New Mercosur plate: what has changed, deadlines and how to change

Have you ever stopped to observe vehicles circulating with plates in gray, blue strip and a different alphanumeric sequence? This is the new Mercosur plate, a pattern defined by the economic block to increase integration and traffic safety.

Regulated in Brazil by the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), the Mercosur plaque is already a mandatory standard in some cases and should soon be adopted by drivers across the country. 

Therefore, understand what it is, see what adjustments drivers need to make to adapt to regulation, how to change, what value of the mercosur plate and more.

You will read about:

What is the Mercosur plate?

Mercosur plaque is a new model for the identification of road transport vehicles in countries that are part of the intergovernmental economic block known as the Southern Common Market: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The idea is to standardize the identification system in the countries that are part of the bloc, with the adoption of the new Mercosur plaque, which helps to improve the integration of regions and traffic inspection between countries. 

Continue to us and see what is the difference for the normal plate, what is the value of the mercosur plate and how to make the change.

What is the difference of Mercosur plate for normal?

The difference from Mercosur plate to normal is that the new ones should be coated in the averse with gray retroreflective film and a blue strip on the top margin. On the left side the logo of Mercosur, the right, the flag of Brazil and in the center the name of the country (Brazil).

The alphanumeric pattern is a sequence of 7 characters in high relief interspersing three letters, a number, a letter and two numbers, as shown in the image below, where the character L = letter and n = number: 

Desenho de um modelo exemplo da nova placa Mercosul com letras e números na ordem nova.
Example of the new Mercosur plate. Source: Detran SP. 

The sequence is generated by a random combination, which is distributed and monitored by the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran) and the state’s Detrans. The new Mercosur plaque has no seal, like the old model, instead it brings a QR code.

The new model ensures more safety for the driver as it is easier to track and make cloning and forgery difficult. Another important difference is in relation to the categories, which is now done through the characters and frames with different colors, see the table below and understand:

What is the value of the Mercosur plate?

The value of the mercosur plate may vary according to the state where the vehicle is registered, but according to Senatran information, the cost can be between R $ 138 and R $ 240 reais for cars and from R $ 73 to R $ 114 reais for motorcycles, depending on the state where it will be done. 

The request to change the plate can be made with the DETRAN of your state. Not all charge a plating fee, so it is necessary to check the information directly to the organ.

It is noteworthy that the companies that make the plating need to be accredited from the local Detran, so that the standard of the new Mercosur plaque is respected. See accredited companies and how to request the service in some cities:

If your city’s Detran is not listed, just look for the official website and search for the term Mercosur plate.

Modelo da nova placa Mercosul com cores e sequencia alfanumérica diferente da antiga.
A model of new Mercosur license plate coated with the retroreflective film. Here’s how the numbering of the plates works.

Is it mandatory to change the license plate to Mercosur in 2025?

Since 2020 it is mandatory for new vehicles, using the Mercosur plate. Old models, on the other hand, need to make the exchange in specific cases, as there is no determined term in the legislation. See in which cases it is mandatory to change:

First plating (new vehicles);
Transfer of ownership of the automobile;
Duplicate of the transfer document;
Change of state or municipality by the owner of the vehicle;
Change of CNH category;
Plate replacement (for damage such as theft, theft or loss).

In Brazil, drivers started using the new plaque model in 2018, but the obligation for new cars only started two years later in 2020. In other Mercosur Block countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the new Mercosur plaque It is already used.

How does the numbering of new plates work?

The numbering of new plates works following a new alphanumeric sequence: in place of 3 letters and 4 numbers (AAA-000), the new model features 4 letters and three numbers (AAA0A00). See in the Mercosur Plate Table How is the replacement: 

WHARACTER OF THE OLD PLATE New plate character
0 THE
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 AND
5 F
6 G
7 H
8 I
9 J

Thus, the replacement of an old plate by the new Mercosur plate has the second number replaced by a letter. See the example (where l = letter and n = number):

Anterior plate: lll nnnn (ABC 1234)
Mercosur plate: lll NLNN (ABC 1C34)

Now that you know all about the new Mercosur sign, continue here at 99blog And stay on top of all the news and important information for application drivers and other drivers.

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