Vehicle registration plates of Greece

Greek vehicle registration plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate (e.g. ΑΑΑ–1000) printed in black on a white background. The letters represent the district ( prefecture) that issues the plates while the numbers range from 1000 to 9999. As of 2004 a blue strip was added on the left showing the country code of Greece (GR) in white text and the Flag of Europe in yellow. Similar plates but of square size with numbers ranging from 1 to 999 are issued for motorcycles which exceed 50 cc in engine size.

With the exception of Athens and Thessaloniki which are represented by just the first letter of the three, all other districts are represented by the first 2 letters. The final one or two letters in the sequence changes in Greek alphabetical order after 8,999 issued plates. For example, Patras plates are ΑΧΑ–1000, where ΑΧ represents the Achaia prefecture of which Patras is the capital. When ΑΧΑ–9999 is reached the plates turn to ΑΧΒ–1000 and this continues until ΑΧΧ is finished. Only letters from the intersection of the Latin and Greek alphabets are used, specifically Α, Β, Ε, Ζ, Η, Ι, Κ, Μ, Ν, Ο, Ρ, Τ, Υ, Χ (in Greek alphabetical order). This is because Greece is a contracting party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which in Annex 2 requires registration numbers to be displayed in capital Latin characters and Arabic numerals. The rule applies in a similar way in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria.

Combinations used for overseas residents are L–NNNN (where L = letter and N = number) and are limited. Until 2003, taxis used L–NNNN; the plate was aligned with the prefecture and the letters were colored red.

History

1911–1954

Up until 1954 Greek number plates were quite simple: black numbers on a white background, indicating the serial number shown on the car's license. These started at 1 and advanced to approximately 75-000 when the system was changed. The owner had to provide the plates and specifications were minimal: the size of the plates and numbers, as well as their respective colours. This meant that plates were not very uniform. Taxis had to indicate the initial of the city they were licensed in (e.g. "A" for Athens). In 1954 it was compulsory for all vehicles to change to a new system.

1954–1956

For just 2 years the system was L–NN, L–NNN, L–NNNN or L–NNNNN with black characters on yellow background where L was the initial of the city they were licensed in (e.g. "A" for Athens, "Θ" for Thessaloniki etc.). All these plates display "1953–54" (the initial time period for the change, later revised) in black characters on a white background using a smaller typeface in the top left corner. These plates were compulsorily withdrawn in 1956.

1956-1972

In 1956 the system was again changed to just numbers NNNNNN. NNNNNN could be any number from one to six digits starting once again with "1" and ending this time at about "451000", though not all numbers were allocated. Characters were black on white background with a band at the top of both front and rear plates indicating city/district of registration and type of usage (private, commercial etc). Sometime after the early 60s the band on the front plate was abandoned and hence that plate became shorter in height, while the band at the rear became blue. This time it was not compulsory to change plates after 1972 when the newer system arrived. Hence these so-called "six-figure plates" can still occasionally (as of 2018) be spotted on a few old vehicles.

1973–1985

In 1972, they became lettered and the system was LL–NNNN while trucks used L–NNNN. Again, they were black characters on white background but with a new typeface. It was not compulsory to change these plates when the newer system arrived.

1984–2004

In 1984, the system changed to LLL–NNNN and the first two letters are prefecture letters (with the exception of the biggest prefectures Attica/Athens and Thessaloniki where only the first letter remained the same). Again, it was not compulsory to change to the newer "euro" plates in 2004.

2004 to present

In September/October 2004 the euroband and international country code (GR) were added to the left and the typeface changed. In all other respects the previous system LLL–NNNN continued with the numbering allocation carrying on as from pre-2004.

Historic Vehicle plates

Historic vehicle number plates can be issued for vehicles over 30 years old, after they pass the "authenticity" inspection. They came in yellow/blue, white/blue or white/orange depending on the historic vehicle organisation (FILPA or FHVE) and they consist of 4 numbers.

