Vehicle registration plates of Aruba


Aruba requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. The island is one of the last jurisdictions in the world to continue issuing new plates each year rather than showing re-validation through stickers or other documentation.
The license plates have been changed annually since 1950. Only until 1958 the name "ARUBA N.A." was displayed on it. In 1976 the slogan "ISLA DI CARNAVAL" was added. The slogan was changed again in 1983 to display "ONE HAPPY ISLAND". Following Aruba's independence from the Netherlands Antilles the name "ARUBA N.A." was changed to "ARUBA". Since 2011 the word "ARUBA" was changed to "aruba.com". The plate itself is valid for the first half of the year, and then a metal tab is added to indicate validity during the second half of the year. This tab is painted in the reverse color scheme as the plate and displays the same serial number as the plate.
From 2019 onwards the FE-Schrift or Fälschungserschwerende Schrift is used as the font for all vehicle registration plates of Aruba. Following this change in the font, the name "aruba.com" will be changed to "ARUBA.COM" in all capitals. This is the first time since 1993 that the licence plates have underwent a drastic change in the use of its font.

1931 to 1957

While license plates in Aruba may have been issued as early as 1924, few of these plates are known to exist. All plates issued through 1957 appear to have been in height by in width.
ImageYearPlate colorsSloganSerial FormatSerials IssuedNotes
1931pink on greennone1234-A
1932white on dark bluenoneA-1234
1933black on whitenone1234-A
1934yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1935white on bluenone1234-A
1936red on whitenoneA-1234
1937white on blacknone1234-A
1938black on orangenoneA-1234
1939white on dark bluenone1234-A
1940black on whitenoneA-1234
1941yellow on blacknone1234-A
1942black on whitenoneA-1234
1943none1234-A
1944white on bluenoneA-1234
1945black on whitenone1234-A
1946noneA-1234
1947yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1948black on whitenone1234-A
1949orange on blacknoneA-1234
1950black on golden yellownone1234-A
1951white on blacknoneA-1234
1952black on whitenone1234-A
1953golden yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1954black on golden yellownoneA-1234
1955golden yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1956black on orangenoneA-1234
1957golden yellow on blacknoneA-1234

1958 to 1975

In 1958 Aruba changed their license plate size to the North American standard plate size of 152 × 300 mm. At the same time the words "ARUBA N.A." appeared at the top of the plate. Prior to 1958 the country name had not appeared on the plates. The long bolt slots introduced in 1960 allowed the use of 1/2 year validation tabs. Whether these tabs were issued from 1960 to 1963 is not known, but tabs for 1964 and all years since are known to exist.
ImageYearPlate colorsSloganSerial FormatSerials IssuedNotes
1958black on orangenoneA-1234
1959golden yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1960white on bluenoneA-1234Plates modified with long bolt slots to accommodate 1/2 year validation tabs.
1961black on golden yellownoneA-1234
1962black on whitenoneA-1234
1963white on rednoneA-1234
1964red on whitenoneA-1234
1965black on golden yellownoneA-1234
1966white on royal bluenoneA-1234
1967golden yellow on blacknoneA-1234
1968white on maroonnoneA-1234
1969maroon on whitenoneA-12345Longer serial format starting this year is based on earliest known 5-digit plate.
1970green on whitenoneA-12345
1971white on maroonnoneA-12345
1972black on orangenoneA-12345
1973blue on whitenoneA-12345
1974white on maroonnoneA-12345
1975white on bluenoneA-12345

1976 to 2003

In 1976 new license plates were introduced with the slogan "ISLA DI CARNIVAL" centered at the bottom. The year was simultaneously re-positioned vertically at the far right into two sets of numbers separated by a bolt hole. The slogan was changed again in 1983 to "ONE HAPPY ISLAND" after the Kingdom of the Netherlands agreed to grant Aruba its independence.
ImageYearPlate colorsSloganSerial FormatSerials IssuedNotes
1976black on off-whiteISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345
1977red on golden yellowISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345
1978golden yellow on redISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345

1979red on whiteISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345
1980white on brownISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345
1981black on yellowISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345Last year for wide dies for serial number.
1982red on whiteISLA DI CARNIVALA-12345New thinner style font for serial number introduced.
1983yellow on light blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345First year for new slogan.
1984black on yellowONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345Very thin style font introduced for serial numbers.
1985black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1986red on yellowONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345Last year for "Aruba N.A." at top of plate.
1987white on mauveONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345

1988black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1989white on redONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1990white on blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1991white on blackONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345

1992black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1993white on brownONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345

1994white on blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1995black on redONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1996blue on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1997white on pine greenONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1998black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
1999white on orangeONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2000brown on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2001black on yellowONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2002white on blackONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2003black on orangeONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345

2004 to present

In 2004 the year of the license plate was moved to the left side, and it became hidden behind the semi-annual validation tab when the tab was placed onto the plate. This change allows the serial number to be moved farther to the right when five digit plates are used.
ImageYearPlate colorsSloganSerial FormatSerials IssuedNotes
2004yellow on blackONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2005white on blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2006white on redONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2007black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2008white on greenONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2009black on yellowONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2010white on blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2011white on redONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2012brown on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2013white on orangeONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2014black on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2015white on blueONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345
2019white on orangeONE HAPPY ISLAND
2020maroon on whiteONE HAPPY ISLANDA-12345

Type codes

The codes in the chart below are currently displayed as the first character in the serial number and identify the type of vehicle the license plate is registered to.
PrefixTypePrefixType
APrivate automobileMFAMotorcycle A
AGAgentMFDMotorcycle D
BBusMFVMotorcycle V
BRCompany carNVanity plate
DService vehicleONon-scheduled transport
DTDiesel TruckTTouring
GARGarageTRTruck
MBAPrivate motorboatTXTaxi
MBDPilot boatVRental car