The Australian state of New South Wales requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/PA_AUST.html Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of in length by in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.

Issuing authorities Standalone departments/agencies:

New South Wales Police (up to 1930) Department of Road Transport and Tramways (1930–1952) Department of Motor Transport (1952–1989) Roads & Traffic Authority (1989–2011) Then RTA/RMS became a sub agency under a principal department from 2009 for a period of 10 years:

Transport and Infrastructure NSW (2009–2010) Transport New South Wales (2010–2011) Roads & Traffic Authority (2009–2011) Department of Transport (January 2011 – October 2011) Transport for NSW (2011–2015) Department of Transport (2015–2019) Roads & Maritime Services (1 November 2011 – 1 December 2019) Since 1 December 2019 the RMS merged into Transport for NSW to form a standalone agency: Transport for NSW (1 December 2019 – present)

Previous general series Cars and Heavy Vehicles 1910–1924: nnn•nnn (cars only) 1910–1937: L·nn•nnn (lorries only) 1924–1937: nnn•nnn (cars only) 1937–1951: aa•nnn (cars and lorries) 1951–1961: aaa•nnn 1961–2004: aaa•nnn

From 1910 to 1937, serials on registration plates for cars were all-numeric, running from 1 to 274-000, while serials on plates for lorries consisted of the letter L followed by up to five numbers. All plates from 1910 to 1924 consisted of black characters on a white background, with the state abbreviation added in 1912. In 1924, the colour scheme for car plates was reversed, so that they consisted of white characters on a black background. Rear plates were supplied by the government and motorists had to request front plates to be made.

From February 1936, a new all numeric standard Australian style embossed plates were introduced to replace various styles that lasted until May 1937. The embossed style continues to the current series. Both sets are issued forward, removing the need for motorists to have front plates made themselves.

On 16 April 1937, a new serial format was adopted for both cars and lorries, consisting of two letters followed by three numbers, with leading zeros as necessary. This ran from AA-000 to ZZ-999, with the letters I and Q omitted to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0 and the letter O. Plates for both vehicle types consisted of white characters on a black background.

When the two-letter serials were exhausted on 3 May 1951, a three-letter format was introduced, starting at AAA-000.New Number Plate Issue for NSW, Vic Cars Truck & Bus Transportation January 1951 page 64 At the same time, the plates' colour scheme changed to black characters on a yolk yellow background. The yolk yellow was replaced with a brighter lemon yellow in 1961, by which point the three-letter serial format had reached the mid 'C' series.

In October 1980, from KWO-050 onwards plates with reflective sheeting began to be issued. At the same time, the slogan "NSW – The Premier State" was added at the bottom of the plate; this was used until November 1988. Two further slogans followed, again appearing at the bottom of the plate: "NSW – The First State" from June 1989 to September 1994, and "NSW – Towards 2000" from September 1994 to September 1996. Since September 1996, car plates have carried the full state name at the bottom.

In the three-letter serial format, the letters I and Q were omitted originally, but were allowed from 1970. Several blocks of series were skipped, or were reserved for other vehicle types (see the Skipped Combinations section below). By July 2004, the format had reached the ZLF series, and was thus close to exhaustion. Hence, the current format was introduced, consisting of two letters, two numbers, and two more letters, starting at AA-00-AA.

Plates continue to consist of black characters on a lemon yellow background, with reflective sheeting.

Trailers 1910–1924: nnn•nnn 1924–1937: nnn•nnn 1937–1948: aa•nnn 1948–1981: aa•nnnn 1981–2014: a•nnnnn

From 1910 to 1948, trailers (and caravans) used the same registration plates and serial formats as cars. In 1948, a separate serial format was introduced for trailers consisting of two letters followed by four numbers. The first letter progressed T, R, A, B and finally C, while the numeric combinations for each series ran from 1000 to 9999; the first serial was thus TA-1000, while the last was CS-9999. Plates continued to consist of white characters on a black background, while the colour scheme for car plates changed (above).

In August 1981, trailer plates adopted the same colour scheme as car plates, of black characters on a lemon yellow background. At the same time, a new serial format was introduced consisting of one letter followed by five numbers, starting at A-00000. This format omitted the letters I, O and T, and was exhausted in December 2014.

In August 2014, a new trailer plate was introduced consisting of black characters on a white background, and a plain "NSW" legend. This plate uses the same two-letter, two-number, two-letter serial format as car plates, but has T as the first letter, with the first serial being TR-00-AA. This serial format began to be used on the current mid yellow trailer plate as well from December 2014, beginning with TA-00-AA; at the same time, the legend on this plate was changed from the full state name to "NSW – TRAILER", the whole TI & TO series was skipped.

Motorcycles 1910–1939: nn•nnn 1939–1950: aa•nn 1950–1961: aa•nnn 1961–1989: aa•nnn 1989–TBA: aaa•nn

From 1910 to 1939, registration plates for motorcycles consisted of black characters on a white background, and used all-numeric serials of up to five numbers. On 10 July 1939, the colour scheme was reversed to white characters on a black base, and a serial format of two letters followed by two numbers was introduced, running from AA-00 to ZZ-99, with the letters I and Q skipped for the reasons described above. On 14 November 1950, the serial format was expanded to two letters followed by three numbers, starting at AA-000. As with car plates, the colour scheme changed at this point to black characters on a yolk yellow base, with the yolk yellow in turn being replaced with lemon yellow in 1961.

