Personalised number plates let you replace the standard issued registration mark with one you have chosen, within the rules of the province that issues it. They are administered provincially rather than nationally, which is why what is possible, and what it costs, differs depending on where your vehicle is registered.
This guide covers how personalised plates generally work, what the application involves, the rules that commonly apply, and the practical consequences of changing a vehicle’s registration mark.
Schemes, rules and fees are set provincially and change. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent information resource and does not issue plates. Confirm with the authority in the province where the vehicle is registered.
How the schemes work
Each province runs its own arrangement, with its own format rules, its own availability and its own charges. A combination available in one province may not be permitted in another, and the plate is tied to the province that issued it.
That provincial link matters if you move, because it interacts with where the vehicle is registered. Ask before assuming a plate travels with you. See correcting owner details.
What is generally required
- Ownership of the vehicle, or authority to act for the owner. See letter of proxy.
- The registration certificate. See registration certificates.
- Identification and proof of address.
- An available combination that meets the province’s format rules.
- Payment of the applicable fees.
- The correct application form. See NaTIS forms.
Rules that commonly apply
- Format restrictions on length and on the mix of letters and numbers.
- Refusal of combinations considered offensive or misleading.
- Combinations that imitate official or emergency service marks are not permitted.
- The plate remains subject to the province’s conditions, including renewal where that applies.
- Plates must still be manufactured to the required standard and displayed correctly.
Practical consequences of changing the mark
The registration mark is how the vehicle is identified in a great many systems, so changing it has knock on effects worth planning for.
- Tell your insurer, since the vehicle they cover is identified by that mark.
- Update any parking, tolling or access accounts tied to the registration.
- Expect a gap while old and new marks are reconciled across systems.
- Keep the paperwork showing the change, in case a fine arrives against the old mark. See checking outstanding fines.
- Check for outstanding fines against the old mark before the change, not after.
Selling a vehicle with a personalised plate
Decide early whether the plate goes with the vehicle or stays with you, because it affects the sale and the transfer. Agree it in writing with the buyer and confirm with the authority what is required either way. See change of ownership.
Before you commit to a combination
People become attached to a specific combination before checking whether it is available or permitted, which makes the refusal harder than it needs to be. Treat the first step as an availability question rather than a design exercise.
- Check availability before telling anyone what you have chosen.
- Have two or three alternatives ready.
- Check the format rules for your province, not another one.
- Confirm total cost including manufacture of the plates themselves.
- Confirm whether the arrangement needs renewing, and at what interval.
Display still has to be correct
A personalised mark does not relax any requirement about how plates are made or displayed. They must meet the manufacturing standard and be legible and correctly fitted, and enforcement applies in the ordinary way. A plate styled to be hard to read is a problem regardless of what it says. See vehicle licensing.
Related guides
- Vehicle registration hub
- Registration certificates
- Where to register a vehicle
- Vehicle licensing
- Official sources
Can I put a personalised plate on a financed vehicle?
A titleholder on the record has an interest in the vehicle, and changing its registration mark affects their security. Ask the finance house before applying, not after.
What happens if I move province?
Plates are issued provincially, so a move raises questions about both the plate and where the vehicle is registered. Ask the issuing province what happens before you move rather than afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personalised plate cost?
Fees are set provincially and vary, sometimes considerably by how desirable the combination is. We do not publish amounts. Ask the authority in the province where the vehicle is registered.
Can I keep the plate if I sell the car?
Arrangements differ by province. Establish the position before agreeing a sale, and put it in writing with the buyer so there is no dispute at handover.
What happens to fines issued against my old plate?
They do not disappear because the mark changed. Check for outstanding fines before making the change, and keep the paperwork showing when the change happened.
Can I transfer a plate between my own vehicles?
Some schemes allow it. Ask the issuing province, since this is exactly the kind of detail that differs between them.
Are there combinations that will be refused?
Yes. Offensive combinations and anything imitating official or emergency marks are refused, and format rules apply. Have alternatives in mind.
Does a personalised plate change my licence renewal?
The annual licensing obligation is unchanged. What changes is the mark by which the vehicle is identified, so make sure your records and accounts reflect it.