Number plates in Ireland, posted to your door
Road-legal Irish number plates — licence plates, reg plates, call them what you like — designed online in 60 seconds. Order before 2pm and we print and post the same working day on white reflective sheet, arriving in 1-2 working days by tracked post.
Quick answer
A road-legal Irish number plate has black characters on a white retroreflective background, the county name in Irish across the top and the blue EU band with IRL on the left. Standard car plates are 520mm × 110mm. We print yours to that specification from €17 and post it the same working day when you order before 2pm.
Last updated · Irish Car Plates, Ireland
- Standard Irish plate character style
- White reflective sheet, front and rear
- All 26 Irish county codes supported
- Modern (261, 262) and legacy (10, 99) formats
- From €17 a plate, €29 a front-and-rear pair
- Order before 2pm, posted the same working day
Why order from us
Posted nationwide
Arrives in 1-2 working days by tracked post.
Road-legal
Reflective sheet, official Irish specification.
Same-day dispatch
Order before 2pm, posted the same working day.
What makes a number plate road-legal in Ireland?
Irish number plates must show black characters on a white reflective background, front and rear. Character height (max 70mm), width (max 36mm), 10mm stroke width, spacing, the Irish-language county name and the EU band with twelve gold stars and IRL are all set out in S.I. No. 318 of 1992 (as amended). We print every plate to those exact tolerances so it'll pass any roadside check or NCT inspection.
Number plates, licence plates, reg plates — same thing
There's no legal difference between the terms. Ireland has one plate standard, so whether you searched for number plates, licence plates or reg plates you're in the right place: one road-legal plate, printed to the official specification, with your registration on it.
How to read your Irish registration
Irish regs read year-county-numerals, like 261-D-123. Since 2013 the year prefix has three digits: the last two digits of the year, then 1 for a January–June registration or 2 for July–December. So 261 is the first half of 2026 and 252 is the second half of 2025. Vehicles registered before 2013 carry a two-digit year such as 05 or 12. The letters in the middle are your county code and the numerals are the serial number.
Every Irish county, every format
Whether your reg starts with D, C, G, KE, KY, MH, T, WX or any other Irish county code, we print it — with the correct Irish-language county name along the top of the plate. Modern three-digit year prefixes and older two-digit formats are both supported.
Replacement plates without the paperwork
Cracked, faded or peeling plates will fail an NCT for readability. We don't need a V5 or log book for standard replacements — enter the registration already on your vehicle and we'll print a fresh plate. Replace one plate for €17 or a matched pair for €29.
How to order
Click 'Design your plate', pick your quantity, enter your year prefix, county code and numerals, then check out. You'll see a live preview as you type so you can confirm every character before you pay. Order before 2pm and we post the same working day by tracked An Post.
Why order from Irish Car Plates
We're an Ireland-based plate maker. Plates are printed in-house, packed flat in protective sleeves and posted by tracked An Post. No middlemen, no upsells, no surprise fees at checkout.
Frequently asked
Are your number plates road-legal in Ireland?
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Yes. Every plate is printed to the S.I. No. 318 of 1992 specification — black characters on white reflective sheet, correct character height, stroke width and spacing, Irish county name on top and the EU/IRL band on the left. Irish law does not mandate one specific typeface, so we print in the standard character style used on factory-fitted Irish plates.
What's the difference between a number plate, a licence plate and a reg plate?
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Nothing — they're three names for the same thing. In Ireland people say number plate, licence plate, reg plate or registration plate interchangeably. Whichever you call it, it's the plate showing your registration mark on the front and rear of your vehicle.
How much do number plates cost in Ireland?
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We charge €17 for a single plate and €29 for a pair (front + rear), with each extra plate at €12. Shipping is calculated at checkout. There are no hidden fees.
How do I read an Irish registration?
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Irish registrations read year-county-numerals, for example 261-D-123. The year prefix is 261 for a January–June 2026 registration and 262 for July–December; pre-2013 vehicles use a two-digit year such as 10 or 99. The middle letters are your county code (D for Dublin, C for Cork, G for Galway) and the numerals are the serial number.
Are these plates accepted at the NCT?
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Yes. Black characters on white reflective sheet at the correct character height, with the Irish county name and the EU/IRL band, is exactly what an NCT inspector or a Garda at a checkpoint is looking for.
Can I order replacement plates without a log book?
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Yes. We don't need a V5 or log book for standard replacement plates — just enter the registration that's already on your vehicle. Only order plates for vehicles you own.
How fast will my plates arrive?
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Orders placed before 2pm Monday–Friday are posted the same working day via tracked post and typically arrive in 1-2 working days anywhere in Ireland.
Do you cover every Irish county?
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Yes — every Irish county code is supported, from D (Dublin) and C (Cork) to WX (Wexford) and LM (Leitrim). Pick yours from the dropdown when you design your plate.