Greek vehicle registration plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate (e.g. ΑΑΑ-1000
). The letters represent the district (prefecture) that issues the plates while the numbers begin from 1000 to 9999. Similar plates with digits beginning from 1 to 999 are issued for motorcycles which exceed 50 cc.
With the exception of Athens and Thessaloniki, all districts are represented by the first 2 letters. The final letter in the sequence changes in Greek alphabetical order after 9,000 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. Only the letters from the intersection between the Latin and Greek alphabets by glyph appearance are used, namely Α, Β, Ε, Ζ, Η, Ι, Κ, Μ, Ν, Ο, Ρ, Τ, Υ, Χ (in Greek alphabetical order). 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
(where L = letter and N = number) and are limited. Until 2003, taxis used L-NNNN
; the plate was aligned with the prefecture and the letters were colored red.
When number plates were introduced to Greece, they were numbered and in the late 1950s the system was L-NNN
and LL-NNN
. The letters were Greek letters and Latin letters, respectively.
In 1956, the system was NNNNNN
.
In 1972, they became lettered and the system was LL-NNNN
while trucks used L-NNNN
.
In 1983, the system was LLL-NNNN
and the first two letters are prefecture letters.
In 2004, the euroband was added.
The first 2 of 3 letters (which are listed below) of a licence plate usually represent the prefecture (nomos) where the car was registered. The almost full list of plates in Greece is below (next to the prefecture / district is its capital or an area within the prefecture that the plates are issued; some prefectures have more than one combination):
ΑA Achaia prefecture - Patras
ΑΒ Kavala prefecture - Kavala {motorcycles}
ΑΕ Lasithi prefecture - Agios Nikolaos (future use)
ΑΖ Achaia prefecture - Patras
ΑΗ Xanthi prefecture - Xanthi (ΑΗΗ is omitted)
ΑΙ Aitoloakarnania prefecture - Agrinio area (ΑΙΙ is omitted)
ΑΚ Laconia prefecture - Sparti
ΑΜ Phokida prefecture - Amfissa
ΑΜ [Ο, Ρ, Τ, Υ, Χ] (red letters) tax free cars
ΑΝ Lasithi prefecture - Agios Nikolaos
ΑΟ Achaia prefecture - Patras {motorcycles}
AO also used in Mount Athos in style of AO-NNN-NN
.
ΑΡ Argolis (Argolida) prefecture - Nafplio
ΑΤ Arta prefecture - Arta
ΑΧ Achaia prefecture - Patras
ΒA Magnesia prefecture - Volos
ΒΒ Magnesia prefecture - Volos {motorcycles}
ΒΕ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
BZ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
ΒΗ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
ΒΙ Boeotia (Viotia) prefecture - Livadeia
ΒΚ East Attica prefecture - Pallini (future use)
ΒΜ East Attica prefecture - Pallini (future use)
ΒΝ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina (future use)
ΒΟ Magnesia prefecture - Volos (ΒΟΡ plates were also issued for cars in Pella Prefecture due to lack of ΕΕΚ plates at that time)
ΒΡ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina (future use)
ΒΤ Magnesia prefecture - Volos (future use)
ΒΥ Boeotia (Viotia) prefecture - Livadeia (future use)
ΒΧ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
ΕΑ Dodecanese prefecture - Kos island {motorcycles}
ΕΒ Evros prefecture - Alexandroupoli (ΕΒΒ is omitted)
ΕΕ Pella Prefecture - Edessa (ΕΕΕ is omitted)
ΕΖ Cyclades prefecture - Ermoupoli {motorcycles}
ΕΗ Euboea (Evia) prefecture - Chalkida {motorcycles}
EI Euboea (Evia) prefecture - Chalkida {motorcycles}
EK Trucks
ΕΚ [Α, Β, Ε] (introduced maybe in 2003/2004, yellow colored) trucks and other vehicles used for national transport of goods
ΕΜ Cyclades prefecture - Ermoupoli
ΕΡ Serres prefecture - Serres
ΕΤ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture - Corfu {motorcycles}
ΕΥ Lefkada prefecture - Lefkada (ΕΥΑ plates were also issued in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΝ plates at that time)
ΕΥ [Υ] tax free cars of offshore companies
ΕΧ Kilkis prefecture - Kilkis (future use)
ΖΑ Zakynthos prefecture - Zakynthos
ΖΒ Zakynthos prefecture - Zakynthos (future use)
ΖΕ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΖΖ Athens prefecture
ΖΗ Athens prefecture
ΖΙ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΖΚ Athens prefecture
ΖΜ Athens prefecture
ΖΝ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
ΖΟ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΖΡ Piraeus prefecture {motorcycles}
