What do the letters on Hong Kong license plates represent?
2 Answers
Hong Kong license plate letters do not carry any special meaning. License plates in Hong Kong, China, are not region-specific. The functions of license plate numbers are: 1. To number and register information for vehicles; 2. To identify the region to which the vehicle belongs; 3. To trace the vehicle owner and registration details based on the license plate. Types of license plates: 1. White plates represent military or police vehicles; 2. Blue plates represent ordinary small vehicles with fewer than 7 seats; 3. Yellow plates represent ordinary large vehicles; 4. Black plates represent foreign investors in China. License plates are hard number plates issued by vehicle management authorities after reviewing, inspecting, and registering vehicles that have applied for them. They bear a unique registration code, serving as the legal permit for vehicles to operate on public roads.
After driving in Hong Kong for so many years, I've noticed that the letters on license plates typically represent the vehicle's registration sequence year, which is a feature of Hong Kong's vehicle registration system. For example, plates starting with AA are the oldest vehicles, dating back several decades, while newer plates like EZ or FA indicate recently registered cars. When parked by the roadside, the letters can quickly give you an idea of the vehicle's age, which is quite useful when buying a used car—older plates might indicate more worn-out components. Additionally, this system started using the AA sequence around 1973 and has progressively moved forward to the current letter position, making it simple and convenient for vehicle tracking and management. Interestingly, some personalized license plates allow custom letters, which require government auction bidding and can be quite expensive, but regular plates still follow the sequential rules. Checking the license plate letters also helps assess a vehicle's condition—newer letters suggest a shorter lifespan and potentially lower maintenance costs. In short, understanding this system provides practical benefits for daily driving and vehicle maintenance, enhancing road safety knowledge.
