Home › License Plate

License Plate

French registration plate (vehicles registered since April 2009 )

Belgian number plate

Registration plate Irish

A license plate is a plate bearing a unique combination of numbers or letters (for a given geographic area), for easy identification of a vehicle. This helps to fight against violations of the Highway Code and against theft.

In Belgium , it is also called plate as it was originally assigned by the Department of Mines in France (which was succeeded by the Regional Directorate for Industry, Research and Environment of Germany, after law on territorial administration of the Republic of 1992 , then the Regional Directorate of Environment, Spatial Planning and Housing since 2009) or license plate, and is linked to a registration certificate or card gray.

Summary

/ / History

France

Main article: French Plate.

In a brief on the reformation of the police in France, dated 1749 , Sir William, an officer of the constabulary, calls the King Louis XV to give the number of horse-drawn vehicles in Paris , but significantly reduced font size that makes that information readable only in the vicinity. The number is assigned to life the vehicles involved, whereas the old system required a re-registration in case of change of department. The new system was initially reserved for new vehicles until October 15, 2009, and after all vehicles.

In Belgium

The Belgian has had, like many countries, a numbering system scalable. But its specificity is probably a multitude of different plates, due also to its status as host of international bodies like the European Union , the NATO and SHAPE , Eurocontrol ... and the presence of many officials and diplomats of these institutions.

The first Belgian plates appeared in 1899 and included black characters on a white background. Since 1911, the colors were reversed in 1919 to see the black replaced by blue. In 1925, the bottom plates appear red and three years later, the current colors (red letters on white background with red border) are used.

Belgian plates are linked to their owner and remain so long in circulation. From 1951 to 1961: a letter and four numbers in any order, the letter is preceded and followed by a dot. From 1962 to 1971 the number increased to two letters of maintaining the number of characters, the remaining letters grouped in pairs, also separated as above. Between 1971 and 1973 the combination is done by letter, period, three digits, a dot and a letter.

In 1973, the plates go to six characters: three letters, hyphen, three digits, to be reversed in mid-2008.

End of 2010, the plates are common on European support ruby letters on white background, seven characters (an index, three letters, three figures).

Netherlands

The Netherlands were the first to establish a national registration system for vehicles, in 1898. The first were simple slabs with a number stamped on it. The numbering began with 1 and 8 August 1899, it had already reached 168. When the Dutch have decided to change the numbering system January 15, 1906, the last issued plate was numbered 2065.

United States

United States, where each state issues its own license plates, the New York State requiring registration plates since 1901. Initially, the plates were not issued by governments in place, motorists and manufacturers were making them themselves. The Massachusetts and West Virginia were the first states to issue plates, in 1903. The oldest were made of porcelain baked on steel, or just ceramic, making them very fragile. Only a few copies have survived over the years. Other materials were tested, including the board of leather , of plastic , and during shortages caused by war, some plates were made of copper with bean soy pressed.
These old plates had shapes and sizes very different from them, and this brought its own problems. For example, by moving, we had to drill new holes in the bumper, because the plate did not have the same dimensions as the previous one. Standardization of number plates will take place in 1957 when the automobile manufacturers have agreed with all levels of governments and international standards organizations. Exceptions, there are three standards across the globe:

300 mm by 150 mm (12 inches by 6 inches) - a standard format in the Americas.
520 mm or 110 or 120 mm - A standard format used in Europe and most of their former colonies and territories overseas.
372 mm by 135 mm - Format used in Australia and other countries in the belt of the Pacific , which wants to be midway between the two previous formats.

Features

Vehicles requiring registration

Most motor vehicles bear a plate in front and another at the rear. Some vehicles may include only one plate (rear), such as motorcycles , and tricycles or quadricycles . On older models of motorcycles have carried a plaque on the front fender, readable from both sides of the craft.

Some trailers are also subject to wear a clean plate, according to their loading capacity. This is also the case of caravans.

In Canada , for 9 out of 13 provinces and territories, only one plate is required at the rear of the vehicle.

Issue

The plate numbers are issued by a government. In some countries, like France , the vehicle owner is usually responsible for the purchase of the plates, it is performed by a service ( car dealership , auto center ...). In others, like Belgium or Switzerland , the set of plates is issued by the authority which remains the owner thereof.

In North America , each state, province or territory issues its own license plate.

Identification

There are two concepts of use of plates: some countries, like France, adopting the principle of using the plates to identify a vehicle. Whatever the owner, this plate comes with the vehicle throughout its life, the special case of removal, in countries where the geographical indication is also indicated, is governed by specific rules.

In other countries, like Belgium or Switzerland, the plate is issued to the owner, who retains the vehicle when it changes. The owner is obliged to keep these plates forever. That is why we often see plates such as "ax 265" instead of "axb 265" who are our new plates. When no longer needed when the driver is without a vehicle, it can either keep his plates, or throw them in the trash.

