How do I check a foreign number plate?

The quickest way to check a foreign number plate is to identify the vehicle country code displayed on the registration plate. These internationally recognised abbreviations indicate where a vehicle is registered and are commonly displayed alongside the registration number, flag or national identifier.

You can then compare the code against a vehicle country code chart, such as the one from National Numbers, to determine the vehicle's country of registration. In some cases, registration formats, plate colours, local scripts and regional identifiers can provide additional clues about where a vehicle is from.