Ethiopia to Launch Unified Vehicle License Plates Featuring National Branding











Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has issued a new directive mandating a nationwide overhaul of vehicle license plates, introducing a standardized design aimed at strengthening national identity and improving administrative efficiency. Under the new system, all vehicles registered in Ethiopia will adopt a uniform plate design featuring the letters “ET” or “ETH,” a map of the country, and inscriptions in both Latin and Ge’ez scripts.

The directive eliminates the current regional and city-specific labels that have historically differentiated license plates by administrative zones. Instead, all vehicles will now display a uniform national identifier, with the three-letter international code “ETH” and a visual map of Ethiopia symbolizing the country’s sovereignty and unity.

License plates will follow a new alphanumeric format comprising three Latin letters and four numerals to create a broad serial base. Each plate will include embedded codes for registration and law enforcement use, along with color schemes and markings that denote the type of service the vehicle provides, the nature of its ownership, and the type of energy it consumes.

In a push for environmental awareness, electric and renewable energy-powered vehicles will carry special plates marked “Green Transport.” Furthermore, vehicle owners seeking customized identifiers will have the option to request special license plates under this new system.

The changes apply retroactively to all vehicles already registered in the country. Vehicle owners will be required to surrender their current plates and obtain the new standardized ones according to a rollout schedule set by the Ministry.

This marks the fourth major revision to Ethiopia’s vehicle registration system since the introduction of license plates during Emperor Menelik’s reign. Each political transition—from Emperor Haile Selassie to the Derg regime, and later to the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)—has seen an overhaul in vehicle plate design. The current plates, many of which include two-letter region or city codes, will be fully replaced under the new national framework.

The initiative is part of Ethiopia’s broader efforts to modernize transport infrastructure, align with international standards, and streamline vehicle administration nationwide.