Notes / Exceptions
The registration system avoids several combinations of letters. Since 1971 the letter V has appeared only in personalised plates, as it could easily lead to confusion with U (no series-plates containing V past FV exist).
The issuers did not use the letter "Q" as the first letter; after the PZ series came RA instead of QA. Q does exist as the second letter, for example "RQ1152".
Between 1996 and 2001, number-plates with the prefix "UR" to "ZZ" with the exception of "WS","WT","WU" had 4-digit numbers after the letters, numbers starting from 1ØØØ instead of from 1.
The LLnnnn system deliberately reserved plates starting with the combinations "CC", "DC" and "FC" for diplomatic vehicles. Mayoral and ministerial vehicles used the prefix "CR" (CRown). The Prime Minister receives plate CR1. Plates starting with "MN" do not appear: that series (MN1-MN9999) went to the Cook Islands in 1985. Other combinations skipped include "FA", "FO", "FU", "II", and "IO" in the LLnnnn system.
Since the change to the LLLnnn format, the letters I,O and X have appeared only on plates starting with "AAI", "AAO" and "AAX" respectively; presumably the potential for confusing these letters with numbers and other similar looking letters was only realised after those initial series. Current plates eschew the letters I, O, V, and X.
The issuers have avoided some three-letter combinations, mainly to avoid offence. Excluded combinations include:
ARS, ASS, BAD, BAG, BAT, BRA, BUM, BUT, CNT, CUM, CUN, DUM, FAG, FAK, FAT, FCK, FKN, FKQ, FKU, FQM, FQN, FUC, FUK, FUQ, FUZ
BMW dealers have bought up the complete range starting with the letters "BMW" for use as semi-personalised plates. Kia cars have appeared with "KIA"-prefixes, and Hyundai cars with "HYU"-prefixes. The issuers have reserved plates starting with "CCC" and "DCC", presumably for diplomatic vehicles. The combinations EBA, FCC, and FNA-FNZ,G(A-H)A were excluded for as yet unknown reasons.
Car-dealers use a separate temporary series of yellow-coloured plates. These use one of several combinations of letters and numbers, most often a letter X followed by up to 4 digits. Originally black, these plates later became yellow in colour.
Read more about this topic: Vehicle Registration Plates Of New Zealand
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