View source for Vehicle registration plates of Lithuania

{{short description|Lithuania  vehicle license plates}}
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2017}}

[[File:Lietuvos valstybinis numeris 2023.jpg|thumb|A current-style Lithuanian registration plate]]
[[File:Lithuania licenseplate EU.JPG|thumb|A plate of the type issued between 2004–2023]]
[[File:LITHUANIA 1990'S passnger - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg|thumb|A plate of the type issued between 1993-2004]]
Standard '''vehicle registration plates in [[Lithuania]]''' bear three letters and three numbers (e.g. ABC 123) in black lettering on a white background. The plates are usually of the [[Vehicle registration plates of Europe|standard EU dimensions]], but can also be manufactured in the American dimensions for special import vehicles. All plates issued since 2004 also bear a blue [[European Union|EU]] identification stripe on their left-hand edge. Those issued between the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990 and the country's accession to the [[European Union]] in 2004 bore a similar stripe with a small [[Flag of Lithuania|Lithuanian flag]] in place of the [[flag of the European Union]]. 

Originally the license plates had a space in the middle for stickers; the stickers were discontinued after April 2018. Plates issued since October 2023 bear the [[coat of arms of Lithuania]] between the right side of the EU stripe and the number (above the EU stripe for two-line or narrow plates).

==Area designations==
Until 2004 the second of the three letters in each registration mark indicated the geographical administrative area in which the vehicle had originally been registered, as follows:
{{Image label begin|image=Apskritis of Lithuania.png|width=500|float=right}}

{{Image label small|x=0.54|y=0.63|scale=500|text=<big>'''A'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.53|y=0.42|scale=500|text=<big>'''K'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.14|y=0.23|scale=500|text=<big>'''L'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.39|y=0.50|scale=500|text=<big>'''M'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.63|y=0.17|scale=500|text=<big>'''P'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.43|y=0.18|scale=500|text=<big>'''S'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.29|y=0.33|scale=500|text=<big>'''J'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.25|y=0.16|scale=500|text=<big>'''T'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.77|y=0.29|scale=500|text=<big>'''U'''</big>}}
{{Image label small|x=0.72|y=0.50|scale=500|text=<big>'''V'''</big>}}
{{Image label end}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Code
! County
! Example
|-
| A
| [[Alytus County]]
| A'''A'''A 123
|-
| J
| [[Tauragė County]] (but code from first letter of [[Jurbarkas]])
| A'''J'''A 123
|-
| K
| [[Kaunas County]]
| A'''K'''A 123
|-
| L
| [[Klaipėda County]]
| A'''L'''A 123
|-
| M
| [[Marijampolė County]]
| A'''M'''A 123
|-
| P
| [[Panevėžys County]]
| A'''P'''A 123
|-
| S
| [[Šiauliai County]]
| A'''S'''A 123
|-
| T
| [[Telšiai County]]
| A'''T'''A 123
|-
| U
| [[Utena County]]
| A'''U'''A 123
|-
| V
| [[Vilnius County]]
| A'''V'''A 123
|}

Numbers beginning with LRS and LRV were issued to government officials. Starting in 2004, the area designation was abolished and any letter (except for Q, W and X, which are not used in Lithuanian registration numbers) became admissible as the middle letter.

== Special types ==

=== Temporary ===
Vehicles issued temporary registration in Lithuania are noted by red alphanumeric characters on white background.

==== Types ====
[[File:Lithuanian dealer license plate.JPG|thumb|Dealer plate]]
===== Vehicles imported to Lithuania or vehicles exported from Lithuania =====
As of July 2022, these plates are valid for up to 30 days. They can be re-issued to the same vehicle only after it has been issued standard license plates in the meantime.
{| border="1"
| style="background:white; font-size: 18pt; color: red" |[[File:EU-section-with-LT.svg|19px]] 24214AA&nbsp;
|}
===== Vehicles sold by vehicle selling companies or organizations (professional or trade number plates) =====
{| border="1"
| style="background:white; font-size: 18pt; color: red" |[[File:EU-section-with-LT.svg|19px]] P28737&nbsp;
|}
Plates issued since April 2018 start with the letter P followed by five digits; the registration does not expire. Prior to that, numbers consisted of a letter (P or R) followed by four digits, a space and two more digits, the latter indicating the year of expiration.

