What do Norwegian licence plates mean, and why are some plates green?
Letter series, codes for electric cars and plate colours.
Short answer
The letters on a Norwegian number plate are often based on the traffic station that issued it, and green plates mark class 2 vans with lower taxes. Electric cars have their own nationwide series, such as EL, EK and EV. The plates stay with the car when it is sold, also to someone in another district.
Why
- Statens vegvesen says the letter combination is often based on the traffic station that issued the registration number.
- Electric vehicles share nationwide letter combinations, among them EL, EK, EV, EB, EN and EP.
- Store norske leksikon says class 2 vans have green plates and are taxed more favourably than class 1 vans and passenger cars.
Details
Ordinary plates have black letters and numbers on a white background. Diplomatic plates are blue with the letters CD, and military plates are yellow with black numbers. Plates follow the car when it is sold or moved to another district, so a Bergen code such as SN or SP can turn up anywhere in Norway.
Tip
An unusual combination may be a personal plate: if you are over 18 and own the vehicle, you can apply to Statens vegvesen for letters and numbers you choose yourself.
Common misconception
The letters on a plate show where the owner of the car lives.
What actually happens
The letters are linked to where the number was issued, and the plates follow the car when it is sold, so the owner can live anywhere in Norway.
People also ask
- What do the letters on Norwegian number plates mean?
- Why do some Norwegian cars have green number plates?
Sources
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: plate seriesChecked at:
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: number platesChecked at:
- Store norske leksikon: number platesChecked at:
- Store norske leksikon: vansChecked at:
- Store norske leksikon: Norwegian plate codesChecked at:
Information checked on 15 October 2026.
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