A Complete Guide to Sharjah Number Plate

What is a Sharjah Number Plate?

Every vehicle registered in Sharjah carries a plate issued by Sharjah Police. It shows the emirate name in English and Arabic, a numeric code (1, 2, or 3), the vehicle number (up to 5 digits), and the UAE emblem. Since the March 2025 redesign, all new Sharjah plates also carry a QR code. Scan it, and you get instant access to the vehicle’s registration details.

How to Buy a Car Number Plate in Sharjah?

The ways to buy a car number plate in Sharjah that are as follows:

• When You Buy Number Plate for New Car - Generally, you get the number plate while car registration. After completing the car registration process, you will get the date to collect your car number plate from the concerned SRTA ( Sharjah Roads And Transport Authority).
• When You Buy Number Plate for Second Hand Car - You can receive a car number plate in Sharjah from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website or the MOI app in Sharjah. At many locations, this service is available at Happiness Service Centers. At the testing centres, the car is tested thoroughly, including, complete vehicle check, fines on the number plate and more.
• When You Buy a Specialised Number Plate - A specialised number plate option is also available in Sharjah to make a car stand out. So, many people prefer to get specialised number plates. You can buy the specialised number plates from several websites. However, these are limited so an additional fee is charged.

Note: You might need an Emirates auction, original ID, and a few other documents while applying for a car number plate in Sharjah. It’s recommended that you check the official website.

How Does the Sharjah Plate Code System Work?

Most people do not know this: Sharjah uses only 3–4 numeric codes, while Dubai has 30+ letter codes. Abu Dhabi has 50 categories. Sharjah keeps it simple.

Code	Who Uses It	Notes
Code 1	Private passenger vehicles (older series)	First issued — slight collector premium on secondary market
Code 2	Private passenger vehicles (newer series)	Most common code on Sharjah roads today
Code 3	Private vehicles — distinguished plates	Auctioned via Emirates Auction; high demand at auction
Code 4	Limited use — specific vehicle categories	Less commonly referenced in public listings

For instance, a plate that reads ‘2 / 54321’ means Code 2, plate number 54321. The code is a separate category marker, which is not a part of the plate number.

What Do the Different Colours of Sharjah Number Plates Mean?

In the UAE, plate colour tells you the vehicle’s purpose. Sharjah follows this national colour system:

Plate Colour	Vehicle Type	Who Has It
White	Private cars and personal vehicles	Any private car owner
Green	Taxis and commercial vehicles	Taxi drivers, delivery vans, trucks
Red	Temporary and test vehicles	Dealer test drives, vehicles in transit
Blue	Diplomatic vehicles	Embassy and consulate cars
Brown (NEW Dec 2025)	Classic cars and motorcycles	Heritage vehicle owners — Sharjah only
Yellow	Rental cars	Vehicles leased by car rental companies

Important: The brown classic car plate launched in December 2025 is unique to Sharjah. No other emirate has introduced this specific format.

What Changed in the March 2025 Sharjah Plate Redesign?

On 26 February 2025, Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer of Sharjah Police officially unveiled a completely new plate design. Users could exchange old plates from 3 March 2025 at any Sharjah service centre.

What changed:

1. New modern visual identity aligned with Sharjah’s official design standards
2. QR code added to every plate, which links to vehicle registration data
3. Improved visibility and durability of text and emblem
4. Classic car and motorcycle plates introduced as a new category (December 2025)

“The new design incorporates artistic elements that enhance the visual appeal. The precise writing lines and harmony with other design elements contribute to the beauty of the number plates." — Colonel Khalid Mohammed Al Kai, Director, Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department, Sharjah Police

What are the Categories of Sharjah Number Plates?

Sharjah plates fall into three groups:

1. Standard Registration Plates

These are assigned automatically when you register a vehicle in Sharjah. You get the next available number in Code 1 or Code 2. No auction required, and no extra fee beyond standard registration charges applies.

2. Distinguished (Special) Number Plates

These are plates with memorable combinations — single digits, double digits, repeating numbers (like 5555), or round numbers (like 10000). They are sold at auction or direct sale via Emirates Auction in cooperation with Sharjah Police.

