Vehicle registration plates of Indonesia

Two children standing next to a Plymouth with "AA 20" plate. The car belonged to the family of J.W. Bijleveld. c. 1936.

Vehicle registration plates were first introduced in the Dutch East Indies in 1900. The early format included regional codes such as CH for Cirebon, SB for Surabaya, and SOK for the eastern coast of Sumatra; and registration numbers with no official standards. Plates were not always installed at the front and the rear of the vehicle; some owners affixed the plates on the side of the vehicle. For international purposes, the Government of the Dutch East Indies introduced the code IN for government vehicles. IN plates were elliptical and the registration numbers were placed below on a rectangular plate.[4]

A more-structured system was introduced in 1917 with the implementation of regulations regarding the content of applications for number and driving licenses, the specification of numbers and letters, the models of number and driving licenses, the establishment of registers of holders of the licenses and the publication of the contents of the registers. The regulation obliged vehicle owners to register their vehicles. The Karesidenan-based system was first implemented on Java and afterwards elsewhere in the colony.[5] The alphabetical codes were:

Until the 1920s, regional codes were added along with the Karesidenan regional expansion. For example, Bogor used the code F, Bojonegoro used the code S, and Western Papua used the code DS.[4][6]

The license plate design during the New Order, with the expiry date above the registration numbers

The early format of registration plates remained in use after Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945. At the beginning of the 1980s, plates with four-digit numbers separated by a dot at the bottom that denote the month and year of expiry (e.g. 06•87) was introduced. Vehicle owners must pay a tax to renew the plate every five years. The typefaces are embossed. There were two variations of design during the New Order; the expiry date would be placed above or below the registration numbers.[6][7]

Design of Indonesian registration plate for private vehicles from 2000s[8] to April 2011.[1]

Along with the increase of motorized vehicles in Indonesia, the technical design and specification of vehicle registration plates began to be regulated by the Direktorat Lalu Lintas Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia/Ditlantas Polri (Traffic Directorate) of the Indonesian National Police. The size of the license plates during the 2000s was 395 mm × 135 mm (15.6 in × 5.3 in) (four wheel vehicles or more) or 250 mm × 105 mm (9.8 in × 4.1 in) (two or three wheel vehicles) with wide alphabets and a stripe that separates the registration numbers and expiry date.[9] In the lower left and upper right corners is the Traffic Police symbol, and at the lower-right and upper-left corners is a "DIRLANTAS POLRI" sign as a security feature and proof of the originality of the license plate.

The design of Indonesian registration plate for private vehicles (especially cars, trucks, and buses) from April 2011 to June 2022[2]

In April 2011, the design of the license plate was redesigned. The new plates are 5 cm (2.0 in) longer to accommodate more characters and the typeface is slimmer. The Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police (Korps Lalu Lintas Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia/Korlantas Polri) introduced their more-complete coat of arms, with shield and ribbon with the letter "Dharmakerta Marga Raksyaka". The phrase "DITLANTAS" became "KORLANTAS". The license plates are made from 1 mm (0.039 in)-thick aluminium with edge lines with the same color as the numbers. The size of the plate for two-or-three-wheeled vehicles now is 275 mm × 115 mm (10.8 in × 4.5 in), while for four-or-more-wheeled vehicles they are 430 mm × 135 mm (16.9 in × 5.3 in).[1][10]

The new color scheme of the personal vehicle plates since 2022

Since June 2022, The Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police changed the color scheme for personal and rental vehicles from black plates with white letters to white plates with black letters. The new color scheme was implemented to ease the detection of motoring offenses with traffic enforcement cameras.[2]

Indonesian vehicle registration plates are approximately 460 mm × 135 mm (18.1 in × 5.3 in) and constructed from stamped sheet metal. With some exceptions, plates use the following format: LL NNNN LL where "L" are letters of the Latin alphabet, and "N" numbers from "0" to "9" (the first number is never a "0"). The first single-or-double-letter prefixes denote the area of registration. This is followed by number between 1 and 9999 without leading zeroes. This is then followed by one or two letters although they may be optional. For example: A 1897 WT is a vehicle registered in East Jakarta city; it begins with B. A smaller, four-digit number separated by dot is located at the top (old format, with horizontal line as divider) or bottom (newer format, commonly without divider) of the plate with following format: NN・NN denoting the month and year of the plate's expiry (e.g. 01•28 means until January 2028). The owner must pay a tax to renew it every five years.

In Jakarta, these codes are applied based on vehicle classes. These include:

For example, "B 9031 BAY" indicates that the vehicle is a pickup, while "B 1032 DFA" indicates that the vehicle is a minibus.

