Australian vehicle number plates Australian vehicle number plates are issued by the states , territories , and also the Commonwealth government and the armed forces . The plates are associated with a vehicle and generally last for its life , though as they become unreadable ( or for other reasons ) they may be recalled or replaced with newer ones . For a long period of time from the 1970s to the late 1990s , most Australian plates were of the form aaa-aaa ( with the either letters or numbers ) , typically xxx-nnn ( where the x is a letter and the n is a number ) as in Victoria , New South Wales , or South Australia . More recently as these series have reached the end of their lives , different states have chosen different continuations , so the shared format appears to have ended . Nevertheless , most plates are the same size for a given vehicle , so there remains a consistency about them . Plates tend to bear the State or Territory name and a state motto or slogan in the bottom of the plate . Recent issues of plates ( since the 1990s ) also often use the state 's colors and may include some imagery related to the state ( such as the state 's logo as the dot separating the groups of numbers ) . Federal numbering scheme From 1951-2 , Australian automobiles were to adopt a broad scheme across all states and territories for vehicle numberplates . However , while implemented , this was not entirely popular as state and territories preferred their own identity reflected on their vehicles instead . They were to use the following scheme : New South Wales : AAA-000 to FZZ-999 Victoria : GAA-000 to MZZ-999 ( Ixx-nnn series skipped ) Queensland : OAA-000 to QZZ-999 ( Oxx-nnn series initially skipped by Queensland ) South Australia : RAA-000 to TZZ-999 Northern Territory : UAA-000 to WZZ-999 Tasmania : XAA-000 to XZZ-999 Australian Capital Territory : YAA-000 to ZZZ-999 Western Australia was itself deemed too large to fit into the proposed scheme and adhered to one of its own devising ; plates in the Ixx-nnn series were to be skipped ( as a capital-I was believed to be easily mistaken for a number 1 ) . This allowed the two populous states with greater registrations of vehicles 6 letter-series each ( NSW had A-F , Victoria G-H and J-M ) , and others with 3 letter-series ( Queensland O-Q , South Australia R-T , Northern Territory U-W ) . Tasmania was only given one due to its size , and the ACT two : Y for private registrations and Z for governmental use . Plat es were to be uniform in size , with a black background and white lettering : NSW immediately changed this to a yellow background and black lettering , and the ACT to a white background and blue lettering ; all other states followed white-on-black otherwise . However , this system was not as popular as expected : Tasmania and the Northern Territory refused and implemented their own systems immediately . Western Australia soon adopted the scheme , taking charge of the previously NT issued UAA-000 to WZZ-999 , ( WAG-000 to WAG-999 being reserved for WA Government vehicles ) then extending to XZZ-999 . Queensland - after initially skipping the O-series ( as a capital-O was often confused for a number 0 ) - were left with too few combinations for a growing number of registrations . In 1978 , having exhausted Nxx-nnn to Pxx-nnn combinations Queensland reversed the format , starting at 000-NAA continuing through to 999-PZZ in 1987 , when plates commencing at 000-AAA were issued ( there are still a number of vehicles in Queensland - growing rarer as new cars and new plates replace them - with the old white-on-black issue P-series plates floating around at this current time ) . All the remaining states and territories stuck to their initial allocations , until the number of registrations became too large for each state and were 'overflowed ' into the next series otherwise allocated to another state : NSW overflowed from FZZ-999 to GAA-000 ( otherwise issued to Victoria ) in 1972 , Victoria ( having reserved the Mxx-nnn series for State government registrations ) overflowed from LZZ-999 to IAA-000 ( previously skipped ) in 1974 , and then from IZZ-999 to AAA-000 ( otherwise issued to NSW ) in 1977 . South Australia did similar , overflowing from SZZ-999 to UAA-000 ( having reserved the Txx-nnn series for trailer registrations ) . New South Wales NSW - The Premier State NSW - The First State NSW - Towards 2000 NSW - Centenary of Federation From 1910 to 1937 , number plates were in numerals only . Prior to 1924 , these were issued with black