Vehicle registration plates of Panama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Panama20.5 in × 4.3 in
- AB1234
- 123456 (for vehicles registered before 2013)
 A 2016 issued plate. | |
| Country | Panama |
|---|---|
| Current series | |
| Size | 520 mm × 110 mm 20.5 in × 4.3 in |
| Serial format |
|
| Rear plate | Required |
| Colour (rear) | Black on white |
Panama requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates.[1] Current plates are North American standard 12 × 6 inches (300 × 152 mm).[2]
All vehicles are required to display plates on the back of the vehicle. Front license plates are not required. Additionally, taxis in Panama are also required to display plates on the sides. This is done not with actual metal plates, but by a large decal of the license plate.
| Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1942 | 12-345 |
1957 to 2012
| Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1968 | A-12345 | ||||
 |
1977 | 1-23456 | ||||
 |
1985 | 1AB2345 | ||||
 |
1989 | 1-23456 | ||||
 |
1990 | 1A23456 | ||||
 |
1992 | 1-23456 | ||||
 |
1993 | 1-23456 | ||||
 |
1999 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2003 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2004 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2006 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2007 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2008 | 123456 | ||||
 |
2009 - 2012 | 123456 | ||||
2013 to 2021
In 2013, the AB1234 format began being issued instead of the previous 123456 format. Plates that follow this format use the letter "M" for motorcycles, "T" for taxis, "B" for buses, "G" for government vehicles, and "D" for demo cars, and use the letters "MB" for Metro Buses, "MI" for international missions, "PR" for press, "BC" for school buses, "CD" for diplomatic corps, and "ADM" for non-diplomatic administrative staff. However, plates with the 123456 format were still issued for cars that were issued numbers before this change.[1]
In 2018 a variant of FE-Schrift became the standard font used on plates.
2022 to present
In 2022, Panama switched from issuing new plates every year to instead issuing new plates every 4 years. [3]
Canal Authority plates
In 2000, when Panama gained control of the Panama Canal Zone, Licence plates for the Canal Authority began to be issued. All Canal Authority plates begin with the letters "CP". [1]
Previously, Canal Authority plates follow standard plate designs, except for the province names being replaced by the text "Autoridad del Canal", until 2007 where "Panama" was replaced instead, as provinces were no longer displayed on plates. [1]
In 2014, the Canal Authority plates were again changed for the final time to now display "Panama" at the top and include the letters "ACP" replacing the year at the bottom of the plate which is split and moved to the top corners. [1]
