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North Macedonia license plate (NMK) in 2026 ✅



North Macedonian car license plates since 1992 use the standard European format in black characters on a white background. Since 2019, the code displayed on the blue stripe on the left side of North Macedonian license plates shows NMK. The configuration of current North Macedonian license plates consists of two letters identifying the region, four numbers and two letters in series.

Car license plate from North Macedonia


Image of the current flag of North Macedonia
The international code of North Macedonia is NMK.

Updated political map of North Macedonia

Capital city: Skopje
Language: Macedonian
International code: NMK
In North Macedonia they drive on the right
First plate was registered on: 1906.
There are 155 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: Europe


Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of North Macedonia.


North Macedonia car license plates


Current North Macedonia car license plates since 2012 are characterized by starting with a two-letter regional code. (former Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (1992)) Since 1992, North Macedonia car registration plates have used a series of two letters defining the geographical region they belong to (SK-Skopje, BT-Bitola, KU-Kumanovo, see all codes) followed by a red rectangle with Cyrillic inscriptions. Over the years, new codes have been introduced on North Macedonia license plates, except for the code TV - Titov Veles, which changed to VE in 1996. In February 2012, the blue band was introduced on the left side of North Macedonia registration plates with the MK code, and in 2019 it changed to NMK. Learn more about North Macedonia special license plates.


Current North Macedonia license plate with NMK code
▲ License plate of North Macedonia with the international code NMK

How current North Macedonia license plates work since 2012
How North Macedonia car license plates work since 2012

What do North Macedonia license plates look like exactly?


Current North Macedonia license plates use the European standard size with black characters on a white background and a regional code. North Macedonia vehicle registration plates have a size of 520 x 110 millimeters (mm), the European standard. On North Macedonia car plates, a box with yellow characters on a black background in Cyrillic characters is displayed. At the top of the rectangle, the first two letters identifying the region appear in Cyrillic, while at the bottom, the last two letters are shown. After this, four numbers are displayed, followed by two letters. On the left side of the registration plate, and in an effort to standardize the system with the rest of Europe, a blue band was adopted with the country code MK, or NMK since 2019 see news.


What was the border conflict between North Macedonia and Greece over license plates?


With the introduction of the blue band with the MK code on the left side in 2012, a conflict arose between Greece and present-day North Macedonia because the historical region of Macedonia lies within Greek borders. Greece therefore did not recognize the name Macedonia as an independent state and consequently did not recognize the MK code as a valid vehicle identifier.


Therefore, every time a vehicle with a Macedonia (North Macedonia) license plate (with the blue band) was about to cross the border into Greece, Greek border staff placed a sticker over the blue band and the regional code in black on white in both English and Greek stating in capital letters: "Recognized by Greece as FYROM" (English: Recognized by Greece as FYROM) (Greek: Αναγνωρίστηκε από την Ελλάδα ως ΠΓΔΜ). During the period before the official name change recognized by both Greeks and Macedonians, numerous thefts of Macedonian license plates and vandalized vehicles with the oval MK code were reported on the Greek side.


North Macedonia license plate with Greek sticker covering regional code
▲ License plate of North Macedonia with the international MK code covered by Greek authorities while driving in Greek territory.

Regional codes since 1999 on North Macedonia license plates


On North Macedonia car license plates, the first two letters identify the region where the vehicle was registered. Below you can find the complete updated list of codes used on North Macedonia vehicle registration plates and the region they identify.


Letters on plate Province License plate image
BE Berovo
BT Bitola
North Macedonia current Bitola license plate
DB Debar
DE Delčevo
DH
ДX
Demir Hisar
Since 2019
DK Demir Kapija
GE Gevgelija
GV Gostivar
North Macedonia current Gostivar license plate
KA Kavadarci
KI Kičevo
North Macedonia current Kičevo license plate
KO Kočani
North Macedonia current Kočani license plate
KP Kriva Palanka
KR Kratovo
KS
ΚC
Kruševo
Since 2019
KU Kumanovo
MB Makedonski Brod
MK Makedonska Kamenica
NE Negotino
OH Ohrid
PE
ПE
Pehčevo
Since 2020
PP Prilep
PS Probištip
RA Radoviš
RE Resen
SK Skopje
North Macedonia current Skopje license plate
SN Sveti Nikole
SR Strumica
ŠT Štip
North Macedonia Štip license plate
SU Struga
TE Tetovo
VA Valandovo
VE Veles
North Macedonia Veles license plate
VI Vinica
VV Vevčani


Special license plates of North Macedonia


There are currently several types of special license plates in North Macedonia characterized by using different background or character colors. Below we explain each one in detail. If the last two letters are AA, it identifies a government vehicle. The president uses license plates close to the beginning of the series, for example 001AA or 0001AA.