Prefectures (in Greek alphabetical order)

The first 2 of 3 letters (which are listed below) of a licence plate usually represent the prefecture (nomos) where the car was registered. The almost full list of plates in Greece is below (next to the prefecture / district is its capital or an area within the prefecture that the plates are issued; some prefectures have more than one combination):

* ΑΑ Achaia prefecture – Patras
* ΑΒ Kavala prefecture – Kavala
* ΑΕ Lasithi prefecture – Agios Nikolaos
* ΑΖ Achaia prefecture – Patras
* ΑΗ Xanthi prefecture – Xanthi (ΑΗΗ is omitted)
* ΑΙ Aitoloakarnania prefecture – Agrinio area (ΑΙΙ is omitted)
* ΑΚ Laconia prefecture – Sparti
* ΑΜ Phokida prefecture – Amfissa
** ΑΜ �, Ρ, Τ, Υ, Χ(red letters) tax free cars
* ΑΝ Lasithi prefecture – Agios Nikolaos
* ΑΟ Achaia prefecture – Patras
** AO also used in Mount Athos in style of AO–NNN–NN.
* ΑΡ Argolis (Argolida) prefecture – Nafplio
* ΑΤ Arta prefecture – Arta
* AY Achaia prefecture – Patras
* ΑΧ Achaia prefecture – Patras
* ΒΑ Magnesia prefecture – Volos
* ΒΒ Magnesia prefecture – Volos
* ΒΕ Piraeus prefecture
* BZ Piraeus prefecture
* ΒΗ Piraeus prefecture
* ΒΙ Boeotia (Viotia) prefecture – Livadeia
* ΒΚ East Attica prefecture – Pallini
* ΒΜ East Attica prefecture – Pallini ''(future use)''
* ΒΝ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina ''(future use)''
* ΒΟ Magnesia prefecture – Volos (ΒΟΡ plates were also issued for cars in Pella Prefecture due to lack of ΕΕΚ plates at that time)
* ΒΡ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina ''(future use)''
* ΒΤ Magnesia prefecture – Volos ''(future use)''
* ΒΥ Boeotia (Viotia) prefecture – Livadeia ''(future use)''
* ΒΧ Piraeus prefecture
* ΕΑ Dodecanese prefecture – Kos island
* ΕΒ Evros prefecture – Alexandroupoli (ΕΒΒ is omitted)
* ΕΕ Pella Prefecture – Edessa
** EE , I(red letters) tax free cars
* ΕΖ Cyclades prefecture – Ermoupoli
* ΕΗ Euboea (Evia) prefecture – Chalkida
* EI Euboea (Evia) prefecture – Chalkida
* EK ''Trucks''
** ΕΚ �, Β, Ε (introduced maybe in 2003/2004, yellow colored) trucks and other vehicles used for national transport of goods
* ΕΜ Cyclades prefecture – Ermoupoli
* ΕΡ Serres prefecture – Serres
* ΕΤ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture – Corfu
* ΕΥ Lefkada prefecture – Lefkada (ΕΥΑ plates were also issued in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΝ plates at that time)
** ΕΥ � tax free cars of offshore companies
* ΕΧ Kilkis prefecture – Kilkis ''(future use)''
* ΖΑ Zakynthos prefecture – Zakynthos
* ΖΒ Zakynthos prefecture – Zakynthos ''(future use)''
* ΖΕ Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΖΖ Athens prefecture
* ΖΗ Athens prefecture
* ΖΙ Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΖΚ Athens prefecture
* ΖΜ Athens prefecture
* ΖΝ Piraeus prefecture
* ΖΟ Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΖΡ Piraeus prefecture
* ΖΤ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina
* ΖΥ East Attica prefecture – Pallini
* ΖΧ East Attica prefecture – Pallini
* ΗΑ Ilia prefecture – Pyrgos
* ΗΒ Athens prefecture
* ΗΕ Ilia prefecture – Pyrgos
* ΗΖ Heraklion prefecture – Heraklion
* ΗΗ Heraklion prefecture – Heraklion
* ΗΙ Heraklion prefecture – Heraklion
* ΗΚ Heraklion prefecture – Heraklion (ΗΚΗ and ΗΚΖ plates were also issued in nearby Chania Prefecture due to lack of ΧΝΜ plates at that time)
* ΗΜ Imathia prefecture – Veria
* ΗΝ Thesprotia prefecture – Igoumenitsa
* ΗΟ Xanthi prefecture – Xanthi
* ΗΡ Heraklion prefecture – Heraklion
* ΗΤ Xanthi prefecture – Xanthi ''(future use)''
* ΗΥ Phthiotis (Fthiotida) prefecture – Lamia ''(future use)''
* ΗΧ Imathia prefecture – Veria ''(future use)''
* ΙΑ ''Trucks''
** ΙΑ �, Β, Ε(yellow colored) trucks used for international transport
* ΙΒ Athens prefecture
* ΙΕ Athens prefecture
* ΙΖ Athens prefecture
* ΙΗ Athens prefecture (IHA plates were also issued for cars in Euboea Prefecture due to lack of XAI plates at that time)
* ΙΙ Ioannina prefecture – Ioannina ''(future use)''
* ΙΚ Athens prefecture
* ΙΜ Athens prefecture
* ΙΝ Ioannina prefecture – Ioannina
* ΙΟ Athens prefecture
* ΙΡ Athens prefecture
* ΙΤ Athens prefecture
* ΙΥ Athens prefecture
* ΙΧ Serres prefecture
* ΚΑ Karditsa prefecture – Karditsa (ΚΑΑ is omitted)
* ΚΒ Kavala prefecture – Kavala (ΚΒΒ is omitted)
* ΚΕ Kefalonia and Ithaca prefecture – Argostoli (KEE is omitted)
* ΚΖ Kozani prefecture – Kozani (ΚΖΖ is omitted)
* ΚΗ Evrytania prefecture – Karpenisi
** ΚΗ �, Ο, Υ(orange colored) state cars
* ΚΙ Kilkis prefecture – Kilkis
* ΚΚ Rhodope prefecture – Komotini
* ΚΜ Messinia prefecture – Kalamata
* ΚΝ Pieria prefecture – Katerini (ΚΝΖ is omitted)
* ΚΟ Rhodope (Rodopi) prefecture – Komotini (exceptions ΚΟΗ and ΚΟΚ – Thessaloniki prefecture, ΚΟΡ – Heraklio prefecture )
* ΚΡ Corinthia prefecture – Corinth (Korinthos)
