Addis Ababa Begins Issuing New National Vehicle Plates

June 12, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Addis Ababa has begun issuing Ethiopia's new standardised vehicle licence plates, launching a nationwide registration overhaul that authorities say will improve vehicle traceability, curb forgery and support the creation of a unified national vehicle database.

The Addis Ababa Drivers and Vehicles Licensing and Control Authority said the new plates are being issued initially to newly registered vehicles, with a broader rollout planned for vehicles currently operating without plates and, eventually, the wider vehicle fleet.

The reform replaces Ethiopia's long-standing region-based licence plate system with a nationally standardised format carrying the country identifier "ETH", national symbols and enhanced security features designed to prevent counterfeiting.

Transport officials say the new plates conform to international standards and contain multiple identification features including QR and RFID that can be used by law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to verify vehicle information more efficiently.

The rollout forms part of a wider government effort to modernise vehicle registration and oversight as the country's vehicle population continues to grow.

Officials argue that the previous framework had become increasingly vulnerable to forgery and administrative inefficiencies, complicating efforts to track vehicles and enforce traffic regulations. The new system is expected to support the development of an integrated national database linking vehicle ownership and registration records across the country.

The authority said the plates are designed to be more durable than existing versions and incorporate additional vehicle information, reducing replacement needs and improving service delivery.

The introduction of the new plates follows the adoption of a national directive governing vehicle identification standards. The reform is also expected to strengthen oversight of vehicle transfers, registration processes and compliance monitoring.

Addis Ababa is the first jurisdiction to begin issuing the new plates, with authorities prioritising newly registered vehicles in the initial phase of the rollout.