Number plates of Tanzania date back to at least 1933 in Tanganyika and to the 1950s in Zanzibar. They are the same size as their British counterparts and used the same font until the late 1980s. Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar use slightly different formats.
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1933
In 1933, Tanganyika used white-on-black plates. Letters denoted the city (DS for Dar es Salaam) and was followed by four numbers.
1980s
British standard plates were still being used in the 1980s. Tanzania used yellow plates (front and back) for private cars, while white plates were used on busses, taxis and hire cars. All plates began with a 'T', followed by two letters and four numbers.
1990s
In the 1990s, the font was changed to one resembling the FE-Schrift of German plates. The preceding 'T' was replaced by other letters and the number of digits reduced to three.
2000s
In the 21st Century, the letters and numbers were swapped and the preceding 'T' was returned.
Later they added the flag of Tanzania in front of the 'T'.
Diplomatic plates
Diplomatic plates for diplomatic missions and consular services are yellow-on-green. 'T' is followed by a three-digit number denoting the country in alphabetical order (001 to 255), 'CD' and a two or three-digit number then follows.
Diplomatic plates for international and regional organizations (United Nations funds and programmes, World Bank...) are white-on-blue. 'T' is followed by a three-digit number denoting the country in alphabetical order (200 to 399), 'CD' and a three-digit number then follows.
Military plates
Military plates are white-on-black.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar uses a different number plate system from the rest of Tanzania. By the 1970s plates had changed from the white-on-black style to the black-on-white and black-on-yellow system as used in Britain. Unlike the rest of Tanzania, white plates in Zanzibar were also used on personal vehicles. The 1980s numbering system in Zanzibar was similar to that in the rest of Tanzania, except the preceding 'T' was replaced with a 'Z'.
Currently Zanzibar is using a new approach to number the registered cars with registration resembling the Tanzania mainland registration. The one applicable now Starts with a Z (denoting Zanzibar) followed by 3 (three) digits number and later a combination of two alphabets. The series started with Z 101 AA and continues to change the number until 999 when AB series starts. The permutation and combination is expected to continue to Z 999 ZZ. White and Yellow plates are used on Private Cars and White on Maroon is used for Commercial vehicles