lettering on a white background , until recalled and subsequently replaced with the reverse colour format : white lettering on a black background . All contained an `` NSW '' insert from 1912 . Registration was also kept with the vehicle corresponding to the given numberplate , these days as a sticker on the windscreen or side-windows of the vehicles . In 1937 , letters in numberplates were first introduced , using a AA-000 to ZZ-999 series . This ran until 1951 with the `` NSW '' insert on the top of the plate . From 1951 , plates were 3 characters and three numbers ( as per the Federal scheme ) : AAA-000 to FZZ-999 , issued on a yellow background with black lettering , with `` NSW '' insert on the top of the plate . From 1968 , cancelled numbers in that range were reissued , but this did not last long , so the RTA needed to fill in unissued plates containing I and Q on the 2nd and 3rd letter characters ( ie : AIA-123 , AMQ-123 ) . By 1972 , NSW had reached the limit imposed by the Federal scheme : a new series started at GAA-000 and ran until ZLF-999 in July 2004 . The `` NSW '' insert was struck from the top of the plate to be replaced by a state-personalised branding ( or slogan ) during this time . Reflective black-on-yellow plates began from October 1980 and corresponded with slogan ( exception : non-reflective from October 1996 to March 2001 ) . NSW plates attracted the following slogans , usually located at the bottom of the plate : Oct 1980 to Nov 1988 : NSW - The Premier State Nov 1988 to Mar 1989 : NSW ( interim series ) Mar 1989 to present : New South Wales legend at bottom of plates introduced Jun 1989 to Sep 1994 : NSW - The First State Sep 1994 to Sep 1996 : NSW - Towards 2000 By July 2004 , combinations of the old 3-letter , 3-number series were practically exhausted . A new series starting at AA-12-AB the old series , continuing the current reflective black-on-yellow plates and New South Wales legend . Since 1969 , personalisation become the option from AA-000 to ZZ-999 ( white-on-black ) and later , in the mid-1970s , AAA-000 to ZZZ-999 ( black-on-yellow ) and AA-0000 to ZZ-9999 ( white-on-black ) were added . Custom plates were introduced in December 1981 bearing the NSW - The Premier State slogan and were replaced in 1987 by black-on-gold issues with `` NSW '' on top . Motorists can choose any combined letters and numbers , including solely letters ( max 6 characters ) . Plate customisation has also been added into the coloured and premium range . From March 1991 , Premium plates commenced , starting their series at AAA-12A with black lettering on a reflective white background , in a smaller font than their standard counterparts ; the NSW insert runs down the plate on its left-hand side . These plates , while usually not longer in length , were shorter in height and looked slimmer than their black-on-yellow stardard issues . Customisation of these plates commenced in 1994 at AAA-12A , AA-1234 , AAA-123 and recently AA-12-ZA . A new style of plates fitting European dimensions was introduced after 2000 as N XF-90A or N XN-099 ( in these examples , the N was part of the plate series but segregated by a space and a different colour-letter colour combination from the rest of the plate ) . These plates have a compulsory `` N '' prefix at the first letter . In Sept 2003 coloured plates were launched , available in white-on-red , white-on-blue , white-on-purple and white-on-green ( all reflective ) . In August 2005 the range was extended to metallic silver-on-black , gold-on-black , black-on-silver and black-on-gold . In July 2004 , NSW started issuing general plates in the format 2-letters , 2-digits , 2-letters , starting from AA-00-AB ( AA-xx-AA were reserved for promotional use by the RTA ) . Other vehicles Vehicles with particular purposes in New South Wales have been introduced with numberplates specific to their type . Taxis have two types of plate : Sydney plates have a T-nnnn format , while regional and country taxis use TC-nnnn . They have white characters on a blue background . Tow truck plates use a TT-nnnn format . They have blue characters on a white background , and the top of the plate reads `` TOW TRUCK '' . Buses and coaches have black on yellow plates , with the prefix MO-nnnn , or TV-nnnn for tourist vehicles . Buses in Sydney operated by the State Transit Authority of New South Wales have MO-nnnn plates , but with the M over the O . Trailers , caravans , etc. have black-on-yellow plates , using a 1-letter , 5-number ( x-nnnnn ) format . Police