Vehicle registration plates of Mexico

Updated on Jan 01, 2025

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Vehicle registration plates of Mexico are issued with unique visual designs by each state, but with one national numbering system, such that serials are not duplicated in multiple states. Most states change designs approximately every third year, with each state on its own plate replacement cycle. Every year owners Mexican plated vehicles pay the tenencia or revalidación de placas (car plates renewal tax). A set of Mexican plates includes one pair of plates, a windshield sticker, and in a few states a plate sticker.

In 2001 the size of the plate number was reduced in order to accommodate the addition of the state number, legend indicating the position of the plate on the vehicle (delantera (front) or trasera (rear)), and additional graphics.

Mexican plates are issued in several different classifications: Private, Private Fronteriza, Public, Public Frontera, Servicio Público Federal, Inspección Fiscal y Aduanera, Armada de México, and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. The Fronteriza plates were introduced in 1972 and are available in the Mexico-United States border zone. This zone is formed by the Baja California and Baja California Sur states, as well as parts of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas. While the state of Nuevo León shares a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) border with the U.S., it does not have any cities within the border zone.

Current series for the Federal District

The current 000-AAA plate series for Mexico City was introduced in 1972, allowing registration for 10,950,300 private automobiles. This series was not affected by plate designs, and continued to be used until its ending in early 2015 (999-ZZZ). However, in 2001 all vehicles using combinations around 000-LWU and older received all-new combinations beginning in 000-MAA. Following the established series, vehicles after 999-ZZZ are registered as A01-AAA, in order to not use a combination used in the past.

000-LAA for late 2000 and 2001 (plate redesign and full registration renewal around 000-LWU)

000-MAA, 000-NAA and 000-PAA were issued as replacement for older combinations and a few new registrations in 2003.

000-RAA for late 2001 and 2002 new registrations

000-SAA for late 2002 and 2003

000-TAA for late 2003 and 2004

000-UAA for 2005 and 2006

000-VAA for 2007 and early 2008 (plate redesign around 155-VSV and 865-VSV)

000-WAA for 2008 and 2009

000-XAA for 2010 and 2011

000-YAA for 2012 and 2013 (plate redesign after 999-YVT)

000-ZAA for 2014 and 2015

A00-AAA for 2015 onwards

Another Type of License plate is for the operation of public transport in Metropolitan Routes Crossing to the State Of Mexico Metropolitan Area.

References

Vehicle registration plates of Mexico Wikipedia

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