German License Plates
German license plates are the most popular license plates in the world because of the famous heritage of German car brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen. The unique shape of German car license plates measure 4.38 inches high x 20.44 inches wide (110 mm high x 520 mm wide) and motorcycle license together with its unique embossed fonts ensures easy recognition. German motorcycle license plate dimensions are 5.25 inches high x 9.5 inches wide. Metric Dimensions are 130mm high x 240mm wide.
Typeface
Modern German plates use a typeface called FE-Schrift (“fälschungserschwerende Schrift”, tamper-hindering script). It is designed so that the O cannot be painted to look like a Q, and vice versa; nor can the P be painted to resemble an R, among other changes. This typeface can also more easily be read by optical character recognition software for automatic number plate recognition than the old DIN 1451 script
German License Plate Prefix Letters
The prefix letters on German license plates identifies the state/city in which a vehicle is registered. Germans are required to change their license plates whenever they change their main residence. All german license plates begin with the state/city prefix -this enables immediate identification regarding the origin of vehicles. The current German number plate format has been in use since 1994. German license plates maintain the design protocol same as countries within the European Union blue strip on the left shows a country code in white text (D for Deutschland = Germany) and the Flag of Europe (12 golden stars forming a circle on a blue background).
The rest of the license plate uses black print on a retro-reflective white background. Right of the country code Euro strip is a one, two or three letter abbreviation, which represents the city or state where the car was registered, such as B for Berlin, HH for Hamburg, M for Munich and S for Stuttgart. In some cases an urban district and the surrounding non-urban district share the same letter code. Where this happens, the number of the following letters and digits is usually different. The number of letters in the city/region prefix code mostly reflects the size of the district. The basic idea was to even out the number of digits on all license plates, because the largest districts would have more digits after the prefix for more cars. The largest German cities generally only have one letter codes (B=Berlin, M=Munich, K=Cologne (Köln), F=Frankfurt, L=Leipzig, S=Stuttgart), most other districts in Germany have two or three letter codes.
BERLIN LICENSE PLATE WITH EMISSION DECAL
MUNICH LICENSE PLATE WITH SAFETY TEST SEAL
STUTTGART LICENSE PLATE WITH SAFETY TEST SEAL
List of German License Plate Prefixes and corresponding states/cities
- AB – Aschaffenburg, Bavaria
- ABG – Altenburger Land, Thuringia
- AC – Aachen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- AH – Ahaus, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- AIB – Bad Aibling, Bavaria
- AIC – Aichach-Friedberg, Bavaria
- AE – Auerbach, Saxony
- AK – Altenkirchen (Westerwald), Rhineland Palatinate
- AL – Altena, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- ALF – Alfeld, Lower Saxony
- ALS – Alsfeld, Hesse
- ALZ – Alzenau, Bavaria
- AM – Amberg, Bavaria
- AN – Ansbach, Bavaria
- ANA – Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony
- ANG – Angermünde, Brandenburg
- ANK – Anklam, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- AÖ – Altötting, Bavaria
- AP – Apolda & Weimarer Land, Thuringia
- APD – Apolda, Thuringia
- AR – Arnsberg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- ARN – Arnstadt, Thuringia
- ART – Artern, Thuringia
- AS – Amberg-Sulzbach, Bavaria
- ASD – Aschendorf, Lower Saxony
- ASL – Aschersleben-Staßfurter Landkreis, Saxony-Anhalt
- ASZ – Aue-Schwarzenberg, Saxony
- AT – Alten-Treptow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- AU – Aue, Saxony
- AUR – Aurich, Lower Saxony
- AW – Ahrweiler, Rhineland Palatinate
- AZ – Alzey-Worms, Rhineland Palatinate
- AZE – Anhalt-Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt
- B – Berlin
- BA – Bamberg, Bavaria
- BAD – Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg
- BAR – Barnim (Eberswalde), Brandenburg
- BB – Böblingen, Baden-Württemberg
- BBG – Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt
- BBL – Brandenburg Land official vehicles
- BC – Biberach, Baden-Württemberg
- BCH – Buchen, Baden-Württemberg
- BD – Federal German government vehicles (Bundestag /
- Bundesrat / Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
- BE – Bechum, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BED – Brand-Erbisdorf, Saxony
- BEI – Beilingries, Bavaria
- BEL – Blezig, Brandenburg
- BER – Bernau, Brandenburg
- BF – Burgsteinfurt, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BG – Border police vehicles (Bundesgrenzschutz)
- BGD – Berchtesgaden, Bavaria
- BGL – Berchtesgardener Land, Bavaria
- BH – Bühl, Baden-Württenmberg
- BI – Bielefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BID – Biedenkopf, Hesse
- BIN – Bingen, Rhineland Palatinate
- BIR – Birkenfeld, Rhineland Palatinate
- BIT – Bitburg-Prüm, Rhineland Palatinate
- BIW – Bischofswerda, Saxony
- BK – Bicknang, Baden-Württemberg
- BKS – Bernkastel, Rhineland Palatinate
- BL – Balingen & Zollernalbkreis, Baden-Württemberg
- BLB – Bad Berleburg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BLK – Burgenlandkreis, Saxony-Anhalt
