Old South African Number Plates List |top| (2025)

If you spot a classic car today, checking the prefix code is the quickest way to know its origin. Here is a breakdown of the codes used in the old provinces:

Between 1973 and 1994, South Africa used a relatively stable system. However, the real golden age for variety was between the 1950s and early 1970s, when colours were vibrant and formats varied wildly. old south african number plates list

Spanner smiled, added a final note to his old list, and whispered, “Sometimes the past is hiding in plain sight… on a number plate.” If you spot a classic car today, checking

Spanner opened the notebook, licked his thumb, and flipped to the "C" section. “CA,” he murmured. “Cape Province, 1960s. But look here—the hyphen in the middle? That’s a special issue. Diplomatic corps, or maybe… police undercover.” Spanner smiled, added a final note to his

Spanner closed the book. “Your grandfather was taken to a safe house in Bloemfontein. The car that took him? —Orange Free State, 1972 issue. I have a friend there. A former colonel with a conscience.”

Whether you are trying to identify a classic car at a show, verifying the originality of a restoration project, or simply feeling a wave of nostalgia for the days of yellow backgrounds and provincial codes, this guide explores the history and structure of South Africa’s vintage license plates.

Before 1994, South African number plates were designated by the four original provinces: , , Orange Free State , and