Talk:Vehicle registration plates of the Republic of Ireland

Untitled
This is a most excellent page. Giving the basic information in an easily accessible way, yet linking to the COMPLETE ORIGINAL specifications! Fantastic job, whoever you are. This is how Wikipedia should be. Way too many articles try to rehash original materiel, without referring to it or linking to it.

Numerological Superstition
Does anyone know about a registration with 666 as its sequence number?

I remember a few years ago hearing a radio program that said registrations were never given out with the number 666 in it!

Can anyone shed light on this?

conorb (At) gmail.com


 * I know for a fact that this is false. Ironically, a religion teacher in secondary school drove a black car (A Ford Orion I believe) with the reg no. of 666. (I kid you not!) zoney &#09619;  &#09618; talk 23:11, 4 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I can also confirm that this was false. In Mayo a few years ago there was an incident where some guy with some obsession with the number "666" illegally fitted a 9?MO666 number plate (cant remember the exact year of registration but it was in the 1990's) to his car

Anyway by a couple of twists of bizzare coincidince the guy was driving along the N5 at Ballyvary (near Castlebar) one day and overtook a van bearing the REAL 9?MO666 number plate meanwhile behind him was a car in which a photographer from a local newspaper (The Connaught Telegraph IIRC) was travelling as a passenger. The photograph of car overtaking the van bearing the same number plate appeared in the paper the following week. Needless to say the local gardai (police) took a dim view of this and within weeks managed to locate and aprehend the driver of the car. Despite there being some obvious doubts about the guys state of mental health he was put on trial and fined (reportedly with a warning that he would face more serious penelties i.e. prison if he reoffended). The question of whether he should retain his driving licence given the aforementioned doubts about his state of mind apparently never arose !

I have heard of authorities in some countries deciding not to issue number plates ending in "13" or "666" because of the volumes of protests/requests for number changes from particularly religious and/or superstitious individuals.80.229.222.48 22:27, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

NI regs
Addition by an anon IP:


 * Please note: There have been noted cases of vehicles from Northern Ireland registering their cars in the UK (as must be done) but to the Republic's standard such as:
 * :County Armagh - AH

I seriously doubt this is true. Evidence is needed before such a far-fetched claim can be inserted.

As far as I am aware, NI reg's continue to use the old British system for Ireland (that used to be all-Ireland). I do not know whether they yet use the EU style number plates. In England "GB" is used on these, but that would be technically incorrect for NI (they aren't in Great Britain, but are in the United Kingdom).

zoney &#09827; talk 20:44, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)


 * No this is actually true. I have also seen a NI car with 99-AH-????? (It didn't actually have the question marks, obviously). I don't how it was done, but it did DEFINITLY say AH. I think the line should be put back in. I don't unfortunatly have hard PROOF, it's not like I had a camera or anything. -Gerbon689


 * You may indeed have seen an NI car with AH, but this was most likely an illegal number plate. A Dublin driver tried to do likewise soon after the introduction of the current plates from 1987. Instead of the mandatory 8x-D-xxxx, he decided on his own authority that 8x-BÁC-xxxx was what he was entitled to show on his number plate, his excuse being that he always refered Dublin as "Baile Átha Cliath", and not "Dublin". Anyway, the courts decided that he did not have the right to change his numberplates to his personal liking, and ruled his "BÁC" plate as illegal...


 * Nothern Irish plates don't carry the GB band. For obvious reasons, really. --Kiand 21:02, 1 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Actually some do but its not (yet?) compulsory. Some use "NI" but (like "CYM" and "SCO") I dont think these are internationally recognised. As for illegal numberplates on NI cars I saw a black taxi on the Falls road in Belfast onetime with TWO numberplates one official "EKZ xxxx" and the other totally illegal "9x AM xxxx" complete with (oversized) IRL logo 80.229.222.48 19:39, 2 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Funny, many people from Derry who move to Donegal retain their UK plates (illegally of course). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.46.181.184 (talk) 02:06, 28 December 2007 (UTC)


 * The exhorbatant levels of vehicle registration tax in the Republic would account for the above. Meanwhile with the DVA in Northern Ireland offering personalised registrations at £250 a pop it would be theoretically possible for NI motorists to legally have something approximating Irish format plates (albeit with the rear plate remaining yellow) Havent seen any examples to date though. 82.132.232.7 (talk) 08:24, 30 July 2014 (UTC)

Pre-1987 cars
The article doesn't say anything, but is it possible for an older car to be given a post-1987 format number? I could swear that when I was in Dublin a few years ago I spotted an old Rover 2000 with a 70 C nnn plate, but in the old white-on-black lettering style! -- Arwel 00:13, 11 July 2005 (UTC)

