Number plates

Apply for personalised number plates

All number plates must be issued by the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office.

It is an offence to display number plates on a vehicle that are not approved by MVR.

When you register a vehicle, you will be issued general issue number plates - unless you apply for personalised number plates.

You can apply for personalised number plates for all privately-registered vehicles.

Right to display

In the Northern Territory (NT), permission to display number plates on your vehicle is called the right to display.

Your personalised number plates will be available for other customers to order if you lose the right to display.

Find out how to transfer the right to display number plates.

Character combinations

You will need to create a combination of characters, but it must not contain any of the following:

  • obscene, blasphemous, offensive, sexually explicit, violent or discriminatory characters
  • names or initials of countries or states – e.g. NSW, USA, AUST
  • a combination of letters that represent government departments and authorities – e.g. POLICE
  • a combination of letters forming MVR number plate prefixes – e.g. TAXI, TV, MB, CV
  • a diamond character that leads or ends the number plate
  • registered trademark or company name, unless you have the authority to display
  • any combination restricted by law including Australian Defence Force
  • other restrictions determined by the MVR office.

Conditions for personalised number plates

The following conditions apply to all personalised plates:

  • All number plates remain the property of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. You are paying a fee for the right to display particular or personalised number plates only, and not for the purchase of the number plates.
  • All plates ordered must be fitted to a current NT registered vehicle within 12 months of notification that the plates are available to collect. Your right to display may be withdrawn if the plates are not fitted to an NT registered vehicle within the 12 month period following notification.
  • If the registration of the vehicle is allowed to lapse, you will keep the right to display the plate for 12 months. Your right to display may expire if the plates are not fitted to an NT registered vehicle within the 12 month period immediately following the last day of registration.
  • All plate applications are accepted subject to final approval by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
  • Where an application for a specific sequence has been rejected, the applicant may either:
    • apply for a fee refund or
    • submit an alternative choice.
  • The reasons a customer gives for wanting a certain number plate are completely irrelevant as to whether or not the number plate is acceptable.
  • If complaints are received about a personalised number plate, the Registrar may choose to withdraw the plate from circulation and offer the owner an alternative number.
  • To collect the new number plates, the registered owner must return the number plates previously attached to the motor vehicle or trailer to MVR.

How to apply

Before you apply, find out the types of personalised and special number plates and fees.

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for your number plates to be ready after your order is approved by MVR.

You can apply online or in person.

Go to MVR plates online.

Before you apply online, if you have recently moved or changed address make sure you update your contact details with MVR.

On the online system, you can't order the following:

  • remakes of standard issue number plates - lost, missing or stolen
  • souvenir number plates
  • remakes of special series, commemorative number plates and so on
  • commercial passenger vehicles (CPV) number plates - taxi, substitute taxi, minibus, motor omnibus, limousine, special passenger vehicle, private hire and tourist vehicle
  • pastoral car and pastoral motorcycle number plates
  • consular number plates.

Fill in the R1 apply for personalised number plate form PDF (966.8 KB) and submit it in person at an MVR office.

You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, BasicsCard, cash or EFTPOS.

Collecting your personalised number plates

When it's ready to collect from your chosen MVR office, a letter will be posted to your nominated address.

To collect the personalised number plates, you must:

If you ordered it as a gift, you will need authority from the registered owner to collect the number plates.

Once you receive your number plates, you must attach them to your registered vehicle as soon as possible.

Read more about fitting your number plates.

Contact

For more information, email mvr@nt.gov.au.


Transfer the right to display number plates

All vehicle number plates are the property of the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office.

These include general, commemorative, personalised and special series number plates.

In the Northern Territory (NT), permission to display number plates on your vehicle is called the right to display.

When you have the right to display

When you register your vehicle, you have the right to display your number plates.

You'll continue to have this 12 months after your registration expires.

You lose the right to display when:

  • registration has expired or been cancelled for more than 12 months
  • number plates have been on hold at MVR for more than 12 months.

When you lose the right to display, the personalised number plates will be available for other customers to order.

When to apply

You can apply when you want to:

  • sell your vehicle with the number plates attached
  • sell your vehicle but keep the number plates to attach to another vehicle you own
  • transfer your number plates to someone else
  • swap your number plates with plates you have on hold with MVR
  • swap number plates between 2 vehicles registered in your name.