* ΚΤ Kastoria prefecture – Kastoria
** ΚΤ �, Ο, Τ(red letters) tax free cars
** ΚΤ �(orange colored) state cars
* ΚΥ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture – Corfu
* ΚΧ Dodecanese prefecture – Kos island (ΚΧΑ plates were also issued for cars in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΖ plates at that time)
** ΚΧ , Υ, X (red letters) tax free cars
* ΜΑ Chalkidiki prefecture – Polygyros ''(future use)''
* ΜΒ Samos prefecture – Samos ''(future use)''
* ΜΕ Aitoloakarnania prefecture – Messolongi
* ΜΖ Messinia prefecture – Kalamata
* ΜΗ Lesvos prefecture – Myrina (Limnos island)
** MH �, Ο, Υ(red letters) tax free cars
* ΜΙ Phthiotis (Fthiotida) prefecture – Lamia
* ΜΚ Karditsa prefecture – Karditsa ''(future use)''
* ΜΜ Pella Prefecture – Edessa ''(future use)''
* ΜΝ Kozani prefecture – Kozani
* ΜΟ Samos prefecture – Samos (ΜΟΚ, ΜΟΜ and ΜΟΡ plates for motorcycles were also issued in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΚΜ plates at that time)
** ΜΟ �, Ο, Υ(red letters)
* ΜΡ Laconia prefecture – Sparti ''(future use)''
* ΜΤ Lesbos prefecture – Mytilini
* ΜΥ Lesbos (Lesvos) prefecture – Mytilini (ΜΥΖ plates were also issued for cars in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΜ plates at that time)
* ΜΧ Evros prefecture – Alexandroupoli ''(future use)''
* ΝΑ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΒ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΕ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΖ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΗ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΙ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΚ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΜ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΝ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΟ Thessaloniki prefecture – Thessaloniki
* ΝΡ Thessaloniki prefecture
* ΝΤ Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΝΥ Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* NX Thessaloniki prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΝΧ ''Trucks''
** ΝΧ �, Υ(yellow colored)
* ΟΑ Athens
* ΟΒ Athens
* ΟΕ Athens
* ΟΖ Athens ''(future use)''
* ΟΗ Athens
* ΟΙ Athens
* ΟΚ Athens
* ΟΜ Athens
* ΟΝ Athens
* ΟΟ Athens
* ΟΡ Evros prefecture – Orestiada area
* ΟΤ Athens ''(future use)''
* ΟΥ Athens
* ΟΧ Athens ''(future use)''
* ΡΑ Florina prefecture – Florina (ΡΑΑ is omitted)
** ΡΑ �, Ο, Υ(red letters) tax free cars
* ΡΒ Corinthia prefecture – Corinth ''(future use)''
* ΡΕ Rethymno prefecture – Rethymno (ΡΕΕ appears not to have been omitted as previously stated)
* ΡΖ Preveza prefecture – Preveza (ΡΖΒ is omitted)
* ΡΗ Rethymno prefecture – Rethymno
* ΡΙ Larissa prefecture – Larissa
* ΡΚ Dodecanese prefecture – Rodos (Rhodes)
* ΡΜ Drama prefecture – Drama (ΡΜΖ is omitted)
* ΡΝ Grevena prefecture – Grevena
** ΡΝ �, Μ, Ν, Ο, Ρ(red letters) trucks
* ΡΟ Dodecanese prefecture – Rhodes (Rodos)
* ΡΡ Larissa prefecture – Larissa
* ΡΤ Larissa prefecture – Larissa ''(future use)''
* ΡΥ Dodecanese prefecture – Rodos (Rhodes)
* ΡΧ Dodecanese prefecture – Rodos (Rhodes) ''(future use)''
* ΤΑ ''Taxis''
** ΤΑ �, Β, Ε, Ζ, Η(marked in yellow) taxis
* ΤΒ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture – Corfu
* ΤΕ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture – Corfu ''(future use)''
* ΤΖ Piraeus prefecture
* ΤΗ Aitoloakarnania prefecture – Agrinio area ''(future use)''
* ΤΙ Pieria prefecture – Katerini ''(future use)''
* ΤΚ Trikala prefecture – Trikala
* ΤΜ Argolis (Argolida) prefecture – Nafplio
* ΤΝ Trikala prefecture – Trikala ''(future use)''
* ΤΟ Drama prefecture – Drama ''(future use)''
* ΤΡ Arcadia prefecture – Tripoli
* ΤΤ Rhodope prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΤΥ Chania prefecture – Chania
* ΤΧ Preveza prefecture – Preveza ''(future use)''
* ΥΑ Athens prefecture
* ΥΒ Athens prefecture
* ΥΕ Athens prefecture
* ΥΖ Athens prefecture
* ΥΗ Athens prefecture (YHA plates were also issued for cars in Euboea Prefecture due to lack of XAN plates at that time)
* ΥΙ Piraeus prefecture
* ΥΚ Piraeus prefecture
* ΥΜ Piraeus prefecture
* ΥΝ Piraeus prefecture
* ΥΟ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina
* ΥΡ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina
* ΥΤ West Attica prefecture – Elefsina
* ΥΥ East Attica prefecture – Pallini
* ΥΧ East Attica prefecture – Pallini
* ΧΑ Euboea (Evia) prefecture – Chalkida
* ΧΒ Chania prefecture – Chania
* ΧΕ Athens prefecture
* ΧΖ Athens prefecture
* ΧΗ Athens prefecture
* ΧΙ Chios prefecture – Chios
* ΧΚ Chalkidiki prefecture – Polygyros
* ΧΜ Athens prefecture ''(future use)''
* ΧΝ Chania prefecture – Chania (ΧΝΟ were skipped for cars, but were used for motorcycles)
* ΧΟ Chios prefecture – Chios
* ΧΡ Athens prefecture
* ΧΤ Athens prefecture
* ΧΥ Athens prefecture
* ΧΧ Athens prefecture

