Code list for
Norwegian license plates

[Current list] [Code list 1971] [Diplomats] [Export] [Code list pre-1971] [Pre-1971 detailed list]

Since April 1st 1971 Norwegian license plates have a two letter prefix code denoting the traffic office where the vehicle was first registered. The registration stays with the vehicle, so if a vehicle is sold to another district or the owner moves the registration remains unchanged.

Reflective plates were introduced April 1st 1982, earlier plates were plain "metal" coloured, commonly referred to as silver. New style plates were first seen in December 2001 (although officially introduced from January 1st 2002). Trade plates became reflective in this style of plate. Nov 1st 2006 plates with a blue band with the Norwegian flag and identification letter N were officially introduced, but the first were seen Oct 25th.

Numerals:

This is the code list. Note that the letters G, I, M, O, Q, W, Æ, Ø and Å are not used (except for five digit GA, four digit ZW and two digit AW and UG).

My notes:

1. AD AE AF AH listed as Fredrikstad. These used to be for Sarpsborg,
   but the office there closed and the letters were transferred to Fredrikstad.
   A new office for both Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg has now opened in Hafslund.
   AE is still issued for Sarpsborg, and AS for Fredrikstad.
2. EL, GA and HY are centrally issued for the whole of Norway from Lillestrøm.
3. FE FF FH FJ were originally allocated to Oslo, they are currently not allocated.
   The following were originally allocated to Oslo, but are now used by a different office: FD Bodø, FK Storslett, FL Tromsø, FN Moss, FP Trondheim, FR Vadsø.
4. LY LZ NA NB NC used to be Sandefjord. Now Sandefjord is only listed with LY.
   The rest are transferred to Larvik. However, trade plates and 4 digit plates had already reached LZ.
5. NN NP NR NT NU used to be Porsgrunn. The office there is closed and the letters transferred to Skien. NN is not currently issued.
6. NS was the Norwegian Nazi party during the war. The letters are not going to
   be used.
7. LF was allocated to Setesdal in 2003. Four digit plates now use LF after most of PL was skipped.
8. SS was used for 2, 3- and 4-digit serials, but not for 5-digit,
   because the public objected to its use, even 50 years after the war.
9. VU was allocated to Trondheim in 2007. FP was used before VU,
   issues commenced from VD. Around 90 5-digit VP-plates were issued because of
   a mistake by the plate manufacturer the autumn of 2001.
10. Støren commenced issues from VT.
11. Levanger commenced issues from XL. For 5 digit plates XL reached just above 36000 at which time XK was issued from 10000.
12. FD was allocated to Bodø in 2004.
13. ZD was recently allocated to Finnsnes, issues commenced from ZF.
    A handful of 5-digit ZD-plates were issued in November 2001, probably by mistake.
14. ZC and FL were recently allocated to Tromsø, issues commenced from ZE.
    FL is only to be used for trade plates.
15. ZN officially listed as Tromsø (including Svalbard). In practice ZN is for Svalbard only, except for trade plates.
16. FR was recently allocated to Vadsø, issues commenced from ZP. LE was allocated to Vadsø in 2004, although Horten had already issued trade plates with LE.

Export/ tourist series
These plates are issued by the Police. The first numeral denotes the town.
The vast majority are issued by Oslo.

1. Oslo
2. Larvik
3. Kristiansand
4. Stavanger
5. Bergen
6. Trondheim
7. Tromsø