Vehicle Provincial Plate Codes: Plate Guide in Turkey

Turkey has a highly developed network in road transportation. Plate codes used in the identification of vehicles, which are an important part of this road network, are like the identity of each province. The plate system in Turkey starts with a special number for each province and this number is used to identify the province. Plates not only indicate the province where the vehicle owners live, but also the provincial traffic branch or office where the vehicle is registered. In this article, we will examine the vehicle plate code system in Turkey in detail.

How Do Plate Codes Work in Turkey?

Plate codes were determined by the regulation that came into force in Turkey in 1962. Each province is represented by a number according to its own order. The first plate code is 01 and belongs to Adana. This numbering does not continue in alphabetical order, because the order in 1962 was made according to the importance of the province at that time.

Plate codes are listed from 1 to 81 and each province in Turkey has a plate code. For example, plate code 34 belongs to Istanbul, plate code 06 belongs to Ankara, and plate code 35 belongs to Izmir. This system allows us to quickly understand which city the vehicles are registered in.

Provincial Plate Codes and Their Meanings

Provincial plate codes are not just a series of numbers; these codes symbolize different geographical regions and cities of Turkey. Here are the plate codes of some major cities and important regions:

01 – Adana: Adana, the fifth largest city in Turkey, stands out especially with its agriculture and industry. It is an important transportation and trade center of Turkey.

06 – Ankara: Ankara, the capital of Turkey, has plate code 06 and is known as the political center of the country.

34 – Istanbul: Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, has plate code 34. This metropolis, built on two continents, has hosted many civilizations throughout history.

35 – Izmir: Izmir, the pearl of the Aegean, has plate code 35. The city is famous for its historical and touristic charm.

List of All Plate Codes in Turkey

Below you can find a detailed list of plate codes of the provinces in Turkey:

01 – Adana
02 – Adıyaman
03 – Afyonkarahisar
04 – Ağrı
05 – Amasya
06 – Ankara
07 – Antalya
08 – Artvin
09 – Aydın
10 – Balıkesir
11 – Bilecik
12 – Bingöl
13 – Bitlis
14 – Bolu
15 – Burdur
16 – Bursa
17 – Çanakkale
18 – Çankırı
19 – Çorum
20 – Denizli
21 – Diyarbakır
22 – Edirne
23 – Elazığ
24 – Erzincan
25 – Erzurum
26 – Eskişehir
27 – Gaziantep
28 – Giresun
29 – Gümüşhane
30 – Hakkari
31 – Hatay
32 – Isparta
33 – Mersin (Icel)
34 – Istanbul
35 – Izmir
36 – Kars
37 – Kastamonu
38 – Kayseri
39 – Kirklareli
40 – Kirsehir
41 – Kocaeli
42 – Konya
43 – Kutahya
44 – Malatya
45 – Manisa
46 – Kahramanmaras
47 – Mardin
48 – Mugla
49 – Mus
50 – Nevsehir
51 – Nigde
52 – Ordu
53 – Rize
54 – Sakarya
55 – Samsun
56 – Siirt
57 – Sinop
58 – Sivas
59 – Tekirdag
60 – Tokat
61 – Trabzon
62 – Tunceli
63 – Sanliurfa
64 – Usak
65 – Van
66 – Yozgat
67 – Zonguldak
68 – Aksaray
69 – Bayburt
70 – Karaman
71 – Kırıkkale
72 – Batman
73 – Şırnak
74 – Bartın
75 – Ardahan
76 – Iğdır
77 – Yalova
78 – Karabük
79 – Kilis
80 – Osmaniye
81 – Düzce

This order was made by considering the historical importance of the provinces and their populations at that time.

Plate Numbers and Letter Groups by Districts

In Turkey, plate codes are not limited to provinces. Each province also receives plate codes according to different districts. These codes are defined by the letter and number groups following the provincial plate number. For example, a plate in the format 34 AB 123 belongs to a vehicle registered in Istanbul. The letter group “AB” here can refer to a specific district of Istanbul. Plate letter codes are arranged as follows:

34 A series: Used for central districts of Istanbul.

06 A series: Used in central districts of Ankara such as Çankaya and Altındağ.

35 M series: A series seen in public transportation vehicles in İzmir.

Certain districts and sections of each province are separated with such letter groups. These letter groups may also vary depending on the type of vehicle.

Special Plates and Diplomat Plates

In Turkey, there are not only provincial plate codes, but also special plates. These plates are usually reserved for certain types of vehicles:

Official vehicle plates: Vehicles belonging to state institutions in Turkey have a special plate system. These plates are usually arranged with white letters on a red background.

Diplomat plates: Vehicles belonging to foreign embassies and consulates carry diplomat plate codes. These plates usually start with the letters “CD”.

Temporary plates: These plates, especially used for new vehicles or imported vehicles, are arranged temporarily and the vehicles are put on traffic with these plates during this period.

Opportunity to Get to Know Turkey with Plate Codes

Plate codes in Turkey have a structure that reflects the geography of the country, the history and importance of its cities. Especially for those who travel frequently, knowing which city the plates belong to is a part of getting to know the roads and cities ı has become. For example, when you see a vehicle with the license plate code 67, you can easily understand that this vehicle is registered in the province of Zonguldak.

Interesting Information About License Plate Codes

The initial order of license plate codes is not alphabetical: When creating license plate codes in Turkey, the initial order is made according to the importance of the provinces. For this reason, the license plate code of Adana is determined as 01, and the license plate code of Afyonkarahisar is determined as 03.

Istanbul’s license plate code has a wider range than other provinces: Istanbul, the largest metropolis in Turkey, needs more letter and number combinations because it hosts a large number of vehicles.

Vehicles without license plate codes: Vehicles without license plate codes in Turkey are generally military vehicles or some special duty vehicles. These vehicles do not enter traffic with civilian plates.

The Importance of License Plates Today

Today, license plate codes are not only showing which province a vehicle is registered in, but also have great importance in terms of security. During traffic inspections, information about vehicle owners and the history of the vehicles can be easily accessed through the plates. In particular, license plate recognition systems allow security forces to track vehicles and conduct traffic inspections more effectively.

The license plate code system in Turkey is an important element that reflects the country’s extensive road network, geographical diversity and the identities of its cities. This system functions in many different areas, from vehicle identification to security.