Special plates

Vehicles that belong to public services and armed forces use special license plates with the following letter combinations followed by numbers:

* ΑΙΑ ( Athens International Airport service vehicles) — (white coloured with black lettering)
* ΑΝ.Π. (, ) — Disabled in war (blue coloured with white lettering; same look as diplomatic plates)
* ΔΟΚ (, ) — Test plates – (issued to dealers when specific criteria are met: can be used interchangeably on all cars in dealers stock which don’t have normal number plates)
* ΔΣ (, ) — Corps Diplomatique or foreign delegation (e.g. ΔΣ 48 CD, ΔΣ 48–1 CD) (blue-coloured)
* Ε.Α. or ΕΛ.ΑΣ. (, ) — Hellenic Police
* ΛΣ (, ) — Coast Guard
* ΞΑ (, ) — Foreign missions (orange coloured)
* ΕΣ (, ) — Hellenic Army
* ΠΑ (, ) — Hellenic Air Force
* ΠΝ (, ) — Hellenic Navy
* ΠΣ (, ) — Fire Guard
* ΠΚ (, ) — President of the Government, i.e. the Prime Minister of Greece

The following categories are conflicting: The same letter combinations are used for both public services and specific regions:

* ΑΜ (, ) — Agricultural vehicles
* ΚΥ (, ) — State
* ΜΕ (, ) — Public works vehicles (yellow coloured)

For truck trailers over 3.5 tonnes without a prime mover:

The letter P followed by a hyphen and 5 or 4 numerals is used.

References

External links

Francoplaque Photos – Greece

{{Vehicle registration plates of Europe

Transport in Greece
Greece
Greece transport-related lists
Registration plates