Vehicle registration plates of Belize
 Regular legal standard number plate from Belize. | |
| Country |  Belize |
|---|---|
| Country code | BH[1] |
| Current series | |
| Size | 152 mm × 300 mm 6.0 in × 11.8 in |
| Colour (front) | Black on white |
| Colour (rear) | Black on white |
Belize requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.[2] Current plates are North American standard 6 in × 12 in (152 mm × 300 mm).[3]
Originally, Belize was a crown colony of Great Britain named British Honduras when license plates were first issued. In 1964 British Honduras was granted self government, and then in 1973 the country was renamed Belize. The 1973 license plates were the first to have the name Belize on them. Full independence from Great Britain took plate on 21 September 1981.[4] The initials "C.A." on the plates stand for "Central America." As of 2024, Belize's road code remains BH, despite the country's independence from the United Kingdom.
Location codes
The following table shows the abbreviations used on license plates for each of the six administrative districts in Belize.
| District | Capital | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Belize | Belize City | BZ |
| Cayo | San Ignacio | CY |
| Corozal | Corozal Town | CZL |
| Orange Walk | Orange Walk Town | OW |
| Stann Creek | Dangriga | SC |
| Toledo | Punta Gorda | TOL |
There are also several cities that have their own codes. These are shown in the table below. Because they are known as the "Twin Towns", the codes for San Ignatio and Santa Elena both appear on the same license plate.
| District | City | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Belize | Belize City | BC |
| Belize | San Pedro | SP |
| Cayo | Belmopan | BMP |
| Cayo | Benque Viejo | BVO |
| Cayo | San Ignacio | SI |
| Cayo | Santa Elena | SE |
| Corozal | Corozal | CZL |
| Stann Creek | Dangriga | DGA |
| Toledo | Punta Gorda | PG |
Passenger plates
| Image | Issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1973-1981 | Black serial number on a white background | A-1234 | ||
|
1981- | Black serial number on a white background | A-1234 | ||
|
2000s | Black serial number on a white background | A-12345 | ||
|
Black serial number on a white background | A-12345 | |||
|
|
2009 | Black serial number on a white background; "Belize C.A." at top; seal and district names on some plates at various locations | C-1234 C-12345 |
Special plates
| Image | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Black serial number on an orange background | 12345 | Automobile dealers | ||
|
White serial number on a black background | A-12345 | Agricultural and commercial trucks | ||
|
White serial number on a brown background | ABC-123 | Defense Ministry | ||
|
Black serial number on a white background | M-1234 | Motorcycles | ||
|
|
2010s | Black serial number on a white background; same format at top and bottom as passenger car plates | M-12345 | ||
|
White serial number on a dark green background | A-12345 | Taxis and public service vehicles |
References
- ^ "Distinguishing Sign of Vehicles in International Traffic (Distinctive letters notified to the Secretary-General)". United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "License Plates of Belize". worldlicenseplates.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "Belize Y2K". plateshack.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "Belize". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 7 July 2020.