Kosovo license plate (RKS) in 2026 ✅
Since 2010, Kosovo license plates use the standard European size with black characters on a white background and the letters RKS on a blue strip. The current configuration of Kosovo license plates consists of two numbers identifying the region, followed by the Kosovo coat of arms, three numbers, a hyphen, and two letters. There are other types of special plates in Kosovo that vary depending on the type of vehicle and its official status.
Language: Albanian and Serbian
International code: RKS
In Kosovo they drive on the right
First plate was registered on: 1999*.
There are cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: Europe
Table of contents of Kosovo license plates
Current Kosovo License Plates and Their History
The car license plates of Kosovo have used the standard European format of 520 x 110 mm since December 2010, with black characters on a white background. On the left side of the Kosovo license plate, there is a blue strip displaying the identification code RKS at the bottom in yellow. The current Kosovo license plate is divided into two numbers identifying the region, followed by the country's coat of arms and three consecutive numbers starting from 101, a hyphen, and two serial letters beginning with AA. In addition, the Kosovo license plate system used until 2010 remains in use for vehicles travelling to Serbia or crossing Serbia. The dimensions of Kosovo license plates are 520x110 mm for standard long plates. "Square" two-line license plates measure 340x200 mm. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. Previously, Kosovo was part of Serbia and Montenegro and Yugoslavia.
Can a car with a Kosovo license plate travel abroad?
A vehicle with a Kosovo license plate can travel abroad without restrictions provided that the destination country recognizes it. If the country does not recognize Kosovo, such as Serbia or Spain, for example, the situation is somewhat more complicated than usual. During the early 2020s, there were tensions between Serbia and Kosovo over license plates. In 2023, an agreement was reached allowing vehicles from Serbia to travel through Kosovo and vehicles from Kosovo to travel through Serbia. In 2023, the neutral Kosovo license plates, which had been used only between 2014 and 2023, were discontinued. In principle, Serbia continues to register license plates in the territories that make up Kosovo because it does not recognize them as a sovereign state. Code table. Vehicles with Kosovo license plates must display the oval code with the letters RKS when travelling abroad. Kosovo vehicles travelling abroad have no restrictions except when travelling to states that do not recognize Kosovo. In such cases, the vehicle cannot travel with that license plate except under specific circumstances.
Regional codes on current Kosovo license plates since 2010
| Code | Region | In Serbia it uses the code: |
Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Prishtinë (Pristina) |
PR |  |
| 02 | Mitrovicë | KM | 
|
| 03 | Pejë | PE |  |
| 04 | Prizren | PZ | 
|
| 05 | Ferizaj | UR | 
|
| 06 | Gjilan | GL | |
| 07 | Gjakova | ĐA (until 2010) DJ (since 2010) |
|
What do Kosovo motorcycle and moped license plates look like?
Current Kosovo motorcycle and moped license plates use the same colors as those used in the system they represent. In other words, a standard motorcycle license plate uses black characters on a white background and the configuration 00*111-RA. The first block of numbers before the coat of arms identifies the regional code. The final two letters begin with RA. A Kosovo motorcycle license plate measures 240x130 mm.
What happened in the Kosovo–Serbia license plate conflict from 2021 onwards?
The situation between Kosovo and Serbia, and vice versa, had already been highly tense since before 1990. Numerous conflicts have occurred over the past decades. However, the issue that interests us most at matriculasdelmundo.com is obviously the one involving car license plates from both Kosovo and Serbia. Below, we briefly explain the situation involving Kosovo license plates, Serbian license plates, and the current license plate dispute. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state and therefore continues to issue its own license plates with the regional codes shown in the table, particularly KM for Kosovska Mitrovica. On 30 November 1999, the United Nations began issuing an exclusive license plate system for Kosovo. By mutual agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, this system was valid for travel in Serbia. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and, two years later, in 2010, began issuing its own license plate system. Serbia did not recognize this system, and it was not until 2014, with some exceptions at border crossings, that an agreement was reached to continue issuing the United Nations license plate system with "neutral license plate" status. This special status lasted until the end of 2022 and meant that a vehicle with an ordinary Kosovo license plate had to use one of these plates to cross the border into Serbia.