and emergency vehicles in New South Wales , such as ambulances and fire engines , have the standard-issue black-on-yellow plates : they currently follow the AA-12-ZA standard . The plates themselves have no special markings . Fire Brigade vehicles are registered in the FBY-nnn series . Vehicles such as forklifts or tractors that need to use public roads as part of their operation can be registered conditionally . These plates are in the format nnnnn-C , e.g. 60567-C. They have green text on a white background . Victoria Victoria - Garden State Victoria - On the move Victoria - The Place To Be Number plates have been issued in Victoria since 1910 . Like other Australian plates , these are usually particular to a vehicle , changing hands with it , and are generally permanent ( yearly registration is however required , with stickers displayed in the lower passenger-side of the windscreen ) . Initial Victorian plates , issued from 1910 to 1939 , were in numerals only , from 300-000 to 990-999 . From 1930 , `` VIC '' inserts were added vertically down the left-hand side of the plate . In 1939 Victoria switched to a 2-letter , 3-number scheme ( AA-000 to ZZ-987 ) . These also bore `` VIC '' down the left-hand side . From 1953 , owing to the Federal number plate system , Victorian plates switched to the 3-letter , 3-number standard : GAA-000 to HZZ-999 , and JAA-000 to LZZ-999 , colored white lettering on a black background , and a `` VIC '' insert on the top of the plate . As previously mentioned , Victoria skipped the I-series and went straight from HZZ-999 to JAA-000 , as a capital-I could be mistaken as a number 1 . However , having reached the end of their Federal allotment of letters , Victoria commenced from LZZ-999 to IAA-000 ( ensuring the capital-I had noticeable staves to tell them apart from the number 1 ) in 1974 . This was only a temporary measure , naturally , as Victoria faced the same problem having proceeded through the I series three years later ; it was decided to restart the plate issues at AAA-000 and redesign the plate for the first time in 27 years at the same time . In 1977 , reflective plates of green-on-white plates were introduced , beginning at AAA-000 and running to FZZ-999 . Oddly , in 1994 , they then skipped over the interim lettrs to begin again at RAA-000 until RBZ-999 . These bore the insert Victoria - Garden state at the bottom of the plate . In 1984 ( ? ) for the 150th anniversary of European settlement in Victoria , plates bore the slogan Victoria - 150 Years down the bottom . In 1988 for the Australian Bicentennial , the plates bore the `` VIC '' insert vertically down the left-hand side and also the slogan Australia - 1788 to 1988 across the bottom . In late 1994 , in an initiative by the then-Premier , Jeff Kennett , reflective blue-on-white plates were introduced , beginning at NAA-000 . The diamond-dot in the middle was changed to the state logo of a blue St Edward 's Crown over an upside-down blue triangle with the Victorian Southern Cross in white inside . These plates bore the slogan Victoria - On the move across the bottom . In late 1999 when the new Labor Party won government , they phased out the old state logo and motto to prepare for the introduction of a new one . Until these were finalised , plates ( in the QAx-nnn and QBx-nnn series at the time ) reverted to the old diamond-dot with simply Victoria across the bottom . In late 2000 , the dot became the new logo simply of an enlarged blue triangle with the Victorian Southern Cross in it , the top lining up with the top of the plate , and bearing the slogan Victoria - The place to be across the bottom . Victorian special issue `` Europlate '' ( Illustration ) For cars with plate spaces designed to hold European-style plates ( rather than the taller Australian plates ) , there are three options . Firstly , shorter 'slimline ' plates which bear the `` VIC '' insert vertically down the left-hand-side and use a noticeably different font ; these are usually the same width as Australian plates . Secondly , there are two types of plates ( Standard and Mini ) designed specifically to look like European number plates , called Euro plates . The standard Euro plates are 520 mm wide and 112 mm high and the mini ones are 372 mm wide and 100 mm high . Euro plates have a blue section to the left containing `` VIC '' vertically above a Victorian Southern Cross , and in the main section contain a V , a full-colored Victorian coat of arms , and two letters , a space and three numbers . These plates