Vehicle registration plates of Aruba

Aruba requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. The island is one of the last jurisdictions in the world to continue issuing new plates each year rather than showing re-validation through stickers or other documentation.

The license plates have been changed annually since 1950. Only until 1958 the name "ARUBA N.A." was displayed on it. In 1976 the slogan "ISLA DI CARNAVAL" (English :"Island of Carnaval") was added. The slogan was changed again in 1983 to display "ONE HAPPY ISLAND". Following Aruba's independence from the Netherlands Antilles the name "ARUBA N.A." was changed to "ARUBA". Since 2011 the word "ARUBA" was changed to "aruba.com".[1] The plate itself is valid for the first half of the year, and then a metal tab is added to indicate validity during the second half of the year.[2] This tab is painted in the reverse color scheme as the plate and displays the same serial number as the plate.[3]

From 2019 onwards the FE-Schrift or Fälschungserschwerende Schrift is used as the font for all vehicle registration plates of Aruba. Following this change in the font, the name "aruba.com" will be changed to "ARUBA.COM" in all capitals. This is the first time since 1993 that the licence plates have underwent a drastic change in the use of its font.

1931 to 1957

While license plates in Aruba may have been issued as early as 1924, few of these plates are known to exist. All plates issued through 1957 appear to have been 14 centimetres (5.5 in) in height by 36 centimetres (14 in) in width.

Image Year Plate colors Slogan Serial Format Serials Issued Notes
1931 pink on green none 1234-A
1932 white on dark blue none A-1234
1933 black on white none 1234-A
1934 yellow on black none A-1234
1935 white on blue none 1234-A
1936 red on white none A-1234
1937 white on black none 1234-A
1938 black on orange none A-1234
1939 white on dark blue none 1234-A
1940 black on white none A-1234
1941 yellow on black none 1234-A
1942 black on white none A-1234
1943 none 1234-A
1944 white on blue none A-1234
1945 black on white none 1234-A
1946 none A-1234
1947 yellow on black none A-1234
1948 black on white none 1234-A
1949 orange on black none A-1234
1950 black on golden yellow none 1234-A
1951 white on black none A-1234
1952 black on white none 1234-A
1953 golden yellow on black none A-1234
1954 black on golden yellow none A-1234
1955 golden yellow on black none A-1234
1956 black on orange none A-1234
1957 golden yellow on black none A-1234

1958 to 1975

In 1958 Aruba changed their license plate size to the North American standard plate size of 152 × 300 mm (6 × 12 inches). At the same time the words "ARUBA N.A." appeared at the top of the plate. Prior to 1958 the country name had not appeared on the plates. The long bolt slots introduced in 1960 allowed the use of 1/2 year validation tabs. Whether these tabs were issued from 1960 to 1963 is not known, but tabs for 1964 and all years since are known to exist.

Image Year Plate colors Slogan Serial Format Serials Issued Notes
1958 black on orange none A-1234
1959 golden yellow on black none A-1234
1960 white on blue none A-1234 Plates modified with long bolt slots to accommodate 1/2 year validation tabs.
1961 black on golden yellow none A-1234
1962 black on white none A-1234
1963 white on red none A-1234
1964 red on white none A-1234
1965 black on golden yellow none A-1234
1966 white on royal blue none A-1234
1967 golden yellow on black none A-1234
1968 white on maroon none A-1234
1969 maroon on white none A-12345 Longer serial format starting this year is based on earliest known 5-digit plate.
1970 green on white none A-12345
1971 white on maroon none A-12345
1972 black on orange none A-12345
1973 blue on white none A-12345
1974 white on maroon none A-12345
1975 white on blue none A-12345

1976 to 2003

In 1976 new license plates were introduced with the slogan "ISLA DI CARNIVAL" centered at the bottom. The year was simultaneously re-positioned vertically at the far right into two sets of numbers separated by a bolt hole. The slogan was changed again in 1983 to "ONE HAPPY ISLAND" after the Kingdom of the Netherlands agreed to grant Aruba its independence.

Image Year Plate colors Slogan Serial Format Serials Issued Notes
1976 black on off-white ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345
1977 red on golden yellow ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345
1978 golden yellow on red ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345

1979 red on white ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345
1980 white on brown ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345
1981 black on yellow ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345 Last year for wide dies for serial number.
1982 red on white ISLA DI CARNIVAL A-12345 New thinner style font for serial number introduced.
1983 yellow on light blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345 First year for new slogan.
1984 black on yellow ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345 Very thin style font introduced for serial numbers.
1985 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1986 red on yellow ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345 Last year for "Aruba N.A." at top of plate.
1987 white on mauve ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345

1988 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1989 white on red ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1990 white on blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1991 white on black ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345

1992 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1993 white on brown ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345

1994 white on blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1995 black on red ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1996 blue on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1997 white on pine green ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1998 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
1999 white on orange ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2000 brown on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2001 black on yellow ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2002 white on black ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2003 black on orange ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345

2004 to present

In 2004 the year of the license plate was moved to the left side, and it became hidden behind the semi-annual validation tab when the tab was placed onto the plate. This change allows the serial number to be moved farther to the right when five digit plates are used.

Image Year Plate colors Slogan Serial Format Serials Issued Notes
2004 yellow on black ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2005 white on blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2006 white on red ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2007 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2008 white on green ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2009 black on yellow ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2010 white on blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2011 white on red ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2012 brown on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2013 white on orange ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2014 black on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2015 white on blue ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345
2019 white on orange ONE HAPPY ISLAND
2020 maroon on white ONE HAPPY ISLAND A-12345

Type codes

The codes in the chart below are currently displayed as the first character in the serial number and identify the type of vehicle the license plate is registered to.

Prefix Type Prefix Type
A Private automobile MFA Motorcycle A
AG Agent MFD Motorcycle D
B Bus MFV Motorcycle V
BR Company car N Vanity plate
D Service vehicle O Non-scheduled transport
DT Diesel Truck T Touring
GAR Garage TR Truck
MBA Private motorboat TX Taxi
MBD Pilot boat V Rental car

References
  1. http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/Aruba/arubay2k.html
  2. Marvin, Keith (1963). License Plates of the World. Albany, New York: Walter C. Harriman. p. 46.
  3. http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/CA_ARUB.html
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