Private vehicle owners will pay up to 56,000 birr as Ethiopia launches a technology-driven vehicle identification system featuring RFID chips, QR codes, and a unified national registration platform.
Addis Ababa has begun issuing Ethiopia’s new standardized vehicle number plates, marking the first major step in a nationwide effort to modernize vehicle registration and replace the country’s decades-old region-based system.
The Addis Ababa Drivers and Vehicles Licensing and Control Authority officially launched the rollout on Thursday across its 11 branch offices, bringing a long-planned transport reform from policy documents into everyday reality for motorists in the capital.
Speaking during a briefing at the authority’s headquarters, Director-General Zegeye Belayneh said the previous plate system had become increasingly vulnerable to damage, forgery, and administrative inefficiencies, while also proving difficult to produce and distribute.
Under the new format, all vehicles will carry the national identifier “ETH” and the Ge’ez inscription “ኢት”, replacing regional plate codes that have been used across Ethiopia for decades. Officials explained that the previous international designation “ET” could not be used because it had already been assigned to Egypt under the Vienna Convention.
The new plates incorporate Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, QR codes, and advanced security features designed to enable real-time verification and improve regulatory oversight. Authorities say each plate will remain with a vehicle throughout its operational lifespan, while vehicle information will be accessible through a centralized national database shared across major regions.
Officials believe the technology-backed system will help combat plate duplication, vehicle-related crimes, document forgery, and long-standing inefficiencies associated with the fragmented regional registration framework.
At the Bole Sub-city branch visited on Thursday, dozens of vehicle owners queued to receive the new plates shortly after the rollout began. Taye Dibaba, director of the bureau, said approximately 100 vehicle owners had already registered at the branch on the first day.
New Fee Structure Revealed
Alongside the launch, authorities released the official tariff schedule for the new plates.
Owners of private vehicles powered by fuel will pay 56,000 birr, while owners of electric vehicles will pay 44,500 birr.
The same fee structure applies to taxis, government vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, and vehicles owned by international organizations.
Public transport operators will pay 11,000 birr for conventional vehicles and 9,400 birr for electric vehicles.
Freight trucks and trailers will pay 28,500 birr for fuel-powered vehicles and 15,200 birr for electric vehicles.
Motorcycles, Bajajs, agricultural vehicles, and several special-purpose vehicle categories will pay 9,400 birr for conventional vehicles and 7,100 birr for electric vehicles.
Temporary plates will cost 4,700 birr for conventional vehicles and 3,550 birr for electric vehicles.
The lower fees for electric vehicles reflect the government’s broader efforts to encourage cleaner transportation and support Ethiopia’s growing electric mobility ambitions.
Initial Rollout Targets Newly Registered Vehicles
For now, the transition is limited to newly registered vehicles.
According to the authority, Addis Ababa currently has approximately 800,000 registered vehicles, while more than 1,000 vehicles have already been enrolled to receive the new plates.
Officials said details regarding future phases and deadlines for existing vehicle owners to replace their current plates will be announced at a later stage.
Delayed but Finally Underway
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics first unveiled the new registration system in October, when Transport Minister Alemu Sime (PhD) and State Minister Bareo Hassen presented plans for a nationwide rollout.
At the time, officials anticipated implementation would begin within two months. However, the launch was delayed after authorities encountered technical challenges during system deployment and conducted multiple adjustments to the platform.
Assefa Hadis, Head of Transport Service Supervision at the ministry, said regional states will begin issuing the new plates once they complete their own preparations.
The ministry has already imported approximately four million vehicle plates manufactured by a Chinese company, although officials declined to identify the supplier. Future production is expected to be handled domestically by Ethiopian Public Service facilities.
A Key Step Toward Transport Digitalization
The rollout represents one of the first major implementations of Directive No. 1050/2025, introduced by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics to replace Ethiopia’s region-based vehicle registration framework with a unified national system.
Beyond simply changing license plates, authorities view the initiative as a foundational step toward modernizing transport administration, strengthening law enforcement capabilities, improving vehicle traceability, and integrating Ethiopia’s rapidly growing vehicle fleet into a single national digital platform.
As the program expands beyond Addis Ababa and into regional states, Ethiopia is embarking on one of the most significant transformations of its vehicle registration system in decades—one that officials hope will enhance security, improve efficiency, and support the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
