Vehicle registration plates of Israel

An Israeli vehicle registration plate, or an Israeli license plate, is a vehicle registration plate, a metal or plastic plate or plates attached to a motor vehicle or trailer, used in Israel for official identification purposes.

Israeli registration plates are issued by various approved licensing firms, like Dinamometer, and according to Specification no. 327 of the Standards Institute of Israel.

Most regulations regarding Israeli vehicle registration plates are listed among the transport regulations, issued by the Ministry of Transportation. These regulations define the proper placement of the plates, as well as other issues concerning the usage of the plates.

Appearance

Civil registration plates

Israeli registration plate (European standard)

Israeli registration plate (American standard)

Israeli civil registration plates are rectangular with reflecting yellow background and embossed with black registration number. Under the first dash of the registration number (see below form of registration numbers) there is a stamp of approval of the Standards Institute of Israel. On the left side of the plate there is a euroband embossed with the Israeli flag and beneath it the letters "IL" and Israel written in Hebrew and Arabic. Old plates do not hold this euroband.

In American standard plates, the digits are narrower and the blue rectangle is at the bottom of the plate, as the letters are to the right of the flag.

Current civil registration numbers consist of seven digits, which are separated by dashes: one between the second and third digits and another between the fifth and sixth digits. Older registration numbers, which are still seen in Israel, consist of five or six digits with one dash placed prior to the last three digits. Usually, vehicles of the same importer or brand have the two last digits in common. Special numbers consisting of identical digits or other patterns, may be granted as a premium by the dealership.

While the vehicle registration numbers of taxis in Israel always end with either 25 or 26, the last two digits of buses vary, although many end with 01. Many self-imported cars end with 00, as well as many trucks. Plate numbers ending with 4x and 9x are currently not in use.

Antique vehicles, which in Israel are vehicles over 30 years of age, may be specifically registered and carry special registration plates, which in addition to the registration number contain the words "Rehev Asfanut" (lit. "collectibles" vehicle). These vehicles, exempt from annual registration costs, may not be driven before 9am. Since February 2011, self-imported antique vehicles are allocated a number plate with the 55 suffix.

Registration Plates’ Suffixes in Israel

The use of the 7-digit registration plate in Israel began in 1980. The 2 last digits of the number, referred to as its suffix, have special meaning. In the eighties, the suffix indicated the vehicle’s manufacturing year (80-89). In 1990 this rule was changed, and the suffix was determined according to the car’s dealer or brand, when each dealer or brand was given a suffix, sometimes sharing the same suffix with other dealers or brands. This rule was gradually changed starting from 2000, and the suffix started to indicate the vehicle’s manufacturing year again (although not according to a general rule as in the eighties) as well as dealer or brand.

The following table details the registration plates’ suffixes in Israel against the vehicle’s manufacturing year and the car’s dealer or brand. The table details private and small commercial cars only. It does not indicate suffixes that were allocated to the Palestinian Authority in the past.

A list of Israel’s car dealers and the brands they import follows this table.

