Richards Bay
- NS - Ngotshe
- NT - Lower Tugela
- NTU - Nqutu
- NU - New Germany / Hillcrest
- NUB - Ubombo
- NUD - Underberg
- NUF - Lower Umfolosi
- NUL - Umbumbulu
- NUM - Greytown
- NUR - Umhlanga Rocks
- NUT - Utrecht
- NUZ - Umlazi
- NV - Vryheid
- NW - Weenen
- NX - Scottburg (formerly Alexandria)
- NZ - Mtunzini
[edit] Mayoral Plates
It is traditional in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape Provinces to reserve a number plate for the Mayor of that town. For example, "CA 1" is the licence plate of the Mayor of Cape Town, and "NP 1" is the licence plate of the Mayor of Pietermaritzburg. This does not always hold in the smaller municiplaities.
[edit] Costs
The annual licence fee for personalised number plates can be as high as R10,000 for a single character licence plate (e.g. "1 WP") but the standard licence fee is between R200 and R600, depending on the province in which the vehicle is registered.
[edit] History
[edit] Circa 1980 to 1994
Before 1994, South Africa had only 4 provinces: Natal, Cape Province, Orange Free State and Transvaal.
All number plates used black text on a yellow background, for example: BCD123T. Government plates were coloured red on a white background. There were no personalised number plates.
[edit] Cape Province
These are listed under the Western Cape heading above.
[edit] Natal Province
These are listed in the KwaZulu-Natal heading above.
[edit] Orange Free State Plates
- OA - Bethlehem
- OAB - Reitz
- OAF - Kestell
- OB - Bloemfontein
- OBB - Brandfort
- OBD - Dewetsdorp
- OBG - Reddersburg
- OBT - Botshabele
- OBW - Phuthadistjhaba
- OC - Bethulie
- OCC - Springfontein
- OD - Boshoff
- ODB - Hertzogville
- ODD - Deslesville
- OE - Edenburg
- OEB - Trompsburg
- OF - Fauresmith
- OFB - Jagersfontein
- OFD - Koffiefontein
- OFH - Petrusburg
- OG - Picksburg
- OGB - Fouriesburg
- OH - Frankfort
- OHB - Villiers
- OHS - Harrismith
- OIC - Warden
- OIL - Sasolburg
- OJ - Heilbron
- OK - Hoopstad
- OKB - Bultfontein
- OKC - Odendaalsrus
- OKD - Wesselsbron
- OKE - Welkom
- OL - Jacobsdal
- OM - Kroonstad
- OMB - Bothaville
- OMF - Viljoenskroon
- OMG - Edenville
- ON - Ladybrand
- ONB - Hobhouse
- OND - Clocolan
- OO - Lindley
- OOD - Steynsrus
- OOE - Petrus Steyn
- OP - Philippolis
- OR - Senekal
- ORD - Marquard
- ORE - Paul Roux
- ORX - Rouxville
- OS - Smithfield
- OU - Vrede
- OUB - Memel
- OV - Parys
- OVB - Vredefort
- OVE - Koppies
- OW - Wepener
- OX - Winburg
- OXD - Theunissen
- OXF - Ventersburg
- OXG - Excelsior
- OXH - Hennenman
- OXV - Virginia
- OZ - Zastron
[edit] Homeland Number Plates
Under Apartheid South Africa, each of the homelands had their own departments of vehicle licencing.
