Romania

International code: RO
ISO code: RO / ROU
Data status: Verified

Plates show the state or region of registration.

Explore 42 counties on the map Driving in Romania: plates, vignettes and zones

Current plate formats

StandardCurrent
CJ 12 ABC
Two letters for the county, a two-digit number from 01 to 99 and three letters, in black on white with the blue EU strip on the left (the Romanian flag instead of the stars between 1992 and 2007). Numbers and the three letters are assigned at random unless a fee is paid for a chosen combination. Q is never used, the three letters may not start with I or O, and groups such as POL, DEP, SNT, SRI and GUV are reserved. Plates belong to the owner and the vehicle, and the buyer of a car may ask to keep the old plate. Electric vehicles carry the same format in green letters. A new series with extra security elements (barcode, hologram with the coat of arms) has been issued since September 2024.
black on white
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StandardCurrent
B 123 ABC
Bucharest uses the single letter B, then a two or three-digit number and three letters (B 12 ABC or B 123 ABC). The three-digit numbers were added around 2010 because the city's pool of combinations was running out. The number is only a serial and does not give the sector of the city.
black on white
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TemporaryCurrent
TM 01234
The "red numbers". The county code and three to six digits, the first of which is always 0 and the second never 0, all in red. Valid for 30 days and renewable for up to 90 days, used for new cars of leasing and rental firms and replacement cars. Test vehicles have three digits (from 101) followed by the word PROBE. Long-term temporary plates look similar in black, without a leading zero, with a red strip on the right giving the end of validity as YY/MM.
red on white
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DiplomaticCurrent
CD 123 101
Blue characters on white with the EU strip. CD is the diplomatic corps, TC consular transport (also foreign NATO officers and other organisations) and CO consulates, followed by six digits. The first three digits give the country or organisation (123 is Switzerland), the last three the rank; 101 is an ambassador or head of mission.
#1f4fa3 on white
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MilitaryCurrent
A 123456
Armed forces, the letter A (Armată) and three to seven digits. Older plates have no EU strip; the Ministry of Internal Affairs uses its own plates starting with MAI.
black on white
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PoliceCurrent
MAI 12345
Ministry of Internal Affairs vehicles (Gendarmerie, Police, emergency units and some SMURD ambulances). The format is set by the ministry itself and varies.
black on white
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Area codes (42)

Each code opens a page with the region it stands for.

History

1992
Plates in the format used today are introduced, with the county code, a number and letters, and the Romanian flag on the strip.
1999
The letters I and O, not used before, become allowed in the three-letter group (but not first).
2007
With EU accession on 1 January, the national flag on the strip is replaced by the EU stars and the letters RO.
2010
Bucharest, with its pool of combinations nearly used up, starts issuing three-digit numbers (B 123 ABC).
2024
A new series with a barcode, a unique identification code and a hologram with the coat of arms is issued from September.

EU-style plates