When importing a pre-1987 car and registering it in Ireland for the first time, the Revenue Commissioners will allow you the choice of an older style 'ZV' plate, or a newer style 70 C nnnn plate. Regarding the style of the plate, if it was legal for the plate to be in that style at the time of original registration, it is still legal to display that style of plate. And that's how I have a silver & black 69 D plate on my Land Rover :-) AndrewH 09:52, 11 July 2005 (UTC)


 * Ah, that explains that I wasn't going mad. I just couldn't figure out how it had been done! Thanks. -- Arwel 10:50, 11 July 2005 (UTC)


 * As I rememeber at the time some people had their pre 1987 plates re-registered as pre 1987 in the form 70 C nnnn - it was kind of a fad - dont quote me on this as I am very vague on the details! Another thing that was very popular in post 1987 was to purchase a car in the late/early year and put "FOR REG" in place of number plates until it was possible to register in the new year and receive plates. This did not last much beyond the mid ninties because of concerns with theft and law and was very popular among the Jones'. Djegan 18:20, 11 July 2005 (UTC)


 * Old Registration Plates - Table. As far as I recalled from years ago the Counties IA, IB, IC etc were issued alphabetically...  This is not obvious from the table as the table starts with AI - the first entry should be I = Ireland and A = First County ==> IA = Ireland, Antrim, IB = Ireland Armagh... etc. in county alpha order... until IZ = Ireland, Mayo - whereupon the I was placed after the county letter to create AI - Meath,Ireland, BI = Monaghan, Ireland ... until NI = Wicklow, Ireland.....  After that the likehood is that the rest of the double letter codes were used as required and subsequently the Zx codies.

The important point really is that the Ix and xI codes are part of the same double letter sequence - but the table does not show this. Reversing the Table so that it starts with IA and the moves to AI and the ZA.

Also it should be noted that a third letter was used in font of the doule letter county code, e.g AZI 915, TZC 112... also the letter and umber sequences could be reversed 485 RI, 475 BIK, 176 MRI - In Nothern Ireland a 4 digit number sequence was introduced e.g MIA 1234


 * Plate Colour, The plates photos omit 1. the Red plate was a rear place with a corresponding white plate at the front. Both these plates were reflective. Prior to those plates Black Plates with Silver letters/numbers were used.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.43.160.105 (talk) 18:00, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Temporary Plates? (Motor Trade Licence Plates)
Could someone enlighten us on these? I think they're temporary anyway - those white-on-green plates often used by car dealers (usually just stuck inside the windscreens). I've seen them on trucks sometimes as well. What are they for exactly? --Zilog Jones 23:26, 8 August 2005 (UTC)


 * They are used by dealers to cover any un-regestered car for road use by anyone who displays these plates in the window of the car.


 * They are used by motor dealers when giving "test drives" to prospective purchasers of a new (as opposed to secondhand) car. 80.229.222.48 19:36, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Motor Trade Licence Plates S.I. No. 409 of 1992 and S.I. No. 23 of 1993. Temporary Plates i.e. "ZZ" registration, is designed to permit the use of a vehicle in a public place for up to one month e.g. temporary import or new unregistered vehicle for export. Timewatcher 10:02, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

The "ZZ" and "Green on white" number plates serve different functions.

ZZ plates are used for new cars sold in the Republic of Ireland which the buyer intends to export within a month of purchase. They are white on a black background with a small red logo indicating the month of registration.

Green and white follow a (digits) (one/two letters) (two year digit) format and are generally used by motor dealers giving test drives. They are transferrable between vehicles i.e. a showroom could have a dozen vehicles but only two or three plates. They only need enough plates to cover the maximum possible number of test drives likely to be taking place at one time. 80.229.222.48 23:25, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

IE as the county code
I have seen on Irish advertising, cars with the letters IE, as the county code without the county's name in the plate. Is this the commercial county-less number plate used in adverts and promotions? 159753 17:52, 3 April 2006 (UTC)


 * I would suspect its a promotion, any examples? Djegan 18:41, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

Font used on plates
The article is incorrect in that the font for the number IS set by the government, and use of a font other than that dictated will result in failure of the National Car Test.


 * There is no set character font set by the government for irish number plates other than black readable characters. Readable characters as in ones that are, for example, not in fancy italic style or not in script writing style. Ireland and France are possibly the only EU countries that do not enforce the use of one particular style of font.


 * I have heard of complaints about people being failed on the National car test for failing to have the county name in the Irish language on their numberplates even though this is not actually legally required (Note: this is unverified secondhand information but Id be interested in hearing from someone who can credibly confirm or debunk it) 80.229.222.48


 * This was indeed the case before - when I imported my car into Ireland, I had plates made without the word Corcaigh on them and I was pulled up at the NCT - I had to go get a pair of stickers and put them on the plates to pass the test. Incidentally, the car parts dealer told me he did a good trade in the stickers. This bit of Paddywhackery is thankfully no more - they have come to their senses and scrapped the requirement for the NCT. It might still be a legal requirement, but who ever saw a guard at a checkpoint look at anything other than the tax disc!


