Argentina vehicle license plate system reveals manufacturing years

In Argentina, the alphanumeric sequence on a vehicle's license plate can be used to determine its year of manufacture. Since April 2016, the country has utilized the Mercosur format, which consists of two letters, three numbers, and two letters (e.g., AA 000 AA). This system is designed to accommodate up to 450 million combinations.

The chronological progression of the Mercosur system shows specific series milestones: the AA series began in April 2016, followed by the AB series in February 2017, and the AE series in January 2020. As of November 2024, the registration has reached the AH series.

Prior to the Mercosur standard, Argentina used different formats. From 1994 to 2016, a system of three letters and three numbers was employed. Before 1994, the National Registry of Motor Vehicle Property (RNPA) used a format consisting of one letter and six digits on a black background, where the initial letter identified the vehicle's province or district.