Personalised number plate prices in South Africa
A personalised plate costs from about R2 000 in Gauteng. What you pay depends on your province and how many characters your plate has, and shorter plates cost more. Check it's free for R15 first, then apply at your licensing department or through a registered agent.
Step 1: Check it's available, R15
We check your combination against the provincial register live and email the result in minutes. One check covers one province for R15. To try another province, just run another check.
Step 2: Apply at your licensing department
Once you know it's free, apply at your provincial licensing department (DLTC) or through a registered agent. Take your ID and proof of address. The application fee is set by your province, as listed below, and the physical plates are made separately once it's registered.
Gauteng personalised plate prices
Gauteng prices depend on the format. Three letters and three numbers is the cheapest, and the shortest plates cost the most.
| Format | Application fee |
|---|---|
| 3 letters + 3 numbers | R2 000 |
| 4 to 7 characters | R4 000 |
| 1 to 3 characters | R6 500 |
Western Cape personalised plate prices
In the Western Cape the price falls sharply as the plate gets longer, and single-character plates are rare and priced accordingly.
| Format | Application fee |
|---|---|
| 4 to 7 characters | R3 307 |
| 3 characters | R6 419 |
| 2 characters | R16 469 |
| 1 character | R113 619 |
Application fees as charged through a registered agent. You can also apply yourself at a Western Cape licensing office, where you handle the forms and queues.
Other provinces
You can check availability in all nine provinces. These are estimates for a typical personalised plate including agent fees, so confirm with your licensing department before you pay.
| Province | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | about R4 850 |
| Mpumalanga | about R4 700 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | about R3 500 |
| Limpopo | about R3 200 |
| Free State | about R3 000 |
| North West | about R2 800 |
| Northern Cape | about R2 530 |
What's not included
- The physical plates. They're made by a plate maker once your plate is registered.
- Fees when the plate is fitted to a car. Your licensing department charges these when you register the plate to your vehicle.
Why do shorter plates cost more?
There are far fewer short combinations to go around, and provinces price them as premium. That's also why they're more likely to be taken already, so check before you set your heart on one.
Prices are set by provincial licensing departments and agents and can change. CheckPlata is an independent service, not affiliated with any provincial licensing authority.