Punjab Number Plate Size and Format: Car Plate 325 by 152 mm, Official Excise Sample
Punjab Excise publishes a sample number plate with sizes: 325 by 152 mm for cars, 200 by 170 mm for rickshaws. See every size, the colours and the warning.
Short answer: Punjab Excise's official sample plate sizes are 325 by 152 mm for cars, trucks, buses, pickups and vans, front and back. Rickshaw and motorcycle rear plates are 200 by 170 mm, and a motorcycle front plate is 205 by 70 mm. Plates are white with thick black letters. Other designs are not allowed.
A plate maker in Lahore shows you a stylish plate with a bold new font. It looks good. It may also be illegal. The Excise Department has published a sample plate with exact sizes, and it warns that non-standard plates are an offence.
We read the "Number Plate prescribed Format/Size" notice on the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department's announcements page on 12 October 2026. It is a poster in Urdu with a picture of each plate. The page does not show a date, so check with the Excise office if you need to know when it was issued.
Official plate sizes by vehicle type
The poster gives the length and width for four kinds of plate. The measurements are printed in millimetres. Each plate shows "PUNJAB" and the department's mark at the top, then three letters and three digits, for example ABC 000.
| Vehicle | Plate position | Length | Width | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car, truck, bus, pickup, van | Front and back | 325 mm | 152 mm | One line, ABC 000 |
| Rickshaw | Front and back | 200 mm | 170 mm | Two lines, ABC above 000 |
| Motorcycle | Back | 200 mm | 170 mm | Two lines, ABC above 000 |
| Motorcycle | Front | 205 mm | 70 mm | One line, ABC 000 |
For a quick sense of scale, the car plate is about 12.8 inches long and 6 inches tall. A motorcycle front plate is a thin strip, 205 by 70 mm.
Colours and lettering the sample shows
The poster describes the writing in one line. The background is white. The letters and digits are thick and black. The sample shows no logo, picture or extra text on the plate.
The sample is for the standard plate. A personalised plate bought in the vanity scheme has its own design rules, which are explained in the page on the vanity number plate auction in Punjab.
You can have the plate made where you like
According to the poster, owners can make their number plate wherever they choose, immediately after registering the vehicle with the department. It says this comes without a number plate fee charged by the department, and that the owner should follow the sample and sizes.
That has a practical meaning. You do not have to wait for the Excise office to supply a plate. You can take the registration number to a plate maker, give the sizes in the table and ask for exactly that. Keep the receipt and check the sizes with a tape before you pay.
If you buy a new vehicle from a dealer, the registration and plate are handled before delivery now. The rule is covered in the report on how Punjab vehicle registration before delivery works.
If you are not sure what to ask for, take this short list to the plate maker.
- Car, van, pickup, truck or bus: one line, 325 by 152 mm, front and back.
- Rickshaw: two lines, 200 by 170 mm, front and back.
- Motorcycle back plate: two lines, 200 by 170 mm.
- Motorcycle front plate: one line, 205 by 70 mm.
- White background, thick black letters, no extra text.
What the notice says about non-standard plates
The poster carries a warning, in large letters, that using a non-sample plate is against the law. It shows photos of four plates that do not follow the sample, each marked with a cross. It says action under strict legal provisions will follow.
The poster does not state a fine amount. Fines for vehicle offences in general are in the table of Punjab traffic fines, though that table does not list a plate offence specifically.
How to check your plate against the sample
- Measure the length and width of each plate with a ruler or tape, in millimetres.
- Compare the numbers with the table. A car plate should be 325 by 152.
- Check that the background is white and the letters and digits are black and thick.
- Check that the layout is one line for cars and two lines for rickshaw and motorcycle rear plates.
- Look for any logo, picture or extra text that is not on the sample.
- If the plate is wrong, have it remade to the sample before you drive on it.
Common questions
What size is a car number plate in Punjab?
325 mm long and 152 mm wide, according to the Excise sample. The same size applies to trucks, buses, pickups and vans.
What is the size of a motorcycle number plate?
The back plate is 200 by 170 mm in two lines. The front plate is 205 by 70 mm in one line.
Can I get my plate made at a private shop?
Yes, according to the notice, as long as it follows the sample and sizes.
Can I use a stylish font?
No. The sample shows thick black letters on white and warns against other styles.
Is there a fine for a wrong plate?
The notice says legal action will follow but gives no amount. We could not find a specific figure on the page.
Does the sample change for a vanity plate?
Vanity plates are a separate scheme with their own terms. Check those terms before you order the plate.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the Excise Department's Number Plate prescribed Format/Size notice on 12 October 2026. The sizes are read from the poster image and are in millimetres as printed. Confirm them with your motor registration office before you order a plate.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