If you're not the registered owner of the vehicle, you must provide written permission from the owner confirming you have consent to act on their behalf.

Apply to transfer the right to display

To find out how you can transfer the right to display, answer the questions below.




Replace your damaged, lost or stolen number plates

If your number plates have been damaged, defaced, lost or stolen, you can do one of the following:

  • apply to have your number plates remade - you will receive an exact copy
  • apply for a new set of general issue plates.

If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, you will need to present an authorisation letter.

Fees vary depending on what you need to do. Check number plate fees.

How to replace your plates

Read below on how to replace your plates.



Apply for a trader's plate

If you want to use trader's plates for your business, you must apply for them.

You can use trader's plates to drive an unregistered, roadworthy vehicle for specific purposes. Conditions of use apply.

Who can apply

You can apply for trader's plates if you're a:

  • licensed motor vehicle dealer
  • vehicle manufacturer
  • mechanical repairer or
  • vehicle services provider - for example, a detailer or seller of vehicle accessories.

Answer the questions below to check you meet the other requirements.



How to apply

To apply for a trader's plate, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the R03 application for trader's plate form PDF (216.4 KB).

Step 2. Provide evidence of identity and residency.

Step 3. Submit your application:

If your business has multiple locations, you must submit a separate application for each location.

After you apply

A transport inspector will contact you within 10 working days to arrange an inspection of your business premises.

You must:

  • have your business name prominently displayed
  • be suitable to hold a motor vehicle trader's licence.

The inspector will sign the inspector's report on your application and give you back your application.

If you're approved

If you're approved, you must go to an MVR office and:

  • bring your completed application with the signed inspector's report
  • pay a trader's plate fee by EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa, BasicsCard or cash.

You will then receive your trader's plate, a trader's plate register book and label to go with the plate.

Conditions of use

You must also:

  • meet the conditions of use as outlined in your trader's plate register book and application
  • make sure the vehicle is only driven by the trader, employee or potential buyer or agent who holds a current driver licence
  • record the following details in the trader's plate register book whenever the vehicle is being used: 
    • date
    • plate number
    • make of vehicle
    • purpose of the trip
    • trip times
    • driver's name
    • address
    • licence number
    • signature of the driver.

Trader’s plates have an expiry date of 31 December each year.

You can renew your trader’s plate by email, phone or in person. You don't need to complete a form.

You can pay the trader's plate fee using EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa, BasicsCard or cash.

If your trader’s plate has expired for more than 12 months, you must submit a new application to the MVR.

If your trader’s plate is lost or damaged, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the R03 application for trader's plate form PDF (216.4 KB)

Step 2. Pay the trader's plate fee.

Step 3. Submit your application in person at an MVR office and collect your trader’s plate, trader's plate register book and label.

If you need a replacement register book, you can get it at MVR for free.

If you sell or close your business, you must notify the MVR in writing within 14 days of the sale or closure.

You can receive a refund if you have at least one full month remaining until your trader’s plate expiry date.

MVR will deduct an administration fee from the refund.

You must supply:

You must return the trader’s plate and any supporting documents with the form to an MVR office.

Contact

If you have any questions, email mvr@nt.gov.au or call 1300 654 628 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.


Buy a souvenir number plate

Souvenir number plates are number plates that:

  • are no longer attached to a registered vehicle
  • have been surrendered to the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) by the owner.

You can buy it as a souvenir only.

You must not attach it to a vehicle for use as registration plates.

What you can buy

You can only buy the below types of general issue, Northern Territory (NT) number plates:

  • car number plate
  • motorcycle number plate
  • trailer number plate.

The number plates must have been surrendered that day.

Only one number plate from each set will be sold.

Not for sale

All of the following souvenir plates are not for sale:

  • commemorative
    • NT Centenary of Federation (all)
    • World War II
    • Bicentennial (all)
  • special event
  • special series
    • consular
    • explorer (all)
    • NT Government (all)
    • pastoral (all)
    • personalised or particular (all)
    • regional (all)
    • NT commercial passenger vehicle (all)
    • special purpose vehicle.

