Vehicle registration plates of Kosovo

Vehicle registration plates of Kosovo are issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. As of June 1, 2012, all residents of Kosovo are obliged to fit their cars with KS or RKS plates. Non-compliance results in confiscation of the non-Kosovar plates (including Serbian plates with district codes for claimed Kosovar districts) and legal charges.^[1]^[2]

An illustration of a Republic of Kosovo (RKS) plate released since 2010

Numbering and lettering

On 6 December 2010, a new design was introduced^[3] containing the letters RKS (Republic of Kosovo) on a blue field, a two digit number corresponding to the districts of Kosovo, the coat of arms of Kosovo, a three-digit number and finally two serial letters.^[4] The three-digit number starts at 101 and the serial letters start at AA. The remaining plates bearing the old design issued under UNMIK will be replaced with the new once their registration is pending renewal.

Code	Districts
01	Pristina
02	Mitrovica
03	Peja
04	Prizren
05	Ferizaj
06	Gjilan
07	Gjakova

Plates of vehicles, trailers and motorcycles

Horizontal plates of vehicles should be white retro – reflecting coloured, numbers and letters black coloured, while the frame should be black coloured with 4 mm width. In all horizontal plates, in the first horizontal part of the plate that is blue coloured, is placed the code of the Republic of Kosovo, RKS, with gold colour. In the second part of the plate are marked figures of the respective region.

Diagram of Kosovo number plate, descriptions below

Further, there should be the state emblem, three digit numbers, and then the horizontal line. In the end of the plate are marked two letters of the standard Latin alphabet from A to the letter Q. Three digit numbers for ordinary, horizontal and quadrate plates of registration of the vehicles will be initiated from number 101.^[5]

Special plates

Export vehicle plates have blue background and white font.
Police vehicles have red font.
Kosovo Security Force has dark green background and yellow font, letters "FSK", a three-digit number and then a two-digit number.
EULEX diplomatic plates had black and white background. Black plates had the prefix "EU" and suffix "PV", while the white plates had the prefix "EU" and suffix "LEX".
OSCE plates are black and white, with the prefix "OSCE".
NATO Force plates have blue background, white font and prefix "KFOR".
UNMIK plates have "UNMIK" in top on the plate, followed by numbers.

UNMIK-era KS plates

These plates were issued under the administration of UNMIK from 1999 to 2010. Effective 1 November 2011, they will resume to be issued for citizens needing to cross into Serbia, as the latter only accepts these plates and not the new RKS plates. They consist of a three-digit number and a two-letter abbreviation KS, which stands for 'Kosovo', and ended in another three-digit number. These plates were no longer issued officially in 2020.^[6]

Gallery

Example of format issued from 1998 to 09/30/1999
Front plate of a car from a central government authority
Format for mopeds and scooters ≤ 125 cm³
Car Plates
Customs Plates
Kosovo Security Force Plates
Kosovo Protection Corps Plates in 2000.
Emergency Service Plates
Format for trailers
License plate of a police vehicle
License plate of a Kosovo Security Force vehicle of the style used until 2013 (national emblem on the left)
Vehicle license plate of the Irish KFOR contingent
Format (the type with a white background) for EULEX vehicles
Agriculture Plates
CD plate
UNMIK license plate of a Customs Guard motor vehicle
A plate issued in 2001 by UNMIK
A plate issued in 2017 resembling those issued by UNMIK in 2001. Even though new plates have been introduced, this plate was preferred to be used when crossing to Serbia. Bearers of RKS plates were issued with temporary Serbian plates instead.