Vehicle License Plate Code and Its Region in Indonesia
License plates are a type of motor vehicle identification issued by the police (Korlantas Polri). Every vehicle such as motorcycles and cars must have a corresponding license plate. This is regulated by Law Number 22 of 2009 article 280 concerning Traffic and Road Transportation, which states that the law imposes sanctions on any individual who drives a motor vehicle without the Motor Vehicle Registration Number (TNKB) established by the Indonesian National Police.
This violation can result in a maximum imprisonment of 2 months or a fine of up to Rp500,000.00 (five hundred thousand rupiah). Therefore, understanding the license plate code becomes more important as part of compliance with traffic regulations.
Not only that, by understanding the vehicle license plate code, we can recognize the origin area, type, function of the vehicle, and even know the tax due date. For verification of due dates, online vehicle tax applications are very helpful.
This article will thoroughly discuss license plates, from how to read license plate codes to information about the back license plate codes throughout Indonesia.
How to Read Vehicle License Plate Codes and Their Areas
Above, we have recognized the function of vehicle plates and their history. So, how do we read the vehicle license plate code? For a complete explanation, see below:
1. Initial Letter
The meaning of the initial letter on the vehicle license plate is the code for the area or city of origin of the vehicle. However, for official vehicles, it is not in the form of letters but rather the emblem of the agency according to the origin of the vehicle.
2. Police Number
This number is the police number given at the time of registering the motor vehicle according to its sequence. The presence of this number is also a sign to recognize the type of vehicle. It includes both private and public vehicles.
This number consists of 1-4 digits. Examples of police numbers in the DKI Jakarta area include the following:
- 1-2999 is the number for passenger vehicles
- 3000-6999 is the number for motorcycles.
- 7000-7999 is the number for buses.
- 8000-8999 is the number for passenger/goods vehicles.
- 9000-9999 is the number for load-carrying vehicles or trucks.
3. Meaning of the First Letter After the Police Number
The meaning of the first letter after the police number indicates the area or region where the vehicle is registered. The list of letter codes after the number or the first letter after the police number for the JABODETABEK area is as follows:
- B - West Jakarta area
- C – Tangerang City area
- E – Depok area
- F – Bekasi Regency area
- G – Tangerang Regency area SAMSAT Tigaraksa
- K – Bekasi City area
- N – Tangerang Regency area SAMSAT BSD
- P – Central Jakarta area
- S – South Jakarta area
- T – East Jakarta area
- U – North Jakarta area
- V – Tangerang City area SAMSAT Ciledug
- W – South Tangerang City area
- Z – Depok City area
4. Meaning of the Second Letter After the Police Number
Next is the meaning of the second letter after the police number. The meaning of this second letter code symbolizes the type of vehicle based on its category. Here are some meanings of letters according to the type and category of the vehicle:
- A – Sedan/Pick Up type vehicle
- D – Truck type vehicle
- F – Minibus, Hatchback, City Car type vehicle
- J – Jeep and SUV type vehicle
- Q – Government staff type vehicle
- T – Taxi type vehicle
- U – Government staff type vehicle
- V – Minibus type vehicle
To make it clearer how to read the letter codes on vehicles, here is an example of the license plate B 1996 KAF, among others:
- The initial letter L at the beginning of the vehicle license plate indicates the location where the vehicle is registered in DKI Jakarta, Depok, and Bekasi.
- Then, the police number 1996 indicates that the vehicle belongs to the passenger vehicle category.
- The letter K or the first letter listed on the license plate indicates the origin of the vehicle from Bekasi.
- The letter A or the second letter on the license plate indicates the type of vehicle that falls into the Sedan/Pick Up category.
- The last letter F is a differentiator between one vehicle and another.
Read Also: How to Track License Plates Online
List of Codes on the Back License Plates of Vehicles Throughout Indonesia
Every license plate must have its own code. In addition to the code, color is also an important factor in distinguishing the function of the vehicle, for example, license plates with a yellow background and black writing are used for public vehicles, while a black background is used for private vehicles.
The letter at the beginning of the license plate code is the code for the area where the vehicle originates. Specifically for official vehicles, the letter at the beginning of the license plate code is the emblem of the agency where the vehicle originates. To find out the area code for the back license plate, you can access it in this article.
Here is the complete list of back license plate codes and their areas throughout Indonesia:
1. DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten Area License Plate Codes
| Area Name | Back License Plate Code |
| Serang City | A – A*/B*/C*/D* |
| Serang Regency | A – E*/F*/G*/H*/I* |
| Pandeglang Regency | A – J*/K*/L*/M*/N* |
| Cilegon City | A – O*/U* |
| Lebak Regency | A – P*/R*/S*/T* |
| Tangerang Regency | A – V*/W*/X*/Y*/Z* |
| West Jakarta Administrative City | B – B** |
| Tangerang City | B – C**/V** |
| Depok City | B – E**/Z** |
| Bekasi Regency | B – F** |
| Tangerang Regency | B – G**/N** |
| Bekasi City | B – K** |
| Central Jakarta Administrative City | B – P** |
| South Jakarta Administrative City | B – S** |
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