Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

1986 No. 291 INTERSTATE ROAD TRANSPORT REGULATIONS - REG 21

21. (1) A registration plate in respect of a motor vehicle or trailer shall
display-

   (a)  a code consisting of the following sequence of characters:

        (i)    2 capital letters;

        (ii)   a dot or a diamond;

        (iii)  2 digits;

        (iv)   2 capital letters; and
(b) the words "FEDERAL INTERSTATE".

(2) The code to be displayed on a registration plate in respect of a motor
vehicle or trailer shall be allocated by the Registration Authority
registering the motor vehicle or trailer in accordance with the following
guidelines:

   (a)  the first character shall be-

        (i)    in the case of a motor vehicle or trailer being registered by
               the Registration Authority in respect of a State other than the
               Northern Territory-the first letter of the name of that State;

        (ii)   in the case of a motor vehicle or trailer being registered by
               the Registration Authority in respect of the Northern
               Territory-the letter C; or

        (iii)  in the case of a motor vehicle or trailer being registered by
               the Registration Authority in respect of the Australian Capital
               Territory-the letter A;

   (b)  the second character shall be-

        (i)    in the case of a motor vehicle-the letter V; or

        (ii)   in the case of a trailer-the letter T;

   (c)  the last four characters may be selected at random but so that the
        code displayed on the registration plate of the motor vehicle or
        trailer is different from the code displayed on the registration plate
        of any other registered motor vehicle or trailer.

(3) The dimensions and layout of a registration plate in respect of a motor
vehicle or trailer and the material from which it is made shall be such as are
approved by the Minister.

(4) The edges of, and all the characters and words displayed on, a
registration plate in respect of a motor vehicle or trailer shall be green in
colour but of such shade of green as is approved by the Minister, and the
background of the plate shall be yellow in colour but of such shade of yellow
as is approved by the Minister and shall be capable of reflecting light.