European and American Number Plates

Number plates have been around long enough now to have established an interesting history. This hub takes a look at how registration plates have evolved since their initial introduction and how they are configured in several European countries and the USA.

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Also if you want to travel through Europe to see all those different plates check out Euro Traveller UK for all your travel options for Europe.

The style and standards of American number plates changes and varies from state to state so make sure you chose the right product for your state.

If you want a little bit of American history then take a look at these plates, one from each state, mounted on a display board ready for your wall.

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Number plates have been around in the UK since 1903 and the first registration number was A1. It was issued in London and utilised what was to be the first of many numbering systems that have been introduced over the last 100 years or so.

The registration mark is made up of seven characters. There are three parts to the registration mark, each with a separate meaning.

• The first two letters show where the vehicle was registered, the local memory tag (area identifier)
• The two numbers indicate the age of the vehicle (age identifier)
• The last three letters give a unique identity to a vehicle, using 3 random letters

Current plates have black characters on white reflective material (for the front plate) or on yellow reflective material (for the rear plate).

Older British plates had white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972, and can only be used on vehicles built prior to 1 January 1973.

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From 2008 the number system is changing and it will be composed of a serial of 7 alphanumeric characters, made up of 2 letters maximum, 3 numbers maximum, and then 2 letters maximum (for instance: DA 456 BC). The department code that used to be included as the last 2 numbers on the plate will be discontinued, as an alternative the owner will be able to add a further blue strip on the right with a regional logo and department number.

The number will be allocated to a car and will not change, even if the car is sold or the owner relocates.

So here we are 2009 has arrived and the colour scheme has changed to black on white front and rear, until 2009 the legislation was that the rear plate was black on yellow the same as the UK but that has all changed now as has the numbering system as described.

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German car number plates display the place where the car is registered. If a person changes their main place of residence in Germany, or buys a new car, they need to buy new number plates.

The present format uses black print on a white background, a D (for Deutschland=Germany) is in a blue strip on the left, along with the European Union's flag, 12 golden stars in a circle on blue ground.

After that, there are between one and three letters which show the city or region where the car is registered, such as B for Berlin.

After the location name there are the emission test and vehicle safety test stickers followed by one or two usually random letters and one to four usually random numbers. The total quantity of letters and numbers on the plate is never more than eight.