Real auction prices from recent Sharjah Police events:

Plate Number	Sale Price* (AED)	Auction Type
Plate '3' (single digit)	9,000,000	Public auction — highest bid
Plate '30' (two digits)	3,000,000	Public auction
Plate '44' (two digits)	2,150,000	Public auction
Plate '77' (two digits)	1,460,000	Online auction — Code 3
11111 (five repeating digits)	680,500	Online auction — Code 3
555 (three repeating digits)	465,000	Online auction — Code 3
5555 (four repeating digits)	356,500	Online auction — Code 3
Standard 4–5 digit plates	3,000 – 12,000	Direct sale range

*For reference only

3. Classic Car and Motorcycle Plates (New — December 2025)

In December 2025, Sharjah Police introduced a dedicated plate category for classic vehicles and motorcycles. These plates combine modern registration standards with the heritage character of classic vehicles. They are sold via Emirates Auction.

How Can You Search for a Sharjah Plate Number Online?

You can look up information connected to a Sharjah plate number through these official channels:

Method	What You Can Do	Link/App
Sharjah Police website	Check traffic fines by plate number	shjpolice.gov.ae
MOI UAE portal	View fines across all emirates	moi.gov.ae
MOI UAE App	Check and pay fines from your phone	App Store & Google Play
Sharjah Police App	Real-time fine alerts and payment	App Store & Google Play
EVG platform	Fine inquiry by plate, licence or Emirates ID	evg.gov.ae
SRTA portal	Fine inquiry for Sharjah-registered vehicles	srta.gov.ae

Steps to Replace a Lost Sharjah Number Plate

To replace a lost Sharjah number plate, here’s what you can do:

1. Report the loss immediately — Visit the nearest Sharjah Police station and file an official complaint. This protects you legally if the plate is misused. To replace a lost or stolen car number plate in Sharjah, you need to visit a local police station first.
2. Get a certificate for the lost/damaged plate — Go to the Sharjah Police website, select Services → Police Services → 'To whom it may concern' certificate, fill in the required fields, and submit the request. You can do this online without visiting a service centre.
3. Visit a Tasjeel or Sharjah Police vehicle licensing centre with your Emirates ID and vehicle registration card (Mulkiya) to apply for the replacement plate.
4. Pay the replacement fee — You need to pay for this service, payable by credit card or E-Dirham.
5. Collect the new plate — The new plate is usually ready within a few business days once the application is accepted and all fees are paid.

Important Sharjah Number Plate Penalty: Driving without a plate can result in a fine of AED 3,000 and 24 black points. In some cases, the vehicle may be confiscated for up to 90 days.

RTA/Driving License
RTA - Roads and Transport Authority	Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Sharjah	Driving License UAE
Transfer Car Registration	Driving License in Dubai
Driving Licence in Abu Dhabi	Driving Licence in Sharjah

How Do You Buy a Distinguished Sharjah Number Plate?

There are two ways to buy a special Sharjah plate number:

1. Through Emirates Auction

Sharjah Police partners with Emirates Auction for all distinguished plate sales. You can bid online or buy directly at fixed prices.

• Online auction - Bid at emiratesauction.com or via the Emirates Auction app
• Direct sale - Visit the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at Sharjah Police or the Emirates Auction centre at the Traffic Department, Al Ramtha Area, Sharjah
• Direct sale prices for standard 4–5 digit plates generally range from AED 3,000 to AED 12,000

2. Secondary Market

You can buy plates from private sellers through platforms. Plates can be registered under your name even without a vehicle attached, making them a standalone collectable asset.

How Does the Sharjah Plate Compare to Dubai and Abu Dhabi Plates?

Feature	Sharjah	Dubai	Abu Dhabi
Code system	Numeric: 1, 2, 3	Letter-based: A–Z, AA–FF	Numeric: Categories 1–50
Total active codes	3–4 codes	30+ codes	50 categories
Plate scarcity	High (fewer combinations)	Low (many codes)	Moderate
New plate design	March 2025 (QR code added)	Digital plates in testing 2024	Ongoing updates
Classic car plate	Yes (launched Dec 2025)	Classic plates exist (historical)	Not announced

Related Link -

Dubai Car Number Plate - Number Plate Type, Reserve & Replace

Abu Dhabi Car Number Plate - New & Used Car, Reserve, Replace, Charges

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