Vehicle registration plates of Greece


Greek vehicle registration plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate printed in black on a white background. The letters represent the district 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 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. The letters are officially letters from the Latin alphabet, but only those letters are used whose shape matches a letter from the Greek alphabet, specifically Α, Β, Ε, Ζ, Η, Ι, Κ, Μ, Ν, Ο, Ρ, Τ, Υ, Χ. 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 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. 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. All these plates display "1953–54" 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. 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 be spotted on a few old vehicles.

1972–1985

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. 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 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 and they consist of 4 numbers. Since 2023, new governmental historic plates are now available. They begin with the code IO and they have 5 digits. Their background is white and they have blue letters.

Prefectures (in Greek alphabetical order)

The first 2 of 3 letters of a licence plate usually represent the prefecture (nomos) where the car was registered. The almost full list of plates in Greece is below :
CodePrefectureVehicle TypeUseOther Details
ΑΑAchaia – PatrasCar/GeneralCurrent
ΑΒKavala – KavalaMotorcycleCurrent
ΑΕLasithi – Agios NikolaosMotorcycleCurrent
ΑΖAchaia – PatrasCar/GeneralCurrent
ΑΗXanthi – XanthiCar/GeneralCurrentΑΗΗ, AHI, AHO omitted.
ΑΙAitoloakarnania – AgrinioCar/GeneralCurrentΑΙΙ omitted.
ΑΚLaconia – SpartiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΑΜPhokida – AmfissaCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars.
ΑΝLasithi – Agios NikolaosCar/GeneralCurrent
ΑΟAchaia – PatrasMotorcycleCurrentAlso used in Mount Athos.
ΑΡArgolis – NafplioCar/GeneralCurrent
ΑΤArta – ArtaCar/GeneralCurrent
AYAchaia – PatrasMotorcycleCurrent
ΑΧAchaia – PatrasCar/GeneralCurrent
ΒΑMagnesia – VolosMotorcycleCurrent
ΒΒMagnesia – VolosMotorcycleCurrent
ΒΕPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
BZPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
ΒΗPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
ΒΙBoeotia – LivadeiaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΒΚEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΒΜEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralFuture
ΒΝWest Attica – ElefsinaCar/GeneralFuture
ΒΟMagnesia – VolosCar/GeneralCurrentΒΟΡ plates also issued in Pella Prefecture previously.
ΒΡWest Attica – ElefsinaCar/GeneralFuture
ΒΤMagnesia – VolosCar/GeneralFuture
ΒΥBoeotia – LivadeiaCar/GeneralFuture
ΒΧPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
ΕΑDodecanese – Kos islandMotorcycleCurrent
ΕΒEvros – AlexandroupoliCar/GeneralCurrentΕΒΒ is omitted.
ΕΕPella – EdessaCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars.
ΕΖCyclades – ErmoupoliMotorcycleCurrent
ΕΗEuboea – ChalkidaMotorcycleCurrent
ΕΙEuboea – ChalkidaMotorcycleCurrent
EKNational TransportTruckCurrent for trucks used for national goods transport.
ΕΜCyclades – ErmoupoliCar/GeneralCurrent
ΕΡSerres – SerresCar/GeneralCurrent
ΕΤCorfu – CorfuMotorcycleCurrent
ΕΥLefkada – LefkadaCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars of offshore companies; ΕΥΑ also issued in Rhodes previously.
ΕΧKilkis – KilkisCar/GeneralFuture
ΖΑZakynthos – ZakynthosCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΒZakynthos – ZakynthosCar/GeneralFuture
ΖΕAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΖΖAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΗAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΙAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΖΚAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΜAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΝPiraeusCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΟAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΖΡPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
ΖΤWest Attica – ElefsinaMotorcycleCurrent
ΖΥEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΖΧEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΗΑIlia – PyrgosCar/GeneralCurrentHAA is omitted
ΗΒAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΗΕIlia – PyrgosMotorcycleCurrent
ΗΖHeraklion – HeraklionCar/GeneralCurrent
ΗΗHeraklion – HeraklionMotorcycleCurrent
ΗΙHeraklion – HeraklionMotorcycleCurrent
ΗΚHeraklion – HeraklionCar/GeneralCurrentΗΚΗ and ΗΚΖ issued in Chania previously.
ΗΜImathia – VeriaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΗΝThesprotia – IgoumenitsaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΗΟXanthi – XanthiMotorcycleCurrent
ΗΡHeraklion – HeraklionCar/GeneralCurrent
ΗΤXanthi – XanthiCar/GeneralFuture
ΗΥPhthiotis – LamiaCar/GeneralFuture
ΗΧImathia – VeriaCar/GeneralFuture
ΙΑInternational TransportTruckCurrent for trucks used for international transport.
ΙΒAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΕAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΖAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΗAthensCar/GeneralCurrentIHA issued in Euboea previously.
ΙΙIoannina – IoanninaCar/GeneralFuture
ΙΚAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΜAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΝIoannina – IoanninaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΟAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΡAthensCar/GeneralCurrentUsed for cars and motorcycles.
ΙΤAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΥAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΙΧSerresCar/GeneralCurrent
ΚΑKarditsa – KarditsaCar/GeneralCurrentΚΑΑ is omitted.
ΚΒKavala – KavalaCar/GeneralCurrentΚΒΒ is omitted.
ΚΕKefalonia and Ithaca – ArgostoliCar/GeneralCurrentKEE is omitted.
ΚΖKozani – KozaniCar/GeneralCurrentΚΖΖ is omitted.
ΚΗEvrytania – KarpenisiCar/GeneralCurrent for state cars.
ΚΙKilkis – KilkisCar/GeneralCurrent
ΚΚRhodope – KomotiniMotorcycleCurrent
ΚΜMessinia – KalamataCar/GeneralCurrent
ΚΝPieria – KateriniCar/GeneralCurrentΚΝΖ is omitted.
ΚΟRhodope – KomotiniCar/GeneralCurrentΚΟΗ, ΚΟΚ issued in Thessaloniki, ΚΟΡ in Heraklio previously.
ΚΡCorinthia – CorinthCar/GeneralCurrent
ΚΤKastoria – KastoriaCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars; for state cars.
ΚΥCorfu – CorfuCar/GeneralCurrent
ΚΧDodecanese – Kos islandCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars; ΚΧΑ issued in Rhodes previously.
ΜΑChalkidiki – PolygyrosCar/GeneralFuture
ΜΒSamos – SamosCar/GeneralFuture
ΜΕAitoloakarnania – MessolongiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΜΖMessinia – KalamataMotorcycleCurrent
ΜΗLesvos – Myrina Car/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars.
ΜΙPhthiotis – LamiaCar/GeneralCurrentMII is omitted
ΜΚKarditsa – KarditsaCar/GeneralFuture
ΜΜPella – EdessaCar/GeneralFuture
ΜΝKozani – KozaniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΜΟSamos – SamosCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars; some MO plates issued in Rhodes previously.
ΜΡLaconia – SpartiCar/GeneralFuture
ΜΤLesbos – MytiliniMotorcycleCurrent
ΜΥLesbos – MytiliniCar/GeneralCurrentΜΥΖ issued in Rhodes previously.
ΜΧEvros – AlexandroupoliCar/GeneralFuture
ΝΑThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΒThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΕThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΖThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΗThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΙThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΚThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΜThessaloniki – ThessalonikiCar/GeneralCurrent
ΝΝThessaloniki – ThessalonikiMotorcycleCurrent
ΝΟThessaloniki – ThessalonikiMotorcycleCurrent
ΝΡThessalonikiMotorcycleCurrent
ΝΤThessalonikiMotorcycleCurrent
ΝΥThessalonikiMotorcycleCurrent
NXThessalonikiCar/GeneralFuture
ΝΧPrefecture TransportTruckCurrent for trucks for transport of goods in a prefecture.
ΟΑAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΒAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΕAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΖAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΟΗAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΙAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΚAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΜAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΝAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΟAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΡEvros – Orestiada areaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΟΤAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΟΥAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΟΧAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΡΑFlorina – FlorinaCar/GeneralCurrent for tax-free cars; ΡΑΑ is omitted.