All types of North Macedonia special license plates
▲Different types of license plates in North Macedonia

Current special North Macedonia license plate types
Special vehicle typeExample license plate and notes
Personalized Personalized North Macedonia license plate Sheriff
Temporary Temporary North Macedonia license plate with numbers on the right
Numbers on the right identify the registration year
Heavy vehicle North Macedonia red heavy truck license plate
Red characters
Tractors and work machinery North Macedonia yellow tractor and machinery license plate
Yellow characters
Agricultural vehicle North Macedonia green agricultural vehicle license plate
Green characters
Historic vehicle North Macedonia gray historic vehicle license plate
Gray characters
Numbers on the right identify the validity year
License plate ends with the letter H
Foreign resident North Macedonia foreign resident license plate with B9 letters
Ends with the letter A, B or C and the number 9. Example: SK0001B9
Police car license plate Rear license plate example
North Macedonia police license plate with blue letters
Front license plate example
The same front plate is always used
Police license plate with POLICE letters

North Macedonia diplomatic corps license plates


North Macedonia diplomatic car license plates are characterized by white characters on a black background. The first two or three numbers on North Macedonia diplomatic registration plates represent the country or organization (see codes below), followed by a letter that may vary depending on whether it belongs to the Diplomatic Corps CD, Consular Corps CC or Diplomatic Mission CMD, among others. On the left side, the letters NMK or previously MK are displayed. On the right side of North Macedonia diplomatic license plates, the year in which the plate is valid is shown.


North Macedonia diplomatic license plate with black background and CD letters
▲ License plate of North Macedonia diplomatic corps. 21 represents Spain

Old North Macedonia license plates


Below you can find the complete history of old North Macedonia license plates in detail.


Old North Macedonia license plates since 2012


Current North Macedonia license plates have been used without changes since February 2012. Since 2012, the current design has been used, with the particularity that in 2019, following the country's name change from Macedonia to North Macedonia, the international country identification code also changed from MK to NMK.


Old North Macedonia license plate with international MK code
▲ License plate of North Macedonia with international MK code

Old Macedonia license plates from 1993 to 2012


From 1993 to 2012, Macedonia license plates had a white design with black characters and two horizontal red lines. One stripe was displayed at the top and another at the bottom, with a size of 520x110 mm and a XX*000 AA configuration, where the first two letters were the regional identifier, followed by three numbers and two letters. If the last two letters were AA, they identified government vehicles. These license plates remained valid and re-registration was not necessary.


Old Macedonia license plate with red stripes example
▲ License plate of Macedonia from 1992 to 2012

Old Yugoslavia license plates until 1993


Until 1993, Macedonia had been part of Yugoslavia, using its regular license plate design but with codes reserved for the territory.


Yugoslavia license plate for the Macedonia region of Skopje
▲ License plate of Yugoslavia for Skopje, Macedonia


☛ Which code identifies cars from North Macedonia?

The code NMK identifies North Macedonia. The license plates of North Macedonia may be used with the international registration code NMK next to it on the back part of the car.

international oval code NMK from Macedonia del Norte

Example of a car with the international recognition code of North Macedonia


Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of North Macedonia which is NMK.

Red Porsche with the NMK code from North Macedonia


Questions and answers about car license plates in North Macedonia 🥇

Small falg of North Macedonia

Where is the code NMK in a license plate from?

The international code NMK identifies North Macedonia, in Europe.


Which country uses the code NMK on its license plate?

The country that uses the code NMK on its car license plate system is North Macedonia.. The letter or letters NMK always identify North Macedonia. The international code NMK must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inNorth MacedoniaSpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.


When did North Macedonia have its first ordinary car license plate?

The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in North Macedonia was in 1906.


Which side of the road do people drive on in North Macedonia?

In North Macedonia, you drive on the right side of the road.


On which continent is North Macedonia located?

North Macedonia is located in the continent . 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 North Macedonia called in other English-speaking couuntries?

In English, license plate of North Macedonia is commonly called a license plate of North Macedonia in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of North Macedonia. Another term, registration plate of North Macedonia, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of North Macedonia, with usage varying by country. Car plate of North Macedonia can be used in more technical situations.


Is it the same a license plate of North Macedonia and a registration plate of North Macedonia?

Yes, both license plate of North Macedonia and registration plate of North Macedonia can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of North Macedonia.


Cite this section about the license plates of North Macedonia


Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of North Macedonia. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 12/06/2026 from https://matriculasdelmundo.com/en/north-macedonia.html.



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Big map of North Macedonia

Map of the North Macedonia license plates


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Official Sources on License Plates of North Macedonia


All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about North Macedonia license plates.


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Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of North Macedonia.

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