The original 1903 series of two-letter codes (IA, IB, IJ, etc) continues in use in Northern Ireland. This 115-year run of original county and city codes is almost certainly a record for Europe. In 1928 the “Z” series of county and city codes began to be used, starting with AZ in Belfast. In December, 2004 the previously-unused IG code was issued to Fermanagh. The current configuration in use is, for example, XUI 1234. Low-number “cherished” plates, for example VJI 5, are available at extra cost. Black-on-white front plates and black-on-yellow rear plates have been optional since 1968 and mandatory since 1975 for new cars.

Current examples of two-letter “I” codes are shown:

Antrim

Armagh

Belfast

Down

Fermanagh

Fermanagh

Londonderry

Tyrone

Derry City

Belfast

New plate issues are in the WUI 8053 format (first adopted in January, 1966) with, at the current time, the following three-letter combinations being issued to new registrants:

CSZ      Down

NGZ      Belfast

NXZ     Armagh

PRZ     Antrim

TIG      Fermanagh

WHZ   Tyrone

XUI     Derry City

XNZ     Londonderry