- BM – Bergheim & Erftkreis, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BN – Bonn, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BNA – Borna, Saxony
- BO – Bochum, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BÖ – Bördekreis, Saxony-Anhalt
- BOG – Bogen, Bavaria
- BOH – Bocholt, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BOR – Borkum, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BOT – Bottrop, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BP – Postal authority vehicles (Bundespost)
- BR – Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg
- BRA – Brake (Unterweser) & Wesermarsch, Lower Saxony
- BRB – Brandenburg, Brandenburg
- BRG – Burg, Saxony-Anhalt
- BRI – Brilon, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BRK – Bad Brückenau, Bavaria
- BRL – Braunlage, Lower Saxony
- BRV – Bremervörde, Lower Saxony
- BS – Brunswick (Braunschweig), Lower Saxony
- BSB – Bersenbrück, Lower Saxony
- BSK – Beeskow, Brandenburg
- BT – Bayreuth, Bavaria
- BTF – Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt
- BU – Burgdorf, Lower Saxony
- BÜD – Büdingen, Hesse
- BUL – Burglengenfeld, Bavaria
- BUR – Buren, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- BÜS – Büsingen & Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg
- BÜZ – Bützow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- BW – Maritime authority vehicles (Bundes-Wasser- und
- Schiffahrtsverwaltung)
- BWL – Badem-Württemberg Land official vehicles
- BYL – Bavaria State (Bayern Land) official vehicles
- BZ – Bautzen, Saxony
- BZA – Bergzabern, Rhineland Palatinate
- C – Chemnitz, Saxony
- CA – Calau, Brandenburg
- CAS – Castrop-Rauxel, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- CB – Cottbus, Brandenburg
- CE – Celle, Lower Saxony
- CHA – Cham, Bavaria
- CLP – Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony
- CLZ – Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony
- CO – Coburg, Bavaria
- COC – Cochem-Zell, Rhineland Palatinate
- COE – Coesfeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- CR – Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg
- CUX – Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony
- CW – Calw, Baden-Württemberg
- D – Düsseldorf, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DA – Darmstadt & Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hesse
- DAH – Dachau, Bavaria
- DAN – Lüchow-Dannenberg, Lower Saxony
- DAU – Daun, Rhineland Palatinate
- DB – Rail authority vehicles (Deutsche Bundesbahn)
- DBR – Bad Doberan, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- DD – Dresden
- DE – Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt
- DEG – Deggendorf, Bavaria
- DEL – Delmenhorst, Lower Saxony
- DGF – Dingolfing-Landau, Bavaria
- DH – Diepholz, Lower Saxony
- DI – Dieburg, Hesse
- DIL – Dillenburg, Hesse
- DIN – Dinslaken, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DIZ – Diez, Rhineland Palatinate
- DKB – Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria
- DL – Döbeln, Saxony
- DLG – Dillingen an der Donau, Bavaria
- DM – Demmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- DN – Düren, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DO – Dortmund, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DON – Donau-Ries, Bavaria
- DS – Donaueschingen, Baden-Württemberg
- DT – Detmold & Lippe, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DU – Duisburg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- DUD – Duderstadt, Lower Saxony
- DÜW – Bad Dürkheim & Weinstraße, Rhineland Palatinate
- DW – Dippoldiswalde & Weißeritzkreis, Saxony
- DZ – Delitzsch, Saxony
- E – Essen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- EA – Eisenach, Thuringia
- EB – Eilenburg, Saxony
- EBE – Ebersberg, Bavaria
- EBN – Ebern, Bavaria
- EBS – Ebermannstadt, Bavaria
- ECK – Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein
- ED – Erding, Bavaria
- EE – Elbe-Elster, Brandenburg
- EF – Erfurt, Thuringia
- EG – Eggenfelden, Bavaria
- EH – Eisenhüttenstadt, Brandenburg
- EHI – Ehingen, Baden-Württemberg
- EI – Eichstätt, Bavaria
- EIC – Eichsfeld, Thuringia
- EIH – Eichstätt, Bavaria
- EIL – Eisleben, Saxony-Anhalt
- EIN – Einbeck, Lower Saxony
- EL – Emsland, Lower Saxony
- EM – Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg
- EMD – Emden, Lower Saxony
- EMS – Bad Ems & Rhein-Lahn-Kreis, Rhineland Palatinate
- EN – Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- ER – Erlangen, Bavaria
- ERB – Erbach & Oldenwaldkreis, Hesse
- ERH – Erlangen-Höchstadt, Bavaria
- ERK – Erkelenz, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- ES – Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg
- ESA – Eisenach, Thuringia
- ESB – Eschenbach, Bavaria
- ESW – Eschwege & Werra-Meißner-Kreis, Hesse
- EU – Euskirchen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- EUT – Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein
- EW – Eberswalde, Brandenburg
- F – Frankfurt am Main, Hesse
- FAL – Fallingbostel, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- FB – Friedberg (Hessen) & Wetteraukreis, Hesse
- FD – Fulda, Hesse
- FDB – Friedberg bei Augsburg, Bavaria
- FDS – Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg
- FEU – Feuchtwangen, Bavaria
- FF – Frankfurt-an-der-Oder, Brandenburg
- FFB – Fürstenfeldbruck, Bavaria
- FG – Freiberg, Saxony
- FH – Frankfurt am Main/Höchst, Hesse
- FI – Finsterwalde, Brandenburg
- FKB – Frankenberg, Hesse
