Private or personalised number plates are a type of number plate for which the applicant may choose the inscription.
Application
To apply for a right to an inscription on a private number plate, an application must be submitted to the Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA).
The applicant must be the owner, co-owner or keeper of a vehicle. To apply for a private number plate, the applicant must own a vehicle or be registered as its co-owner or keeper. Private number plates may only be registered to cars and motorcycles in general use.
The private number plate's inscription is assigned to the holder's ID number, not to the vehicle. The right to a private number plate inscription is valid for eight years. The holder of the right may renew it through Ísland.is up to three months before the right expires.
Inscription
The inscription may consist of two to six Icelandic letters and numbers, with a maximum of six character spaces.
One blank space is permitted and counts as one of the six character spaces.
An inscription may not consist of two letters and three digits or three letters and two digits, as this could be confused with a standard registration number.
Characters such as hyphens, dots and commas are not permitted.
It is not possible to apply for an inscription that is already in use or that is too similar to another inscription already in use (for example, JÓN1 and JÓN 1, or JON and JÓN).
ICETRA assesses all applications and may reject inscriptions that do not meet the requirements or are likely to cause offence.
Renewal
The right to a private number plate inscription is valid for eight years and must be renewed at the end of the validity period.
The right may be renewed up to three months before it expires by paying the applicable rights fee.
If the right has not been renewed or the number plates have not been returned to ICETRA before the expiry date, the vehicle will be locked. The lock prevents the vehicle from being inspected or from undergoing a change of ownership.
The lock is removed once the rights fee has been paid or the private number plates have been returned to ICETRA.
When the right expires, the inscription becomes available for allocation to a new holder.
65 years and older
If the holder is 65 years of age or older when the right expires, no renewal fee is payable. Eligibility is based on the holder's birthday.
This does not apply if the applicant is 65 years of age or older when applying for the first time. In that case, the full fee must be paid.
Sale of a vehicle with a private number plate
When a vehicle is sold, the holder retains the right to the private number plate inscription unless the right is transferred to another person.
If a vehicle is registered with a private number plate, it must be fitted with standard number plates before a change of ownership can be registered. It is not possible to register a change of ownership for a vehicle that is registered with a private number plate.
The right to a private number plate inscription may be transferred by application. Once the transfer has been completed, the inscription immediately becomes available for allocation.
The private number plates must be returned to ICETRA. However, the owner may authorise the new owner to continue using the same number plates, provided they are in good condition.
Inspection of vehicles with private number plates
If the private number ends with a digit, the inspection month is determined by that digit, as with other registration plates.
If the private number ends with a letter, the inspection month is May.
Private number plate as a gift
Private number plates may be purchased as a gift from ICETRA, either as a gift certificate or as number plates with a chosen inscription.
Processing time
Private number plates are produced within three working days.
If you choose to collect the number plates from an inspection station outside the Capital Region, the delivery time may be longer.
Please note that no notification is sent when the number plates are ready for collection.
Cost
On first application
Rights fee 54.000 ISK
Production fee 13.472 ISK (6.736 ISK apiece)
Fee for registration 578 ISK
Total: 68.050 ISK
On renewal
Rights fee 54.000 ISK
When transporting between vehicles owned by the rightholder
Transportation fee 3.019 ISK
Fee for registration 578 ISK
Total: 3.597 ISK
Service provider
The Icelandic Transport Authority