Vehicle registration plates of Northern Ireland

Vehicle registration plates in Northern Ireland use a modified version of the British national registration plate system that was initiated for the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1903. Originally, all counties in the UK were allocated two identification letters. At that time, the whole of Ireland was in the UK, and the letters I and Z were reserved for the Irish counties. The 'I' series was used first, but by the time it came to using the 'Z' series in 1926, the Irish Free State had already come into existence, and so it was agreed that the Northern Ireland would use the AZ – YZ series, while the Free State would use the ZA – ZZ series. In 1987, the Republic of Ireland broke away from the system altogether. As of 2002 there were reportedly 794,477 recorded registration plates in Northern Ireland, compared to only 50 for the island as a whole when the format was first introduced in 1903.[3]

Northern Ireland
NI regular front (top) and rear (bottom) number plates. The national identifier is optional, and the distinguishing code for the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland is "UK".[1] Number plates including the code are valid in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic if displayed on its own or together with the Union Jack. The "UK" code replaced the previous "GB" code from 28 September 2021.[2]
Country United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
Country codeUK
Current series
Size520 mm × 111 mm
20.5 in × 4.4 in
Serial formatAAA 1234
IntroducedJanuary 1966
Availability
Issued byDVA (until 2014)
DVLA (2014 - present)
History
First issued1 January 1904

The full list of codes used in Northern Ireland appears below.

Format
There are two number plate systems within the UK: one for Northern Ireland and another for Great Britain
Diagram of Northern Ireland number plate, descriptions below
Diagram of Northern Ireland number plate, descriptions below

This is the current NI front plate with the optional "UK" badge. As in Great Britain, each code originally ran from 1 to 9999, and when one was completed, another was allocated. All possible codes had been allocated by 1957, following which reversed sequences were introduced, the first county to do so being Antrim in January 1958 with 1 IA. These reversed sequences were completed quickly, leading to the introduction of the current "AXX 1234" format in January 1966, where "XX" is the county code and "A" is a serial letter. This format allowed capacity to be increased. Each county adopted it once they had completed their reversed sequences, the last one to do so being County Londonderry in October 1973 with AIW 1. From November 1985, the first 100 numbers of each series were withheld for use as cherished registrations. From April 1989, the numbers 101-999 were also withheld in this way. Even multiples of 1000 and 1111 ("four-of-a-kind") are deemed cherished by the DVLA and thus withheld. Each series ends at 9998 and follows on to the next letter/number combination in the series.

Northern Ireland plate. This particular County Down plate, which dates from the last century, uses an old-style font.

International vehicle registration code on the number plates

The distinguishing code for the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland is "UK".[1] Prior to 28 September 2021, "GB" was used. [4] Number plates featuring other codes, such as "NI" or "IRL" (the distinguishing code for Ireland) are unofficial. From October 2021 if an owner of a vehicle wishes to avoid attaching a separate black on white “UK” sticker, it is necessary for the number plates to display “UK” on the left side. If the vehicle is driven in a country not a party to the Vienna Convention, a separate sign (black on white “UK” sticker) also has to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle.[5] Of the EU countries, a separate identifier is only needed when travelling in Cyprus, Malta, and Spain, as they are not party to the convention.[notes 1]

While motorists with vehicles registered in Great Britain are permitted by the DVLA to use number plates carrying Euro-style bands with UK national flags and country codes (such as ENG, England or SCO), this is not possible in Northern Ireland.[6][7] The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 state that "Paragraph (4) does not apply—(...) (b)if the relevant vehicle is recorded in the part of the register relating to Northern Ireland." Paragraph four reads "Subject to paragraphs (5) to (8), there may be displayed on a plate or other device an arrangement of letters corresponding with one of the sub-paragraphs of paragraph (9) and an emblem corresponding with one of the sub-paragraphs of paragraph (10)".

The current "UK" band front (left) and rear (right)

European Union symbol

When the UK was a member state of the European Union, it was possible to choose to display number plates conforming to the common EU format introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98, with a blue strip on the left side of the plate with the European Union symbol (circle of stars) above the international vehicle registration code of the member state (GB).[8] This format can not be issued after the transition period ended.[9] With Northern Ireland no longer being a part of the EU, the plates with the EU symbol are now no longer issued.

EU member states that require foreign vehicles to display a distinguishing sign of the country of origin are obliged by Article 3 of EU Regulation No. 2411/98 to accept this standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state, making a separate sign unnecessary for vehicles registered in the EU.