- FL – Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein
- FLÖ – Flöha, Saxony
- FN – Friedrichshafen & Bodenseekreis, Baden-Württemberg
- FO – Forchheim, Bavaria
- FOR – Forst, Brandenburg
- FR – Freiburg im Breisgau & Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald,
- Baden-Württemberg
- FRG – Freyung-Grafenau, Bavaria
- FRI – Friesland, Lower Saxony
- FRW – Bad Freienwalde, Brandenburg
- FS – Freising, Bavaria
- FT – Frankenthal (Pfalz), Rhineland Palatinate
- FTL – Freital, Saxony
- FÜ – Fürth, Bavaria
- FÜS – Füssen, Bavaria
- FW – Fürstenwalde, Brandenburg
- FZ – Fritzlar, Hesse
- G – Gera, Thuringia
- GA – Gardelegen, Saxony Anhalt
- GAN – Bad Gandersheim, Lower Saxony
- GAP – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria
- GC – Glauchau & Chemnitzer Land, Saxony
- GD – Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg
- GDB – Gadesbusch, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- GE – Gelsenkirchen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GEL – Geldern, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GEM – Gemünden, Bavaria
- GEO – Gerolzhofen, Bavaria
- GER – Germersheim, Rhineland Palatinate
- GF – Gifhorn, Lower Saxony
- GG – Groß-Gerau, Hesse
- GHA – Geithain, Saxony
- GHC – Gräfenhainichen, Saxony Anhalt
- GI – Gießen, Hesse
- GK – Geilenkirchen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GL – Bergisch-Gladbach & Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, North-
- Rhine-Westphalia
- GLA – Gladbeck, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GM – Gummersbach & Oberbergischer Kreis, North-Rhine-
- Westphalia
- GMN – Grimmen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- GN – Gelnhausen, Hesse
- GNT – Genthin, Saxony Anhalt
- GÖ – Göttingen, Lower Saxony
- GOA – St Goar, Rheinland Palatinate
- GOH – St Goarshausen, Rheinland Palatinate
- GP – Göppingen, Baden-Württemberg
- GR – Görlitz, Saxony
- GRA – Grafenau, Bavaria
- GRI – Griesbach, Bavaria
- GRM – Grimma, Saxony
- GRS – Gransee, Brandenburg
- GRZ – Greiz, Thuringia
- GS – Goslar, Lower Saxony
- GT – Gütersloh, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GTH – Gotha, Thuringia
- GÜ – Güstrow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- GUB – Guben, Brandenburg
- GUN – Gunzenhausen, Bavaria
- GV – Gravenbroich, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- GVM – Grevesmühlen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- GW – Greifswald Land, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- GZ – Günzburg, Bavaria
- H – Hanover (Hannover), Lower Saxony
- HA – Hagen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HAB – Hammelburg, Bavaria
- HAL – Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
- HAM – Hamm, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HAS – Haßberge, Bavaria
- HB – Hansestadt Bremen
- HBN – Hildburghausen, Thuringia
- HBS – Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt
- HC – Hainichen, Saxony
- HCH – Hechingen, Baden-Württemberg
- HD – Heidelberg & Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg
- HDH – Heidenheim, Baden-Württemberg
- HDL – Haldensleben, Saxony Anhalt
- HE – Helmstedt, Lower Saxony
- HEB – Hersbruck, Bavaria
- HEF – Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Hesse
- HEI – Heide & Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein
- HEL – Hesse State (Hesse Land) official vehicles
- HER – Herne, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HET – Hettstedt, Saxony Anhalt
- HF – Herford, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HG – Bad Homburg vor der Höhe & Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse
- HGN – Hagenow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- HGW – Hansestadt Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- HH – Hansestadt Hamburg
- HHM – Hohenmölsen, Saxony Anhalt
- HI – Hildesheim, Lower Saxony
- HIG – Heiligenstadt, Thuringia
- HIP – Hilpoltstein, Bavaria
- HL – Hansestadt Lübeck
- HM – Hamelin(Hameln)-Pyrmont, Lower Saxony
- HMU – Hanoversch Münden, Lower Saxony
- HN – Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg
- HO – Hof, Bavaria
- HOG – Hofgeismar, Hesse
- HOH – Hofheim, Bavaria
- HOL – Holzminden, Lower Saxony
- HOM – Homburg & Saar-Pfalz-Kreis, Saarland
- HOR – Horb, Baden-Württemberg
- HÖS – Höchstadt, Bavaria
- HOT – Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Saxony
- HP – Heppenheim an der Bergstraße & Bergstraße, Hesse
- HR – Homberg & Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Hesse
- HRO – Hansestadt Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- HS – Heinsberg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HSK – Hochsauerlandkreis, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HST – Hansestadt Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- HU – Hanau & Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hesse
- HÜN – Hünfeld, Schleswig-Holstein
- HUS – Husum, Schleswig-Holstein
- HV – Havelberg, Saxony Anhalt
- HVL – Havelland, Brandenburg
- HW – Halle Westfalen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HWI – Hansestadt Wismar, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- HX – Höxter, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- HY – Hoyerswerda, Saxony
- HZ – Herzberg, Brandenburg
- IGB – Stadt St Ingbert & Saar-Pfalz-Kreis, Saarland
- IK – Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia
- IL – Ilmenau, Thuringia
- ILL – Illertissen, Bavaria
- IN – Ingolstadt, Bavaria Audi is headquarted here.
