Vehicle registration plates of Israel


An Israeli vehicle registration plate, or an Israeli license plate, is a vehicle registration plate, a metal or plastic plate or plates attached to a motor vehicle or trailer, used in Israel for official identification purposes.
Israeli registration plates are issued by various approved licensing firms, like Dinamometer, and according to Specification no. 327 of the Standards Institute of Israel. Most regulations regarding Israeli vehicle registration plates are listed among the transport regulations, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety. These regulations define the proper placement of the plates, as well as other issues concerning the usage of the plates.

Appearance

Civil registration plates

Israeli civil registration plates are rectangular with reflecting yellow background and embossed with black registration number. Under the first dash of the registration number there is a stamp of approval of the Standards Institute of Israel. On the left side of the plate there is a euroband embossed with the Israeli flag and beneath it the letters IL and ישראל written in Hebrew and below it إسرائيل written in Arabic. Old plates do not hold this euroband. In American standard plates, the digits are narrower and the blue rectangle is at the bottom of the
plate, as the letters are to the right of the flag.
Current civil registration numbers consist of seven digits, which are separated by dashes: one between the second and third digits and another between the fifth and sixth digits and eight digits which also separated by dashes: one between the third and fourth digits and another between the fifth and sixth digits. Older registration numbers, which are still seen in Israel, consist of five or six digits with one dash placed prior to the last three digits. Usually, vehicles of the same importer or brand have the two last digits in common. Special numbers consisting of identical digits or other patterns, may be granted as a premium by the dealership.
While the vehicle registration numbers of taxis in Israel always end with either 25 or 26, the last two digits of buses vary, although many end with 01. Many self-imported cars end with 00, as well as many trucks. Plate numbers ending with 4x and 9x are currently not in use.
Antique vehicles, which in Israel are vehicles over 30 years of age, may be specifically registered and carry special registration plates, which in addition to the registration number contain the words רכב אספנות. These vehicles, exempt from annual registration costs, may not be driven before 9am. Since February 2011, self-imported antique vehicles are allocated a number plate with the 55 suffix.
Vehicles registered in Israel often use 'disguised' plates, either remade black on white without the blue band, or with the blue band covered, when travelling outside of the country.

Police registration plates




Police registration plates are rectangular with red background and embossed with white registration number. Police registration numbers consist of the letter Mem, representing the word "Mishtara" and the number, which is issued according to the seniority of the car holder. The number of the main car of the General commissioner of the Israel Police is 1.

Military registration plates




Registration plates of Military service vehicles are rectangular with black background and embossed with a white registration number. Military registration numbers consist of the letter Tsade, representing the word "Tsava" and several digits. Alternatively, the plate might be painted on the vehicle.

Military Police registration plates




Military Police registration plates are rectangular with blue background and embossed with white registration number. Military Police registration numbers consist of the letters Mem and Tsade, representing the words "Mishtara Tsva'it" and several digits.

Diplomatic registration plates



Diplomatic Corps/Consular Corps registration plates are rectangular with white background and embossed with black registration number. Diplomatic/Consular Corps registration numbers consist of the letters CD/CC and seven digits—the last two of them are 21 or 22. Private vehicles owned by a member of a diplomatic/consular mission and originally brought from the member's country of origin do not consist of the letters CD/CC, but the last two digits remain 21 or 22. Honorary consuls' vehicles carry plates consisting of the letters CC without the final digits of 21 or 22, even though the vehicle is registered under a civil registration number.

