From this week, new electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Chile must carry a mandatory green license plate. Owners of already registered cars may request the change voluntarily at the Civil Registry.
The measure stems from a decree published on January 16 2026 in the Official Gazette. It set a 180-day period for the Civil Registry and the automotive industry to prepare delivery of the new plates.
The plate keeps the current identification format but replaces the white background with a green one and black characters. According to the National Automotive Association of Chile there are 16 thousand electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles circulating in the country.
Chilean Firefighters promoted the rule so emergency teams can immediately identify vehicles with high-voltage batteries. National president Juan Carlos Field explained that this allows specific protocols to be applied in accidents or fires.
The change remains voluntary for already registered vehicles and grants no direct tax benefits.