- IS – Iserlohn, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- IZ – Itzehoe & Steinburg, Schleswig-Holstein
- J – Jena, Thuringia
- JB – Jüterbog, Brandenburg
- JE – Jessen, Saxony Anhalt
- JEV – Jever, Lower Saxony
- JL – Jerichower Land, Saxony-Anhalt
- JÜL – Jülich, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- K – Cologne (Köln), North-Rhine-Westphalia
- KA – Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg
- KAR – Karlstadt, Bavaria
- KB – Korbach & Waldeck-Frankenberg, Hesse
- KC – Kronach, Bavaria
- KE – Kempten (Allgäu), Bavaria
- KEH – Kelheim, Bavaria
- KEL – Kehl, Baden-Württemberg
- KEM – Kemnath, Bavaria
- KF – Kaufbeuren, Bavaria
- KG – Bad Kissingen, Bavaria
- KH – Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland Palatinate
- KI – Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
- KIB – Kirchheimbolanden & Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland
- Palatinate
- KK – Kempen-Krefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- KL – Kaiserslauten, Rhineland Palatinate
- KLE – Cleves (Kleve), North-Rhine-Westphalia
- KLT – Klingental, Saxony
- KLZ – Klötze, Saxony Anhalt
- KM – Kamenz, Saxony
- KN – Constance (Konstanz), Baden-Württemberg
- KO – Koblenz, Rhineland Palatinate
- KÖN – Kötzting, Bavaria
- KÖT – Köthen, Saxony-Anhalt
- KR – Krefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- KRU – Krumbach, Bavaria
- KS – Kassel, Hesse
- KT – Kitzingen, Bavaria
- KU – Kulmbach, Bavaria
- KÜN – Küzelsau & Hohenlohekreis, Baden-Württemberg
- KUS – Kusel, Rhineland Palatinate
- KW – Königs-Wusterhausen, Brandenburg
- KY – Kyritz, Brandenburg
- KYF – Kyffhäuserkreis, Thuringia
- L – Leipzig, Saxony (since c1990; previously used for Lahn-Dill-
- Kreis)
- LA – Landshut, Bavaria
- LAN – Landau Isar, Bavaria
- LAT – Lauterbach, Hesse
- LAU – Lauf an der Pegnitz & Nürnberger Land, Bavaria
- LB – Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg
- LBS – Lobenstein, Thuringia
- LBZ – Lübz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- LC – Luckau, Brandenburg
- LD – Landau in der Pfalz, Rhineland Palatinate
- LDK – Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse
- LDS – Landkreis Dahme-Spreewald, Brandenburg
- LE – Lemgo, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LEO – Leonberg, Baden-Württemberg
- LER – Leer (Ostfriesland), Lower Saxony
- LEV – Leverkusen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LF – Laufen, Bavaria
- LG – Lüneburg, Lower Saxony
- LH – Lüdinghausen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LI – Lindau (Bodensee), Bavaria
- LIB – Bad Liebenwerda, Brandenburg
- LIF – Lichtenfels, Bavaria
- LIN – Lingen, Lower Saxony
- LIP – Lippe, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LK – Lübbecke, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LL – Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria
- LM – Limburg-Weilburg, Hesse
- LN – Lübben, Brandenburg
- LÖ – Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg
- LÖB – Löbau, Saxony
- LOH – Lohr am Main, Bavaria
- LOS – Landkreis Oder-Spree, Brandenburg
- LP – Lippstadt, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LR – Lahr, Baden-Württemberg
- LS – Lüdenscheid, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LSA – Saxony Anhalt State (Sachsen-Anhalt Land) official
- vehicles
- LSN – Saxony State (Sachsen Land) official vehicles
- LSZ – Bad Langensalza, Thuringia
- LU – Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Rhineland Palatinate
- LÜD – Lüdenscheid, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LUK – Luckenwalde, Brandenburg
- LÜN – Lünen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- LWL – Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- M – Munich (München), Bavaria BMW calls the city home
- MA – Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg
- MAB – Marienberg, Saxony
- MAI – Mainburg, Bavaria
- MAK – Marktredwitz, Bavaria
- MAL – Mallersdorf, Bavaria
- MAR – Marktheidenfeld, Bavaria
- MB – Miesbach, Bavaria
- MC – Malchin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- MD – Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt
- ME – Mettmann, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MED – Meldorf, Schleswig-Holstein
- MEG – Melsungen, Hesse
- MEI – Meissen, Saxony
- MEK – Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony
- MEL – Melle, Lower Saxony
- MEP – Meppen,Lower Saxony
- MER – Merseburg, Saxony Anhalt
- MES – Meschede, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MET – Mellrichstadt, Bavaria
- MG – Mönchengladbach, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MGH – Bad Mergentheim, Baden-Württemberg
- MGN – Meiningen, Thuringia
- MH – Mülheim an der Ruhr, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MHL – Mühlhausen
- MI – Minden-Lübbecke, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MIL – Miltenberg, Bavaria
- MK – Märkischer Kreis, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- ML – Mansfelder Land, Saxony-Anhalt
- MM – Memmingen, Bavaria
- MN – Mindelheim & Unterallgäu, Bavaria
- MO – Moers, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MOD – Marktoberdorf, Bavaria
- MOL – Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg
