The state of South Australia requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.[1] Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.[2]
Vehicles and trailers: S000·ABC
Motorcycles: S00·ABC
In South Australia, until October 2008, standard registration plates followed the 3-letter, 3-number (aaa-nnn) standard used by New South Wales and Victoria: their series, introduced in 1966 started with RAA-000 and finished at XUN-299.[3]
Since October 2008, South Australian general issue plates follow the format Snnn-aaa, the S signifying South Australia. No slogan is printed on these plates, rather they contain the words 'South Australia'.[4]
Up until 1966 South Australian plates were all numerical, and were subject to re-issue, in either nn-nnn or nnn-nnn format, white on black background. These plates are available for re-issue at a fee.[5]
Post 1966 motorcycles were initially issued with RA-000 to SZ-999 then TAA-000 to TIZ-999. Trailers were issued TJA-000 to TZZ-999. When the Taa-nnn issues were exhausted, motorcycles were issued with high end YYA-000 to YZZ-999, then started at YKA-000 to YKA-799, and trailers issued YAA-000 to YIL-999. Since 2008, newly issued plates are in the form S000-AAA and motorcycles as S00-AAA, while trailers start at S000-TAA.
Cars: S000·DAD
Trailers: S000·TLF
Motorcycles: S00·CAA
EzyPlates is administered by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (formerly known as the Department of Transport Infrastructure and Energy).[6]
Since 1995, "Premium" registration plates can be purchased which are much more compact in size, in the format aa-nnna: the letter is usually repeated (e.g.: AA-nnna, BB-nnna, current series DD-nnna). These seem to follow the New South Wales Premium format, using black lettering on a white background on a noticeably slimmer plate. South Australian "Premium" registration plates feature black characters on a white base, and the letters "SA" down the side, in the same format as NSW "Premium" registration plates. As of 28 September 2009, there is a new addition to the premium range – white on black base, from XX-000A onwards.
Government and police vehicles has SA Government plates in blue text on white background as S000·AQA (or previously XQA-000), with a Q as the second letter. Older systems were allocated SAA-000 to SZZ-999 to government services as well. The legend is embossed as SA Government.
Ambulances belonging to SA Ambulance Service have plates in the form AMB-nnn, however some vehicles now have standard SA Government plates due to leasing agreements with the State Government (Fleet SA).
Metropolitan taxis have plates with the word TAXI in a smaller size followed by three or four numbers, separated by the current tourism logo for South Australia – SA, A Brilliant Blend. More recently a new country taxi plate has been introduced in black on reflective yellow replacing general issue plates on SA country taxis. Other chauffeured vehicles have a different style plate with a blue outline.
Since September 2007, The heavy vehicle series commenced and the format used is SB·00·AB with the legend SA – HEAVY VEHICLE, the trailers start at SY·00·AA
No general issue SA registration plates (other than Government) are issued with the letter Q anywhere in the combination. The only exception is the series VPQ-nnn and WSQ-nnn – both of which were the first set issued by a new manufacturer.
Between 1981 and October 2008, all general issue SA plates contained the slogan "SA – The Festival State", for the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Between 1997 and October 2008, other slogans were available for an additional fee, including: South Australia – Gateway to the Outback; South Australia – The Defence State; South Australia – The Wine State; South Australia – the Creative State; South Australia – The Rose State; and South Australia – The Electronics State. All slogan plates are discontinued, as at October 2008.[4]
It is also possible to obtain a wide variety of personalised registration plates that feature full-colour illustrations and customised logos or slogans.[7]
aaa-nnn series: AAA-QZZ (All except AMB), RAQ, RBQ up to SZQ, TAQ, TBQ up to XTQ (All except VPQ and WSQ), VZA-VZZ, XUO-XZZ, YAQ, YBQ up to YHQ, YIM-YXZ (All except YKA-000 to YKA-799), YYQ, YZQ, ZAA-ZZZ.
S-nnn-aaa series: AAQ, ABQ up to CZQ, ARA-ARZ, CIA-CIZ, BQJ to BQZ. TAQ, TBQ up to TKQ.
S-nn-aaa series: AAQ, ABQ up to BZQ, BQJ to BQZ.