A Toyota Innova with special "RF" suffix plates for Government, Military, Police, and Civil officials

A separate format exists for private vehicles belonging to government, military or police officials. Because most of these agencies are based in Jakarta, vehicles belonging to state officials use the "B" suffix, along with the four numbers that are assigned to the vehicle. The sub-area suffix is replaced with RF suffix code, indicating the vehicle belongs to a state official, followed by another letter that indicates the type of state official who owns the vehicle.[11]

• "RFS" - Vehicle registration code intended for civil officials.
  • "RFO", "RFH", and "RFQ" suffixes are intended for civil officials under the Echelon 2 rank role.
• "RFD" - Vehicle registration code intended for Indonesian Army officials.
• "RFL" - Vehicle registration code intended for Indonesian Navy officials.
• "RFU" - Vehicle registration code intended for Indonesian Air Force officials.
• "RFP" - Vehicle registration code intended for Indonesian National Police officials.

For example, "B 1703 RFS" indicates that the vehicle belongs to a civilian official, whilst "B 1148 RFP" indicates that the vehicle belongs to a police official.

On January 27, 2023, the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police announced that special "RF" plates will be discontinued in October 2023, due to often being misused by numbers of people.[12]

Vehicles in Indonesia are coded based on their classes and uses. These are:[13]

The design of Indonesian registration plates for private vehicles since June 2022[1][2]

The design of Indonesian registration plates only for private vehicles that uses customized vehicle registration numbers since June 2022[3]

Format scheme for Commercial vehicle or Public transportation

Format scheme for Government-owned vehicle

South Sulawesi dealership plate for new vehicles

• Black on White: For privately owned vehicles. Trucks that are registered for private use were issued with this plate, so are the ambulances. This new color scheme has been used since June 2022 to detect motoring offenses with traffic enforcement cameras.[2]
  • White on black: The old color scheme for privately owned vehicles. Trucks that are registered for private use were issued with this plate, so are ambulances. Superseded by the black on white color scheme but still valid during 5-year transition period.
• Red on white: Vehicles that have not been registered yet, or for new cars that have no owners yet or no legal identification.
• Black on yellow: Commercial vehicle or public transportation such as buses, taxis, angkot, auto rickshaws and commercial trucks.
• White on red: Used by fire departments, government ambulances, government officials and other governmental vehicles administered under their respective local governments.
• Black on Red: Vehicles belonging to foreign countries. Commonly used by foreign embassies or vehicles belonging to International organizations.
• Black on White with Black Trim: Vehicles belonging to diplomatic corps of foreign countries. Commonly used by foreign embassies or vehicles belonging to international organizations.
• Black on green: Free Zone vehicles i.e. Batam (see Indonesia–Malaysia–Singapore Growth Triangle).
• Blue on white: Vehicles belonging to foreign countries, mainly used before the vehicle has been registered.

Example of a personalized electric vehicle numberplate in latest white-black color. Note the blue trim is on the side rather than horizontal on the bottom.

The Indonesian National Police has set a special license plate for electric vehicles with additional blue trim at the expiry date row in accordance with the regulations in the Decree of the Head of the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police in 2020.[14][15][16]

• White on Black with Blue Trim: for privately owned electric vehicles and rental electric vehicles
• Black on Yellow with Blue Trim: for commercial electric vehicle or public transportation.
• White on Red with Blue Trim: for governmental electric vehicles administered under their respective local governments.
• Black on White with Blue Trim: for foreign embassies or electric vehicles belonging to International organizations.
• Black on Green with Blue Trim: for electric vehicles at the Free Trade Zone.

The Indonesian National Armed Forces Headquarter Detachment Plate.

The Indonesian Air Force Plate. The "-10" suffix code indicates the Air Force's Quick Reaction Forces Command

Daihatsu Xenia with the Indonesian Navy plate

A motorcycle with the Indonesian Army plate. The "-02" suffix code indicates the Army's Special Forces Command

A Toyota Vios with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense plate. The "-05" suffix indicates the Ministry of Defense's Directorate General of Materials, Facilities and Services.

Military and police vehicles have their own colors and alpha-numeric conventions, including their insignia and/or the rank of the officer owning the vehicle, especially for high-ranking officers.