Then identifying the owner, the plate also serves as proof of insurance, the owner to make the plates when the administration is no longer assured. The concept of interchangeable plates, so there may exist, the same set of plates is used for different vehicles of the same owner, it can not use, or authorize the use for others, only one of its vehicles at a time.

For Belgium, the plate is assigned to an individual or a corporation. When the vehicle is resold, the owner of the plate can be retained and transferred to its new vehicle or return it to the Administration and request a new plate.

In France, the national databases use the numbers on the plate to keep information on registered vehicles, such as make, model, color, year of manufacture, engine capacity, type of fuel used and mileage recorded during the last technical inspection, the VIN or vehicle identification number ( VIN English), and finally the name and address of vehicle owner.

Since April 15, 2009 the regulations have changed. The license plates are assigned to keep the vehicle until its destruction or export. The registration number does not make reference to the department of residence. However, on the right side, is a department freely chosen by the owner of the logo overcome the corresponding administrative region ( model adopted by Italy since 1994). This local reference is part of the plate and is not a sticker, and the holder may at any time decide to change this reference .

In Quebec , the random allocation of plates, consisting of three letters and three numbers (or vice versa) makes it impossible to determine the residence of the owner. Upon the sale of the automobile, the owner has two choices: either he will keep his plate, he will affix to his next vehicle, or it will come to the office of the Socit de l'assurance automobile du Quebec , which in will issue a new one. Proof of insurance renewal was done before 1992 by posting an annual colorful sticker on the rear plate, but since the peace officer must search the central database to check if the motorist has paid its contribution Annual.

Readability

The plates are designed to be readable from a distance, why the font size is standardized. In some countries, owners can choose from several fonts while in others (like France ), the policy should be approved.

Depending on the system, the plates are bright (white or yellow, sometimes reflective), or dark background (black plates, formerly used in France, Ireland and the Netherlands). By contrast, the characters are black (general case) or red (as in Belgium) to clear the plates, and light (white or aluminum) on a dark background.

The user of a vehicle whose plates are unreadable (due to dirt or damage) is punishable by a fine in many countries.

In France , compliance plates and lighting of the rear plate are points prohibitive for roadworthiness

Allocation of numbers

For a given administration (one per state in the European Union or the United States , sometimes at the level of an administrative division under the rule in some countries), there can be two different vehicles bearing the same number.

Depending on the system, a number is assigned per vehicle regardless of its owner (as in the United Kingdom , in France or Italy ), or an owner is assigned a number by car (as in Belgium , in Switzerland or the United States ).

In the first case, when a vehicle changes ownership, it will not change the number. In some systems, however, if the vehicle does not leave its area of original registration (in France : the department ), it does not change number; however in case of change of zone (although it does not change owner), he shall be assigned a new number. When the vehicle is destroyed or number changes, the number he wore is lost and can not be reused.

In the second case, when a vehicle changes hands or is destroyed, its number is assigned to its former owner. The new owner can then either reuse an available number that would have previously been assigned either acquire a new number.

In Switzerland, a tax is levied on a transfer plate to a new owner. In most cantons, a number "lost" (that is to say not sold or kept waiting through a fee by the owner) is being auctioned online by a specialist (called Automobile Service, Office District Traffic Office, vehicles, etc.).

Finally, in several States of the United States and some provinces in Canada , the owner can choose the sequence of numbers and letters (if the selected combination is possible) printed on the plates.

Setting

The binding mode is usually governed by legislation.

In France, the mode of attachment is defined by ministerial decree. The decree of 9 February 2009 establishing the characteristics and method of affixing license plates of vehicles indicates that this must be done "in a way good behavior". In practice, only the riveting is tolerated, the screw is considered a non-permanent method.

In other countries the price may be fixed by screwing , with "clips", or by clamping with a nut.

Types of plates

Different forms of registration in the world

Depending on the system, the plate can include numbers, letters, numbers and letters in a specific order or in random order. For story, a plate consisting of three numbers and three letters (i and o excluded) may have 13,824,000 different combinations (24 24 24 10 10 10), but certain combinations of letters are excluded if they This could hurt its owner. Thus, in Belgium , combinations of three letters such as AAP (monkey, Netherlands ), NSA, GAG, CON, CUL, DOM (moron, in Dutch), SEX, etc.. are not issued by the administration (except for personalized plates, see below). Combinations that form the initials of political parties as CDH ( Humanist Democratic Centre ) or VLD ( Flemish Liberals and Democrats ) are strictly prohibited.

