Vehicle Registration Plates of Australia - Northern Territory

Northern Territory

* General Series: Ca·nn·aa

* Motorcycle: A·nnnn

* Trailer: Ta·nnnn

The Northern Territory has never fully adopted the 1950s three letter, three number Federal scheme. From the 1950s number plates in the NT were simply five numbers these being white on a black background., by the 1970s it reached 100-000 so a 6 digit version was added and ran until 1979 when it changed to ochre on white plates. All black and white plates were recalled and replaced on expiry of registration, retention fees applied if the motorist wished to keep the original number.

Since 1979 NT plates have six numbers in ochre on a white background, with the slogan "Northern Territory: Outback Australia". Motorcycle plates have five numbers. There doesn't seem to be a noticeable system to plate series, as numbers of all types appear on both halves of the plate.

By August 2008 it was reported both motorcycles and general series have reached the 9's and a new system is being looked into to replace the current system. It was reported that the MVR in the NT is looking at n-a-nnnn or aa-nnnn or the NSW aa-nn-aa format to replace it. It is expected to occur near the end of 2010.

As of 23 October 2009, the NT Government has announced the chosen new plate format Ca-nn-aa. It will also replace the all numeric motorcycle series with alpha numeric series. The new series was unveiled in January 2011. It become available for issue in June 2011.

Motorcycles now have the new format recently put into use A-1234 replacing the numerics issued since it began.

Trailer plates used the Tnn-nnn format up it was exhausted in 1998 after which Ta-nnnn was implemented. This was a black on yellow base until 1979 when the current ochre on white slogan plates were introduced.

Special purpose plates offered are MO (Buses), MB (Mini Buses), Private Hire PH, Taxi, SUB taxi series, TV (Tourist Vehicle), SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), LV (Limousine Vehicle), CV (Courtesy Vehicle) and SFV (Special Function Vehicle)

Earlier this year, a new Club plate scheme has replaced the VCC (Vintage Car Club) scheme, with embossed legend CLUB down left vertical and bottom legend "NT-MOTOR ENTHUSIAST" and is white on reflective red.