How to apply

To apply, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Prepare application

Fill in the R30 application for souvenir number plates PDF (149.8 KB).

You must also provide evidence of identity.

Step 2. Submit the application and pay the fees

Submit your application with supporting documents at an MVR office.

Pay the souvenir number plate fee by EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa, BasicsCard or cash.

Contact

For more information, email mvr@nt.gov.au.


Fitting your number plates to your vehicle

When driving on Northern Territory (NT) roads, it is your responsibility to attach your number plate issued to your vehicle.

Your number plates must be:

  • issued by the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office
  • clearly readable - not altered, dirty, faded or damaged
  • illuminated by a white light when the vehicle tail lights are on.

Height from the ground

For cars, trucks and public vehicles (such as buses and taxis), you should attach it no higher than 1300mm from the ground at the:

  • front of the vehicle and
  • rear of the vehicle.

For motorcycles and trailers, you should attach a number plate at the rear of the vehicle at a height between 300mm to 1300mm from the ground.

Positioning and visibility

The number plates must be attached to your vehicle so that the characters are in an upright position, parallel to the vehicle's axles.

The characters on the number plate must be visible from a distance of 20 metres at any point within an arc of:

  • 15 degrees from the surface of the number plate above and 45 degrees to either side of a vehicle - that is less than 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass or
  • 45 degrees from the surface of the number plate above and to either side of a vehicle - that is more than 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass.

This is shown on the diagrams below.

Figure 1: Vehicle number plate visibility - side viewFigure 2: Vehicle number plate visibility - top view

Blocked number plates

It is an offence to block any character/s of a number plate.

Blocked number plates can be caused by any of the following:

  • protective covers on number plates
  • tow bars/balls
  • bicycle racks
  • bull bars
  • loads incorrectly carried on the vehicle
  • incorrect attachment.

For more information about number plates rules, read section 6 - vehicle registration of the Road Users' Handbook.

How to replace

You can have your number plates replaced or remade if your number plates are damaged, lost or stolen.

If you'd like to get a personalised number plate, read how to apply for personalised number plates.

Contact

For more information, email mvr@nt.gov.au.


Number plate labels for electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles

The Northern Territory (NT) Government has introduced number plate labels for electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles.

In an emergency, these labels will help responders identify the vehicle’s power source so they can respond quickly.

Once fitted, the label must remain intact and attached to the vehicle’s number plates.

If your label is missing or damaged, you may face fines. Your vehicle may also receive a defect notice and fail a roadworthy inspection.

Who this applies to

If you own a vehicle that was built on or after 1 January 2019, you must have the labels attached to your number plates by 1 March 2023.

Motor vehicle dealers must attach the label to all eligible number plates as part of the registration process.

Vehicles built before 1 January 2019 are encouraged to have labels, but it’s not required.

How to get a label

You can get replacement labels from any label manufacturer.

It must meet the below label requirements.

Label requirements

Depending on the vehicle type, the following label requirements apply.

Electric and hybrid vehicles

Electric and hybrid vehicle label

As per the image above, the label for electric and hybrid vehicles must be:

  • a symmetrical triangle with each side 30mm in length
  • attached to a metal number plate that is:
    • at least 1mm thick
    • the same size and shape as the label
  • a reflective blue colour – in line with class 2 of Australian Standard 1906.1 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes - retroreflective sheeting
  • marked ‘EV’ in an upright position and in white capital letters at least 8mm high.

Hydrogen vehicles

Hydrogen vehicle label

As per the image above, the label for hydrogen vehicles must be:

  • a pentagon with each side 25mm in length
  • attached to a metal number plate that is:
    • at least 1mm thick
    • the same size and shape as the label
  • a reflective yellow colour in line with class 2 of Australian Standard 1906.1 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes - retroreflective sheeting
  • marked ‘H’ in an upright position and in a black capital letter at least 10mm high.

How to fit the label

The label must:

  • be attached in an upright position
  • securely attached so it can’t be easily removed
  • not block any letter or number on the number plate.

The label may block the diamond mark separating characters.

If you can’t attach a label without blocking a number plate character, contact your local vehicle inspection facility for advice.

There's no required way to attach a label to a number plate. However, if you decide to use a drill to attach the label, you should remove the number plate first.