Around the world:

Algeria - a five-digit, three digit, double digits. The first set of numbers is the serial number for registration, the second is a composite number of the vehicle type (1 for a passenger car, 2 for a particular truck, 3 for a professional vehicle, etc..) Followed by the last two digit year of release, and the third is the code of the department (Wilaya) of registration.
- Example: 54156 204 16 (which can be read, from 2004 truck registered in the wilaya of Algiers (16), bearing the registration number 54156 County)

Germany - one to three letters, designating the city or borough, one or two letters, one to four digits, black on white background.

Armenia - three digits, two Latin letters and two slightly smaller numbers in black on white. At left, the letters AM and a hologram sticker.

Belgium - three letters followed by three numbers, for the latest patches (red on white). This system was replaced in June 2008 by three numbers followed by three letters. The old plates to five characters (different combinations of a letter and four numbers, or two letters and three digits) are still outstanding.

Brazil - three letters followed by four digits,

Cameroon - two letters, four numbers, a letter. The first two letters refer to the province, the four digits are a serial number, the last letter represents the year of registration. Since June 2007, new plates format of two letters, three figures, two letters (with the same meaning as above) are issued in the provinces where they arrived after the series.

License plate of the Northwest Territories.

Canada - Different in the province. For example:
- In Quebec , the mid-1980s, the first plates of this type had three letters and three digits. When the sequence has been exhausted, the SAAQ has issued contrast, three figures, followed by three letters. Since autumn 2009, the limit of this sequence has been reached, then the new sequence is made available to a letter and two numbers, followed by three letters.
- In Ontario , three or four letters followed by three digits
- In New Brunswick , three letters followed by three digits.
- The governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut emit a plaque in the shape of polar bears.

Congo - Kinshasa - since June 2009, marking flags and Congolese OGS, four digits, two letters and two numbers.

South Korea - a character, four digits. The first character is a blend of a consonant and a vowel of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. The new plates do not specify the province and the plate is composed of a white font and black text.

Spain - four numbers and three letters in black on white. The four figures are from 0000 to 9999 and letters from BBB to ZZZ. Be aware that for the letters are not used vowels to avoid words like xxxx-OTF (feo in Spanish means ugly) or ERC-xxxx. The omitted letters are A, E, I, N, O, Q and U.

United States - varies by state. However, the only common points are mandatory:
- The format of the plate, standard since 1956, is 12 6 (305 152 mm), except for the plates of motorcycles and some other vehicles.
- The naming of the State (or its abbreviation: CA California, MO for Missouri, MN Minnesota, etc.)..

France - two systems currently coexist in France. The old system based on counting County, in place since the 1950s, is now replaced by a fully national (since April 15, 2009 for new cars and October 15, 2009 for used vehicles):
- Old system: a four-digit one to three letters, two or three digits, with a maximum of eight characters (nine overseas). The latest figures correspond to the code of the department of registration, the first digits of a region in the combination of letters and letter combinations forming a sequence in the department. When the sequence of letters reached ZZ, one passes to the combination AAA.
- New system: the new Vehicle Registration System (SIV) is national. It is based on a sequence of two letters - three digits - two letters (i, o and u excluded) is given the letters and letter associations banned (and ww ss ss left and right) 277 977 744 possibilities ((23 x 23) - 2) x 999 x (23 x 23) - 1) (cons 331 444 224 theoretical (24 x 24 x 999 x 24 x 24)). It is definitely attributed to the vehicle, until its destruction or export. The plate includes on its right side, a spatial identifier composed of a number of department and the logo of the region corresponding. This identifier is at the discretion of the owner and not necessarily related to area of residence.

Indonesia - one or two letters designating the resident Dutch (Java) or the province, four figures, one to three letters.

Ireland - two digits for the year of first registration, one or two letters designating the county, a number of six-digit, unique to the county, at the top of the plate, the name of the county in Gaelic. The vehicle maintains its plate his whole life, even if the vehicle changes ownership and riding.

Italy - two letters, three figures, two letters, followed by a blue stripe indicating the registration year and the symbol of the province of origin. Numbering progressive national level (from 999 AA000 AA to ZZ ZZ). The new French registration system (since 2009) was adopted on the basis of the Italian system, in force since 1994.

Japan - the top of the plate, the name (in kanji ) in the municipality where the vehicle is registered, followed by a three digit number. At the bottom of the plate, one syllable hiragana then two two numbers separated by a hyphen (the zero is replaced by a dot).

Liechtenstein - white inscription on a black background, beginning with the letters FL and then a number from 1 to 5 digits. Plates ending in the arms of Liechtenstein.

Luxembourg - two letters followed by three numbers (black on yellow background) since 2004, two letters followed by four digits or only four or five digit numbers (1234 or 12345)

Morocco - five digits followed by a letter in Arabic alphabet followed by a number designating the number of prefecture (6 to Casablanca-Anfa), this system came into force in 200X.