[edit] Venda
- VD - Dzanani
- VDF - Defence Force vehicles
- VM - Government vehicles
- VP - Police vehicles
- VS - Tshitale
- VT - Thohoyandou
- VTA - Traffic Administration vehicles
- VV - Dzanani, Mutale, Sibasa & Vuwani, Venda
[edit] Qwaqwa
- WR - Government vehicles
- WRP - Police vehicles
[edit] Transkei
- XA - Umtata
- XAA - Nqamake
- XAB - Tabankulu
- XAC - Tsomo
- XAD - Xhora
- XAE - Mqanduli
- XAF - Bizana
- XAG - Gatyana
- XAH - Siphaqeni
- XB - Ccuwa
- XC - Lusikisiki
- XD - Cofimvaba
- XE - Engcobo
- XF - Umzimvubu
- XG - Transkei government vehicles
- XGA - Agriculture & Forestry Dept vehicles
- XGC - Commerce, Industry & Tourism Dept vehicles
- XGH - Health & Welfare Dept vehicles
- XGL - Local Government & Land Tenure Dept vehicles
- XGW - Works & Energy Dept vehicles
- XH - Umzimkulu
- XJ - Maxesibeni
- XK - Kwabhaca
- XL - Matatiele
- XM - Transkei Army vehicles
- XN - Idutywa
- XO - Tsolo
- XP - Transkei police vehicles
- XPT - Transkei Traffic Police vehicles
- XR - Cacadu
- XRT - Transkei Road Transport Services vehicles
- XS - Xalanga
- XT - Herschel
- XU - Libode
- XV - Qumbu
- XW - Mt Fletcher
- XY - Centane
- XZ - Ngqeleni
[edit] Bophuthatswana
- YB - Government vehicles
- YBA - Molopo
- YBB - Odi
- YBC - Moretele
- YBD - Hafekeng & Tlhabane
- YBE - Ditsobotla
- YBG - Lehurutshe
- YBH - Tlhaping-Tlharo
- YBJ - Madikwe
- YBK - Thaba 'Nchu
- YBL - Mankwe
- YBM - Ganyesa
- YBN - Taung
- YBP - Police vehicles
- YBX - Mabopane
[edit] Zululand / KwaZulu
- ZG - Government vehicles
- ZK - Paramount Chief vehicles
- ZP - Police vehicles
- Z - General vehicles
[edit] Prior to 1980
The number plates were white text on a black background and the Transvaal plates were also region specific:
[edit] Transvaal
- TA - Benoni
- TAA - Barberton
- TAB - Bethal
- TAC - Christania
- TAD - Lichtenburg
- TAE - Lydenburg
- TAF - Zeerust
- TAG - Piet Retief
- TAH - Nylstroom
- TAI - Wolmaranstad
- TAJ - Louis Trichardt
- TAK - Wolmaransad district
- TAL - Pietersburg
- TAM - Wakkerstroom
- TAN - Potgietersrust
- TAO - Ottosdal
- TAP - Graskop
- TAQ - Balfour
- TAR - Messina
- TAS - Delmas
- TAT - Greylingstad
- TAU - Fochville
- TAV - Hercules
- TAW - Bronkhorstspruit
- TAX - Rodeon, Zwartruggens
- TAY - Randfontein
- TAZ - Britz
- TB - Boksburg
- TBA - Dullstroom
- TBB - Leeudoornstad
- TBC - Tzaneen
- TBD - Duivelskloof
- TBE - Delareyville
- TBF - Hendrina
- TBG - Charl Cilliers
- TBH - Nelspruit
- TBI - Koster
- TBJ - Trichard
- TBK - Morgenzon
- TBL - Machadodorp
- TBM - Breyton
- TBS - Sabie
- TBZ - Thabazimbi
- TC - Carolina
- TCA - Groblersdaal
- TCB - Belfast
- TCC - Coligny
- TCD - Kempton Park
- TCE - Venterspost
- TCX - Maquassi
- TDD - Pilgrims Rest
- TDG - Nigel
- TDH - Witrivier
- TDJ - Leslie
- TDK - Alberton
- TDL - Edenvale
- TE - Ermelo
- TEA - Amsterdam
- TF - Amersfoort
- TG - Germiston
- TH - Heidelberg
- TI - Rustenburg
- TJ - Johannesburg
- TK - Krugersdorp
- TL - Bloemhof
- TM - Middleburg
- TN - Ventersdorp
- TNS - Naboomspruit
- TO - Brakpan
- TP - Pretoria
- TQ - Standerton
- TR - Schweizer-Reneke
- TS - Springs
- TSN - Sandton
- TT - Volksrust
- TU - Roodepoort-Mariasburg
- TV - Vereeniging
- TVB - Van Der Bijl Park
- TW - Witbank
- TWB - Warmbaths
- TX - Potchefstroom
- TY - Klerksdorp
- TZ - Klerksdorp district
