The vehicle registration plates of Cyprus are composed of three letters and three digits (e.g. ABC 123). A simple incremental numbering system is used; numbers run from 001 to 999 per letter sequence (alphabetic), so that, for example, the plate to be issued after MAA 999 would be MAB 001. However, registrants may be allowed to choose a number from available numbers in the extant letter sequence.
The dimensions of Cyprus plates were similar to their British counterparts, and until 2004, characters were printed in black and in the same typeface as used on British plates. Plates from 2004 onwards are made of metal; between 1973 and 2004, they were made of plastic.
A new law on vehicle registration plates came into force on 3 June 2013, altering the design. Plates made before that date are white on the front of the vehicle and yellow on the rear, whereas new plates as of a few years ago, are white both on the front and the rear with 3 letters, and 3 numbers. And, in addition, carry the month and year the vehicle was first registered in any country. The new series began with the combination MAA 001, skipping the remaining Lxx combinations. Replacing old plates with new ones has been made mandatory for motorcycles, taxis and lorries. Taxi plates are yellow on both sides and rental car plates are red on both sides, but no longer carry the T and Z prefix, respectively.
Following Cyprus' entry to the European Union in 2004, plates produced since have a blue band on the left edge with the Union's circle and stars in the top half and the country's international vehicle registration code CY in the bottom half and using German FE-Schrift as the typeface after 2013, replacing the DIN 1451 typeface previously in use as mandatory.
Style and numbering
before 1930
F for Famagusta
K for Kyrenia
LL for Limassol
N for Nicosia
P for Paphos
L for Larnaca
1930 - 1948
1948 - 1950
1950 - 1956
1956 - 1973
1973 - 1990
1990 - 2003
2003 - 2013
2013 - today (starting from MAA letter combination introduced in June 2013, only the following letters are used: ABEHKMNPTXYZ.
Special plates
Car dealer
1973 - 1990
1990 - today
Dealer plates show the letters ΔΟΚΙΜΗ, which means Test, on a white plate, followed by two sets of numerals, the first being the number of the dealer and the second is a serial number. The only officially-made plates in Cyprus. Formerly, they had the same format as the civilian vehicles, but used the code DL and the characters were written in red colour.
Rental cars
1973 - 1990
1990 - 2013
2013 - today
Composed of three letters and three numerals, on a dark red plate. The initial Z prefix was omitted after 2013.
Taxi
1973 - 1990
1990 - 2003
2003 - 2013
2013 - today
Composed of three letters and three numerals, on a yellow plate. The initial T prefix was omitted after 2013.
Trailers
1973 - 2013
Composed of up to five numerals with the suffix CT, on yellow plates. Since 2013, some numbers have been reissued on white plates.
2013 - today
Composed of five numerals and the prefix P, on white plates. Some early numbers were printed on remaining yellow plates.
Commercial trucks
1973 - 1990
1990 - 2003
2003 - 2013
2013 - today
Composed of three letters and three numerals, on yellow plates. White front plates were omitted after 2013.
Temporary / Visitors
1973 - 2003
Up to four numerals followed by the letter V, followed by two numerals indicating the year of registration. After 2004, you cannot register a car as visitor, but visitor cars registered before 2004 can still get road tax.
Diplomatic plates
1973 - 1990
1990 - 2004
2004 - 2017
2017 - today
Composed of a two-digit code for the country (e.g. 29 for Russia or 49 for the Netherlands, followed by two letters (CD, CC or AT) and a serial number with up to three digits. Low serial numbers are used for vehicles of the ambassador of each country. Previously these plates had the same format as civilian plates, on a green base and the prefixes CD, CC or AT.
Historical Vehicles
2013 - today
White-on-Black euroband plates for vehicles older than 40 years.
Other special plates
Public service trucks and buses display secondary plates similar to the Spanish SP plates. • ΦΔΧ - Φορτηγό Δημοσίας Χρήσης (public service truck) for trucks. • ΛΔΧ - Λεωφορείο Δημοσίας Χρήσης (public service bus) for buses.