Vehicle registration plates of the Australian Capital Territory

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Vehicle registration plates in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are issued to people who register their vehicles and must be displayed on the vehicle. Regular plates follow the standard Australian size of 372 mm by 134 mm and use the usual Australian numbering style.

What the plates look like and how they changed over time
- Before 1968: ACT used numeric plates from 1 up to 99-935, white text on navy blue.
- 1968: The blue-on-reflective-white style started with the YAB block (YAA-nnn series began). YAA was reserved for recalls, but public pressure led to allowing people to keep their old numbers if they updated to the blue-on-reflective-white design for a fee.
- ACT plates became the first in Australia to be reflective.
- 1979: A new slogan “ACT – Canberra The National Capital” appeared, starting at YMA-000 as the previous block ended at YJZ-999.
- 1983: Some older-style plates (YKA to YKK) were reissued to the public from stored stock.
- 1988 (Bicentennial): Special plates from YRS-000 to YSP-999 featured a black outline of Parliament House with 1788 on the left and 1988 on the right. These are rare and valuable today; remakes exist in the current embossing style.
- 1996: After reaching YZZ-999, the series moved back to YKL and filled unused blocks (YAQ, YBQ, YCQ, YDQ, YEQ, YFQ, YGQ, YHQ, YIQ, YJQ, ending at YLZ-999).
- 1998: The series changed to Yaa-nna, with the slogan simplified to “ACT – Canberra The Nation’s Capital” and an optional variant “ACT – Canberra Heart of the Nation.”
- 1999: NSW Premium embossed dies were adopted for ACT plates, starting from YAT-00A.
- 2007: Centenary plates for Canberra (for the centenary year 2013) appeared, starting with YGA-00A and moving through YGZ-99Z before jumping to YIA-00A. These were issued in 2013.
- 2015: A new slogan, “CANBERRA – AN AGE FRIENDLY CITY,” became available in addition to existing slogans. The new ranges were YKQ-00A to YKQ-99Z and YLP-00A to YLP-99Z. The Canberra – The Nation’s Capital series also got embossing tweaks and a slightly darker blue ink.
- 2017: The ACT government asked the public to vote on a new slogan. The winning option, “CANBERRA – THE BUSH CAPITAL,” joined with “CANBERRA – THE NATION’S CAPITAL.” Production of the new slogan plates began on 3 July 2017, and some older slogan plates were phased out.
- Late 2017: In response to same-sex marriage legislation, a rainbow-themed plate was announced, with rainbow colors running at the bottom instead of a slogan.
- 2018: ACT slimline plates were released, similar in style to NSW plates but blue on white with the ACT identifier.

Other plate types and changes
- Personalised plates: Since January 1984, ACT has offered personalised plates in the AA-000 to ZZ-999 range (blue-on-reflective-white). In 1999, the plate dies changed to NSW Premium embossing for some personalised plates (e.g., starting with AAT-00A).
- Plastic plates: Beginning in 1992, plastic plates in various colors were offered, but due to cracking, many were replaced with plexiglass by 1999. Formats included 12-345, AB-123, YAB-123, or YAB-12D.
- Motorcycle plates: A-0000
- Trailers: T-0000
- Other formats and skips: Some combinations were skipped over the years (for example, certain 12-345 or 99-999 blocks and specific Y-prefix combinations) as new series were issued.
- Since around 2025, Euro and Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) style plates have also appeared in the ACT.
- Public transport plates: ACT Government vehicles use red/brown-on-white plates with ACT GOVERNMENT below the number. ActewAGL company vehicles use YWE-nnn (W = water, E = electricity). Jervis Bay Territory vehicles use ACT plates in the YZO-nnn format, and from 2013 the YJJ-00A format has been introduced for new cases.
- Historic plates: Some historic vehicles owned by ACT motor clubs may use special, smaller plates with club logos for approved events.

Other notes
- Some ACT plates have become collectible, especially rare Bicentennial or early reflective designs.
- Some vehicle categories have had distinctive formats or branding through the years, including government and utility fleets.

In all cases, ACT plates continue to evolve with new slogans, formats, and designs while maintaining the requirement that registered vehicles display a plate.