Most cars in Cyprus have white number plates, but you will also see yellow, red, orange and black ones. The colour tells you what kind of vehicle it is. This guide explains each one, so you know when the car in front is a taxi, a rental car driven by a visitor or a government car.
Last checked: 19 October 2026, against the Second Schedule of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations published by the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the RTD's services on gov.cy.
What do Cyprus number plates look like?
Since 2013, standard plates are white at the front and the back, with black characters and a blue EU band with the letters CY on the left.
- Format. Most cars have three letters and three numbers.
- Letters. Only letters that look the same in Greek and Latin are used: A, B, E, H, K, M, N, P, T, X, Y and Z.
- Older cars. Before the 2013 scheme, private cars had a white plate at the front and a yellow plate at the back. These plates are still valid, so you will see plenty of them.
What the plate colours mean
| Plate colour | Vehicle |
|---|---|
| White front and back | Private cars and most other vehicles |
| White front, yellow back | Private cars registered under the old scheme |
| Yellow front and back | Taxis and licensed goods vehicles (lorries and vans used for business) |
| Red front and back | Rental cars, hired without a driver |
| Orange | Government ministries and the House of Representatives |
| Black, with white or silver characters | Old vehicles registered before 1975 |
Why are some number plates yellow in Cyprus?
There are two reasons:
- Yellow at the front and the back means a taxi or a licensed goods vehicle.
- Yellow only at the back means a private car registered before the 2013 scheme, when rear plates were yellow.
Red number plates: rental cars
Red plates mean a rental car. The rules give every car hired without a driver red plates at the front and the back.
The driver is often a visitor who is new to driving on the left. Give red-plate cars a little extra room at roundabouts and junctions, where people used to driving on the right are most likely to hesitate or take the wrong lane.
If you are the one renting, our guide to driving in Cyprus with a foreign licence explains which licence you need, and the road rules guide covers roundabouts and priority.
Government and diplomatic plates
- Government cars. Ministries and the House of Representatives have orange plates with blue characters, the coat of arms and the letters ΚΔ. The President's car carries only the coat of arms.
- Diplomatic plates. Diplomats' cars carry CD with the number of their mission. Administrative and technical staff of an embassy have AT plates.
- British Bases and the United Nations. Vehicles of the British Sovereign Base Areas and the UN have their own plates.
Plates in the north of Cyprus follow a separate system and look different.
Can I get a personalised number plate?
Yes. The RTD sells chosen registration numbers. Popular numbers go to auction, and numbers left after the auction can be bought directly. Both services are on gov.cy: registration number auctions and buying a registration number. Check the current prices there.
Buying your first car?
Plates stay with the car when it changes owner. The things that change are the paperwork, the insurance and the road tax. See our guides to buying a car and transferring ownership, road tax, the MOT and car insurance for new drivers.
Still learning? Practise the signs you will see on the road with the free road signs test, and check the rules with the rules test.
Frequently asked questions
What do red number plates mean in Cyprus?
A rental car. Cars hired without a driver have red plates at the front and the back.
Why are some number plates yellow in Cyprus?
Yellow plates at the front and the back mean a taxi or a licensed goods vehicle. A yellow plate only at the back means a private car registered before 2013, when rear plates were yellow.
What country has a red front number plate?
Cyprus. Rental cars there have red plates at the front and the back.
What colour are private number plates in Cyprus?
White at the front and the back, with a blue EU band. Older private cars may still have a yellow rear plate.
What do CD plates mean in Cyprus?
A diplomatic vehicle. CD is followed by the mission's number. Embassy administrative and technical staff have AT plates.
Can you buy a personalised number plate in Cyprus?
Yes. The Road Transport Department auctions chosen registration numbers and sells the ones left over. Both services are on gov.cy.