ZG, ST, IM, DJ…understanding Croatian license plate codes

ZG, ST, IM, DJ…unraveling Croatian license plate codes

Croatia has its own unique system for its license plates and the current format for Croatian licence plates was introduced in 1992, following the country’s independence. 

The standard Croatian licence plates feature a city code comprised of two letters, separated by the country’s Coat of Arms, and followed by three or four numbers and one or two letters.

For example, the letters “ZG” indicate that the vehicle is registered in the city of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Other examples include “ST” for the county of Split-Dalmatia, and “KA” for the county of Karlovac.

ZG – Zagreb (Image: Milemarko/CC BY-SA 4.0)

After the first two letters, there are three numbers, followed by two more letters. The three numbers are assigned sequentially within each county, starting from 001, while the two letters at the end are random.

In addition to the standard licence plates, there are also special plates available in Croatia. These include personalised plates, which allow vehicle owners to choose their own combination of letters and numbers, as well as diplomatic plates for foreign embassies and consulates.

DE – Delnice (Image: Lan G/Public domain)

Croatia also has a system for temporary licence plates, which are issued to vehicles that have not yet been registered or have not yet received their permanent plates. These temporary plates are valid for a maximum of 30 days and consist of a red rectangle with black letters and numbers.

RI – Rijeka (Image: TheFlyingDutchman/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Below is a list of the two-letter codes for all the cities and towns which you can see of licence plates in Croatia, representing where the vehicle is registered.

Two-letter code – Cities/Towns

BJ – Bjelovar, Čazma, Garešnica

BM – Beli Manastir

ČK – Čakovec, Mursko Središće, Prelog

DA – Daruvar, Grubišno Polje, Lipik, Pakrac

DE – Čabar, Delnice

DJ – Đakovo

DU – Dubrovnik, Korčula, Metković, Opuzen, Ploče

GS – Gospić, Novalja, Otočac, Senj

IM – Imotski

KA – Duga Resa, Karlovac, Slunj, Ozalj

KC – Đurđevac, Koprivnica

KR – Donja Stubica, Klanjec, Krapina, Oroslavje, Pregrada, Zabok, Zlatar

KT – Kutina, Novska, Popovača

KŽ – Križevci

MA – Makarska, Vrgorac

NA – Donji Miholjac, Našice

NG – Nova Gradiška

OG – Ogulin

OS – Belišće, Osijek, Valpovo

PU – Buje, Buzet, Labin, Novigrad, Pazin, Poreč, Pula, Rovinj, Umag 

PŽ – Kutjevo, Pleternica, Požega

RI – Bakar, Cres, Crikvenica, Kastav, Kraljevica, Krk, Mali Lošinj, Novi Vinodolski, Opatija, Rab, Rijeka, Vrbovsko

SB – Slavonski Brod

SK – Glina, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Sisak, Petrinja

SL – Orahovica, Slatina

ST – Hvar, Kaštela, Komiža, Omiš, Sinj, Solin, Split, Stari Grad, Supetar, Trilj, Trogir, Vis, Vrlika

ŠI – Drniš, Knin, Skradin, Šibenik, Vodice

VK – Otok, Vinkovci

VT – Virovitica

VU – Ilok, Vukovar

VŽ – Ivanec, Lepoglava, Ludbreg, Novi Marof, Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice

ZD – Benkovac, Biograd na Moru, Nin, Obrovac, Pag, Zadar

ZG – Dugo Selo, Ivanić-Grad, Jastrebarsko, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja, Sveti Ivan Zelina, Velika Gorica, Vrbovec, Zagreb, Zaprešić

ŽU – Županja