ΖΤ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina {motorcycles}
ΖΥ East Attica prefecture - Pallini
ΖΧ East Attica prefecture - Pallini
ΗΑ Ilia prefecture - Pyrgos
ΗΒ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΗΕ Ilia prefecture - Pyrgos (future use)
ΗΖ Heraklio prefecture - Heraklio {motorcycles}
ΗΗ Heraklio prefecture - Heraklio {motorcycles}
ΗΙ Heraklio prefecture - Heraklio (future use)
ΗΚ Heraklio prefecture - Heraklio (ΗΚΗ and ΗΚΖ plates were also issued in nearby Chania Prefecture due to lack of ΧΝΜ plates at that time)
ΗΜ Imathia prefecture - Veria
ΗΝ Thesprotia prefecture - Igoumenitsa
ΗΟ Xanthi prefecture - Xanthi {motorcycles}
ΗΡ Heraklio prefecture - Heraklio
ΗΤ Xanthi prefecture - Xanthi (future use)
ΗΥ Phthiotis (Fthiotida) prefecture - Lamia (future use)
ΗΧ Imathia prefecture - Veria (future use)
ΙΑ Trucks
ΙΑ [Α, Β, Ε] (yellow colored) trucks used for international transport
ΙΒ Athens prefecture
ΙΕ Athens prefecture
ΙΖ Athens prefecture
ΙΗ Athens prefecture (IHA plates were also issued for cars in Euboea Prefecture due to lack of XAI plates at that time)
ΙΙ Ioannina prefecture - Ioannina (future use)
ΙΚ Athens prefecture
ΙΜ Athens prefecture
ΙΝ Ioannina prefecture - Ioannina
ΙΟ Athens prefecture
ΙΡ Athens prefecture {not solely for motorcycles as previously stated, IPN 1604 was my own rental car in October 2014}
ΙΤ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΙΥ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΙΧ Serres prefecture
ΚΑ Karditsa prefecture - Karditsa (ΚΑΑ is omitted)
ΚΒ Kavala prefecture - Kavala (ΚΒΒ is omitted)
ΚΕ Kefalonia and Ithaca prefecture - Argostoli (KEE is omitted)
ΚΖ Kozani prefecture - Kozani (ΚΖΖ is omitted)
ΚΗ Evrytania prefecture - Karpenisi
ΚΗ [Ι, Ο, Υ] (orange colored) state cars
ΚΙ Kilkis prefecture - Kilkis
ΚK Rhodope prefecture - Komotini {motorcycles}
ΚΜ Messinia prefecture - Kalamata
ΚΝ Pieria prefecture - Katerini (ΚΝΖ is omitted)
ΚΟ Rhodope (Rodopi) prefecture - Komotini (exception: ΚΟΗ
and ΚΟΚ
--> Thessaloniki prefecture, ΚΟΡ
--> Heraklio prefecture {motorcycles})
ΚΡ Corinthia prefecture - Corinth (Korinthos)
ΚΤ Kastoria prefecture - Kastoria
ΚΥ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture - Corfu
ΚΧ Dodecanese prefecture - Kos island (ΚΧΑ plates were also issued for cars in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΖ plates at that time)
ΚΧ [Υ] (red letters) tax free cars
ΜΑ Chalkidiki prefecture - Polygyros (future use)
ΜΒ Samos prefecture - Samos (future use)
ΜΕ Aitoloakarnania prefecture - Messolongi
ΜΖ Messinia prefecture - Kalamata {motorcycles}
ΜΗ Lesvos prefecture - Myrina (Limnos island)
MH [Ι, Ο, Υ] (red letters) tax free cars
ΜΙ Phthiotis (Fthiotida) prefecture - Lamia
ΜΚ Karditsa prefecture - Karditsa (future use)
ΜΜ Pella Prefecture - Edessa (future use)
ΜΝ Kozani prefecture - Kozani (future use)
ΜΟ Samos prefecture - Samos (ΜΟΚ, ΜΟΜ and ΜΟΡ plates for motorcycles were also issued in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΚΜ plates at that time)
ΜΟ [Ι, Ο, Υ] (red letters) {tax free cars}
ΜΡ Laconia prefecture - Sparti (future use)
ΜΤ Lesbos prefecture - Mytilini {motorcycles}
ΜΥ Lesbos (Lesvos) prefecture - Mytilini (ΜΥΖ plates were also issued for cars in Rodos Island due to lack of ΡΟΜ plates at that time)
ΜΧ Evros prefecture - Alexandroupoli (future use)
ΝΑ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΒ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΕ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΖ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΗ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΙ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki
ΝΚ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki {motorcycles}
ΝΜ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki {motorcycles}
ΝΝ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki {motorcycles}
ΝΟ Thessaloniki prefecture - Thessaloniki {motorcycles}
ΝΡ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΝΤ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΝΥ Thessaloniki prefecture (future use)
ΝΧ Trucks
ΝΧ [Α, Υ] (yellow colored) {trucks for transport of goods in a prefecture}
ΟΑ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΒ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΕ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΖ Athens (future use)
