Legend

A concise reference for reading Czech (CZ) license plates.

1 · Standard format

5 to 7 characters — always at least one letter (leftmost, the region code) and at least one digit. The letters G, O, Q, and W are never used anywhere on a Czech plate — too easily confused with C, V, 0, and 6. Plates issued since May 1, 2004 carry the blue EU strip with "CZ" and the stars; older plates left that space blank.

1A2 3456

1 — series digit

A — region letter

2 3456 — unique

This is the most common layout, not a fixed rule — once a region's combinations run low, the letter can shift position or a second (Prague, since 2009) and even third (Prague, since June 2023) letter gets added. Across 5–7 characters, roughly 20.9 billion combinations are legally possible.

2 · Region letter

The 2nd character identifies the region where the vehicle was registered.

APraha
SStředočeský
CJihočeský
PPlzeňský
KKarlovarský
UÚstecký
LLiberecký
HKrálovéhradecký
EPardubický
JVysočina
BJihomoravský
ZZlínský
MOlomoucký
TMoravskoslezský

The letter I is never used as a region code — most likely to avoid confusion with the digit 1, though this is an observed pattern rather than a stated rule.

3 · Special types

1A2 3456

Standard passenger

Black characters, white background, blue EU strip. The vast majority of cars, trucks, buses, and trailers.

1M2345

Motorcycle / moped

Same black-on-white, one character shorter: 1 digit + region letter + 4 digits (no extra alphanumeric character).

123 4567

Army (AČR)

Numbers only — no letters at all. Format is a 3-digit group + a 4-digit group. Current, not just historical.

123 CD45

Diplomatic

Blue characters on white. 3-digit mission code + 2-letter suffix + 2-digit sequence number: CD (full immunity), XX (limited), XS (embassy staff), HC (honorary consul).

01V 1234

Historic / veteran

Green characters. Numeric region code (01–14) + V + 4 digits.

F1234

Test / manipulation

Green characters. Not-yet-approved or manipulation vehicles: region letter + 4 digits. A separate test-purpose type is just F + 4 digits, shown here.

01R 1234

Racing

Green characters. Numeric region code + R + 4 digits.

A12 1234

Special machinery

Black on yellow. Agricultural, military, and construction machinery. Region letter + 2-digit series + 4 digits.

12345E

Export

Black on white with a red-bordered stripe (not reproducible in this preview). Two 3-character groups, always ending in E.

Transit

A one-off placard for driving a newly bought vehicle home — printed on green paper, not a rigid plate, so it doesn't look like the preview shown for other types here.

EL1 2345

Electric

No special color — same black-on-white as standard, just identifiable by the EL prefix. Since Jan 1, 2020; comes with perks like highway-toll exemption in some areas.

FUN M0MMY

Custom (vanity)

Same black-on-white as standard. Up to 8 characters (cars), must include at least one digit. Excludes G, CH, O, Q, and W. Available since Jan 2016, 5,000 CZK per plate.

4 · International

Rules for other European countries' plates. Compiled from research — where sources conflicted or couldn't be verified, that's noted directly under the relevant fact.