Suffix	Manufacture Year	Brand/Dealer
00		Self imported vehicles, all brands, since 1990. Mercedes
01	2005	Colmobil (Dealer), Lubinsky (Dealer), busses, 2-wheel vehicles
02	1990-1994	Mitsubishi
03	1990-1995	Japanauto (Dealer)
04	1990-1997	Lubinsky (Dealer), Hyunday, Daihatsu
05	1990-1995	Samlat (Dealer), Automotive Equipment Group (Dealer), Jaguar, Ford
06	1990-1995	UMI (Dealer), Meir (Dealer), Carasso (Dealer), Kamor (Dealer)
07	1990-1995	Champion (Dealer), Daihatsu, Daewoo
08	1990-1997	UMI (Dealer), Meir (Dealer), Kamor (Dealer), Rover
	1995-1996	Japanauto (Dealer)
09	1990-1996	Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Skoda, Mazda, Toyota, Lada
10	2000-2001	All Manufacturers
	2001-2004	Skoda
11	2013-2014	All Manufacturers
12	2012-2013	All Manufacturers
13	2006	All Manufacturers
	2007	Daihatsu
	2012-2013	All Manufacturers
14	2006	All Manufacturers. Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-14)
15		Self import vehicles, re-registration (until 2005), heavy vehicles.
16	1997-2011	Kamor (Dealer)
	1995-1999	Lubinsky (Dealer), Carasso (Dealer), Daewoo
	2005	Champion (Dealer), Delek Motors (Dealer)
17	1995-1999	UMI (Dealer), Meir (Dealer), Mitsubishi, Hyunday
	1999-2004	Jaguar, Rover, Land Rover
18	1996-2000	UMI (Dealer), Champion (Dealer)
19	1995-1999	UMI (Dealer), Delek Motors (Dealer), Automotive Equipment Group (Dealer), Daewoo, Daihatsu, Toyota
20	1995-1998	Colmobil (Dealer)
21	Since 1980	Diplomatic vehicle (with "CD" at the left) or Consulate vehicle (with "CC" at the left), white background, all manufacturers
22	Since 1980	Diplomatic vehicle (with "CD" at the left) or Consulate vehicle (with "CC" at the left), white background, all manufacturers
23	1996-2004	Subaru
	2000	Most manufacturers
24	2000-2001	Most manufacturers
25	Since 1986	Taxi, all manufacturers
26	Since 2013	Taxi, all manufacturers
27	1996-2000	Fiat, Kia, Suzuki, Mazda
28	1996-2002	Automotive Equipment Group (Dealer)
	1995-1998	Delek Motors (Dealer), Mercedes
29	1996-1998	Carasso (Dealer)
	1997	Mazda
	2000-2001	Delek Motors (Dealer), Carasso (Dealer)
30	1997	Daewoo, Daihatsu
	2014	Hyunday, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Alfa Romeo, Fiat
31	2014	Honda, Mercedes, Kia, Volvo
32	2014	Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Isuzu, Suzuki
33-34		Not in use
35	2001-2002	All Manufacturers
36	2002-2003	All Manufacturers
37-49		Not in use
50	2002-2003	Honda
	2003	All Manufacturers
	2006-2005	Daihatsu
51	2003-2004	All Manufacturers
52	1982	All Manufacturers
	2013-2014	All Manufacturers
53	1983	All Manufacturers
	2013-2014	All Manufacturers
54	1984	All Manufacturers
	2013-2014	All Manufacturers
55	1985	All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
		Re-registration of "collectibles" vehicle in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-55)
56	1986	All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
	2004	All Manufacturers
	2005	Champion (Dealer)
57	1987	All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
	2004-2005	All Manufacturers
	2005	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-57)
58	1988	All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
	2005	All Manufacturers
	2006	Japanauto (Dealer)
	2014	Suzuki
59	1989	All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
	2005-2006	All Manufacturers
	Since 2007	Hamizrach (Dealer)
60	2006-2007	All Manufacturers
	2006	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-60)
61	2006-2007	All Manufacturers
	2007	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-61)
62	2007	All Manufacturers
63	2007-2008	All Manufacturers
64	2008	All Manufacturers
	2013-2014	Peugeot, Citroen
65	2008-2009	All Manufacturers
66	2008-2009	All Manufacturers
67	2008-2010	All Manufacturers
68	2008-2010	All Manufacturers
	2009	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-68)
69	2009-2010	All Manufacturers
	2009-2010	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-69)
70	2009-2010	All Manufacturers
71	2010-2011	All Manufacturers
	2011	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-71)
72	2010-2011	All Manufacturers
	2011-2012	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-72)
73	2010-2011	All Manufacturers
	2012-2013	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-73)
74	2011	All Manufacturers
	2013	Re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-74)
75	2011-2012	All Manufacturers
	2013	Subaru, re-registration in case the first (left-most) digit is 9. (9X-XXX-75)
76	2011-2013	All Manufacturers
77	1990-2003	Government vehicle. After the vehicle left government service it received re-registration plate
78	2011-2012	All Manufacturers
79	2012-2013	All Manufacturers
80	1980	All Manufacturers
81	1981	All Manufacturers
82	1982	All Manufacturers
83	1983	All Manufacturers
84	1984	All Manufacturers
85	1985	All Manufacturers
86	1986	All Manufacturers
87	1987	All Manufacturers
88	1988	All Manufacturers
89	1989	All Manufacturers
90-99		Not in use

