Zimbabwe Number Plates

Province Codes

Zimbabwe number plates use a letter-number system where the first letters indicate the province of registration:

Code Range	Province
AAA - AAZ	Harare
ABA - ABZ	Bulawayo
ACA - ACZ	Manicaland
ADA - ADZ	Mashonaland Central
AEA - AEZ	Mashonaland East
AFA - AFZ	Mashonaland West
AGA - AGZ	Masvingo
AHA - AHZ	Matabeleland North
AJA - AJZ	Matabeleland South
AKA - AKZ	Midlands

Special plates: Government vehicles use specific prefixes. Diplomatic plates start with "CD" or "CC". Temporary plates are red.

How to Get Number Plates

Number plates are issued by the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) when you register a vehicle or during change of ownership. Standard plates are included in the first-time registration fee.

Fees (per SI 10 of 2026)

Plate Type	Fee
Standard plates (with first-time registration)	Included in the US$50 registration fee
Duplicate / third plate	US$35
Personalised plates (up to 1,500cc)	US$2,500
Personalised plates (above 1,500cc)	US$5,000

Payment: Fees are payable in US dollars or the equivalent in ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold) at the prevailing official exchange rate.

Replacement Number Plates

If your number plates are lost, stolen or damaged:

Report to Police

Report the loss/damage at your nearest police station and get a police report.

Visit CVR

Bring the police report, your vehicle registration book and your national ID to the Central Vehicle Registry.

Pay the Fee

Pay US$35 for a duplicate plate. Both plates (front and rear) must match.

Collect New Plates

Collect and fit the new plates. The new plates will have the same registration number.

Personalised Number Plates

Zimbabwe offers personalised number plates with custom text. Apply at CVR in Harare. Availability depends on whether your requested combination is already taken. Personalised plates cost US$2,500 (vehicles up to 1,500cc) or US$5,000 (vehicles above 1,500cc) per SI 10 of 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Zimbabwe number plate codes mean?

The first three letters indicate the province of registration. For example: AAA-AAZ is Harare, ABA-ABZ is Bulawayo, ACA-ACZ is Manicaland, ADA-ADZ is Mashonaland Central, and so on.

How do I get replacement number plates?

Report the loss/damage at a police station, get a police report, then visit CVR with the police report, your vehicle registration book, and national ID. Duplicate or third plates cost US$35 per SI 10 of 2026.

How much do personalised number plates cost?

Per SI 10 of 2026, personalised plates cost US$2,500 for vehicles up to 1,500cc or US$5,000 for vehicles above 1,500cc. Fees are payable in US dollars or ZiG at the prevailing official exchange rate.

Can I keep my number plates when I sell my car?

No. Number plates are registered to the vehicle, not the owner. They stay with the vehicle during transfer of ownership.