License Plate Rules and Types in South Africa

License Plate Rules and Types in South Africa
The common types of license plates in South Africa are metal stamping style, plastic style and acrylic plate style. License plates are not only to attract the attention of passing vehicles, but also for legal management purposes. The main reason why vehicles need license plates is to give each vehicle a unique identity and facilitate tracking when needed. For example, if the owner jumps a red light or does not obey other traffic rules, the captured license plate information can be linked to the owner's details in the license plate database, thereby tracing the owner's relevant responsibilities. Therefore, car registration is very important, and its legal necessity applies not only to South African citizens, but also to citizens of all countries. But South African license plates have their own unique regulations. Let's learn about them through this article.

In South Africa, license plates are the identification of vehicles and need to comply with the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act No. 93 issued in 1996, the South African National Standard Specification (SANS 1116) and relevant national and provincial regulations.

License Plate Size Requirements
There are only three legal license plate sizes in South Africa (length * width), and each size has different requirements for the stamping height of letters and numbers.

520 mm X 113 mm, 75 mm stamping height for letters and numbers
250 mm X 205 mm, 75 mm stamping height for letters and numbers
250 mm X 165 mm, 60 mm stamping height for letters and numbers
The three sizes are designed to match a variety of different makes and models of vehicles. Considering that the same vehicle may have different apertures for the front and rear numbers, two different sizes of plates can be used on the same vehicle.

Certification mark
According to the National Road Traffic Act, South African license plates should have the SABS certification mark. The SABS label should be affixed under the provincial markings on the license plate.

Markings and fonts
SABS standards stipulate that each blank license plate number must be marked with a readable and indestructible mark containing the supplier's name or trademark and the supplier's batch number in the lower left corner. The font of the license plate should be a unique font specially designed by the SABS. It is illegal to use other fonts.

Attachments to the license plate
The license plate of all vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 2010 must be fixed to the vehicle by 4mm rivets or 4mm one-way self-tapping screws. It can be mounted directly or fixed to a bracket. The fixing bracket must meet legal requirements and be approved by the National Department of Transport. It is illegal to attach the number plate with double-sided tape.

Positioning of the license plate
The number plate of ordinary passenger cars and SUVs must not be higher than 1.5 meters from the ground. However, if the front design of the vehicle is such that it cannot accommodate the number plate in the middle, the number plate can be installed on the side.

The tailgate cannot be obscured by permanent fixtures. However, if the obstruction is deemed temporary, such as a removable bicycle rack, it can be temporarily obscured, but a second number plate must be installed on the rack to ensure it is clearly visible. Temporary obstructions must be removed when not in use.

Number plate design
Each province in South Africa has a different number plate background design, which is determined by the relevant provincial MEC. Visit to view examples of number plate designs in each province. Anything other than these designs is illegal. In addition, no advertising is allowed on the number plate, otherwise it will be forced to remove and replace the number plate that does not meet the requirements.

Types of license plates in South Africa

South African license plates are available in both metal stamping and acrylic, but most motorists prefer acrylic. Acrylic plates available for the South African market are available with reflective film and have a durability of 3 – 5 years.

You can also get personalised license plates in South Africa, commonly known as private plates or custom plates.

Personalised license plates

If you want to get personalised license plates for your vehicle, this will come with additional costs and regulations.

Only letters and numbers are allowed, any symbols such as %, &, @ or $ are illegal.

No vulgar language is allowed and no offensive numbers will be assigned.
Personalised license plates are the property of the owner and can be transferred from one vehicle to another. These plates can even be transferred to a beneficiary when the original owner dies.
To get a personalised license plate, you will need to apply at your local traffic registration office and provide certified copies of your identity document, vehicle registration certificate and proof of residence.