Vehicle Dealers in Israel

Dealer Transliterated Hebrew Name	Brands
UMI Universal Motors Israel Jü-Ëm-Äj	Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Isuzu, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, Saab. Until 2011 UMI imported Opel.
Delek Motors Dëleq Mötors	Mazda, Ford. Since 2011 Delek Motors imports BMW and Mini as well.
Kamor Qamör	Until 2011 Kamor imported BMW and Mini.
Lubinsky Lubïnski	Peugeot, Citroen. Since 2011 Lubinsky imports MG as well.
Champion Motors Čampjon Mötors	Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda
Carasso Motors Qaraso Mötors	Renault, Nissan, Infinity
Union Motors Jünjen Mötors	Toyota
Meir Më'ir	Honda, Volvo, Jaguar
Samlat - Cars Agency for the Mediterranean SML"T - Soxnüt Mexonijöt LaJäm HaTixön	Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth. Until 2008 Samlat imported Kia as well.
Telcar Tëlqar	Daihatsu, Ssangyong. Since 2008 Telcar imports Kia as well.
Colmobil Kölmobil	Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Mercedes, Smart
Hamizrach Hamizräħ	Landrover, Rover. Since 2011 Hamizrach imports GreatWall as well.
Automotive Equipment Group Maxširëj Tnuзä	Suzuki, Chrysler/Jeep, Dodge, Porsche
Shlomo Šlömo	Since 2011 Shlomo imports Opel
Japanauto Japanöto	Subaru
Lexus Israel Leqsüs Israël	Lexus
Auto Italia Otö Itälija	Ferrari, Maserati

Other registration plates

Israeli police registration plate

Army vehicle with Israeli military registration plate

Diplomatic corps registration plate example

dealer plate

• Police registration plates are rectangular with red background and embossed with white registration number. Police registration numbers consist of the letter Mem (מ), representing the word "Mishtara" (police) and the number, which is issued according to the seniority of the car holder. The number of the main car of the General commissioner of the Israel Police is 1.

• Registration plates of Military service vehicles are rectangular with black background and embossed with a white registration number. Military registration numbers consist of the letter Tsade (צ), representing the word "Tsava" (military) and several digits. Alternatively, the plate might be painted on the vehicle.

• Military Police registration plates are rectangular with blue background and embossed with white registration number. Military Police registration numbers consist of the letters Mem and Tsade, representing the words "Mishtara Tsva'it" (military police) and several digits.

• Diplomatic Corps/Consular Corps registration plates are rectangular with white background and embossed with black registration number. Diplomatic/Consular Corps registration numbers consist of the letters CD/CC (respectively) and seven digits—the last two of them are 21 or 22. Private vehicles owned by a member of a diplomatic/consular mission and originally brought from the member's country of origin do not consist of the letters CD/CC, but the last two digits remain 21 or 22. Honorary consuls' vehicles carry plates consisting of the letters CC without the final digits of 21 or 22, even though the vehicle is registered under a civil registration number.

Regulations

Regulations no. 300-301 state that every vehicle registered in Israel must carry two registration plates, installed on the front and rear ends of the vehicle (one on each) in the designated places by the manufacturer, or otherwise determined by the Licensing Authority. Motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, bicycles and tricycles must carry one plate only, installed on the rear end.

Registration plates must always be clean and must not be obscured by freight.

A damaged or vandalized registration plate must be replaced with a new one.

It is prohibited to remove a plate except for its replacement. It is also prohibited to add details to a plate, change its color or blur it.

A vehicle registered in Israel is allowed to carry Israeli plates only.

A registration plate in a motor vehicle must be illuminated, so it can be read from a distance of 20 meters (66 feet) in daylight and fair weather.

Electronic toll collection

When driving on an electronic toll collection route in Israel like Highway 6, the vehicle registration plate is electro-optically read at the entrance and exit from the route. Later, a clerk will manually enter the data into the database and subsequently, an invoice sent to the address of the owner of the vehicle, as it is registered in the database of the Ministry of Transportation.

See also

• List of international vehicle registration codes
• Electronic toll collection

External links

• Israeli Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety (English)
• Highway 6 operating company website (Hebrew)