ΟΗ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΙ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΚ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΜ Athens {motorcycles}
ΟΝ Athens (future use)
ΟΟ Athens (future use)
ΟΡ Evros prefecture - Orestiada area
ΟΤ Athens (future use)
ΟΥ Athens (future use)
ΟΧ Athens (future use)
ΡΑ Florina prefecture - Florina (ΡΑΑ is omitted)
ΡΑ [Ι, Ο, Υ] (red letters) tax free cars
ΡΒ Corinthia prefecture - Corinth (future use)
ΡΕ Rethymno prefecture - Rethymno (ΡΕΕ appears not to have been omitted as previously stated, and was observed on a motorcycle in Rethymno in October 2014)
ΡΖ Preveza prefecture - Preveza (ΡΖΒ is omitted)
ΡΗ Rethymno prefecture - Rethymno (previously stated as "future use", was observed in use on motorcycles/scooters in October 2014)
ΡΙ Larissa prefecture - Larissa
ΡΚ Dodecanese prefecture - Rodos (Rhodes) {motorcycles}
ΡΜ Drama prefecture - Drama (ΡΜΖ is omitted)
ΡΝ Grevena prefecture - Grevena
ΡΝ [Ι, Μ, Ν, Ο, Ρ] (red letters) trucks
ΡΟ Dodecanese prefecture - Rhodes (Rodos)
ΡΡ Larissa prefecture - Larissa(New)
ΡΤ Larissa prefecture - Larissa (future use)
ΡΥ Dodecanese prefecture - Rodos (Rhodes) {motorcycles}
ΡΧ Dodecanese prefecture - Rodos (Rhodes) (future use)
ΤΑ Taxis
ΤΑ [Α, Β, Ε, Ζ, Η] (marked in yellow) taxis
ΤΒ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture - Corfu (future use)
ΤΕ Corfu (Kerkyra) prefecture - Corfu (future use)
ΤΖ Piraeus prefecture (future use)
ΤΗ Aitoloakarnania prefecture - Agrinio area (future use)
ΤΙ Pieria prefecture - Katerini (future use)
ΤΚ Trikala prefecture - Trikala
ΤΜ Argolis (Argolida) prefecture - Nafplio (future use)
ΤΝ Trikala prefecture - Trikala (future use)
ΤΟ Drama prefecture - Drama (future use)
ΤΡ Arcadia prefecture - Tripoli
ΤΤ Rhodope prefecture (future use)
ΤΥ Chania prefecture - Chania {motorcycles}
ΤΧ Preveza prefecture - Preveza (future use)
ΥΑ Athens prefecture
ΥΒ Athens prefecture
ΥΕ Athens prefecture
ΥΖ Athens prefecture
ΥΗ Athens prefecture (YHA plates were also issued for cars in Euboea Prefecture due to lack of XAN plates at that time)
ΥΙ Piraeus prefecture
ΥΚ Piraeus prefecture
ΥΜ Piraeus prefecture
ΥΝ Piraeus prefecture
ΥΟ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina
ΥΡ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina
ΥΤ West Attica prefecture - Elefsina
ΥΥ East Attica prefecture - Pallini
ΥΧ East Attica prefecture - Pallini
ΧΑ Euboea (Evia) prefecture - Chalkida (ΧΑΑ is omitted)
ΧΒ Chania prefecture - Chania {motorcycles}
ΧΕ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΖ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΗ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΙ Chios prefecture - Chios
ΧΚ Chalkidiki prefecture - Polygyros (ΧΚΖ is omitted)
ΧΜ Athens prefecture (future use)
ΧΝ Chania prefecture - Chania (ΧΝΝ and ΧΝΟ were skipped for cars, but were used for motorcycles)
ΧΟ Chios prefecture - Chios (future use)
ΧΡ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΤ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΥ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
ΧΧ Athens prefecture {motorcycles}
Vehicles that belong to public services and armed forces use special license plates with the following letter combinations followed by numbers:
ΑΙΑ (Athens International Airport service vehicles) — (blue coloured with white lettering)
ΑΝ.Π. (Ανάπηροι Πολέμου, Anapiroi Polemou) — Disabled in war (blue coloured)
ΔΟΚ (Δοκιμαστικές, Dokimastikes) — Test plates
ΔΣ (Διπλωματικό Σώμα, Diplomatiko Soma) — Corps Diplomatique or foreign delegation (e.g. ΔΣ 48 CD
, ΔΣ 48-1 CD
) (blue-coloured)
Ε.Α. or ΕΛ.ΑΣ. (Ελληνική Αστυνομία, Elliniki Astynomia) — Hellenic Police
ΛΣ (Λιμενικό Σώμα, Limeniko Soma) — Coast Guard
ΞΑ (Ξένες Αποστολές, Xenes Apostoles) — Foreign missions (yellow coloured)
ΕΣ (Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikos Stratos) — Hellenic Army
ΠΑ (Πολεμική Αεροπορία, Polemiki Aeroporia) — Hellenic Air Force
ΠΝ (Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemiko Naftiko) — Hellenic Navy
ΠΣ (Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα, Pyrosvestiko Soma) — Fire Guard
ΠΚ (Πρόεδρος της Κυβέρνησης, Próedros tis Kyvérnisis) — 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 (Αγροτικά Μηχανήματα, Agrotika Mekhanemata) — Agricultural vehicles
ΚΥ (Κρατική Υπηρεσία, Kratiki Ypiresia) — State
ΜΕ (Μηχανήματα Έργων, Mekhanimata Ergon) — Public works vehicles (yellow coloured)