Uruguay license plate (ROU) in 2026 ✅
Uruguayan car license plates (patentes de auto) since 2015, use the standard Mercosur size and format. The configuration of Uruguayan car license plates is three letters and four numbers. The first letter of the license plate identifies the region. The name of Uruguay is displayed at the top and the national flag at the top right.
Language: Spanish
International code: ROU
In Uruguay they drive on the right
First plate was registered on: 1905.
There are 2 0 0 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: South America
Table of contents of Uruguay license plates
Current Uruguay License Plates Since 2015
The current Uruguay license plates (or registration plates) in use since 2015 follow the standard Mercosur license plate format. The configuration consists of three letters and four numbers, with the first letter identifying the region of origin. The second and third letters are issued sequentially from AA or identify certain services or organizations. Letter colors vary depending on the type of vehicle, as shown below. The plate size is 400x130 mm and uses German-style characters. The national name is displayed at the top, with the flag on the right. In 2012, the international code changed from ROU to UY.
Departmental Codes on Uruguay License Plates
The first letter of a Uruguayan license plate identifies the department where the vehicle comes from. Exceptionally, Maldonado and Rocha display a strip beneath the plate showing the name of the municipality. Below you can find the complete list of codes and a map to help with identification. The department of Maldonado changed to the Mercosur system on January 4, 2019. The department of Salto adopted the Mercosur system in 2015, starting with the letter H after reaching the HBI series of the previous system.
The Curious Case of Maldonado License Plates
In northwestern Uruguay lies the department of Maldonado, which has some interesting peculiarities regarding its vehicle registration plates. First, as already mentioned, the department of Maldonado did not adopt the new Mercosur license plate design until January 4, 2019. The first letter of all license plates in Maldonado is always B, but the second letter varies according to the city. The list is shown below. Adding a unique touch to Maldonado, each city displays the city name in white text on a blue background beneath the plate.
• BA – Maldonado • BB – San Carlos • BC – Pan de Azúcar • BD – Aiguá • BE – Punta del Este • BF – Garzón • BG – Piriápolis • BH – Solís
Current Special and Colored Uruguay License Plates
Uruguay currently has a large number of special license plates. Many of them use black characters on a white background. Below we show some of the most characteristic types with examples. Special Uruguay license plates can use different colors under the Mercosur Single License Plate system, including black, green, red, yellow or blue characters.
| Letters | Letter color | Vehicle type | Example image |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | red | Rental vehicle |  |
| AM | green | Ambulance |  |
| AT | green | Temporary Admission |  |
| CC | Gold | Consular Corps |  |
| CD | Gold | Diplomatic Corps |  |
| DI | black | Person with reduced mobility (disabled) |  |
| ES | green | School Transport |  |
| EX | black | Exempt |  |
| ME | black | Doctor |  |
| MI | blue | Ministry of the Interior |  |
| OF | blue | Official |  |
| RE | red | Remise |  |
| RO | black | Motorhome |  |
| TC | green | Public Transport |  |
| TP | red | Professional Freight Transport |  |
| TR | black | Trailer |  |
| TU | green | Tourist Transport |  |
| TX | green | Taxi |  |
Current Uruguayan Diplomatic License Plate
Current Uruguay Diplomatic Corps license plates, introduced with the Mercosur Single License Plate system, use plates with yellow characters on a white background. In this case, the second and third letters are CD for Diplomatic Corps, CC for Consular Corps, or OI for International Organization. Individual codes are not used for each country, territory or organization. The first letter identifies the department, so it will usually be S, where the embassies are located.
Uruguay License Plate System Until 2015
The Uruguay license plates of the previous system began to be used in January 2000 in Montevideo. Other departments gradually adopted this modern Uruguay license plate system during the following months. The Uruguay car license plate configuration used was the same as the one adopted for Mercosur license plates from 2015, consisting of one letter identifying the department, two letters issued in series or identifying the type of vehicle or organization, the department coat of arms, and four sequential numbers. The national Uruguay license plate size, except in Maldonado, was slightly larger than the Mercosur plate, measuring 450×150 mm.
