The two E-mails below were received in September/October 2001 with further information to add to the table of codes used in Ireland towards the end of the old scheme (particularly 'ZV'). 

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To whom it may concern

I happened upon your site and though I might be able to help with some
info.
1. I think the letter code GI was used for County Clare in the 80s I think
and IG was probably used for Tipp north or south.
2. IS was used in Mayo
3. ZG was first used in Dublin as AZG 123 in 1983 and again as ZG1234 in
1986 but never the reverse, as the new system started in 1987.
4. The same applies to ZS and ZV (only as 3 letters and three numbers) which were the
last codes used in Dublin before the 1987 system.
5. ZV followed by numbers was never used as a standard plate, so it is now
used to identify vintage vehicles registered after 1987 e.g., ZV 1234.
6. EZV was/is on many Bombadier buses used by the State bus operator Bus
Eireann. This was not specific to buses, but Bus Eireann most likely block
booked most of the EZV numbers. All state vehicles such as police, army,
etc. carry Dublin plates.

Also, In 1991 Ireland was the first EU state to introduce the blue tag on
EU number plates.

Hope you find this useful

regards

SOM

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Hi,
 
Came across your site on the Net.  Very interesting and accurate, but I noticed a reference to "ZV" in your table of licensing areas, and I'd like to offer to correct your reference to "buses?" against the ZV marks. ZV has NO specific connection with buses although some Dublin buses were registered HZV in large blocks during the mid-1980s, amongst many other vehicles. This was just an issue of current HZV numbers on a block-booking.
 
In the City and County of Dublin in the mid-1980s, Dublin Corporation (Licensing Authority for Dublin) issued ZV with the alphabet before it (a common way of progressing through the series) beginning with AZV-1 to AZV-999 and running right through the alphabet prefix letters as far as YZV-999 in December 1986 when the new system was introduced on January 1st 1987; (87-D-1 etc.)
 
However; in the early 1990s, representations by members of the Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club Ltd., to have an "age-related" registration system for older cars was considered by the Licensing Authorities. In effect, someone who imported a 1936 car into Dublin after 1/1/87 was likely to be given the number; 36-D-1 onwards, which would look terrible on such an old car. Also, 1987 regulations meant that the actual number plate would have to be a white reflective background with black figures and letters. (also terrible looking on an old car!)
 
The Licensing Authority (through the Dept of Finance) finally came up with a system for imported cars over 30yrs old which would depict an age-related system. (similar to the old "Z" series which expired in 1954) 
 
This means that all imported used vehicles over 30yrs old are issued with a "ZV" plate with 3 or 4 numbers depending upon the area in Ireland. These "ZV" numbers are issued at the Port Of Entry by the Customs & Excise office who inspect the imported vehicle's paperwork and check the vehicle physically for valuation.  They forward the next "ZV" number and the vehicle's details to the Licensing Authority who then issue a registration certificate for a used car over 30yrs old.
An Irish National, resident in R.O.I., can use either this age-related system or they can use the modern system, there is a choice. However, someone importing a 1915 car might end up with "15-D-13" or similar if they lived in Dublin which does not look correct on such an old car!
 
The Road Tax Classification for these ZV vehicles is also rated as "Veteran or Vintage" classification, and a reduced annual fee is paid for this (because the vehicle is not used on a regular basis) This is a set fee of IR£29 per annum.
 
Please ... see the complete table of ZV numbers allocated to the various Counties in the Republic of Ireland.
 
Hope this helps to clarify the reference to "buses?" in your table.
 
Regards,
 
Ciaran 

 

VETERAN  &  VINTAGE  VEHICLES
LICENSING
AUTHORITY		 ALLOCATION OF NUMBERS
IN ZV SERIES		 LICENSING
AUTHORITY		 ALLOCATION OF NUMBERS
 IN ZV SERIES
01 CARLOW ZV101 - ZV300 17 MEATH ZV3601 - ZV3800
02 CAVAN ZV301 - ZV500 18 MONAGHAN ZV3801 - ZV3999
03 CLARE ZV501 - ZV700 19 OFFALY ZV4001 - ZV4200
04 CORK ZV701 - ZV1200 (excl. ZV1000) 20 ROSCOMMON ZV4201 - ZV4400
05 DONEGAL ZV1201 - ZV1400 21 SLIGO ZV4401 - ZV4600
07 GALWAY ZV1401 - ZV1700 22 TIPP N.R. ZV4601 - ZV4800
08 KERRY ZV1701 - ZV1900 23 TIPP S.R. ZV4801 - ZV4999
09 KILDARE ZV2001 - ZV2200 24 WATERFORD CC ZV5001 - ZV5200
10 KILKENNY ZV2201 - ZV2400 25 WESTMEATH ZV5201 - ZV5400
11 LAOIS ZV2401 - ZV2600 26 WEXFORD ZV5401 - ZV5600
12 LEITRIM ZV2601 - ZV2800 27 WICKLOW ZV5601 - ZV5800
13 LIMERICK CC ZV2801 - ZV2999 29 DUBLIN ZV5801 - ZV6800 (excl. ZV6000)
14 LONGFORD ZV3001 - ZV3200 30 LIMERICK CBC ZV6801 - ZV6999
15 LOUTH ZV3201 - ZV3400 31 WATERFORD ZV7001 - ZV7200
16 MAYO ZV3401 - ZV3600