- MON – Monschau, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MOS – Mosbach & Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Baden-
- Württemberg
- MQ – Merseburg-Querfurt, Saxony-Anhalt
- MR – Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse
- MS – Münster, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- MSP – Main-Spessart-Kreis, Bavaria
- MST – Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- MT – Montabaur, Rhineland Palatinate
- MTK – Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse
- MTL – Muldentalkreis, Saxony
- MÜ – Mühldorf am Inn, Bavaria
- MÜB – Münchberg, Bavaria
- MÜL – Müllheim, Baden-Württemberg
- MÜN – Münsingen, Baden-Württemberg
- MÜR – Müritz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- MVL – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Land official vehicles
- MW – Mittweida, Saxony
- MY – Mayen, Rhineland Palatinate
- MYK – Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland Palatinate
- MZ – Mainz & Mainz-Bingen, Rhineland Palatinate
- MZG – Merzig-Wadern, Saarland
- N – Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Bavaria
- NAB – Nabburg, Bavaria
- NAI – Naila, Bavaria
- NAU – Nauen, Brandenburg
- NB – Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- ND – Neuberg an der Donau & Neuberg-Schrobenhausen,
- Bavaria
- NDH – Nordhausen, Thuringia
- NE – Neuss, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- NEA – Neustadt an der Aisch & Bad Windsheim, Bavaria
- NEB – Nebra, Saxony Anhalt
- NEC – Neustadt Coburg, Bavaria
- NEN – Neunburg, Bavaria
- NES – Bad Neustadt an der Saale & Rhön-Grabfeld, Bavaria
- NEU – Neustadt Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg
- NEW – Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Bavaria
- NF – Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein
- NH – Neuhaus an der Rennweg, Thuringia (1991-c1994;
- previously used for Neustadt Haardt, Rhineland Palatinate
- before 1959)
- NI – Nienberg (Weser), Lower Saxony
- NIB – Niebüll, Schleswig-Holstein
- NK – Neunkirchen/Saar, Saarland
- NL – Lower Saxony State (Niedersachsen Land) official vehicles
- NM – Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria
- NMB – Naumberg, Saxony Anhalt
- NMS – Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein
- NÖ – Nördlingen, Bavaria
- NOH – Nordhorn & Grafschaft Bentheim, Lower Saxony
- NOL – Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis, Saxony
- NOM – Northeim, Lower Saxony
- NOR – Norden, Lower Saxony
- NP – Neuruppin, Brandenburg
- NR – Neuwied am Rhein, Rhineland Palatinate
- NRÜ – Neustadt am Rübenberge, Lower Saxony
- NRW – North-Rhine-Westphalia State (Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Land) official vehicles
- NU – Neu-Ulm, Bavaria
- NT – Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg
- NVP – Nordvorpommern, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- NW – Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Rhineland Palatinate
- NWM – Nordwestmecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- NY – Niesky, Saxony
- NZ – Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- O – Diplomatic vehicles
- OA – Oberallgäu, Bavaria
- OAL – Ostallgäu, Bavaria
- OB – Oberhausen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- OBB – Obernburg, Bavaria
- OBG – Osterburg, Saxony Anhalt
- OC – Oschersleben, Saxony
- OCH – Ochsenfurt, Bavaria
- OD – Bad Oldesloe & Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein
- OE – Olpe, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- OF – Offenbach am Main, Hesse
- OG – Offenburg & Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg
- OH – Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein
- OHA – Osterode am Harz, Lower Saxony
- ÖHR – Öhringen, Baden-Württemberg
- OHV – Oberhavel, Brandenburg
- OHZ – Osterholz, Lower Saxony
- OK – Ohre-Kreis, Saxony-Anhalt
- OL – Oldenburg, Lower Saxony
- OLD – Oldenburg (Holstein), Schleswig-Holstein
- OP – Opladen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- OPR – Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Brandenburg
- OR – Oranienburg, Brandenburg
- OS – Osnabrück, Lower Saxony
- OSL – Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Brandenburg
- OTT – Otterndorf, Lower Saxony
- OTW – Ottweiler, Saarland
- OVI – Oberviechtach, Bavaria
- OVL – Obervogtland, Saxony
- OVP – Ostvorpommern, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- OZ – Oschatz, Saxony
- P – Potsdam, Brandenburg
- PA – Passau, Bavaria
- PAF – Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria
- PAN – Pfarrkirchen & Rottal-Inn, Bavaria
- PAR – Parsberg, Bavaria
- PB – Paderborn, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- PCH – Parchim, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- PE – Peine, Lower Saxony
- PEG – Pegnitz, Bavraia
- PER – Perleberg, Brandenburg
- PF – Pforzheim & Enzkreis, Baden-Württemberg
- PI – Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein
- PIR – Pirna, Saxony
- PK – Pritzwalk, Brandenburg
- PL – Plauen, Saxony
- PLÖ – Plön, Schleswig-Holstein
- PM – Potsdam-Mittelmark, Brandenburg
- PN – Pößneck, Thuringia
- PR – Prignitz, Brandenburg
- PRÜ – Prüm, Rhineland Palatinate
- PS – Pirmasens & Südwestpfalz, Rhineland Palatinate
