Palau requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches (152 × 305 mm). Most states issue metal plates, some stamped; however, some are hand painted, stencilled or of printed laminated paper on a wooden base. Most states issue new plates every few years, others use revalidation through stickers.
The designs of the plates vary by state, with each state issuing their own plates, although some states have less than 100 residents and the largest just 14,000. Palau witnessed several instances of political violence in the 1980s, due to state-by-state conflict over the nuclear issue, so in the 1990s a national plate was issued. This has since reverted to state-by-state production.
Regular plates ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesTwo bai (men's meeting houses)"Charm of Micronesia"Republic of Palau1980 Airai Japanese manufacture 1980Two bai (men's meeting houses) Koror 1988State seal Ngarchelong plexiglass 1990sOffshore natural archSpelled "NGAREMLENGUI" Ngeremlengui 1990sState seal Ngatpang plexiglass1992Two bai (men's meeting houses)"Charm of Micronesia"Republic of Palau 2000Sprouting coconut seed and green crab Ngatpang Australian standard 372 mm × 134 mm 2000State seal, spiny murex, sea turtle and outrigger"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" Peleliu 2001Outrigger and four stars in a map pattern Sonsorol2002 Storm petrel and state seal Ngchesar2004 "HIGHEST & TALLEST" Ngardmau plexiglass2005Spiny murex "HOME OF MEDECHII BELAU" (according to legend, Medechii Belau lured rabbitfish to Airai) Airai2005State seal Kayangel 2005State seal"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" Peleliu 2007State seal Ngaraard2008Three bai (men's meeting houses) Koror 2008Flag of Melekeok Melekeok 2009Taki Falls scenic waterfall Ngardmau 2010 Angaur2010 Hatohobei-hand-stenciled; with only 40 residents, only government plates are produced2011Bai (men's meeting house) and saltwater crocodile Aimeliik-printed laminated paper2012Sprouting coconut seed and red green crab Ngatpang2013Two bai (men's meeting houses) Koror2013State seal "CHAD RA KIULUUL" (Kiuluul is an old name for Ngiwal) Ngiwal 2018State seal and Taki Falls scenic waterfall Ngardmau2019Flag of Melekeok Melekeok 2019Black numbers on white background all centered in a black bordered box; green plate background with stars at top and banner at bottom Ngchesar2020Bai (men's meeting house) and saltwater crocodile Aimeliik2020 (?)Dark green serial at far right on light mint green background; "ASGV" diagonally in center State seal at center left Aimeliik2020Spiny murex"HOME OF MEDECHII BELAU" Airai2020Blue text on white background with small blue bands at top and bottom Angaur2020State seal Kayangel2020Two bai (men's meeting houses)"BOUNTIFUL ISLES" Koror2020Black serial on white background"BOUNTIFUL ISLES" Koror2020 (?)State seal Ngaraard2020State seal Ngarchelong2020Sprouting coconut seed and red green crab Ngatpang 2020 (?)Yellow serial on blue background; "Ngeremlengui State" and "Republic of Palau" in white at top and bottom respectively Ngeremlengui2020State seal"CHAD RA KIULUUL" (Kiuluul is an old name for Ngiwal)K79-123 Ngiwal2020Black letters on sky blue background"ODESNAGEL PRIDE" Peleliu
Diplomatic plates ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes2020 (?)Golden yellow serial on light blue background; wavy golden yell and light blue bordergolden yellow "DIPLOMAT" above serial numberA 123 Republic of Palau
Government plates ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes2019White numbers on orange background; bai (men's meeting house) left, flag rightWhite "GOVERNMENT" above serial number1234 Republic of Palau2020Light blue serial on silver background; light blue border; scale of justice to right of serial and flag to right Blue "JUDICIARY" above serial number123 Republic of Palau
Special plates ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesBlack serial on white background; Belau National Museum centered at top; "Republic of Palau centered at bottom; material is plasticA Cherechar a LokeliiBNM-1234 Koror2020 (?)Large black "LGSP" (Local Government Support Program) on white background skewed to right of center; United Nations Development Program logo over state seal at left; material is plastic None Republic of Palau2020Black serial on white background preceded by yellow and blue PICRC logo; material is plasticPalau International Coral Reef CenterPICRC-12 Koror
References