Number plates

To drive a vehicle on South Australian roads, you must have number plates on the vehicle that were issued by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and made by the approved manufacturer. They are the only plates that comply with the Motor Vehicles Act. Standard and special number plates are available.

Order replacement plates

Lost or damaged

If your number plates have been lost or damaged, you can apply for a replacement plate online.

Order replacement plate

Once the plates have been ordered, you can continue to drive your vehicle provided you keep the receipt with you when driving.

A replacement number plate fee applies.

Stolen or missing

If the number plates have been reported stolen or missing to the police, it's recommended you change the plate number.

Complete an application form (64.5 KB PDF) and go to a Service SA Customer Service Centre.

A new number plate fee applies, it may cost less if you provide a police report number.

Surrender plates

Complete the form MR300 Surrender of number plates (190.5 KB PDF).

Take the form and the plates to any Service SA customer service centre.

Renew a number plate agreement

You can renew a custom or euro plate agreement online.

Renew plate agreement

Displaying number plates

Number plates must be clearly visible from the front and rear of a motor vehicle and must not be obscured by anything, including a tow ball, plastic cover, dirt build-up, or any part of the vehicle's bodywork.

Motorcycles, trailers, and special-purpose vehicles only need one number plate displayed at the rear.

At night, the number plate on the rear of the vehicle must be lit with a white light so it can be read from 20 metres away.

Penalties apply for not complying with number plate laws, for example obscuring a number plate or driving with false plates.

Bike rack plates

If you have a bicycle rack attached to the back of your car, you may need a bike rack number plate.

Bicycle rack number plates have the same registration number as your motor vehicle and can't be used on any other vehicle.

A bicycle rack attached to a motor vehicle, and any bicycle on the rack, must not cover the rear number plate of the vehicle. When attaching a bicycle rack to the rear of a vehicle, you can either:

• display a bicycle rack number plate on the rack
• take the rear number plate off the motor vehicle and attach it to the bicycle rack

You must not display a standard number plate on both the rear of the vehicle and on a bicycle rack, or use homemade number plates.

You can order a bike rack plate online on the EzyPlates website.

When you are carrying bicycles on your rack, if the brake lights on the vehicle are not visible from 200 metres away under normal weather conditions, you must attach an additional brake light to the rack that is visible from 200 metres.

Special plates

Special plates are available for people who want something more than a standard, general-issue number plate allocated to vehicles in South Australia.

Special plates available include:

• custom
• personalised
• euro
• premium
• R&S series
• numeric
• corporate.

For more information, including fees and to order a plate online, visit the EzyPlates website.