In fact, we can easily categorize the vehicle license plate colors and their meanings we see in traffic. Just knowing the most frequently used ones will make our job easier. Because some vehicle license plate colors are actually so rare that knowing them will not be of much use to you. However, we have explained in detail the plate colors and meanings of the vehicles we encounter in our country’s traffic, so that they will at least be familiar when you see them.

License plate colors and their meanings

Private and commercial vehicle plate colorsOfficial vehicle plate colorsGreen plate meaningYellow plate meaningYellow – red plate meaningRed – white plate meaningBlue plate meaningDisabled vehiclesOther special plate colors

Private and commercial vehicle license plates that we are familiar with:

White base, black letters and numbers

The license plates of vehicles used by normal drivers, who are the majority in traffic, and the license plates of vehicles used for different commercial purposes consist of black letters and numbers on a white background. The numbers in the first two digits of the license plate are the codes to which the car is registered. Other letters and numbers are given to vehicle owners sequentially, unless they are received with a special request.

Official license plates that we often see:

White letters and numbers on black background

The license plates of vehicles that are allocated to the use of employees of state institutions and organizations and that are owned by the state rather than individuals, in other words official vehicles, consist of white letters and numbers on a black background. The owners of these vehicles are state institutions and organizations such as ministries, municipalities and directorates.

Green plate used by diplomats:

Green letters and numbers on white background

The license plates of these vehicles, which belong to the representatives of foreign countries such as consulates and embassies operating in Turkey and are also called diplomatic vehicles, consist of green letters and numbers on a white background. These vehicle license plates, which are frequently encountered especially in metropolitan cities, may contain the letters CC, CG, CD and CENTIMETER to indicate who is driving them.

The yellow plate that everyone who buys a new car knows:

Black letters and numbers on yellow and white striped background

Temporary license plates, which are issued for various periods such as 1 week, 1 month or 1 year to vehicles that have not yet been registered but do not cause any harm in driving, consist of black letters and numbers on a yellow background. Such temporary yellow license plates are issued to vehicles kept at customs, in situations where importer galleries are required to temporarily put vehicles on the road, or to vehicles that will be road tested.

Yellow – red plate used by high-ranking government officials:

Gold letters and numbers on red base

Vehicle license plates used by high-level government officials, also called protocol vehicles, consist of yellow numbers on a red base. There are no letters on these plates because the license plate of the presidential vehicle carries the yellow presidential badge on red, while the other vehicle license plates carry numbers starting with 0001, President of the GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY, which varies depending on which government official is driving.

Red-white plate used by managers of state institutions means:

Red letters and numbers on white base

You are likely to see vehicles with red-white license plate colors more often because they are the license plates belonging to the vehicles used by government officials who hold relatively low-level positions such as rectors, district governors, police chiefs and similar positions. These plates consist of red letters and numbers on a white background. 

Blue plates used by law enforcement:

White letters and numbers on blue background

Blue license plates are used on vehicles affiliated with the General Directorate of Security and accepted as official vehicles. These plates, which consist of white letters and numbers on a blue base, have the letters A, ANADOLU AJANSI or AAA after the city code, and the numbers at the end of the plate indicate the branch to which the vehicle is connected.

Disabled vehicles:

Vehicle license plates registered to disabled persons are the same as normal vehicle license plates. However, some of the disabled vehicle license plates have a white wheelchair symbol on a blue base. The reason for placing this symbol is to ensure that other vehicle drivers take the necessary care.