- PW – Pasewalk, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- PZ – Prenzlau, Brandenburg
- QFT – Querfurt, Saxony Anhalt
- QLB – Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt
- R – Regensberg, Bavaria
- RA – Ratstatt, Baden-Württemberg
- RC – Reichenbach, Saxony
- RD – Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein
- RDG – Ribnitz-Damgarten, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- RE – Recklinghausen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- REG – Regen, Bavaria
- REH – Rehau, Bavaria
- REI – Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
- RG – Riesa-Großenhain, Saxony
- RH – Roth bei Nürnberg, Bavaria
- RI – Rinteln, Lower Saxony
- RID – Riedenburg, Bavaria
- RIE – Riesa, Saxony
- RL – Rochlitz, Saxony
- RM – Röbel/Muritz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- RN – Rathenow, Brandenburg
- RO – Rosenheim, Bavaria
- ROD – Roding, Bavaria
- ROF – Rotenburg bei Fulda, Hesse
- ROH – Rotenburg Wümme, Lower Saxony
- ROK – Rockenhausen, Rhineland Palatinate
- ROL – Rottenburg Laaber, Bavaria
- ROS – Rostock Land,Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- ROT – Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria
- ROW – Rotenburg (Wümme) & Bremervörde, Lower Saxony
- RPL – Rhineland Palatinate State (Rheinland-Pfalz Land) official
- vehicles
- RS – Remscheid, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- RSL – Roßlau, Saxony Anhalt
- RT – Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg
- RÜD – Rüdesheim & Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse
- RÜG – Rügen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- RV – Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg
- RW – Rottweil, Baden-Württemberg
- RWL – North-Rhine-Westphalia State (Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Land) official vehicles
- RY – Rheydt, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- RZ – Ratzeburg & Hertzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein
- S – Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg Mercedes Benz and Porsche both reside here
- SAB – Saarburg, Rhineland Palatinate
- SAD – Schwandorf, Bavaria
- SÄK – Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg
- SAL – Saarland official vehicles
- SAN – Stadtsteinach, Bavaria
- SAW – Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt
- SB – Saarbrücken, Saarland
- SBG – Strasburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- SBK – Schönebeck, Saxony-Anhalt
- SC – Schwabach, Bavaria
- SCZ – Schleiz, Thuringia
- SDH – Sondershausen, Thuringia
- SDL – Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt
- SDT – Schwedt, Brandenburg
- SE – Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein
- SEB – Sebnitz, Saxony
- SEE – Seelow, Brandenburg
- SEF – Scheinfeld, Bavaria
- SEL – Selb, Bavaria
- SF – Sonthofen, Bavaria
- SFA – Soltau-Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony
- SFB – Senftenberg, Brandenburg
- SFT – Staßfurt, Saxony Anhalt
- SG – Solingen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- SGH – Sangerhausen, Saxony-Anhalt
- SH – Schleswig-Holstein Land official vehicles
- SHA – Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg
- SHG – Stadthagen & Schaumburg, Lower Saxony
- SHK – Saale-Holzland-Kreis, Thuringia
- SHL – Suhl, Thuringia
- SI – Siegen-Wittgenstein, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- SIG – Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg
- SIM – Simmern & Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, Rhineland Palatinate
- SK – Saalkreis, Saxony-Anhalt
- SL – Schleswig-Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein
- SLE – Schleiden (Eifel), North-Rhine-Westphalia
- SLF – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Thuringia
- SLG – Saulgau, Baden-Württemberg
- SLN – Schmölin, Thuringia
- SLS – Saarlouis, Saarland
- SLÜ – Schlüchtern, Hesse
- SLZ – Bad Salzungen, Thuringia
- SM – Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thuringia
- SMÜ – Schwabmünchen, Bavaria
- SN – Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- SNH – Sinsheim, Baden-Württemberg
- SO – Soest, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- SOB – Schrobenhausen, Bavaria
- SOG – Schongau, Bavaria
- SOK – Saale-Orla-Kreis, Thuringia
- SOL – Soltau, Lower Saxony
- SÖM – Sömmerda, Thuringia
- SON – Sonneberg, Thuringia
- SP – Speyer, Rhineland Palatinate
- SPB – Spremberg, Brandenburg
- SPN – Spree-Neiße, Brandenburg
- SPR – Springe, Lower Saxony
- SR – Straubing & Straubing-Bogen, Bavaria
- SRB – Strausberg, Brandenburg
- SRO – Stadtroda, Thuringia
- ST – Steinfurt, North-Rhine-Westphalia (since 1975; previously
- used for Stade in 1956)
- STA – Starnberg, Bavaria
- STB – Sternberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- STD – Stade, Lower Saxony
- STE – Staffelstein, Bavaria
- STH – Stadthagen, Lower Saxony
- STL – Stollberg, Saxony
- STO – Stockach, Baden-Württemberg
- SU – Siegburg & Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- SUL – Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Bavaria
- SÜW – Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland Palatinate
- SW – Schweinfurt, Bavaria
- SWA – Bad Schwalbach & Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse
- SY – Syke, Lower Saxony
- SZ – Salzgitter, Lower Saxony
- SZB – Schwarzenberg, Saxony
- TBB – Tauberbischofsheim & Main-Tauber-Kreis, Baden-
- Württemberg
- TE – Teterow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (1991-c1994;
- previously used for Tecklenburg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- before 1974)
- TF – Teltow-Fläming, Brandenburg
- TG – Torgau, Saxony
- THL – Thuringia State (Thüringen Land) official vehicles
- THW – Technical help (Technisches Hilfswerk) vehicles
- TIR – Tirschenreuth, Bavaria
- TO – Torgau-Oschatz, Saxony
- TÖL – Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Bavaria
- TÖN – Tönning, Schleswig-Holstein
- TP – Templin, Brandenburg
- TR – Trier, Rhineland Palatinate
- TS – Traunstein, Bavaria
- TT – Tettnang, Baden-Württemberg
- TÜ – Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg
- TUT – Tuttlingen, Baden-Württemberg
- ÜB – Überlingen, Baden-Württemberg
- UE – Uelzen, Lower Saxony
- UEM – Ueckermünde, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- UER – Uecker-Randow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- UFF – Uffenheim, Bavaria
- UH – Unstrut-Hainich, Thuringia
- UL – Ulm & Alb-Donau-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg
- UM – Uckermark, Brandenburg
- UN – Unna, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- USI – Usingen, Hesse
- V – Vogtlandkreis, Saxony
- VAI – Vaihingen, Baden-Württemberg
- VB – Vogelsbergkreis, Hesse
- VEC – Vechta, Lower Saxony
- VER – Verden, Lower Saxony
- VIB – Vilsbiburg, Bavaria
- VIE – Viersen, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- VIT – Viechtach, Bavaria
- VK – Völklingen, Saarland
- VL – Villingen, Baden-Württemberg
- VOF – Vilshofen, Bavaria
- VOH – Vohenstrauß, Bavaria
- VS – Villingen-Schwenningen & Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis,
- Baden-Württemberg
- W – Wuppertal, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WA – Waldeck, Hesse
- WAF – Kreis Warendorf, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WAK – Wartburgkreis, Thuringia
- WAN – Wanne-Eickel, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WAR – Warburg, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WAT – Wattenscheid, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WB – Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt
- WBS – Worbis, Thuringia
- WD – Weidenbrück, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WDA – Werdau, Saxony
- WE – Weimar, Thuringia
- WEB – Westerburg, Rhineland Palatinate
- WEG – Wegscheid, Bavaria
- WEL – Weilburg, Hesse
- WEM – Wesermünde, Lower Saxony
- WEN – Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria
- WER – Wertingen, Bavaria
- WES – Wesel, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WF – Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony
- WG – Wangen, Baden-Württemberg
- WHV – Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony
- WI – Wiesbaden, Hesse
- WIL – Wittlich & Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rhineland Palatinate
- WIS – Wismarer Land
- WIT – Witten, North-Rhine-Westphalia
- WIZ – Witzenhausen, Hesse
- WK – Wittstock, Brandenburg
- WL – Winsen (Luhe) & Harburg, Lower Saxony
- WLG – Wolgast, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- WM – Weilheim-Schongau, Bavaria
- WMS – Wolmirstedt, Saxony Anhalt
- WN – Waiblingen & Rems-Murr-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg
- WND – St Wendel, Saarland
- WO – Worms, Rhineland Palatinate
- WOB – Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony Volkswagen Massive Plant is here; hence the Wolfsburg Edition
- WOH – Wolfhagen, Hesse
- WOL – Wolfach, Baden-Württemberg
- WOR – Wolfratshausen, Bavaria
- WOS – Wolfstein, Bavaria
- WR – Wernigerode, Saxony-Anhalt
- WRN – Waren, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- WS – Wasserburg, Bavaria
- WSF – Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt
- WST – Westerstede & Ammerland, Lower Saxony
- WSW – Weißwasser, Saxony
- WT – Waldshut, Baden-Württemberg
- WTL – Wittlage, Lower Saxony
- WTM – Wittmund, Lower Saxony
- WÜ – Würzburg, Bavaria
- WUG – Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Bavaria
- WUM – Waldmünchen, Bavaria
- WUN – Wunsiedel am Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria
- WUR – Wurzen, Saxony
- WW – Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland Palatinate
- WZ – Wetzlar, Hesse
- WZL – Wanzleben, Saxony Anhalt
- X – NATO Forces vehicles
- Y – Armed Forces vehicles (Bundeswehr)
- Z – Zwickauer Land, Saxony (since 1991; previously used for
- Customs (Zoll) vehicles before 1988)
- ZE – Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt
- ZEL – Zell, Rhineland Palatinate
- ZI – Löbau-Zittau
- ZIG – Ziegenhain, Hesse
- ZP – Zschopau, Saxony
- ZR – Zeulenroda, Thuringia
- ZS – Zossen, Brandenburg
- ZW – Zweibrücken, Rhineland Palatinate
- ZZ – Zeitz, Saxony Anhalt
History
1930 ERA GERMAN LICENSE PLATE
The first German license plates that had a lettering plan were issued from 1906 onwards. Berlin for example was using I A (I for Prussia), Munich II A (II for Bavaria), Stuttgart III A (III for Württemberg). Other German states used further Roman numbers such as IV (Baden), V (Hesse), and VI (Alsace-Lorraine; now France.