Monaco - four digits or a letter and three digits

Netherlands - until 2006/2008, combinations of the form AA-BB-CC with one or two groups of two letters, or groups of remaining digits. From 2006/2008 (the date of introduction depends on the type of vehicles), combinations of the form AA-BBB-C and A-BBB-CC, where each group of one to three symbols contains only digits or as letters.

Romania - two letters represent the state (except for the capital, Bucharest , designated by the letter followed by two digits and three letters in black on white.

Russia - 1 letter + 3 digits + 2 letters + digits 2-3. The letters are chosen from the following: A, B, C, E, H, K, M, O, P, T, X, Y, which have the characteristic of being readable both in the Latin alphabet and the Cyrillic alphabet, even though they are sometimes completely different letters. The last set of two numbers used to designate the area where the vehicle is registered. Some areas where the number of registrations is high were given extra rounds, and then, his series then became insufficient, we started to add a "1" at the beginning creating a series of 3 numbers. Examples: Moscow - 77,99,97,177,199; outside Moscow - 50, 90, 150, St. Petersburg - 78, 98, 178; Vladivostok - 25, 125

Switzerland - two letters designating the township and a number, usually six figures, given only for the township.

Tunisia - Tunisian vehicle registration is of the form XXXX XXX where X is a number between 0 and 9. The first three digits identify the series and the last four digits identify the registration number of the vehicle in the series. The serial and registration number are separated by the name of Tunisia in Arabic. The transition from one series to the next is every 9999 vehicles . This registration is awarded to any vehicle except those owned by public bodies.

Turkey - the first part of the plate (01 to 81) represents a province. The second is composed of one to three letters. The last is composed of two to four digits as the number of letters in the second part, the whole can not exceed six characters.

Custom Plates

Plates called custom license plate with the owner (when possible) has been assigned or purchased with registration services a specific number, like a round number or a combination of numbers and / or letters its taste (its name, a combination fun or easy to remember ...).

This system allows the service registration of overcharging this benefit, the benefit standard allows only to get a combination of the following combinations already assigned. This service is not available in all countries and in all administrative divisions (eg, personalized plates are not available in Quebec).

There are also commemorative plaques in certain Canadian provinces and U.S. states, underlining the group affiliation, their favorite sports team, or if the vehicle owner is a doctor or firefighter. For example, in the State of Massachusetts , one can have a plaque with the colors of Red Sox , team baseball from the city of Boston , or the Patriots, the team of National Football League. Or in Ontario , the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs have their special plates. Since 2006, Quebec, veterans and military personnel if they meet certain conditions, can affix to their vehicle a plate with a poppy in its center. It is also possible for amateurs to apply for a Quebec plate with their code. It always starts VE2 or VA2.

diplomatic and consular plates

French diplomatic plate

The diplomats stationed abroad are awarded special plaques to indicate their status as a person with diplomatic immunity or consulate. These plates can be red in Canada , in Pakistan , green in France or blue in Brazil , in Colombia or Ecuador. They start or are usually the letters CMD (head of diplomatic mission), CD (diplomatic) or CC (Consular Corps) before a series of numbers. These plates are not issued by the Ministries of Transport or car dealers but by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country.

Plates CEMAC

On August 3, 2001, the countries of the CEMAC have decided to movement of plates bearing the symbol of the country and the logo of the CEMAC.

Country	Acronym
Cameroon	WRC
Republic of Congo	RC
Equatorial Guinea	GE
Central African Republic	RCA
Chad	TCH

Plates EAC

The member countries of the EAC have common license plates bearing the initial of the country and the flag or coat of arms of the country.

Country	Initial	Logo
Burundi	B
Kenya	K
Uganda	U
Rwanda	R
Tanzania	T

Plaques of the European Union

The plates of the European Union are easy to recognize because they have a blue logo on the left, called Eurobands. This logo contains a code for a tro IS letters after the name of the Member State, topped the twelve stars of the European Union.

In eastern Europe, many cars bear a plaque with the national flag instead of the EU logo. Before integration, the Slovakia National put the gun in the middle of the plate, thus separating the area code of the other digits and letters. In some other countries the license plate did not mention the nationality. Since the enlargement of the European Union by ten countries in May 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, newly registered cars - new or imported - are in general their country code in white letters on blue, surmounted by the flag Europe.

In some countries, like Poland and the Czech Republic , it was possible to choose voluntarily to change the national flag at the plate by a plate bearing the Eurobands. In other countries, like Bulgaria , the Eurobands are still quite rare on the plates and we see much their national flag.

Moreover, the national flags are increasingly on the license plates of vehicles registered in countries that have declared candidate for membership in the European Union, like Croatia , the Turkey and Ukraine.

Third countries to the European Union also use the same principle: Israel, Lebanon, New Zealand - option - or New South Wales, Australia - option.