The registration number of cars in Norway is maintained by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. As in most countries, cars are identified only by number plates read visually. Due to the large installed base of automatic road toll systems, there is a significant number of cars that also carry an electronic identity chip that may be read remotely. Up to now, these chips have only been used for tax purposes.

The numberplates can have one of the following designs:

A - White plate, black print

For cars, lorries, buses, etc. taxed and fit to drive on public roads. Plates of this type will also carry a tax stamp; see below. Most cars in Norway have these plates.

B - Black plate, yellow print

These are for all vehicles that are approved and deemed safe but never drive on public roads. This includes forest tractors, mining trucks, offroad snow-mobiles, various mobile gear in airports and quays, etc. Such vehicles are tax exempt and do not carry a tax stamp.

C - Orange plates, black print

Military cars, trucks, buses, tanks etc. Such vehicles are tax-exempt and do not carry a tax stamp.

D - Green plate, black print

For cars, vans, small trucks, etc. taxed and fit to drive on public roads. Vehicles with this plate are not for passenger use. They can carry only one passenger and are intended for craftsmen and courier usage. Such cars do have lower tax than the same model ones with plate type A. They will also carry a tax stamp. There are many Mercedeses etc. with green plates. They will never have a back seat. Anyone may own a car with green number plates.

E - Blue plate, yellow print

These are Corps Diplomatique plates; they are used on official cars of foreign embassies and consular services. These plates always use prefix CD. They are tax exempt and do not carry a tax stamp.

F - Red plate, black print

Temporary number plates. This kind of plates is often provided by car sales show rooms for test driving a car. They may also be used for driving between border control and road authority when importing a car from abroad. People who need to temporary register a car for other reasons may acquire such number plates from the local road authority office.

Tax stamp

A tax stamp is sent out annualy by post to every car owner who has paid the road tax, insurance and is in compliance with any MOT control. The tax stamp has a bar code for non-disclosed usage. The tax stamp changes colour each year. The palette is red - blue - yellow. A car with a number plate of a wrong colour is likely to have its number plate removed by police or customs staff.

Manufacture of number plates

The production of number plates is strictly controlled by the authorities. Number plates are provided when application of registration is accepted. If plates are stolen, new ones will not be produced until a police enquiry is completed.

Number plates for all types except some kinds of F plates are produced in hard plastic. Previously, aluminium sheets were the standard material.

Car number prefixes and sequence numbers

Sequence numbers for cars are between 10000 and 99999. For other vehicles, the sequence 1000 to 9999 is used. Number plates of type F use numbers between 10 and 99.

Special prefixes are:

• CD: Corps Diplomatique
• EL: Electrically powered vehicles
• GA: LPG (Liquified petroleum gas) or other gas powered vehicles

Find the complete list of prefixes here. Liquified petroleum gas (also called liquefied petroleum gas, liquid petroleum gas, LPG, LP gas, or autogas) is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles, and increasingly replacing fluorocarbons as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant to reduce damage to the ozone layer. ...

Other issues

Norway does not have any particular numbering scheme or plate kind to indicate vehicle usage such as police, taxi, ambulance or others, except for type E plates used by foreign diplomats.

The numbers for all plates except type C have a code consisting of two letters and a serial number. Class C only carries a sequence number. The letters identify the traffic station that issued the registration number. For example, in Stavanger, prefixes like RE, RH and RJ are used. The car registration number is not altered when the owner moves to another town.