 * It was only in the early 1990's that it this practice of putting county names in Gaelic on numberplates was introduced (around the same time as the Euro/IRL logo). Vehicles from 1987 -9? rarely have it (and it doesnt seem to be an issue with the NCT) IIRC it came in shortly after the "BAC court case" mentioned above but Im not sure if there was any connection. I have seen the odd (presumably illegal ?) plate with the county name in ENGLISH or where the county name didnt match the registration ! 213.40.112.230 (talk) 14:20, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Odd trivia
Some British army vehicles seem to bear a registration that is uncannily like the Irish format. The have the form XX-KK-XXXX (all registered in Kilkenny :)

Seriously though, I'd like some proper information on this, as it does look quite odd if one is familiar with Irish reg plates (particularly the fact of KK for Kilkenny).

zoney &#09827; talk 15:01, 22 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Some British forces vehicles do have two digits, two letters and two digits. The letters could be anything but were later issued as KA, KB, KC etc. I had an ex-military Land Rover which was 74KFnn whilst in service. The more recent format for military vehicles seems to be two letters, two digits and two letters. Either way, the plates tend to be white on black for vehicles used in the field, but civilian-derived vehicles (cars and artics) have the white front and yellow rear plates as per civilian practice. BTW the new British plates (AA nn AAA) are not allowed to be represented with the three parts on separate lines, to avoid confusion with forces registrations. Hope this information is useful. 213.120.3.252 20:06, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Military plates
The article currently reads, "Vehicles registered to the Irish Defence Forces have plates with silver letters on black background. These do not feature the Irish-language county name; in practice all are registered in Dublin."

I have seen and photographed such a silver-on-black plate with the KK (Kilkenny) code; is the statement that all military vehicles are registered in Dublin correct? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Qqqqqq (talk • contribs) 16:40, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Yep. The statement in the article re-colour of plates; no Irish - definitely correct. Registered in Dublin? - not so sure, though very many are. (Sarah777 (talk) 00:53, 12 December 2007 (UTC))

IRL replaced EIR as the country identifier
According to a website EIR was in use from 1938 to 1962 as the country identifier on vehicles from RoI. Was GB used before that? Why was is changed to IRL? So many questions - so few answers! Peter Clarke 13:23, 5 July 2008 (UTC)


 * According to List of international vehicle registration codes it was "SE", presumably for Saorstat Eireann. I would guess in 1962 the government decided it did not like the state being called Eire instead of Ireland in English -- see Names of the Irish State for more on this.  As  for why IRL rather than IRE -- dunno, maybe the French Irlande, or maybe to avoid association with ire= "anger"/"irritation". jnestorius(talk) 17:26, 5 July 2008 (UTC)


 * In the republic of Ireland "EI" is still the standard prefix for aircraft identifier codes and amateur radio callsigns (so "Eire" is not an issue"). "IE" is the internet domain. "IRL" is used for vehicle number plates and mobile phones identify Irish networks variously as "IRL" "IE" or "272" while the international dialing code is "353". Meanwhile in Northern Ireland the country identifier for vehicles is "GB" even though "UK" is more geographically accurate...Confused yet ? 94.2.189.28 (talk) 19:52, 27 June 2015 (UTC)

County/City
Is Limerick the only county with metropolitan borough that issues a single letter plate? I think not - as to my knowledge (though I couldn't find anything official to back it up) County Cork is CK, Cork City is C; Dublin City is D; County Dublin is DN. I'm not sure about Galway (GY/G) or Waterford (WD/W). --Gramscis cousin (talk) 14:33, 2 December 2008 (UTC)
 * There's a section on these codes in the article: Vehicle registration plates of Ireland. Specifically, no, Limerick is not alone, I don't think there's any evidence of a CK or DN code, unless these are recent introductions; Galway is G, and Waterford is WD. Qqqqqq (talk) 20:08, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

There are 2 registrations issued in Limerick, L is Limerick City, and LK for the county, Waterford has 2, W for the city and WD for the county, and Tipperary has 2, TN (Tipperary North), and TS (Tipperary South) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.43.163.240 (talk) 20:32, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

Interwiki problem
I've never been happy with the management of interwiki links ever since they were "hijacked" by Wikidata. Here's a case in point: the Ukrainian-language link is wrong; it points to an article about (inter alia) vehicle registration plates in Northern Ireland. But no matter how many times I try to follow Wikidata's instructions in an attempt to correct this mistake, I always run up against a brick wall. Could someone who knows about these things please delete the erroneous link for me ...and for the sake of Wikipedia accuracy? TIA -- Picapica (talk)

External links modified (January 2018)
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Serial numbers
Could someone inform me about the serial numbers? My question is: every year start de numbering from 1, or the serial numbering is continuously (eg. in 2019 the last number 34675, in 2020 will the first 34676)? Thank you for help! - Gaja (talk) 14:04, 11 December 2019 (UTC)