=== Diplomatic Corps ===
[[File:Lithuanian diplomatic license plate.JPG|thumb|Diplomatic plate]]
Reserved and used by diplomatic corps. Plates have a green background and white characters; they do not have blue sidebar on the left side. The numbers are made up of six digits, grouped '''01 3 123''', with the first two digits denoting the embassy or other diplomatic or consular representation:
{| class="wikitable"
!Code !!Country or Organization
|-
|01 || {{flag|Sweden}}
|-
|02 || {{flag|Germany}}
|-
|03 || {{flag|France}}
|-
|04 || {{flag|Latvia}}
|-
|05 || {{flag|Denmark}}
|-
|06 || {{flag|Canada}}
|-
|07 || {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
|08 || {{flag|Italy}}
|-
|09 || {{flag|Norway}}
|-
|10 || {{flag|Finland}}
|-
|11 || {{flag|Holy See}}
|-
|12 || {{flag|Turkey}}
|-
|13 || {{flag|Czech Republic}}
|-
|14 || {{flag|United States}}
|-
|15 || {{flag|China}}
|-
|16 || {{flag|Poland}}
|-
|17 || {{flag|Poland}}
|-
|18 || {{flag|Estonia}}
|-
|19 || {{flag|Russia}}
|-
|20 || {{flag|Russia}}
|-
|21 || {{flag|Romania}}
|-
|22 || {{flag|Ukraine}}
|-
|23 || {{flag|Belarus}}
|-
|24 || {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
|-
|25 || {{flag|Georgia}}
|-
|26 || {{flag|Japan}}
|-
|27 || {{flag|Austria}}
|-
|28 || {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
|29 || {{flag|Netherlands}}
|-
|30 || {{flag|Hungary}}
|-
|31 || {{flag|Spain}}
|-
|32 || {{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}
|-
|33 || {{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}
|-
|34 || {{flag|Ireland}}
|-
|35 || {{flag|Portugal}}
|-
|36 || {{flag|Moldova}}
|-
|37 || {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|-
|38 || {{flag|Bulgaria}}
|-
|39 || {{flag|Armenia}}
|-
|40 || {{flag|Croatia}}
|-
|41 || {{flag|Israel}}
|-
|80 || {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Nordic_Council.svg}} [[Nordic Council of Ministers]]
|-
|81 || {{flagicon image|Logo-World-Bank-IBRD-IDA.svg|36}} [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]]
|-
|82 || <!-- {{flagicon image|Ebrd logo.svg|25}} --> [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]]
|-
|83 || {{flagicon image|Flag of WHO.svg}} [[World Health Organization]]
|-
|84 || {{flagicon|UN}} [[United Nations Development Program]]
|-
|85 || [[International Organization for Migration]]
|-
|86 || {{flagicon|EU}} [[European Commission]]
|-
|87 || {{flag|United Nations}}
|-
|88 || [[European Institute for Gender Equality]]
|-
|89 || [[NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence]] 
|}

=== Taxicabs ===
{| border="1"
| style="background:yellow; font-size: 18pt; color: black" |[[File:EU-section-with-LT.svg|19px]] T06868&nbsp;
|}

[[Image:Taxi plate of LT.png|thumb|right|Taxi registration plate of Lithuania, issued before April 2018]]

[[Taxicab]]s have plates with white background and black text. The first letter is "T" (corresponds to the first letter of the word "taksi" in Lithuanian) and is followed by five numbers.

Before the 3rd of April, 2018, taxi plates had a yellow background and black text, with the same number scheme. These plates continued to be valid and registration centers issued these plates beyond April 3, 2018, until stocks were exhausted.

=== Military transport ===
[[File:License plate of Lithuania LK006D military (2023).jpg|thumb|Military license plate]]
Military transportation has black background and white text registration plates. They do not have the side-field, only the [[flag]].

=== Vintage cars ===
{| border="1"
| style="background:white; font-size: 18pt; color: black" |[[File:EU-section-with-LT.svg|19px]] H02401&nbsp;
|}

Plates for vintage cars have been issued since July 1, 2014. Originally these plates had white characters on a brown background, which was changed to black on white as of April 3, 2018. They start with the letter H, followed by five digits (four for motorcycles).

== Technical check sticker ==

The registration plate has a special spot, usually between the letters and numbers but occasionally to the left of the letters, to attach a sticker certifying the compulsory periodic technical inspection to check for compliance with safety/emissions standards. The sticker is no longer compulsory from 2015.

==Confusion with [[Vehicle registration plates of Sweden|Swedish plates]]==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2018}}[[File:Swedish euro license plate.jpg|thumb|200px|Swedish standard plate]]
Lithuanian standard plates are almost identical to Swedish standard plates. The [[Stockholm congestion tax]] system uses [[automatic number plate recognition]] to identify plates, and this system can not distinguish between Swedish and Lithuanian plates. Initially, non-Swedish cars did not have to pay this tax, but a Swedish owner will be charged if there is one with same number, which is likely. Even after the application of this tax to foreign cars, the problem persists; the Swedish owner of a number, not the actual Lithuanian owner, will be charged. The false tax will be cancelled after a manual check if the owner complains. Swedish taxes must be paid on time anyway and will be refunded if there is an error.

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|License plates of Lithuania}}
* [http://www.regitra.lt/ State Enterprise "Regitra"], the administrative branch of the government in charge of vehicle registrations, vehicle operator licensing and technical inspections (in English and Lithuanian)

{{Vehicle registration plates of Europe}}

[[Category:Vehicle registration plates by country|Lithuania]]
[[Category:Road transport in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Lithuania transport-related lists]]
[[Category:Vehicles of Lithuania| Registration plates]]