After Brexit, other EU countries are no longer required to accept UK "Europlates", as the regulation only requires member states to accept the standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state. After this, Euro-plates must be replaced by a number plate that features the UK code (GB before 28 September 2021) in order to be valid as a national identifier.[10][11]

A Belfast plate displaying the optional EU format "UK" country code. Any other format displaying a side badge, including those bearing the codes "NI" or "IRL", are unofficial.

Administration

The administrative counties of Northern Ireland were abolished by the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, and their responsibility for issuing registrations was transferred to the NI Ministry of Home Affairs,[12] and later the Department of the Environment NI. The former vehicle section in the county town of each local authority became a "local office" of the relevant departmental agency, formerly Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland and latterly the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Coleraine.

From 21 July 2014, vehicle registration in Northern Ireland became the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency DVLA in Swansea, which also administers the system used in Great Britain. The pre-1972 format of Northern Ireland registration plates continues unchanged in Northern Ireland. When the current system is exhausted the format will be swapped so NNNN LLL for example 1232 AIL.[13]

County codes in alphabetical order

All the codes from IA to IZ, and from AI to WI (except for those containing G, Q, S and V, plus II), were allocated throughout the island of Ireland in 1903, in alphabetical order of counties and then of county boroughs. Hence, Antrim was allocated IA and Armagh IB, while County Dublin, now in the Republic of Ireland, was allocated IK, in between IJ for Down and IL for Fermanagh. Shortly before the partition of Ireland in 1922, Belfast completed OI and was thus allocated the next available code, XI, while YI and then ZI were allocated to Dublin City. After the partition, all codes with Z as the first letter (ZA, ZB etc.) were allocated in the Republic of Ireland, while all codes with Z as the second letter (AZ, BZ etc.) were allocated in Northern Ireland with the exception of County Mayo which had originally been allocated IZ.

CodeCounty or CityCodeCounty or CityCodeCounty or City
AZBelfastILFermanaghSZDown
BZDownIWCounty LondonderryTZBelfast
CZBelfastJITyroneUICity of Derry
DZAntrimJZDownUZBelfast
EZBelfastKZAntrimVZTyrone
FZBelfastLZArmaghWZBelfast
GZBelfastMZBelfastXIBelfast
HZTyroneNZCounty LondonderryXZArmagh
IAAntrimOIBelfastYZCounty Londonderry
IBArmaghOZBelfastQNICars with indeterminate age, kit cars.
IGFermanaghPZBelfastLTZBuses built in Northern Ireland
for Transport for London
IJDownRZAntrim


Series per administrative county / DVA licensing local office

For each DVA licensing local office[14] (administrative county before 1974) the two-letter sequences are shown first, followed by the reversed two-letter sequences, then the three-letter sequences.

