Vehicle registration plates in Hungary usually consist of seven characters on white background with black letters.

In 2012 the Hungarian government wanted to replace the license plates with a new system that would indicate the geographical area where the car was registered.

Based on the number of license plates issued in a year, the previous system would have enough combinations approximately until 2025.

Ordinary plates will consist of four letters and three numbers and will use a new font type as well.

Also, there are several types with special prefixes: TX - Taxi, OT - Old Timer, CD - Diplomatic (same as the previous, except for the font type), BA - Prison Service, RA - Police, HA - Military, MA - Ambulance, NA - National Tax and Customs Administration.

Owing to the larger number of vehicles, from 1922, plates also included the year of issue next to the regional code.

The same regional system was maintained until 1933, even though the territory of Hungary was significantly reduced after the Treaty of Trianon.

In the 1940s, in and shortly after the years of the World War II the format was temporarily changed to one letter - four number.

In the years of the harsh communism there were only a few private cars, most of the vehicles were owned by the state, there was no need of expanding the number of characters.

[7] From 1958 citizens were allowed to buy a vehicle for private purposes, the format was changed to two letter and four number, with short dashes between them (eg.

The previous three letter - three number format was introduced in 1990 with the Hungarian flag above ‘H’ on the left side of the plate, separated by a black vertical line.

This was slightly modified from May 1, 2004 (when Hungary joined the European Union ) the EU stars are shown above the ‘H’ on a blue stripe.

The plate consists of three letters and three numbers (form 001 to 999), separated with a hyphen.

The series are given out in alphabetical order, so the approximate age of the license plate (and sometimes of the car, if it was registered for the first time) can be determined.

Since May 2017 diplomatic corps plates carry the letters CD and six numbers, separated with a hyphen.

Last three numbers are in connection with the diplomatic person's working position (ambassador, consul, embassy staff, etc.).

Before 2017 plates starting with CD were for diplomats, who are leaving the country permanently, valid for 30 days.

Most common for police is RB, but nowadays plates from the normal series are generally used.