use the German unfalsifiable font . Other vehicles Trucks and other heavy vehicles in Victoria are also given standard car-issued plates , although lately there seem to be more sub-categories for plates under the state Labor government re-design . Buses , coaches and commercially owned or run mini-buses are bearing new plates using a 4-number , 2-letter ( nnnn-xx ) format : the two letters at the end of the plate are usually AO , AC , or SC , depending under which registration they fall under ( Accredited Operator , Accredited Commercial , and Special Commercial ( ? ) ) . They usually bear the usual state logo or diamond , with 'Accredited bus ' across the top and the Victoria - The place to be across the bottom . Some other truck-based utes or pick-ups have also been seen to bear nnnnn-F plates , with 'Victorian Farmer ' across the top instead ; circumstances warranting this new plate are intriguing as other vehicles use the standard Victorian plate otherwise . Melbourne Tow Trucks ( the first 1 , 000 ) used TOW-nnn , when the 1 , 001 tow truck was registered , the format swapped to nnnn-TT. The TT standing for Tow Truck . This allowed for another 10 , 000 tow trucks to be registered . Motorcycles have smaller plates , using a 2-letter , 3-number format ( xx-nnn ) . The colouring and format of motorcycle plates has changed with the standard car-issued plates , except for the emblem inserts or other symbols that may take more space to represent . The motorcycle series is soon expected to have cycled through all possible combinations , and a replacement series will soon have to be allocated . Normal trailers requiring their own registration in Victoria follow the 1-letter , 5-number format ( xnn-nnn ) . Semi-trailers tend to use the nnnnn-S format exclusively . Trailers otherwise either use the vehicle 's plate for identification , or do not need their own plate at all . Bike racks fitted onto the rear of vehicles ( and naturally having bicycles obstructing the numberplate ) can have smaller numerical plates ( black-on-white design ) with Victoria - Bike Rack as the insert , fixed on the end of the rack and clearly visible . Melbourne taxis and other hire-cars used to use a T-nnnn or TC-nnnn plate , which was dark-green with white lettering . This has now been replaced with a 1-letter , 4-number ( x-nnnn ) format , where the four digits form the taxi 's registration number . Melbourne suburbian taxis use a M-nnnn designation , outer suburban and regional taxis use a C-nnnn designation , and country and urban taxies use a U-nnnnn designation . Vehicles registered and operated under Victorian Hire Authority regulations that are hired with a chauffeur ( most commonly black Ford Fairlanes or Holden Statesman sedans ) used a reserved VHA-nnn and VHB-nnn series , usually allowing them to use taxi or transit lanes on Melbourne roads . Government cars ( including police cars , ambulances and fire engines ) have always used the M-series of plates , reserved specifically for them , in the format Mxx-nnn . These are identical in size to the standard series , except they use red lettering on a white background ( instead of the usual green or blue at present ) . After the series was completed at MZZ-999 , the plates issed have looped back to MAA-000 again . Vehicles running on LPG usually have a red diamond sticker in the middle of the plate to indicate this . Number plates needing replacement ( due to accidents , age , etc ) need to be replaced . This may either be with the next available combination in the current series ( with a new registration sticker noting the new plate number ) , or with the old issued number . If the old number was a green series plate ( AAA-000 to FZZ-999 , RAA-000 to RBZ-999 ) , green-on-white is still used , but they all bear a simple Victoria down the bottom , rather than Victoria - Garden State or the bicentennial special they replaced . Victoria 's customised numberplates allow a maximum of 6 characters , and may bear white lettering on a customised background . Lindsay Fox 's trucks often have green-on-white plates of the format FOX-nnn , which conflicts with the uncustomised namespace . Recently some prestige plates have been issued , which consist of four numbers or two groups of three numbers . A B-nnnnn series has been released for vehicles registered in Bendigo ( B-0001 to B-4999 ) and Ballarat ( B-5001 to B-5999 ) : these have a customised insert of their town , and are usually blue lettering on a reflective yellow background ; slogans can alter . Those