Army-personnel vehicles are yellow on green background, plus a yellow star on the top. Navy-personnel plate is yellow on light blue, plus a yellow anchor. Air Force personnel plate is yellow on dark blue, plus a red and white air force roundel. Police plate is yellow on black. Personnel in Armed Forces Headquarters uses yellow numbers on red background plates. Slightly similar, Ministry of Defense vehicles also uses yellow on red plates, only replacing Armed Forces' insignia with the Ministry's insignia. This is also being implemented on other military vehicles, such as motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, and tanks.[21]

Military and Ministry of Defense vehicles use the numerical convention NNNNN-SS where "N" is for numbers from "0" to "9" for registration and "S" denotes a special suffix number/letter which denotes the type of office or unit in which the person who owns the vehicle belongs to.[22]

Here are the lists of the suffix codes of the Military and Ministry of Defense:[23]

Special Suffix Codes - Military, Ministry of Defense, and Police

Suffix	Armed Forces (TNI)	Suffix	Army (TNI-AD)	Suffix	Navy (TNI-AL)	Suffix	Air Force (TNI-AU)	Suffix	Ministry Of Defense (Kemhanri)	Suffix	National Police (POLRI)
00	Armed Forces Headquarters	00	Army Headquarters	00	Navy Headquarters	00	Air Force Headquarters	00	Ministry of Defense	00	National Police Headquarters
01	Staff and Command School	01	Army Strategic Reserve Command (KOSTRAD)	01	1st Fleet Command	01	1st Air Operations Command	02	National Defense Institute	I	Aceh Police Region
02	Military Academy	02	Army Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS)	02	2nd Fleet Command	02	2nd Air Operations Command	05	Directorate General of Materials, Facilities and Services	II	North Sumatra Police Region
09	Legal Development Agency	03	Military Regional Command (KODAM Jakarta Raya)	03	3rd Fleet Command	03	3rd Air Operations Command			III	West Sumatra Police Region
10	Military Supply Agency	04	Education & Training Command	04	Military Sealift Command	04	Material Maintenance Command			IV	Riau Police Region
14 or V	Presidential Security Force (PASPAMPRES)	05	Military Regional Command (KODAM Iskandar Muda)	05	Marine Corps	05	Doctrine, Education and Training Command			V	South Sumatra Police Region
		10	Army Academy	08	Command and Staff College	10	Quick Reaction Forces Command (KOPASGAT)			VI	West Kalimantan Police Region
		20	Command and Staff College	I - XIV	Main Naval Bases from 1-14					VII	Metro Jaya Police Region
		30	Army Territorial Center							VIII	West Java Police Region
		31	Infantry Armament Center							IX	Central Java Police Region
		32	Cavalry Armament Center							X	East Java Police Region
		33	Artillery Armament Center							XI	Bali Police Region
		34	Military Police Center							XII	East Kalimantan Police Region
		41	Directorate of Engineers							XIII	South Kalimantan Police Region
		42	Directorate of Supplies and Transportation							XIV	South Sulawesi Police Region
		43	Directorate of Equipment							XV	North Sulawesi Police Region
		44	Directorate of Supplies and Transportation							XVI	Maluku Police Region
		45	Directorate of Health							XVII	Papua Police Region
		46	Directorate of the Adjutant General							XVIII	Central Kalimantan Police Region
		47	Directorate of Topography							XIX	Central Sulawesi Police Region
		48	Directorate of Finance							XX	Southeast Sulawesi Police Region
		49	Directorate of Law							XXI	West Nusa Tenggara Police Region
		51	Information Service							XXII	East Nusa Tenggara Police Region
		52	Mental Development Service							XXIII	Banten Police Region
		53	Psychology Service							XXIV	Yogyakarta Special Region Police Region
		54	Research and Development Service							XXV	Lampung Police Region
		55	Information and Data Processing Service							XXVI	Jambi Police Region
		56	Aviation Service							XXVII	Bengkulu Police Region
		I - XVIII	Military Area Commands from 1-18							XXVIII	Bangka Belitung Islands Police Region
										XXIX	Gorontalo Police Region
										XXX	North Maluku Police Region
										XXXI	Riau Islands Police Region
										XXXII	West Papua Police Region
										XXXIII	West Sulawesi Police Region
										XXXV	North Kalimantan Police Region

A Mercedes-Benz W116 with the "INDONESIA 1" plate. The car was used by former Presidents Suharto, B. J. Habibie, and Abdurrahman Wahid.

Vehicle registration plates belonging to senior government officials like the president or vice president always begin with RI which stands for "Republik Indonesia" and are followed by a number. For example, the president's registration plate is "RI-1", and the vice president's is "RI-2". Other senior officials such as government ministers, the chairman of the House of Representatives, the commander of the National Armed Forces and the chief of the National Police also share the same convention and are assigned the numbers after the President and vice president. These plates are used for everyday activities and have a white on black design.

There are some very special numbers, which are "INDONESIA 1" and "INDONESIA 2" for the president and vice president, respectively. These numbers are used for a ceremonial purposes, such as presidential/vice-presidential inaugurations, national day ceremonies and armed forces day. On inauguration day, at the time the new president and vice president take the oath, the plates are moved from the former presidential/vice-presidential cars to the new car. These numbers are also used for all ceremonial presidential/vice-presidential cars, and have a white-on-red design.

