Saba license plate (NL) in 2026 ✅
Current Isle of Saba license plates use the standard North American size with black characters on a background featuring an image of the island of Saba. The first letter identifies the type of vehicle. In Saba, as in other American territories, it is necessary to change the design every certain period of time. You can check all the information below.
Language: Dutch and English
International code: NL
In Saba they drive on the right
First plate was registered on: 1962.
There are 370 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: Central America
Table of contents of Saba license plates
Current license plates of the Island of Saba
The Island of Saba is a geographic entity with the status of a special municipality of the Netherlands, enjoying a certain degree of autonomy. As with every Dutch overseas territory, Saba has its own vehicle registration and license plate system. As is common across the Caribbean and North America, car license plates are renewed every few years, approximately every 4 to 6 years depending on the period. The current license plate system was adopted in January 2026, keeping exactly the same configuration as the previous design introduced in 2018, with a few specific changes.
Description of the current Saba license plates since 2026
The current Saba vehicle registration plates introduced in 2026 feature a background image of the island, showing the capital, "The Bottom", in the foreground, located in the southern part of the territory. At the bottom of the car registration plate, the Saba motto "The Unspoiled Queen" is displayed. The configuration of the current Island of Saba license plates consists of one letter identifying the type of vehicle followed by up to four numbers. The first letter is S when identifying a private passenger car.
| Letter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| D | Government vehicle (official) |
| M | Motorcycle |
| R | Rental vehicle |
| S | Private passenger vehicle |
| V | Truck |
New features of the 2026 Saba license plates: official design and plate changes
The Island of Saba, located in the Caribbean, introduced at the beginning of January 2026 the new official design for the territory’s vehicle license plates. This announcement represents an important update in vehicle registration in Saba, both visually and administratively, maintaining the existing numbering system while modernizing the appearance and usage criteria of its car plates.
The change to the new license plate design has a cost of 20 $ for vehicle owners. Drivers who wish to adapt their cars to the new official format must pay this fee. Despite the design update, vehicle owners retain the same registration number as on their previous plate, ensuring continuity in the vehicle registration system and avoiding duplication of numbers between different cars.
On the Island of Saba, license plates must be renewed by the government every five years. This periodic renewal requirement ensures that the vehicle fleet remains properly registered and that registration plates comply with current regulations. The introduction of the new 2026 design is integrated into this renewal cycle, meaning drivers will gradually adopt the updated format as their plates come up for renewal.
Mandatory license plate renewal in Saba every five years
The system of renewing car license plates every five years in Saba is a key element of vehicle administration in the territory. By requiring periodic updates of registration plates, the government can maintain more accurate control over vehicles in circulation, ensure that registration data remains up to date, and effectively implement regulatory changes such as the official 2026 plate design.
For drivers, this process means that every few years they must renew their physical registration plate in accordance with the instructions issued by the Saba government. Within the context of the new design, renewal also helps unify the visual identity of car license plates across the island, strengthening the recognition of vehicles registered in Saba. As a result, older license plate designs can no longer be seen on the island’s roads.
Change in Saba license plates: meaning of the letter D since 2026
Furthermore, since 1 January 2026, Saba has introduced an important modification to its vehicle registration system. The letter D on car license plates now has a more specific and restricted use than it did before 2026. This letter comes from the Dutch word “dienst”, meaning “service” or “official”, and is used to identify certain vehicles linked to administrative service functions.
Until 2026, license plates bearing the letter D were used by various organizations present on the island, such as RCN, KPCN, and BKCN. These entities applied the letter D to designate official or service vehicles within their respective structures. However, under the new regulation, the use of this letter has been redefined and limited to a more specific scope.
Since January 2026, the letter D is valid exclusively for the Public Entity of Saba (PES). This means that D plates are now reserved for vehicles belonging directly to this public authority, reinforcing the identification of official government vehicles in Saba. Vehicles of other organizations that previously used the letter D on their registration plates must now adopt the standard systems beginning with S for private or commercial vehicles, and the letter V for vans and trucks.
This change helps clarify the meaning of each letter on Saba license plates and simplifies the identification of vehicles according to their use. The letter D is now exclusively associated with the Public Entity of Saba (PES), while S and V continue to represent private, commercial, and cargo vehicle categories within the Island of Saba vehicle registration system.
Summary of changes to Saba license plates in 2026
In summary, the year 2026 marks a significant update for the license plates of the Island of Saba:
• New official license plate design: introduced at the beginning of January 2026 for the entire territory of Saba.
• Cost of the change: the transition to the new design costs 20 $ per license plate.
• Same registration number retained: drivers keep the same plate number as on the previous registration plate.
• Five-year renewal requirement: license plates must be renewed by the Saba government every five years.
• Letter D (dienst): means “service” or “official” and, since 2026, is reserved exclusively for the Public Entity of Saba (PES).
• Change for other organizations: vehicles of RCN, KPCN, BKCN, and other entities that previously used the letter D must now use S for private or commercial vehicles and V for vans or trucks.
With these adjustments, Saba strengthens its vehicle registration and license plate system, updates the design of its car plates, and more clearly defines the use of identifying letters, while maintaining continuity in registration numbers and the established five-year renewal cycle.
Old Saba license plates until 2026
The former Saba car license plates used until 2026 followed a configuration of one letter followed by up to four numbers. The background featured a design inspired by a photograph of the Island of Saba. At the bottom, the motto "Saba - Dutch Caribbean" was displayed. In addition, stickers were placed on the lower left corner to indicate that the vehicle had successfully passed the mandatory technical inspection.
Saba license plates between 2018 and 2021
The Saba license plates issued between 2018 and 2021 featured black characters on a blue background with an illustration of the Island of Saba seen from a distance. The configuration consisted of the letter S followed by up to four numbers (See codes). At the bottom of the car registration plate, the motto "The Unspoiled Queen" was displayed, reinforcing the visual identity of Saba vehicle license plates within the Dutch Caribbean.
☛ Which code identifies cars from Saba?
The code NL identifies Saba. The license plates of Saba may be used with the international registration code NL next to it on the back part of the car.
Example of a car with the international recognition code of Saba
Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of Saba which is NL.
Questions and answers about car license plates in Saba 🥇
Where is the code NL in a license plate from?
The international code NL identifies Saba, in Central America.
Which country uses the code NL on its license plate?
The country that uses the code NL on its car license plate system is Saba.. The letter or letters NL always identify Saba. The international code NL must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inSabaSpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.
When did Saba have its first ordinary car license plate?
The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in Saba was in 1962.
Which side of the road do people drive on in Saba?
In Saba, you drive on the right side of the road.
On which continent is Saba located?
Saba is located in the continent . You can check how are the license plates of Central America following the link to the general section within matriculasdelmundo. Car license plates in Central America
What are license plates from Saba called in other English-speaking couuntries?
In English, license plate of Saba is commonly called a license plate of Saba in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of Saba. Another term, registration plate of Saba, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of Saba, with usage varying by country. Car plate of Saba can be used in more technical situations.
Is it the same a license plate of Saba and a registration plate of Saba?
Yes, both license plate of Saba and registration plate of Saba can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of Saba.
Cite this section about the license plates of Saba
Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of Saba. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 22/02/2026 from https://
License plates from other states and territories that you may be interested in:
Map of the Saba license plates
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Official Sources on License Plates of Saba
All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in Saba 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 Saba has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about Saba license plates.
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