also registered to horse studs across Victoria can reserve a V-nnnn series , usually brown lettering on a yellow background and stating Victorian Thoroughbred as a slogan . Still more are designed after football teams , and a limited edition Grand Prix series ( GP-001 to GP-999 ) was authorised when Melbourne first hosted the Australian Grand Prix in 1996 . Slimline editions of these plates have also been spotted , and still other combinations are being sighted . Some vehicles registered around the time of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games have used M06-nnn plates . The last of the Green on White 'Garden State ' numberplates FVA-000 to FZZ-999 were manufactued in Queensland ( QLD were green on white at the time ) for VicRoads due to a manufacturing fault in Victoria . These are distinguishable by the verticle diamond ( as opposed to the horizontal diamond plates stamped in Victoria ) and different font used to stamp the plates . Victorian numberplate series and years of use Series Years Color scheme Motto G–H , J-L , I 1953–1977 white-on-black ( none ) A 1979–1981 green-on-white Garden State B 1982–1983 C 1983 Garden State or 150 Years , some have Nuclear Free State D 1986 Garden State ( 1988 : Australia 1788-1988 ) E 1989 – Late 1992 Garden State , some ( eg : EYF-nnn ) have Drive Safely F December 1992 – October 1994 Garden State Ra-Rb November ? – December 1994 M 1995–pres. , Govt cars only red-on-white ( of the year ) N January 1995 – December 1996 blue-on-white On the move O 1997 – 1998 P Late 1998 – December 1999 Q January 2000 – 2001 ( none from Qe-Qz ) Rc-Rz Late 2001 – 2002 The place to be S 2003 – June 2004 T July 2004 – 2006 U 2006– Queensland Queensland - The Sunshine State Queensland number plates have an unusual format , as the numbers come before the letters . The current format is nnn-xxx . Two slogans are used : Queensland - The Sunshine State in conjunction with Queensland - The Smart State . State Premier Peter Beattie has been promoting the use the of slogan `` Smart State '' to describe the State Government 's efforts to promote education , research and development within Queensland and in the early 2000s introduced the slogan to licence plates . However , after public ridicule ( and several interstate jibes ) the State Government agreed to allow vehicle owners the choice between the new slogan and the old Sunshine State slogan . `` The Sunshine State '' is the most popular , few people choose `` Smart State '' . Queensland number plates have maroon text on a white background . Maroon is the official state colour of Queensland and is also used by the state 's sporting teams . Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Queensland number plates had green text on a white background . From 1955 to 1987 , plates were in the format `` aaa-nnn '' and were painted white on black. prior to that [ 1921-1955 ] , the plates were `` Q-nnn-nnn '' . The `` Q '' area was painted black on a white background , while the numbers were painted white on a black background . In 1977 , reflective plates were introduced , beginning at 000-NAA through to midway through the P-series . In late 1987 , Queensland switched to the current format of green on white plates beginning at 000-AAA. The green writing was changed to maroon at 000-GKK. As mentioned above , 2 slogans are currently available in the maroon on reflective white colour scheme ; QUEENSLAND-SUNSHINE STATE ( with plates 000-GKK to 999-GZZ , 000-HFU to 999-HOY , 000-HQR to 999-HZZ ( excluding all HRU series ) , and 000-IAA to 999-IZZ ( excluding all ISA series ) , and 000-JEA onwards to ( beginning of 2006 ) JGZ series . All others to date have SMART STATE slogans . Other vehicles State Government-owned vehicles ' plates have the format QGx-nnn , and newer plates ( since about 2003-4 ) , having run out of numbers , use nnn-QGx . Most State Government vehicles bear the `` Smart State '' slogan ( `` QG '' , of course , standing for `` Queensland Government '' ) . Special `` blocks '' of plates are allocated to different vehicles ; Tnn-nnn for Taxi , C-nnnnn for limited use vehicles ( mainly roadworks equipment and golf buggies ) , L-nnnn for limousines and C-de-C-nnn for consular staff vehicles . Motorcycles are issued with one plate , in the xx-nnn format . Queensland motorists have a choice of nearly 100 different types of personalized plates . Many older plates are still seen on Queensland roads . South Australia SA - The Festival State In South Australia , standard numberpl ates follow