Vehicle registration plates, often called license plates, ensure that authorities can distinguish cars from one another. Anyone who wants to drive their vehicle on a public road must affix the license plate to the motor vehicle and any trailer. Together with the registration certificate, the license plate is the proof that you are registered for road traffic.
In germany, the plates consist of a maximum of eight characters in a combination of numbers and letters. We explain how car license plates are structured in germany and how to understand them.
Structure of the license plates
German vehicle registration plates are designed as euro registration plates. EU membership is indicated by the blue band on the left, which shows the twelve yellow stars of the european flag and the country code in capital letters.
german license plates consist of two parts. The distinguishing signs have one to three letters, the identification number one or two letters and up to four digits. The total number of license plates is a maximum of eight; seasonal license plates have a maximum of seven. Between the two numbers are the inspection stickers and the seal of the registration authority.
The distinctive signs
As already mentioned, the distinguishing signs consist of one, two or three letters. In the case of a "normal" vehicle, these stand for the administrative district of the registration authority in which the vehicle has its regular place of business. Some combinations also stand for vehicles of the federal and state authorities, the federal police, the THW, the federal armed forces, the diplomatic corps as well as other administrations and privileged international organizations. the federal ministry of transport determines or abolishes the distinguishing signs of the administrative districts. The combinations must not be contrary to good morals. More about this later.
Stamp badges for the registration authorities
Under the inspection plate there is a plate of the registration authority with the service seal of the corresponding city or county. At about the same time as the introduction of the euro license plates, the stamped plates were also changed. If they were previously gray or white, they now have a larger and multicolored "assortment". The plate shows the coat of arms and name of the state or province in which the vehicle is registered. It also shows the name of the registration office.
Inspection stickers on the license plate
On the rear license plate, after the distinguishing marks, there is a round sticker. It shows the deadline for registration of the next main inspection, which is why it is often called only TuV sticker. These stickers are destroyed when removed, which is why it is difficult to falsify them.
in 1974, the authorities expanded the color scheme from four to six colors. Until today, the rhythm with the annually changing colors is repeated every 6 years. This makes it possible to see from a distance whether the sticker has expired. Like a clock, the circle is divided into twelve black segments. In it the date of the due examination is to be read off.
From coincidence to entertainment value: the identification number
The identification number on the license plate starts with one or two capital letters (except a, o and u). Then there are one to four digits without a leading zero. Since there is no letter identification on authority vehicles, they have up to six numbers. Some of the theoretical 7.019.298 combinations are not permitted. They are banned as undesirable identification numbers, as they are against "good morals".
Usually, the identification numbers are assigned in sequence. But some vehicle owners also want special license plates. These are usually personal information such as the initial and a birth or wedding date. Occasionally, however, there are also combinations with a certain entertainment value.
These license plates are not allowed
According to the vehicle registration ordinance, a few distinctive and recognizable signs and combinations that are contrary to public decency are inadmissible and therefore prohibited. Mostly these are "nazi-codes", resp. abbreviations reminiscent of the nazi regime. Nationwide, this applies to SA (storm division), HJ (Hitler Youth), KZ (concentration camp) and SS (Schutzstaffel).
There are also regional differences in the allocation of the desired license plates. For example, dusseldorf renounces IS (islamic state), the nuremberg district renounces NS and NSU, and the district of dithmarschen renounces HEIL. since the reintroduction of the distinctive sign BUL, the district of schwandorf no longer issues the combination BULLE – in return, aachen continues to issue ACAB (all cops are bastards). Since 2010, brandenburg has not granted any new license plates that are associated with adolf hitler, the hitler salute or other right-wing extremist symbols, such as AH, 88, 18, 1888, etc.