German license plate for tax-exempt vehicles
- Vehicles which are exempt from vehicle taxes (for example ambulances, tractors, agricultural trailers, trailers for boats or trailers for gliders) have green print on a white background plate. Regular trailers for lorries (semis) can be exempted from tax if the owner agrees to pay an increased tax on the vehicle which tows the trailer. There is also a tax exemption for trailers for which the owner agrees to hand over his trailer without payment to the armed forces (if Germany is in a state of emergency or defense).
German temporary license plate
- Vehicles which have not been registered (because they are for transfer within Germany) have to carry short-term plates valid only for five days. The code starts with the numbers 04, e.g. DD-04000, and the plate has a yellow strip on the right showing when they are valid. The date is listed numerically, on three lines, reading day, month, year, with two digits each. The vehicle need not have a valid technical inspection, however it must be technically fit to be operated in public. Insurance premiums are quite high, appr. €100 for the above mentioned 5 days. Most insurance companies credit this premium if the car is registered as a normal car with the same insurance company after these 5 days.
German car dealer license plate
This special plate (red on reflective white, old DIN-style fonts) are issued for dealer’s cars used in test drives. (Registration office: Hamburg)
- Car dealer license plates are in red print on a reflective white background, and the code begins with 06. Red plates may be attached to cars which are changing hands, such as the test run of unregistered cars, and the liability insurance is connected to the plate, not a specific car.
Classic / Oldtimer Car License Plates
- Classic cars (known in German by the as Oldtimer) can get an H (historisch (historic) at the end of the plate, such as S-AA 100H in order to preserve the so called “vehicle of cultural value” (kraftfahrtechnisches Kulturgut”).
- The requirements for a vehicle for an H-Plate are:
- minimum age of the vehicle of 30 years from initial registration
- must be in original condition and well maintained. Some features such as safety belts or a catalytic converter which have been added are accepted and are not in conflict with the “original condition” rule
German Export license plates
These German license plates are also known as Ausfuhrkennzeichen or Zoll in English Customs plates and are used for exporting vehicles abroad. The plates are the only ones which do not have the blue Euro strip on the left and the owner does not have to be a German resident to register the car. The date on the red strip on the right hand side does not show the expiration date of the plate; instead it shows the expiration date of the vehicle insurance. After this date the vehicle can no longer drive on German roads.
Classic Oval Zoll /Customs License Plate used between 1948 and 1988.
German Military License Plate Bundeswehr
The German military use the old style non-reflecting plates with a dash between the two circles. The German flag is shown, instead of the blue EU strip. Military plates use the letter Y, rather than a city indicator (no German city name starts with a Y). After the Y comes a six-digit number (or five digits for motorcycles), for example Y-123456. These vehicles are tax-exempt and need not to be insured since the German government acts as insurer. There is also no mandatory technical inspection required but the Armed Forces carry out a regular internal inspection on these vehicles similar to the official inspection.
Some branches of the Federal Government and Federal State governments use the abbreviations of their names instead of a city code. Example: the Technisches Hilfswerk (German Federal Agency for Technical Relief) uses its abbreviation THW, so the plates read THW-80000, for example. All numbers on THW plates start either with the digit 8 or 9. Before the Deutsche Bundesbahn (German National Railways) and the Deutsche Bundespost (Federal Post Office) were privatised, they used the abbreviations DB and BP (e.g. DB-12345, BP-12345). The Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (Federal Water and Ship Transport Authority) uses BW followed by a digit identifying the region of the office (from 1=north to 7=south).
German Federal Police License Plates
Bundespolizei (Federal Police), code in use since 2005.
The federal police uses the code BP instead of the local code. Before 2006 they used the code BG (former name: Bundesgrenzschutz) (BG-#####), this old code remains still valid, only new vehicles will get the new “BP”-code.
German License Plate Decals/Seals
Emission test (front plate) was applied up to 2010 and vehicle safety test (rear plate) seals are also attached to the plate. The expiration date can be figured out as follows: The year is in the centre of the seal and the seals are attached with the month of expiration pointing upwards. The black marking on the side (near the 12) thus makes it easy for the police to see the expiration month from a distance. Like a clock, the marking shows the same position of a number on the face of a clock. For example the black marking is on the left side, so it is the ninth month (or 9 o’clock) and hence the expiry date is 30 September. The colors are repeated every 6 years. Emission test stickers are no longer used for tests done since beginning of 2010: The safety test sticker covers both.
The lower decal is the official seal of registration. It always carries the seal of the respective German Bundesland, with the place or district of issue being added in print. Some seals carry the German Bundesadler instead of a Bundesland’s seal, e.g. number plates used on Bundespolizei vehicles.
Colors of the emission test (before 2010) and vehicle safety test seals:
Purchasing German license plates on the internet can be tricky. Over the past few years many online retailers have added German license plates to their product line. Customers are not too sure if they can customize their German license plate of if the online retailer is selling random numbers on plates. In most cases, customers pay more for customizing their plates. If German state seals are added, extra charges are added. Shipping, charges can top $15.00. Licenseplates.tv has the fastest delivery service, consistently good quality, free German state decals and pollution seals.