Since October 1980, motorcycles have been provided with one plate rather than two, and plates have been manufactured with reflective sheeting. The two-letter, three-number serial format was exhausted in August 1989, at which point the current format was introduced, consisting of three letters and two numbers, starting at ZZZ-99 and progressing backwards. In November 2009, a plate consisting of black characters on a white background was introduced, using the same serial format but starting at ABA-00 and progressing forwards. As of June 2023, H prefix are now issued and is nearing completion. I Prefix series started to be issued as of November 2024. Anticipate there will be a new series after the AAA-NN series will be exhausted for yellow series as the available new combinations for black on white was exhausted and unissued blocks have been allocated. Since October 2023, all motorcycle plates have switched the diamond separator to vertical.

Current general series

Cars and Heavy Vehicles: AA·nn·aa – commenced July 2004. Slimline light vehicle series: aaa·nna – commenced 1991. Trailers: TA·nn·aa – commenced December 2014 from TA-03-AA. Trailers: TR·nn·aa – commenced August 2014 from TR-00-AA. Motorcycles: ZYX·nn – commenced August 1989 from ZZZ-99; progresses backwards (currently issuing 'I' series). Expected to be replaced by a new combination series in the future. Motorcycles: ABC·nn – commenced November 2009 from ABA-00; progresses forwards (currently issuing 'AA' series). Expected to be replaced by a new combination series in the future.

Information on current general series

Yellow general series: From 20 July 2004, combinations changed to AA-00-AB from the previous general series ending as ZLF-999 and is embossed under NEW SOUTH WALES. As of 5 September 2025, embossed full integrated EV and H identifier pressed into base surface has become available for black on yellow government issued plates for EV & Hydrogen vehicles. Slimline: In March 1991, the slimline set plates produced as a de-embossed border was introduced from AAA-11A in black on reflective white. By 24 October 2005 starting from AWA-00A the bordered slimline replaced the first version. As of week ending 5 September 2025, a new next generation slimline plate with an embossed full integrated identifier pressed into base surface has been launched, for EV & H for Hydrogen vehicles. See Transport for NSW (TFNSW) media release https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/small-change-fuels-big-difference and Drive.com.au https://www.drive.com.au/news/new-south-wales-to-stamp-ev-labels-onto-its-number-plates-rather-than-a-sticker/ Trailer yellow series: - From December 2014 replacing the previous 1981-2014 general series starting at TA-11-AA Trailer white series: - From August 2014 replacing the previous 2009-2014 general series allocation starting at TR-01-AA Motorcycle yellow series: - From August 1989 replacing the previous 1950–1989 series, starting at ZZZ-00 and into final blocks starting from IZZ-00. Motorcycle white series: - From August 2009 including from the pool of general series allocation starting at PKZ-00 and then moved forth from ABA-00 since 2012.As of 2025 it has reached HZZ-99 and currently issuing un-issued blocks.

Allocated series + General issue combinations at the start of each year (cars and trucks) 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 Nil 1 1000 3000 5000 6000 7-999 8-999 10-999 15-999 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 21-999 30-999 40-999 53-999 67-999 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 AAA-000 AEK-000 ALY-000 APB-000 AUG-000 BCC-000 BKC-000 BSA-000 BWA-000 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 CAA-000 CLL-000 CTA-000 DAA-000 DKA-000 DOJ-000 EDA-000 EMA-000 AAA-000 BAJ-000 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 AIA-000 CWI-000 DXI-000 GEA-000 GQA-000 HEA-000 HQA-000 JCA-050 JPE-050 KBH-050 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 FOA-000 LCZ-050 LOS-050 MBE-050 MOZ-050 NEA-050 NTZ-050 OFE-050 OSA-050 PHA-050 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 RGZ-050 RQB-050 SAA-000 SPF-050 TCM-050 TOA-050 UCW-050 QUA-050 UWA-050 VOD-050 AAA-11A ABS-12A ACR-12A ADR-12A AEF-12A AEX-12A AFJ-76A AGI-12A AGW-12A 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 WKA-050 XCA-050 XQD-050 YFA-050 ZBM-050 AC-00-MA AI-00-ZZ AN-00-NZ AT-00-WB AZ-00-CE AHA-12A AIP-12A AJP-12A ALT-12A AOA-12A ATB-12A AXA-12A BBA-12A BHA-12A BOA-21A 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 BC-00-CE BH-00-AA BM-00-HG BT-00-TA BY-00-VB CC-00-CC CG-00-NA CK-00-VA CO-00-VO CS-00-SL BVC-00A CAD-00A CGS-00A CME-00A CSA-00A CYE-00A DCZ-00A DLH-00A DTI-00A EAA-00A 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 CW-00-JC DA-00-AA DD-00-UA DG-00-CE DI-00-LL DM-00-UL DQ-12-JS EGN-00Z ELZ-99Z ERI-00A EXE-19Q FEQ-00A FNJ-00A FYC-00W

Other allocations

Dealer Slimline: Same serial format as general slimline plates but with Y as the first letter, the first serial being YBA-00A. The name or web address of the dealer in question is screened at the bottom, along with any corresponding logos. Some dealers plates have since been discontinued mostly Holden Dealers or through change of dealership. At the start of 2026, a full sized style with slimline combinations in the middle and later with the international style has been introduced.