Vehicle registration plates in Ireland

Rules

The exact rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates are set down in Irish law under the (SI 318/92 Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations 1992 and subsequently amended by SI 432/99 Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Regulations 1999). View images of acceptable vehicle registration plates here. This law outlines the format, dimensions and technical specifications that must be displayed on registered vehicles in Ireland.

The main requirements of the rules about the format of vehicle registration plates are:

• The registration number consisting of numbers and letters must be in black on a white reflective background
• The name of the county of registration must be in Irish, (examples are Baile Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, etc.)
• The flag of the EU and the letters "IRL" must be placed on the left-hand side of the plate, the flag comprising 12 gold stars in a circle, the letters in white beneath it, all on a blue reflective background. No other numbers, letters, marks, etc., should appear on your registration plate.

Vehicle registration plates must be affixed to the front and back of your vehicle and clearly visible at all times. In situations where you are towing a trailer, caravan, etc., a duplicate of the registration plate must be affixed to the back of the trailer, caravan, etc.

Vehicles with only 1 front wheel (i.e., motorcycles) are only required to carry the registration plate on the back of the vehicle.

Reserving a vehicle registration number

You can only apply to reserve a vehicle registration number plate on or after the 1st November of the year before you intend to bring the vehicle into use. In other words, you can only apply to reserve a vehicle registration number plate on or after 1 November 2006 to use this plate in 2007.

The number you reserve must be in the normal format and must correspond with the licensing authority area where you normally reside and the year in which the vehicle is to be first brought into use, i.e., 07-D-77 may only be reserved by someone living in Dublin for a vehicle intended to be brought into use in the year 2007.

The registered owner of the vehicle on which the plates are to be displayed must be the person in whose name the number was reserved. You cannot transfer a reserved number.

All registration numbers are available for reservation with the exception of the first number of each year issued in the following cities - Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. These registration plates are then 07-C-1, 07-D-1, 07-L-1 and 07-W-1. These plates are reserved for the Mayor/Lord Mayor of each of these cities and are not available for reservation by anyone else.

A reserved registration number can only be assigned to a vehicle when it has been reached in the normal sequence. It may not be displayed on a vehicle before it has been formally assigned by the Revenue Commissioners following the presentation and acceptance of a completed declaration for registration.

Applications will be processed on receipt of the first post on the fourth working day of November; this is to allow time for postal applications to be received.

No priority will be given to applications received before this date.

An available number may be provisionally reserved by sending a completed application form by fax on the fourth working day of November to the Central Vehicle Office once the initial selection process has been completed. Provisional reservations will be conditional on the fee being received within three working days. If not received within this time, the number will again be made available for reservation by someone else