What Exceptions Existed on Old Uruguay License Plates?
Although they generally followed the rules described in the previous paragraph nationwide, the old Uruguay license plates had some exceptions. In the departments of Canelones (A), San José (M) and Durazno (Q), the coat of arms was displayed in the lower right corner. In Montevideo (S), the emblem "MONTEVIDEO, MI CASA" was displayed in the lower right corner. The department of Maldonado never adopted this Uruguay license plate system for ordinary vehicles, maintaining its use of the system that existed before 2000.
What Did the Last Two Letters on Uruguay License Plates Mean?
The last two letters of the old Uruguay license plates used between 2000 and 2015 were issued in series with a long list of exceptions. Below we show the main ones, in which the second and third letters identified the type of vehicle involved. The color of the letters and background varied for each type. In other cases, some combinations were used only in certain departments.
| Letters | Vehicle type | Example image |
|---|---|---|
| AL | Rental vehicle |  |
| AM | Ambulance license plate |  |
| AT | Temporary admission vehicle |  |
| SCD | Diplomatic Corps |  |
| CC | Consular Corps |  |
| DI | Vehicle for a person with a disability |  |
| DU | Used Vehicle Demonstration |  |
| ES | School Transport |  |
| HA | Rental vehicle |  |
| IM | Municipal Mayor |  |
| ME | Doctor's car |  |
| MV | Road machinery |  |
| NG | Non-Governmental Organization |  |
| OF | Official vehicle |  |
| OI | International Organization |  |
| PE | Executive Branch |  |
| SPE | Presidency |  |
| PL | Legislative Branch |  |
| PR | Test vehicle |  |
| RE | Remise |  |
| RO | Motorhome / Caravan |  |
| TC | Public Transport |  |
| TI | Intercity Transport |  |
| TP | Heavy Transport |  |
| TU | Tourism |  |
| TX | Taxi |  |
| ZZ | Vehicle with trailer |  |
What Were Uruguay's Military License Plates Like?
Military license plates in Uruguay under the old system from 2000 to 2015 used black characters on a white background. The first three letters provided further details. EN identifies the National Army. FA or FAU was used by the Uruguayan Air Force. ARN was used on Uruguayan National Navy license plates. The letters ANA were used for naval aviation. In addition, the emblem to the right of the letters varies and does not display departmental symbols.
Images of Uruguay License Plates by Region
S- Montevideo Region
Colonia Series
☛ Which code identifies cars from Uruguay?
The code ROU identifies Uruguay. The license plates of Uruguay may be used with the international registration code ROU next to it on the back part of the car.
Example of a car with the international recognition code of Uruguay
Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of Uruguay which is ROU.
Questions and answers about car license plates in Uruguay 🥇
Where is the code ROU in a license plate from?
The international code ROU identifies Uruguay, in South America.
Which country uses the code ROU on its license plate?
The country that uses the code ROU on its car license plate system is Uruguay.. The letter or letters ROU always identify Uruguay. The international code ROU must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inUruguaySpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.
When did Uruguay have its first ordinary car license plate?
The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in Uruguay was in 1905.
Which side of the road do people drive on in Uruguay?
In Uruguay, you drive on the right side of the road.
On which continent is Uruguay located?
Uruguay is located in the continent South America. You can check how are the license plates of South America following the link to the general section within matriculasdelmundo. Car license plates in South America
What are license plates from Uruguay called in other English-speaking couuntries?
In English, license plate of Uruguay is commonly called a license plate of Uruguay in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of Uruguay. Another term, registration plate of Uruguay, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of Uruguay, with usage varying by country. Car plate of Uruguay can be used in more technical situations.
Is it the same a license plate of Uruguay and a registration plate of Uruguay?
Yes, both license plate of Uruguay and registration plate of Uruguay can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of Uruguay.
Cite this section about the license plates of Uruguay
Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of Uruguay. 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 Uruguay license plates
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Official Sources on License Plates of Uruguay
All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in Uruguay 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 Uruguay has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about Uruguay license plates.
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