CC
code		 CC number range number CC range ACC–YCC number range number range ACC–YCC
County Antrim / Ballymena
IA 1 to 9999Dec 1903 – Mar 1932 1 to 9999Jan 1958 – Jun 1960 1 to 9998[n 1]Jan 1966 – Jul 1985 1001 to 9998Likely next
DZ 1 to 9999Mar 1932 – Jan 1947 301 to 9999Jun 1960 – Sep 1962 101 to 9998[n 2]Jul 1985 – May 1998
KZ 1 to 9999Jan 1947 – Feb 1954 1 to 9999Sep 1962 – Jun 1964 1001 to 9998May 1998 – May 2010
RZ 1 to 9999Feb 1954 – Jan 1958 501 to 9999Jun 1964 – Jan 1966 1001 to 9998May 2010 – current
County Armagh / Armagh
IB 1 to 9999Dec 1903 – Aug 1947[n 3] 301 to 9999Apr 1962 – Nov 1965 1 to 9998Mar 1972 – Nov 1996[n 4][n 5] 1001 to 9998Likely next
LZ 1 to 9999Jan 1947[n 3] – Nov 1957 1 to 9999Nov 1965 – Mar 1969 1001 to 9998Nov 1996 – May 2010
XZ 1 to 9999Nov 1957 – Apr 1962 1 to 9999Mar 1969 – Mar 1972 1001 to 9998May 2010 – current
Belfast County Borough / Belfast City
OI 1 to 9999Jan 1904 – Jan 1921 1000 to 9999Jun 1958 – Jun 1959 1 to 9999[n 6]Apr 1969 – Apr 1982
XI 1 to 9999Jan 1921 – Feb 1928 1000 to 9999Jun 1959 – Apr 1960 1 to 9998Apr 1982 – Feb 1993
AZ 1 to 9999Feb 1928 – Nov 1932 1 to 9999Apr 1960 – Mar 1961 1001 to 9998Feb 1993 – Mar 1999
CZ 1 to 9999Nov 1932 – Oct 1935 1 to 9999Mar 1961 – Apr 1962 1001 to 9998Mar 1999 – Sep 2004
EZ 1 to 9999Oct 1935 – Oct 1938 1 to 9999Apr 1962 – Apr 1963 1001 to 9998Sep 2004 – Sep 2009
FZ 1 to 9999Oct 1938 – May 1942 1 to 9999Apr 1963 – Jan 1964 1001 to 9998Sep 2009 – Nov 2015
GZ 1 to 9999May 1942 – Dec 1947 1 to 9999Jan 1964 – Sep 1964 1001 to 9998Nov 2015 – Feb 2023
MZ 1 to 9999Dec 1947 – Jun 1950 1 to 9999Sep 1964 – May 1965 1001 to 9998Feb 2023 – current
OZ 1 to 9999Jun 1950 – Jan 1953 1 to 9999May 1965 – Mar 1966 1001 to 9998Likely next
PZ 1 to 9999Jan 1953 – Aug 1954 1 to 9999Mar 1966 – Jan 1967
TZ 1 to 9999Aug 1954 – Oct 1955 1 to 9999Jan 1967 – Oct 1967 [n 7]Mid-2013 – current
UZ 1 to 9999Oct 1955 – Mar 1957 1 to 9999Oct 1967[n 8] – Jun 1968
WZ 1 to 9999Mar 1957 – Jun 1958 1 to 9999Jun 1968 – Apr 1969
County Down / Downpatrick
IJ 1 to 9999[n 9]Dec 1903 – Apr 1930 101 to 9999Oct 1958 – May 1961 1 to 9998[n 10][n 11]May 1967 – May 1987 1001 to 9998Likely next
BZ 1 to 9999Apr 1930 – Oct 1946 201 to 9999May 1961 – Nov 1963 101 to 9998May 1987 – Sep 2000
JZ 1 to 9999Oct 1946 – Aug 1954 201 to 9999Nov 1963 – Jul 1965 1001 to 9998Sep 2000 – Nov 2016
SZ 1 to 9999Aug 1954 – Oct 1958 1 to 9999Jul 1965 – May 1967 1001 to 9998Nov 2016 – current
County Fermanagh / Enniskillen
IL 1 to 9999Jan 1904 – Feb 1958 51 to 9999Feb 1958 – Aug 1966 1001 to 9998[n 12][n 13]Aug 1966 – Dec 2004 1001 to 9998Likely next
IG 1001 to 9998Dec 2004 – current [n 14] 1001 to 9998Dec 2004 – current
County Londonderry / Coleraine
IW 1 to 9999Dec 1903 – Jan 1949 100 to 9999Sep 1962 – Oct 1966 1 to 9998[n 15][n 16]Oct 1973 – Jul 2000 1001 to 9998Likely next
NZ 1 to 9999Jan 1949 – Dec 1957 1 to 9999Oct 1966 – Nov 1970 1001 to 9998Jul 2000 – Jan 2020
YZ 1 to 9999Dec 1957 – Sep 1962 1 to 9999Nov 1970 – Oct 1973 1001 to 9998Jan 2020 – current
Londonderry County Borough / Derry City
UI 1 to 9999Jan 1904 – Aug 1963 100 to 9999Aug 1963 – Apr 1973 1 to 9998[n 17][n 18]Apr 1973 – current VI October 2023- Derry City
County Tyrone / Omagh
JI 1 to 9999Dec 1903 – Feb 1944 100 to 9999Apr 1961 – Oct 1964 1 to 9998[n 19][n 20]Jun 1971 – Dec 1999
HZ 1 to 9999Feb 1944 – Apr 1956 200 to 9999Oct 1964 – Mar 1968 1001 to 9998Dec 1999 – Jun 2021
VZ 1 to 9999Apr 1956 – Apr 1961 200 to 9999Mar 1968 – Jun 1971 1001 to 9998Jun 2021 – current

Current issue per administrative county / DVA licensing local office

The current three-letter sequence issued by each DVA licensing local office:

CodeCounty or CityFirst Issued
VRZBallymenaAug 2023
TXZArmaghSep 2023
CMZBelfast CitySep 2023
HSZDownpatrickApr 2023
XIGEnniskillenApr 2023
CYZColeraineMar 2023
AVIDerry CityOctober 2023
AVZOmaghSep 2022