Registration Plates’ Suffixes in Israel

The use of the 7-digit registration plate in Israel began in 1980. It ended in 2018 for cars and buses, but still used for Taxis until all numbers in the 25 and 26 series run out. The 2 last digits of the number, referred to as its suffix, have special meaning. In the eighties, the suffix indicated the vehicle's manufacturing year. In 1990 this rule was changed, and the suffix was determined according to the car's dealer or brand, when each dealer or brand was given a suffix, sometimes sharing the same suffix with other dealers or brands. This rule was gradually changed starting from 2000, and the suffix started to indicate the vehicle's manufacturing year again as well as dealer or brand.
The following table details the registration plates’ suffixes in Israel against the vehicle's manufacturing year and the car's dealer or brand. The table details private and small commercial cars only. It does not indicate suffixes that were allocated to the Palestinian Authority in the past.
A list of Israel's car dealers and the brands they import follows this table.
SuffixManufacture YearBrand/Dealer
00Self imported vehicles, all brands, since 1990. Mercedes
012005Colmobil, Lubinsky, busses, 2-wheel vehicles
021990-1994Mitsubishi
031990-1995Japanauto
041990-1997Lubinsky, Hyunday, Daihatsu
051990-1995Samlat, Automotive Equipment Group, Jaguar, Ford
061990-1995UMI, Meir, Carasso, Kamor
071990-1995Champion, Daihatsu, Daewoo
081990-1997UMI, Meir, Kamor, Rover
1995-1996Japanauto
2016Meir
091990-1996Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Skoda, Mazda, Toyota, Lada
102000-2001All Manufacturers
2001-2004Skoda
112013-2014All Manufacturers
122012-2013All Manufacturers
132006All Manufacturers
2007Daihatsu
2012-2013All Manufacturers
142006All Manufacturers. Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
15Self import vehicles, re-registration, heavy vehicles, former police cars
161997-2011Kamor
1995-1999Lubinsky, Carasso, Daewoo
2005Champion, Delek Motors
171995-1999UMI, Meir, Mitsubishi, Hyunday
1999-2004Jaguar, Rover, Land Rover
181996-2000UMI, Champion
191995-1999UMI, Delek Motors, Automotive Equipment Group, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Toyota
201995-1999Colmobil
21Since 1980Diplomatic vehicle or Consulate vehicle or Red Cross vehicle, white background, all manufacturers
22Since 1980Diplomatic vehicle or Consulate vehicle or Red Cross vehicle, white background, all manufacturers
231996-2004Subaru
2000Most manufacturers
242000-2001Most manufacturers
25Since 1986Taxi, all manufacturers
26Since 2013Taxi, all manufacturers
271996-2000Fiat, Kia, Suzuki, Mazda
281996-2002Automotive Equipment Group
1995-1998Delek Motors, Mercedes
2016Automotive Equipment Group
291996-1998Carasso
1997Mazda
2000-2001Delek Motors, Carasso
301997Daewoo, Daihatsu
2014All Manufacturers
312014All Manufacturers
322014-2015All Manufacturers
332015All Manufacturers
342015-2016All Manufacturers
352001-2002All Manufacturers
362002-2003All Manufacturers
372015-2016All Manufacturers
382015-2016All Manufacturers
392016All Manufacturers
402016-2017All Manufacturers
41Re-registration of "collectibles" vehicle in case the first digit is 9.
42-49Not in use
502002-2003Honda
2003All Manufacturers
2006-2005Daihatsu
512003-2004All Manufacturers
521982All Manufacturers
2013-2014All Manufacturers
531983All Manufacturers
2013-2014All Manufacturers
2015Champion Motors
541984All Manufacturers
2013-2014All Manufacturers
2015Delek Motors, Champion Motors, Carasso
551985All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
Re-registration of "collectibles" vehicle in case the first digit is 9.
2015Colmobil
561986All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
2004All Manufacturers
2005Champion
571987All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
2004-2005All Manufacturers
2005Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
2015Delek Motors
581988All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
2005All Manufacturers
2006Japanauto
2014Automotive Equipment Group, Subaru
591989All Manufacturers, mostly commercial vehicles
2005-2006All Manufacturers
Since 2007Hamizrach
2015-2016Japanauto
602006-2007All Manufacturers
2006Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
612006-2008All Manufacturers
2007Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
622007All Manufacturers
632007-2008All Manufacturers
642008All Manufacturers
2013-2014Peugeot, Citroen
652008-2009All Manufacturers
662008-2009All Manufacturers
672008-2010All Manufacturers
682008-2010All Manufacturers
2009Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
692009-2010All Manufacturers
2009-2010Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
702009-2010All Manufacturers
712010-2011All Manufacturers
2011Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
722010-2011All Manufacturers
2011-2012Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
732010-2011All Manufacturers
2012-2013Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
742011All Manufacturers
2013Re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
2014Peugeot, Citroen
752011-2012All Manufacturers
2013Subaru, re-registration in case the first digit is 9.
762011-2013All Manufacturers
771990-2003Government vehicle. After the vehicle left government service it received re-registration plate
782011-2012All Manufacturers
792012-2013All Manufacturers
801980All Manufacturers
811981All Manufacturers
821982All Manufacturers
831983All Manufacturers
841984All Manufacturers
851985All Manufacturers
861986All Manufacturers
871987All Manufacturers
881988All Manufacturers
891989All Manufacturers
90-99Not in use

Vehicle Dealers in Israel

DealerBrands
UMI Universal Motors IsraelChevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Isuzu, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, Saab; Opel
Delek MotorsMazda, Ford; BMW, Mini
KamorUntil 2011 Kamor imported BMW and Mini.
LubinskyPeugeot, Citroen; MG
Champion MotorsAudi, Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda
Carasso MotorsRenault, Nissan, Infiniti, Dacia
Union MotorsToyota
MeirHonda, Volvo
Samlat - Cars Agency for the MediterraneanFerrari, Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Subaru, RAM, Lancia, Abarth, Chrysler/Jeep, Dodge ; Kia
TelcarDaihatsu, Ssangyong; Kia
ColmobilMitsubishi, Hyundai, Mercedes, Smart
HamizrachLandrover, Rover; GreatWall
Automotive Equipment GroupSuzuki, Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, Porsche
ShlomoOpel
JapanautoSubaru
Lexus IsraelLexus
Auto ItaliaFerrari, Maserati

Regulations

Regulations no. 300-301 state that every vehicle registered in Israel must carry two registration plates, installed on the front and rear ends of the vehicle in the designated places by the manufacturer, or otherwise determined by the Licensing Authority. Motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, bicycles and tricycles must carry one plate only, installed on the rear end.
Registration plates must always be clean and must not be obscured by freight.
A damaged or vandalized registration plate must be replaced with a new one.
It is prohibited to remove a plate except for its replacement. It is also prohibited to add details to a plate, change its color or blur it.
A vehicle registered in Israel is allowed to carry Israeli plates only.
A registration plate in a motor vehicle must be illuminated, so it can be read from a distance of in daylight and fair weather.

Electronic toll collection

When driving on an electronic toll collection route in Israel like Highway 6, the vehicle registration plate is electro-optically read at the entrance and exit from the route. Later, a clerk will manually enter the data into the database and subsequently, an invoice sent to the address of the owner of the vehicle, as it is registered in the database of the Ministry of Transportation.