Türkiye License Plate Codes: Which City Has Which Plate from 01 to 81?
While traveling on the roads of Türkiye, we see a number on the back of every vehicle: the license plate code! These numbers, ranging from 01 to 81, are not just identification numbers; they are also an important indicator of our country's administrative history and transformation. So, how did this system emerge? What was the license plate arrangement like before 1962? Here is the history, present, and unknown aspects of Türkiye's license plate codes!
What Was the License Plate System Like Before 1962?
In the early years when motor vehicles first appeared in Türkiye, there was no standardized license plate system. Since the number of vehicles was low in the 1920s, plates were either not used at all or were numbered differently within each city.
1920s - 1930s: City-Specific Plates
A vehicle in Istanbul carried a plate like “İST-134,” while in Ankara, the format “ANK-256” was used.
Some cities used only numbers, while others had a combination of letters and numbers.
License plate codes for each province were determined by local administrations, and there was no national standard.
As intercity travel increased, this system caused great confusion. It was difficult to determine which city a vehicle belonged to, making registration processes more complicated.
1940s - 1950s: First Regulations
By the 1940s, the number of motor vehicles in Türkiye had increased rapidly, and steps were taken to standardize license plates.
✔ Letters representing the city were added to the left side of the plates, while numbers were placed on the right side.
✔ Plates began to gain a national standard.
✔ The plate allocation process was transferred from local administrations to a centralized system.
However, there was still no fixed number system for cities, and different practices continued in each region.
1962: Standardization of License Plate Codes
The license plate code system we use today, ranging from 01 to 81, was established in 1962. At that time, there were 67 provinces in Türkiye, and they were listed alphabetically, with numbers assigned starting from 1.
Formation of License Plate Codes in 1962
The provinces were arranged alphabetically: Adana received 01, Adıyaman 02, Afyonkarahisar 03, and so on.
Istanbul was assigned 34, Ankara 06, and İzmir 35.
Since there were only 67 provinces in 1962, numbering was done up to 67.
This system made license plate codes standardized across the country and easily recognizable by everyone.
Provinces That Became Cities Later (68-81)
After 1962, with the establishment of new provinces, new license plate codes were added from 68 to 81. However, since they were not added alphabetically, some inconsistencies appeared in the system.
For example:
Aksaray (68), Karaman (70), Osmaniye (80), and Düzce (81) do not follow the alphabetical order because these cities became provinces later.
License plate codes are no longer assigned alphabetically but are added sequentially.
Current List of License Plate Codes in Türkiye
Here are all the license plate codes from 01 to 81 in Türkiye:
01 - Adana
02 - Adiyaman
03 - Afyonkarahisar
04 - Agri
05 - Amasya
06 - Ankara
07 - Antalya
08 - Artvin
09 - Aydin
10 - Balikesir
11 - Bilecik
12 - Bingol
13 - Bitlis
14 - Bolu
15 - Burdur
16 - Bursa
17 - Canakkale
18 - Cankiri
19 - Corum
20 - Denizli
21 - Diyarbakir
22 - Edirne
23 - Elazig
24 - Erzincan
25 - Erzurum
26 - Eskisehir
27 - Gaziantep
28 - Giresun
29 - Gumushane
30 - Hakkari
31 - Hatay
32 - Isparta
33 - Mersin (Icel)
34 - Istanbul
35 - Izmir
36 - Kars
37 - Kastamonu
38 - Kayseri
39 - Kirklareli
40 - Kirsehir
41 - Kocaeli
42 - Konya
43 - Kutahya
44 - Malatya
45 - Manisa
46 - Kahramanmaras
47 - Mardin
48 - Mugla
49 - Mus
50 - Nevsehir
51 - Nigde
52 - Ordu
53 - Rize
54 - Sakarya
55 - Samsun
56 - Siirt
57 - Sinop
58 - Sivas
59 - Tekirdag
60 - Tokat
61 - Trabzon
62 - Tunceli
63 - Sanliurfa
64 - Usak
65 - Van
66 - Yozgat
67 - Zonguldak
68 - Aksaray
69 - Bayburt
70 - Karaman
71 - Kirikkale
72 - Batman
73 - Sirnak
74 - Bartin
75 - Ardahan
76 - Igdir
77 - Yalova
78 - Karabuk
79 - Kilis
80 - Osmaniye
81 - Duzce
Interesting Facts About License Plate Codes
Why is Istanbul’s plate 34?
This is a frequently asked question, and the answer is quite simple: Istanbul was given the 34th place due to alphabetical order.
Why is Mersin’s plate 33?
Although Mersin officially abandoned the name İçel in 2002, it was still registered as İçel when plate codes were assigned, so its code remains "33."
Why are the cities that became provinces later not in alphabetical order?
The cities numbered 68 to 81 received their codes based on the order of their establishment, not alphabetically.
License plate codes are not just a system for identifying vehicles; they are an essential part of Türkiye’s administrative history. Until 1962, there was a chaotic system, but after that year, a standardized numbering system, recognized by everyone, was established across Türkiye.
Today, just by looking at a plate, we can immediately tell which city a vehicle is from. That’s why license plate codes continue to be an important part of Türkiye’s journey!
Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 09:47