(Updated: October 2023)

Three-letter sequences not issued

The following sequences were deemed inappropriate and will never be issued:

County or CityCodes
BallymenaARZ[15]
EnniskillenKIL NIG PIG[n 21]
Derry CityFUI

The following sequences were never issued:

County or CityCodes
Belfast CityIOI OOI[n 22]

See also

Notes
  1. "Ireland is not a party of the Vienna Convention but no separate 'GB' sticker is required." Accessed in June 2021

References
Citations
  1. Authority transferred from Antrim County Council to Ballymena LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was GIA 8977.
  2. BDZ ended at 7458 due to computerisation in October 1986, followed by CDZ 101.
  3. Although LZ commenced in January 1947, IB was not completed until August 1947.
  4. Authority transferred from Armagh County Council to Armagh LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was AIB 7786.
  5. JIB ended at 4400 due to computerisation in 1986, followed by KIB 101.
  6. Authority transferred from Belfast City Council to Belfast LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was GOI 8301.
  7. Since 2013, the LTZ series has been used by Transport for London for its New Routemaster buses, which are built in Northern Ireland.
  8. A batch of reverse UZ was issued early in July 1967 for Belfast City Transport.
  9. IJ 1-100 were mixed allocations to all types of vehicles, but thereafter there was a period when motorcycles were segregated in blocks; the following were the motorcycle blocks: IJ 101-150, 201-249, 301-350, 451-500, 551-600, 651-700, 751-800, 851-950, 1001-1100, 1151-1200 and 1251 up, (no information thereafter). Other vehicles took the remaining numbers, but 1000-1050 were, in fact, duplicated.
  10. Authority transferred from Down County Council to Downpatrick LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was in the early FIJ series.
  11. XIJ ended at 3439 due to computerisation in October 1986, followed by YIJ 101.
  12. Authority transferred from Fermanagh County Council to Enniskillen LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was in the late AIL series.
  13. EIL ended at 2423 due to computerisation in October 1986, followed by FIL 101.
  14. Used for imported classic vehicles.
  15. Authority transferred from Londonderry County Council to Coleraine LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was in the early AIW series.
  16. HIW incomplete due to computerisation in October 1986 (highest normal issue unknown), followed by IIW 101.
  17. Authority transferred from Londonderry County Borough Council to Londonderry LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was AUI 1110.
  18. CUI ended at 7388 due to computerisation in October 1986, followed by DUI 101.
  19. Authority transferred from Tyrone County Council to Omagh LVLO/VRO from 1 January 1974; the first registration following the transfer was BJI 800.
  20. JJI ended at 4700 due to computerisation in October 1986, followed by KJI 101.
  21. CIG was deemed inappropriate and was not issued in sequence. However, the combination has since been issued in DVLA Auctions.
  22. NAZ was deemed inappropriate and was not issued in sequence. However, the combination has since been issued in DVLA Auctions, but NAZ 1-199 are withheld.
Sources
  1. "Distinguishing signs used on vehicles in international traffic notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (article 45 (4)) and the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (annex 4)" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2021.
  2. "Convention on Road Traffic Vienna, 8 November 1968: UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 45 (4)" (PDF).
  3. "Northern Ireland vehicle number plates could be set for biggest makeover in 45 years". Belfasttelegraph. Belfast Telegraph. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. "Convention on Road Traffic Vienna, 8 November 1968: UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 45 (4)" (PDF).
  5. "NOTICE ON TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE EU AND THE UNITED KINGDOM FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM THE EU" (PDF).
  6. DVLNI (29 January 2009). "V796(NI): Display of Registration Marks for Motor Vehicles" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  7. "FactCheck: Will Northern Ireland drivers have to display GB stickers on their vehicles if driving in Ireland?". thejournal.ie. The Journal Media. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  8. European Union (3 November 1998). "Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered". Retrieved 22 October 2007.
  9. "The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) (Amendment) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020".
  10. "Driving in Europe after Brexit: how leaving the EU will affect driving licences". inews.co.uk. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. "Displaying number plates". GOV.UK. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  12. "The Vehicles Excise (Transfer of Functions) (Supplementary Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1973". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  13. "Vehicle registration from 21 July 2014". nidirect. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  14. "DVA licensing Local Offices official website". dvlni.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  15. "BRZ Number Plates have arrived". Speedy Registrations Blog. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
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