Nummerplade

Nummerplade is the identification plate affixed to motor vehicles and trailers, issued by the national vehicle registration authority in a given country. It carries a unique registration number that links the vehicle to its registered owner and to official vehicle records. The plate serves to support law enforcement, taxation, tolling, and road safety by enabling both manual and automated checks of a vehicle’s registration status.

Design and features vary by country, but plates are typically made of metal with a reflective background to improve visibility at night. The characters are printed in a high-contrast, legible font and arranged according to national rules. Many plates use a combination of letters and digits; diacritical marks may be restricted in some jurisdictions. Some plates display a country or regional identifier. In addition to the basic marking, many places require front and rear plates, while others use only a rear plate. Internationally, a common size in many European countries is around 520 by 110 millimeters, though sizes and shapes differ. Modern plates may include anti-counterfeiting features such as holograms, microprinting, or specialized fasteners.

Issuance and compliance: A plate is issued when a vehicle is registered, transferred, or when a replacement is needed. It is legally required to be displayed in prescribed positions, and tampering or use of counterfeit plates is punishable by law. In some countries, owners can request personalized or vanity plates, subject to availability and regulatory limits.

Variations exist across countries in lettering schemes, plate color, and security measures. The concept remains: a standardized, verifiable identifier that connects a vehicle to its legal registration.