An Indonesian diplomatic plate on a vehicle owned by the Norwegian embassy in Jakarta

Registration plates for vehicles belonging to the government of foreign countries or international organizations follow a different convention. They have black letters on a white background.

The plates have the letter CD followed by two or three digits denoting the country or organization, followed by up to three digits of the serial number. For example, a car with number CD 66 88 is owned by Vietnam. Generally, the number 01 is reserved for an ambassador's official vehicle.

The order of numbers is based on when they recognized Indonesia as a country. The United States was originally assigned CD 13; due to the stigma associated with the number 13, they asked the Indian delegation to exchange numbers.

The list of countries and organizations follows:

Code	Country or Organization
CD 12	United States
CD 13	India
CD 14	France
CD 15	United Kingdom
CD 16	Philippines
CD 17	Vatican City
CD 18	Australia
CD 19	Norway
CD 20	Iraq
CD 21	Pakistan
CD 22	Belgium
CD 23	Myanmar
CD 24	United Arab Emirates
CD 25	China
CD 26	Sweden
CD 27	Saudi Arabia
CD 28	Thailand
CD 29	Egypt
CD 30	Italy
CD 31	Switzerland
CD 32	Germany
CD 33	Sri Lanka
CD 34	Denmark
CD 35	Canada
CD 36	Brazil
CD 37	Russia
CD 38	Afghanistan
CD 39	Serbia
CD 40	Czech Republic
CD 41	Finland
CD 42	Mexico
CD 43	Hungary
CD 44	Poland
CD 45	Iran
CD 47	Malaysia
CD 48	Turkey
CD 49	Japan
CD 50	Bulgaria
CD 51	Cambodia
CD 52	Argentina
CD 53	Romania
CD 54	Greece
CD 55	Jordan
CD 56	Austria
CD 57	Syria
CD 58	UNDP
CD 59	New Zealand
CD 60	Netherlands
CD 61	Yemen
CD 62	Universal Postal Union
CD 63	Portugal
CD 64	Algeria
CD 65	North Korea
CD 66	Vietnam
CD 67	Singapore
CD 68	Spain
CD 69	Bangladesh
CD 70	Panama
CD 71	UNICEF
CD 72	UNESCO
CD 73	Food and Agriculture Organization
CD 74	World Health Organization
CD 75	South Korea
CD 76	Asian Development Bank
CD 77	World Bank
CD 78	International Monetary Fund
CD 79	International Labour Organization
CD 80	Papua New Guinea
CD 81	Nigeria
CD 82	Chile
CD 83	UNHCR
CD 84	WFP
CD 85	Venezuela
CD 86	ESCAP
CD 87	Colombia
CD 88	Brunei Darussalam
CD 89	UNIC
CD 90	International Finance Corporation
CD 91	UNTAET
CD 92	Permanent Mission of Indonesia for ASEAN
CD 94	Belarus
CD 96	UNIDO
CD 97	Red Cross
CD 98	Morocco
CD 99	European Union
CD 100	ASEAN Secretariat
CD 101	Tunisia
CD 102	Kuwait
CD 103	Laos
CD 104	Palestine
CD 105	Cuba
CD 106	AIPO
CD 107	Libya
CD 108	Peru
CD 109	Slovakia
CD 110	Sudan
CD 111	ASEAN Foundation
CD 112	UTUSAN
CD 113	CIFOR
CD 114	Bosnia and Herzegovina
CD 115	Lebanon
CD 116	South Africa
CD 117	Croatia
CD 118	Ukraine
CD 120	Uzbekistan
CD 121	Qatar
CD 122	UNFPA
CD 123	Mozambique
CD 125	East Timor
CD 126	Suriname
CD 127	Ecuador
CD 128	Zimbabwe
CD 129	International Organization for Migration
CD 130	Azerbaijan
CD 131	Somalia
CD 132	Georgia
CD 134	Oman
CD 136	Armenia
CD 136	Bahrain
CD 139	Ireland
CD 140	United Nations Office for Coordination of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Indonesia (UNORCID)
CD 141	Islamic Development Bank
CD 143	Ethiopia
CD 144	Solomon Islands
CD 145	International Fund for Agricultural Development

Consulates also use the same format but instead of using the letters CD, they use CC.

Some foreign countries and international-organization vehicles in Jakarta use the " B xxxxx ^yyy " format and a normal white on black plate. Where "xxxxx" stands for five random digits, and "^yyy" stands for the country / organization code.