Old-style (1979-c1990) Nicaraguan vehicle registration plates start with a group of two letters,
the first indicating the province of registration
(followed here by their main towns to aid location):
- B - Boaco (Boaco)
- C - Carazo (Jinotepe)
- D - Madriz (Somoto)
- E - Estelí (Estelí)
- G - Granada (Granada)
- H - Chinandega (Chinandega)
- I - Rio San Juan (San Carlos)
- J - Jinotega (Jinotega)
- L - Léon (Léon)
- M - Managua (Managua)
- N - Nueva Segovia (Ocotal)
- O - Chontales (Juigalpa)
- R - Rivas (Rivas)
- S - Masaya (Masaya)
- T - Matagalpa (Matagalpa)
- Y - Zelaya Norte (Puerto Cabezas, aka Bilwi)
- Z - Zelaya Sur (Bluefields) (formerly used for the single province of Zelaya)