On 20 September 2021, the conflict intensified because Kosovo began prohibiting the use of Serbian license plates in Kosovo, based on the expiry of the agreement that had been in place since 2016. Initially, Serbian vehicles covered their Serbian symbols in order to enter Kosovo. However, it was soon established that Kosovo temporary license plates (type 3) had to be used to allow them to travel through Kosovo. In 2022, Serbian stickers bearing Serbian codes, such as KM, began to be issued at some border crossings to cover the RKS letters and the Kosovo code, similarly to what occurred between North Macedonia and Greece before the name change to North Macedonia. Since 2021, there have been tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, and vice versa, over car license plates. At that time, with a deadline at the end of 2022, it was established that vehicles with license plates from Serbian territories in Kosovo (KM, PR, PE...) had to be definitively re-registered with Kosovo license plates. Cars that were not re-registered were considered "unregistered" by the Kosovo administration. Since January 2024, tensions have eased and Serbian license plates have been permitted in Kosovo and vice versa, although this still required confirmation as of 2024. Neutral Kosovo license plates have not been in use since 2022.
Special license plates currently in use in Kosovo
Since 2010, Kosovo has had a wide variety of special license plates. These plates vary the color of the characters and background to identify the type of vehicle. In general, a two-digit code on the license plate identifies the region. The table below contains the complete list of Kosovo special license plates.
| Special vehicle type | Example license plate and notes |
|---|---|
| National official vehicle license plate |  Kosovo license plate beginning with a number followed by the letter Z, identifying the office. The combination of the first number and the final two numbers identifies the office or department More detailed information - Example: 2Z·001-01 |
| Local official vehicle license plate |  Kosovo license plate beginning with the regional code followed by the letter Z. The final two numbers identify the municipality. |
| Diplomatic Corps license plate |  Letters CD. The first group of numbers identifies the country or organization More detailed information |
| Police car license plate |  The final two numbers identify the unit |
| Customs guard license plate |  The license plate begins with CUSTOMS, the English word for customs. It ends with the letters DG, identifying Doganë, the Albanian word for customs |
| Dealer test license plate |  The word PROBATION appears on the left side of the license plate. The final two numbers identify the region More information about Kosovo temporary license plates |
| Trailer license plate |  The license plate has blue characters. It ends with the letters TA or formerly XA. |
| Temporary license plate |  It begins with the letters RP (Regjistrimi i Përkohshëm). Two letters beginning with AA are displayed on the right side of the license plate instead of the regional code. More information about Kosovo temporary license plates |
| Agricultural vehicle license plate |  License plate with a green background ending in the letters VA, identifying Vehiculo Agrícola |
| Emergency vehicle license plate |  Begins with 112. Used on ambulances |
| Competition vehicle license plate (Rally license plate) |  RACING appears on the left. There is a blue strip on the right, and the plate begins with the letter R. These license plates are not used very frequently. |
| Historic vehicle license plate |  A depiction of the "Goddess on the Throne" (Hyjnesha në fron) appears on the right side of the license plate. HISTORIK appears on the left More information about Kosovo historic vehicle license plates |
| Kosovo Security Force license plate |  Begins with the letters KSF (Kosovo Security Force). The final two numbers identify the unit. Probably in use since 2009 More information about KSF license plates |
Kosovo temporary license plates
There are several types of temporary license plates in the current Kosovo license plate system. The easiest to explain (type 1) is used by dealers. Dealer license plates simply begin with the word PROBATION in English on the left side of the plate. The next type (type 2) consists of temporary license plates valid throughout the entire territory, beginning with the letters RP instead of the regional code. The third type of Kosovo temporary license plate (type 3) was introduced as a result of the license plate conflict between Serbia and Kosovo in 2021. The type of license plate introduced following the "2021 license plate conflict" was a two-line Kosovo license plate system displaying the letters RKS at the top. This was because Kosovo did not allow vehicles with Serbian license plates to travel on its roads for several months from 20 September 2021. The vehicles concerned had to replace their license plates, at least temporarily, for an approximate cost of 5 euros.