the 3-letter , 3-number ( xxx-nnn ) standard used by New South Wales and Victoria : their series , introduced in 1966 started with RAA-000 and has continued from there to the current day . Standard Example Up until 1966 South Australian plates were all numerical , and were subject to re-issue , in either nn-nnn or nnn-nnn format , white on black background . These plates are available for re-issue at a fee . Post 1966 motorcycles were initially issued with RA-000 to SZ-999 then TAA-000 to TIZ-999 . Trailers were issued TJA-000 to TZZ-999 . Motorcycles are presently issued with high end Yxx-nnn , and trailers issued YAA-000 onwards Since 1995 , Premium Numberplates can be purchased which are much more compact in size , in the format xx-nnnx : the letter is usually repeated ( eg : AA-nnnx , BB-nnnx , current series CC-nnnx ) . These seem to follow the New South Wales Premium format , using black lettering on a white background on a noticeably slimmer plate . South Australian Premium numberplates feature black characters on a white background , and the letters `` SA '' down the side , in the same format as NSW premium numberplates . Government and police vehicles have blue text on white background , with a Q as the second latter ( as in WQL-579 ) , signifing `` Queen '' or representative of the government , and older systems allocated SAA-000 to SZZ-999 to government services aswell . Ambulances , especially in Adelaide , may have plates in the form AMB-xxx . Metropolitan taxis have plates with the word TAXI in a smaller size followed by three or four numbers , separated by the SA Great logo . Interestingly , no general issue SA numberplates ( other than Government ) are issued with the letter Q anywhere in the combination . The only exception is the series VPQnnn and WSQnnn - both of which were the first set issued by a new manufacturer . Since 1981 , all general issue SA plates bare the slogan `` SA - The Festival State '' , for the Adelaide Festival of Arts . Since 1997 , other slogans have been available for an additional fee , including : South Australia - Gateway to the Outback ; South Australia - The Defence State ; South Australia - The Wine State ; South Australia - the Creative State ; and South Australia - The Rose State . It is also possible to obtain a wide variety of personalised numberplates that feature full-colour illustrations and customised logos or slogans . Examples of Custom Plates For a full gallery of plates visit Transport SA . Western Australia For Perth : The current series is of the form nxxx-nnn ( eg : 1ABC-123 ) . The previous series ( before 1997 ) is of the form nxx-nnn , where the first `` n '' ranged from 6 to 9 ( eg : 9BC-456 ) . Prior to this , the series was of the form Xxx-nnn ( eg : XLA-789 ) . Earlier still , the series was in the form Uxx-nnn ( eg : UGH-675 ) . There had been a change in the WA licensing system where for a while all number plates in the state reverted to the equivalent of metropolitan plates , and then back to separate districts and plates again . Western Australia also offers the largest number of characters in a personalised number plate , offering up to nine characters . For rural Western Australia : There are 143 registration districts which each issue licence plates that reflect the location of the form `` loc·n '' , e . g . `` AL·12345 '' would be a plate from Albany , Western Australia Tasmania Tasmanian number plates have the format xx-nnnn , with current plates starting with the letter `` F '' . `` Tasmania - Your Natural State '' Tasmanian plates bear the slogan `` Tasmania - Your Natural State '' , and have blue lettering on a white background with a coloured decal of the Tasmanian state logo in the background ( a stylised thylacine prowling through reeds on a riverbank ) . Until about 1997/98 , the slogan `` Tasmania - Holiday Isle '' was used . Prior to that , 3 letters 3 munbers Wxx-nnn were used , but this was in the early to late 1950's . Tasmanian Government numberplates feature a red G followed by 5 numbers in blue eg G12345 , and say 'TAS GOVT ' at the top of the plate . Older Government plates have a red GV or GT followed by 4 numbers . Tasmania Fire Service vehicles use red lettering on a white background plates with the letters TFS followed by 3 numbers with the TFS logo in the center , TFS-nnn . Members of the Consular Corps in Tasmania use plates with the letters CC followed by a colour depiction of the flag of the country they represent , followed by two numbers . Staff