page_title: Vehicle registration plates of Mexico
section_title: Development
hierarchical_section_title: Vehicle registration plates of Mexico / Development
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Mexikansiches Kfz-Kennzeichen im europäischen Design aus Bundesstaat Baja CaliforniaEnglish: European-styled Mexican license plate from the state of Baja California.
context_page_description: Vehicle registration plates of Mexico are issued with unique visual designs by each state, but with a single national numbering system, such that serials are not duplicated in multiple states. Most states change designs approximately every three years, with each state having its own plate replacement cycle. Every year, owners of Mexican-registered vehicles pay the tenencia or revalidación de placas. A set of Mexican plates includes one pair of plates, a windshield sticker, and in some states a plate sticker. The international code for Mexico is "MEX".
context_section_description: In 2001 the size of the plate number was reduced in order to accommodate the addition of the state number, legend indicating the position of the plate on the vehicle (delantera (front) or trasera (rear)), and additional graphics.
  Mexican plates are issued in several different classifications: Private, Private Fronteriza, Public, Public Frontera, Servicio Público Federal, Inspección Fiscal y Aduanera, Armada de México, and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. The Fronteriza plates were introduced in 1972 and are available in the Mexico–United States border zone. This zone is formed by the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, as well as parts of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas. While the state of Nuevo León shares a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) border with the U.S., it does not have any cities within the border zone.
  As of 24 June 2016, the combinations issued had to be changed as no combinations may be repeated. From having used ABC-12-34, several jurisdictions began changing to ABC-123-A for private vehicles, A-123-ABC for public vehicles. Mexico City changed privately owned vehicles at the same time; they are now A12-ABC.
caption: European-style license plates have become popular, as with this example of an unofficial remake of a Baja California plate. Unofficial plates are legaloid: they remain technically illegal, but in practice they are tolerated. However, in most states the motorist can choose between Euro-style plates and the more common US-style plates.
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