Special national official vehicle license plate - 1Z
Special Kosovo license plates for national official vehicles are characterized by the letter Z on the left side of the plate, preceded by a single number. They differ from local official license plates because they display only one number without a leading zero. The configuration of Kosovo national official vehicle license plates consists of a letter identifying the state function, whether executive, legislative, or judicial. The final two numbers on the special Kosovo license plate identify the office. For 4Z and 5Z license plates, the number 001 in the central block identifies the most important person within the office represented.
| Codes on current Kosovo official vehicle license plates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Z- License plate for members of the Presidency of Kosovo | |||
| 2Z- License plate for members of the Assembly of Kosovo | |||
| 3Z ending in 01 = Office of the Prime Minister (Central Government) | 3Z ending in 02 = Internal Affairs | 3Z ending in any other number = Ministers of Kosovo government departments | |
| On license plates beginning with 3Z, the centrally positioned number block runs from 001 to 100 for political authorities and from 101 onwards for administrative staff | |||
| 4Z- License plate for members of the Judiciary | |||
| 5Z- License plate for independent agencies of the Assembly of Kosovo | |||
Kosovo historic vehicle license plate - HISTORIK
Kosovo historic vehicle license plates, for both cars and motorcycles, use the standard design for ordinary vehicles but begin with the word HISTORIK (Historic). The Kosovo coat of arms follows, along with three serial numbers and a depiction of the "Goddess on the Throne" (Hyjnesha në fron) on the right side of the license plate. For a vehicle to qualify for historic vehicle license plates, it must be more than 35 years old and registered with a Kosovo historic vehicle club. It must also retain its original vehicle structure without major modifications.
Current Kosovo Diplomatic Corps license plates
Current Kosovo Diplomatic Corps license plates, in use since 2008, have white or greyish characters on a black background. These license plates are very similar to those used in North Macedonia. The first three numbers on the license plate identify the country or organization. They are followed by the letters CD, standing for Diplomatic Corps, and a group of three serial numbers. On the left side of the Kosovo diplomatic license plate, the letters RKS appear vertically, while the vehicle registration date is shown on the right.
Kosovo Special Forces license plates since 2009 - KSF
Special license plates for the Kosovo Special Forces have been used since 2009, featuring a characteristic yellow/gold color on a military green background and the standard European format of 520x110 mm. They begin with the letters KSF, identifying Kosovo Special Force. They are followed by three serial numbers, a hyphen, and two numbers identifying the unit, as shown in the table below. During the early years, the Kosovo coat of arms was displayed on the left side, and later it was moved to a position after the KSF letters. These license plates were previously the TMK plates.
| Brigade identified by the final two numbers on KSF special license plates | ||
|---|---|---|
| 01-Special Forces Command | 02-Land Forces Command | 03-Rapid Reaction Brigade |
| 04-Operations Support Brigade | 05-Doctrine and Training Brigade | |
Special license plates for foreign military forces in Kosovo
Several international organizations and international forces are currently present in Kosovo, as in other Balkan countries. Sometimes, especially when they are European Union missions, they have their own registration systems.
What do Kosovo's black license plates with the letters EUPV mean?
If you have seen a black license plate with the letters EUPV, here is exactly what they mean. Since 2006, private vehicles belonging to UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) have used plates with grey characters on a black background, displaying the stars of the European Union flag on the left side of the plate, also against a black background.
The current configuration of Kosovo EUPV license plates consists of the letters EU, followed by three or four numbers and the letters PV, meaning Private Vehicle. When the plate ends only with the letter P, it identifies official personnel. Other official European Union and United Nations license plates can also be seen in Kosovo.
OSCE license plates in service in Kosovo
One of the types of special license plates currently in use in Kosovo is that used by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), abbreviated as OSCE. OSCE car license plates in Kosovo and in countries around the world use license plates with black characters on a white background. The configuration of OSCE car license plates begins with the letters OSCE, followed by three numbers and finally one or two letters identifying the type of mission to which the vehicle belongs. If the penultimate letter of the OSCE license plate is M, it identifies a mission, followed by a letter identifying the country. The final letters MK on an OSCE license plate identify the Mission in Kosovo. If the final letter is only P, it identifies a vehicle for Kosovo personnel.