of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources enjoy certain diplomatic status and are issued with plates with the letters IC , followed by one or two numbers . The Governor of Tasmania 's official cars are registered and insured , but in keeping with vice-regal tradition , they display the Royal Crown , rather than number plates . If the Governor himself is being conveyed , his personal flag will also be flown on the car . Northern Territory NT plates have six numbers in ochre on a white background , with the slogan `` Northern Territory : Outback Australia '' . Motorcycle plates have five numbers . There does n't seem to be a noticeable system to plate series , as numbers of all types appear on both halves of the plate . Australian Capital Territory `` Old '' series ACT number plate . The ACT has usually stuck to a Yaa-nnn series , switching to Yxx-nnx , and usually have sky-blue letters on a white background . Recently , major personalisation has been available . Plates are now available with almost any combination of letters and numbers , with a very wide choice of colour combinations . They are available with customised slogans at the top and bottom of the plate . Public transport vehicles are allocated distinctive codes : BUS-nnn ( ACTION government buses ) HC-nnn ( chauffeur-driven hire cars ) TX-nnn ( taxicabs ) This section is a stub . You can help by adding to it . Commonwealth and military Military plates are 999-999 with the first digit corresponding to the military district number : 2 - New South Wales 3 - Victoria 4 - Queensland 5 - South Australia 6 - Western Australia 7 - Tasmania However , new plates issued to the Army are now in this format : 99-9999 , where the first two digits represent the year the vehicle was registered . Eg. 05-1832 . The military district number is also the basis of the Australian Postcode numbering system . Current Australian Army number plate format is A05 000 with this newer format beginning in 2003 . The A represents `` Army '' with the next two digits representing the year the vehicle was first registered . The A , N , R and D series plates are allocated to Defence Commercial Vehicles . The Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force also adopting this format with the navy doing so in 1999 and the RAAF in 2004 . NAVY plate - N00 000 RAAF plate - R00 000 Also in existence are Dept of Defence plates prefixed as D00 000 , these starting in 2001 . The Commonwealth Government of Australia used the Z prefix for its government owned vehicles up until 2000 when the Commonwealth Vehicle Regisrty was closed . These plates were black on white background , marked with `` C of A ' at the top of the plate - an abbreviation of Commonwealth of Australia and the leading Z being red to further distinguish it from other state plates . Issuance of Z prefixed plates used for same purposes was passed onto the states after 2000 . e . g . ACT plates started at ZYA.000 VIC plates started at ZED.000 QLD plates started at ZQ.0000 NSW plates started at ZZZ.000 SA plates started at ZSA.000 Each of the states display their state initials as seen above above the numbers instead of the old `` C of A '' marking . Intererstingly the Northern Territory still uses the older format and same `` C of A '' markings at top of the plate . The number plate of the Prime Minister 's vehicle is C*1 ( i . e . Commonwealth No. 1 ) with a seven-pointed Federation Star . The Governor-General 's official cars do not carry number plates , but simply depict a representation of the Crown of St Edward . For official visits to Australia , special plates are often put over the top of normal 'Z ' plates , depicting the Australian Coat of Arms and , in red 'Visit to Australia ' with a numeral . These are not strictly registration plates , but are useful for police and other officials to identify cars in official motorcades . Diplomatic Diplomatic plates issued to foreign diplomats in Australia are of the format DC-ccnn or DX-ccnn , where the first two numbers are the code for the home country of the diplomat , and have black text on a powder blue background . DC plates indicate that the driver is a member of the Diplomatic Corps , whereas DX plates indicate that the driver is a person posted to Canberra and attached to a diplomatic mission ( e.g. domestic staff , etc . ) This section is a stub . You can help by adding to it . In 1988 ACT issued Bi centennial plates . Categories : Articles with sections needing expansion | License plates | Transport in Australia In other languages : Deutsch 