ΡΒCorinthia – CorinthCar/GeneralFuture
ΡΕRethymno – RethymnoCar/GeneralCurrent
ΡΖPreveza – PrevezaCar/GeneralCurrentΡΖΒ, PZZ and PZI are omitted for cars.
ΡΗRethymno – RethymnoMotorcycleCurrent
ΡΙLarissa – LarissaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΡΚDodecanese – Rodos Car/GeneralCurrent
ΡΜDrama – DramaCar/GeneralCurrentΡΜΖ is omitted.
ΡΝGrevena – GrevenaCar/GeneralCurrent for trucks.
ΡΟDodecanese – Rhodes Car/GeneralCurrent
ΡΡLarissa – LarissaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΡΤLarissa – LarissaCar/GeneralFuture
ΡΥDodecanese – Rodos MotorcycleCurrent
ΡΧDodecanese – Rodos Car/GeneralFuture
ΤΑTaxisTaxiCurrent.
ΤΒCorfu – CorfuMotorcycleCurrent
ΤΕCorfu – CorfuCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΖPiraeusMotorcycleCurrent
ΤΗAitoloakarnania – AgrinioCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΙPieria – KateriniCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΚTrikala – TrikalaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΤΜArgolis – NafplioMotorcycleCurrent
ΤΝTrikala – TrikalaCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΟDrama – DramaCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΡArcadia – TripoliCar/GeneralCurrent
ΤΤRhodopeCar/GeneralFuture
ΤΥChania – ChaniaMotorcycleCurrent
ΤΧPreveza – PrevezaCar/GeneralFuture
ΥΑAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΒAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΕAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΖAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΗAthensCar/GeneralCurrentYHA issued in Euboea previously.
ΥΙPiraeusCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΚPiraeusCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΜPiraeusCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΝPiraeusCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΟWest Attica – ElefsinaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΡWest Attica – ElefsinaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΤWest Attica – ElefsinaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΥEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΥΧEast Attica – PalliniCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΑEuboea – ChalkidaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΒChania – ChaniaCar/MotorcycleCurrentUsed for both motorcycles and cars.
ΧΕAthensCar/MotorcycleCurrentUsed for both motorcycles and cars.
ΧΖAthensCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΗAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΧΙChios – ChiosCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΚChalkidiki – PolygyrosCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΜAthensCar/GeneralFuture
ΧΝChania – ChaniaCar/GeneralCurrent
ΧΟChios – ChiosMotorcycleCurrent
ΧΡAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΧΤAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΧΥAthensMotorcycleCurrent
ΧΧAthensMotorcycleCurrent

Special plates

Vehicles that belong to public services and armed forces use special license plates with the following letter combinations followed by numbers: ΑΙΑ — ΑΝ.Π. — Disabled in war ΔΟΚ — Test plates – ΔΣ — Corps Diplomatique or foreign delegation Ε.Α. or ΕΛ.ΑΣ. — Hellenic PoliceΛΣ — Coast GuardΞΑ — Foreign missions ΕΣ — Hellenic ArmyΠΑ — Hellenic Air ForceΠΝ — Hellenic NavyΠΣ — Fire GuardΠΚ — 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 vehiclesΚΥ — StateΜΕ — Public works vehicles
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.
Also:T* — New trailer plates for private owners, since 2022 IO — New official plates for oldtimer vehicles, since 2023

Allied Forces in Greece AFG plates

Very similarly to AFI plates in Italy, AFG plates display the same display with four digits for cars, three digits for motorcycles. The first letter indicates the military base. AFG plates are solely distributed to US service members on Greek soil.