Kosovo's previous license plate system until 2010 and neutral license plates - UNMIK
Kosovo car and motorcycle license plates from November 1999 to December 2010 used black characters on a white background and the standard European size. The former Kosovo license plate system was introduced in December 1999 and initially issued by the United Nations through UNMIK, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Kosovo license plates from this system have black characters on a white background and two light-blue strips, reflecting the color of the United Nations flag, one at the top and one at the bottom. On the left, the year of issue is displayed vertically. This is followed by two sets of three numbers separated by -KS-. The letters KS identify Kosovo. This Kosovo license plate system is currently used for vehicles travelling to Serbia or abroad through Serbia. They are known as "neutral license plates" and have been used for this purpose since 2014. In addition, at the end of 2011, these plates also remained in use for cross-border workers travelling to Serbia.
Special license plate systems under the former Kosovo license plate system
The previous Kosovo license plate system from 1999 to 2010 used a series of special license plates. There was not much variety among Kosovo special license plates before 2010. For example, Kosovo police vehicles used license plates with red characters on a white background.
Kosovo Protection Corps license plates
From some point in the early 2000s, the Kosovo Protection Corps (Trupat Mbrojtëse të Kosovës - TMK) used its own special license plates in Kosovo. This defense corps was active in Kosovo from 1999 to 2009. Following its dissolution, it became the Kosovo Security Force (Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës - FSK), with a corresponding change to the special license plate system that remains in use today. Throughout their entire period of activity, Kosovo Protection Corps license plates used black characters on a yellow background. The corps emblem and a vertical line were displayed on the left side. The configuration was TMK-000-KS, beginning with the corps abbreviation and ending with the letters KS, identifying Kosovo. These license plates were replaced by the KSF plates in 2009.
Kosovo license plates during the Yugoslav and Serbia and Montenegro periods
Kosovo was part of Serbia and Montenegro until its dissolution in 2006. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and before that it was also part of Serbia. Previously, it had been part of Yugoslavia, using the standard Yugoslav license plate system. Some regions of Kosovo changed their names during the 1990s. For example, Titova Mitrovica, with code TM, changed its name to Kosovska Mitrovica, with code KM. From 1999 to December 2010, vehicles with Kosovo license plates entering Serbia had to replace their plates with Serbian license plates bearing official Serbian regional codes, such as KM and DJ. In general, the Serbian flag was erased or crossed out in some way.
☛ Which code identifies cars from Kosovo?
The code RKS identifies Kosovo. The license plates of Kosovo may be used with the international registration code RKS next to it on the back part of the car.
Example of a car with the international recognition code of Kosovo
Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of Kosovo which is RKS.
Questions and answers about car license plates in Kosovo 🥇
Where is the code RKS in a license plate from?
The international code RKS identifies Kosovo, in Europe.
Which country uses the code RKS on its license plate?
The country that uses the code RKS on its car license plate system is Kosovo.. The letter or letters RKS always identify Kosovo. The international code RKS must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inKosovoSpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.
When did Kosovo have its first ordinary car license plate?
The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in Kosovo was in 1999*.
Which side of the road do people drive on in Kosovo?
In Kosovo, you drive on the right side of the road.
On which continent is Kosovo located?
Kosovo is located in the continent Europe. You can check how are the license plates of Europe following the link to the general section within matriculasdelmundo. Car license plates in Europe
What are license plates from Kosovo called in other English-speaking couuntries?
In English, license plate of Kosovo is commonly called a license plate of Kosovo in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of Kosovo. Another term, registration plate of Kosovo, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of Kosovo, with usage varying by country. Car plate of Kosovo can be used in more technical situations.
Is it the same a license plate of Kosovo and a registration plate of Kosovo?
Yes, both license plate of Kosovo and registration plate of Kosovo can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of Kosovo.
Cite this section about the license plates of Kosovo
Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of Kosovo. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 05/10/2026 from https://
License plates from other states and territories that you may be interested in:
Map of the Kosovo license plates
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Official Sources on License Plates of Kosovo
All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in Kosovo and vehicle plates shown here has been extracted from official state archives (such as the BOE and the DGT in Spain), from personal sightings, by contacting automobile clubs from other countries, or through media or files referenced in the text. This information on car and motorcycle plates in Kosovo has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about Kosovo license plates.
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