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Buying and selling · New Zealand

Car, motorbike or trailer? Making sure a personalised plate suits your vehicle

By the Great Plates team · Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 sources

A personalised plate isn't tied to one kind of vehicle, but it does have to fit it. Before you buy, check the plate can go on the car, bike or trailer you have in mind. Here's how to check, and the steps to have plates made, switched or replaced.

The short version

  • Cars and trucks: up to six characters [2][3].
  • Motorbikes, mopeds and trailers: up to five characters [2][3].
  • So a plate with five characters or fewer suits all three. A six-character plate suits a car or truck only.
  • Motorbikes and trailers display one plate, on the rear. Cars display two [1].

Step 1: count the characters

Count every letter and number. B055, LOGO and SURF have four, so they can go on any vehicle. JAREDS and PLUMBR have six, so they suit a car or truck but can't be made as motorbike or trailer plates [2][3]. Spaces don't count as characters, and you can only add a space if the combination is shorter than the maximum or includes an "I" or a "1" [3].

Every New Zealand listing on Great Plates shows which vehicles the plate can go on, so you can see this at a glance.

How the plates differ

VehicleCharactersPlatesNotes
Car or truckUp to 6Two, front and rearStandard plate size [1]
Motorbike or mopedUp to 5One, on the rearSquare or rectangular [1]. KiwiPlates' black motorbike plates come in one size, 260 mm by 100 mm, with no pre-drilled holes [3].
Trailer or caravanUp to 5One, on the rearSame size as a car plate [1]

Switching a plate from a car to a motorbike

  1. Check it has five characters or fewer. A motorbike plate can't fit more [3].
  2. Redesign it as a motorbike plate. KiwiPlates says to enter your combination in its Plate Redesign field and select Motorbike [3].
  3. Wait for the plates. They're made by LicenSys and posted to you, typically within 7 to 10 working days [3].
  4. Fit the plate. Motorbike plates don't come with holes, so drill them yourself or have an AA or VTNZ agent fit it [3]. To put personalised plates on a different vehicle, an agent needs to see the plates and you complete form MR6A [1][3].

Getting plates made for the first time

You can own a combination without the physical plates ever being made, which is common for plates bought as a gift or bought before you have the vehicle. When you're ready:

  1. Have the vehicle ready. It must be registered, with at least 30 days left on the registration, and the vehicle's owner must be the same person as the plate owner [3].
  2. Ask LicenSys to make them. Request it online at licensys.co.nz under "first time manufacture", or call 0800 736 253 [3]. KiwiPlates says an extra fee applies if you ask more than 180 days after paying for a new plate [3].
  3. Swap the plates over. A new registration label comes with the plates and must be displayed within five working days. Old plates go back in the prepaid box your new plates arrive in [3].

Buying from a private seller: the LicenSys steps

  1. Call LicenSys on 0800 REMAKE to check the seller owns the plates [3].
  2. The seller and buyer complete a Transfer of Entitlement form and send it to LicenSys [3].
  3. Ring 0800 REMAKE to have the plates made, in the right format for your vehicle [3].
  4. Contact KiwiPlates if you'd like a different plate style [3].

Do these checks with the other person before any money changes hands. Our transfer guide covers each step.

Lost, stolen or damaged plates

Call LicenSys on 0800 REMAKE to arrange new plates [3]. For replacements through NZTA, you need to be the vehicle's registered person, complete form MR6A at an agent, and hand over the damaged plates or give the police report number for lost or stolen ones [1].

Who to contact

ForContact
Making, remaking or checking ownership of platesLicenSys: 0800 REMAKE (736 253), servicenz@licensys.com [3]
Restyling, or a motorbike version of your plateKiwiPlates: 0800 650 111 [3]
Putting plates on a different vehicleAny AA or VTNZ agent, form MR6A [1][3]
Buying or selling an existing plateGreat Plates, from any listing

Quick answers

Can I put my car's personalised plate on a motorbike?

Only if it has five characters or fewer. KiwiPlates says you can redesign the plate as a motorbike plate: enter the combination in its Plate Redesign field and select Motorbike.

How many plates does a motorbike or trailer get?

One, fixed to the rear. Cars and most other vehicles display two plates, front and rear.

Who makes New Zealand number plates?

LicenSys, the government plate manufacturer. Call 0800 REMAKE (736 253) to have plates made or remade, or to check who owns a plate.

How long do new plates take to arrive?

KiwiPlates says delivery is typically 7 to 10 working days, or up to 15 working days for message plates.

Sources

  1. NZTA Waka Kotahi: Number plates
  2. Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2011, reg 34
  3. KiwiPlates: FAQs

Fees and rules were checked against these sources in October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.

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