Location: western Europe

Capital: Paris

Status: Independent

Plates: owner provided

Drive: on the right

FRANCE

F

REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE

Oval, ISO: F, FR

Area: 547026 km²

Population: 59 m

Vehicles: 32 m

First Reg’n: 1893/1901

CURRENT SERIES

(a) Normal series plates since 1st January 1993 must be black on reflective white (front) and reflective yellow (rear). Although not mandatory most newer plates have a blue euroband at the left with the European Union flag above the letter F. The registration consists of a serial of two to four numerals and two letters followed by a department code of two numerals (except in Corsica), see Table 1. Once 9999 ZZ has been reached this is followed by a serial of two or three numerals and three letters, commencing from 11 AAA. Paris was the first in 1974 (commencing thus from 1 AAA 75), since followed by several other departments.

On two line plates the serial number is on the upper line. The letters I, O and U are not used, before 1993, see paragraph (u).

Trailers over 500 kg are required to have their own normal series registration, but smaller trailers display that of the prime mover.

The President of France uses normal Paris, code 75, registrations.

(b) Buses are registered in the normal series, except in Paris, where the Paris Public Transport Authority uses special registrations. Since 1993 these plates are in reflective format, with a two, three or four digit number. Two and three digit numbers are allocated to specific vehicles, as light township shuttles, driving school buses, etc…. The number depends on the type of vehicle (e.g. buses of the “Agora” model have numbers in the same block). Older numbers from old buses are reallocated to new ones.

(c) Trade and provisional plates are similar to the normal series except that the letters are reserved: the single letter W for use by garages, and WW, or WWA-WWZ, for provisional plates, valid for two weeks, for vehicles awaiting normal registrations. In particular situations several departments have issued provisional plates in a non-standard format, but always including the letters WW and the departmental code number.

Vehicles which will be travelling outside France have the department code preceded by WW1 if in cab and chassis form, leaving to have the bodywork completed.

Since 1st September 2002, complete vehicles leaving France finally, or diplomatic vehicles awaiting diplomatic registrations have three numerals (possibly four in future), WxE or WxL (where ‘x’ is a serial letter and L = local = European Union, E = externe = other countries), and the department code.

Official vehicle provisional plates have a serial number and the letters WWD, whilst military provisional plates have the letter W followed by a five digit serial number, usually without the insignia prefix.

(d) Official vehicles have black on reflective white and yellow plates, with the code for the department, see Table 1, a letter for the permitted area of operation, a hyphen (often omitted), a four digit serial starting at 1001, and a serial letter (other than I or O) starting from A. The first letter has the following significance:

D Departmentally and in adjoining departments only

E France and other countries within the European Union

N Nationally within France (mostly Police)

R Regionally and in adjoining Regions only

(e) Agricultural tractors have white plates with a black serial number of up to five digits followed by, or above, the department code; these plates are now usually embossed (and sometimes in black on yellow) although formerly hand-painted or stencilled. All tractors belonging to one farm have the same number.

(f) Since 1980 military vehicles have had plates with two groups of four numerals, the first group originally frequently smaller than the second. All current plates have eight numerals of the same size without a space between the two groups. Plates were generally white on black and either stencilled or embossed, but many vehicles now have reflective plates. The service is indicated by an insignia:

tricolour only Army and Common Services

grenadine across tricolour Gendarmerie

anchor across tricolour Navy

wings across tricolour Air Force -91

roundel and wings Air Force 91-

sword on tricolour Army 90-

ships bows above MARINE NATIONALE Navy 90-01

DGA on white of tricolour General Armaments Delegation 91-

SAM on white of tricolour Military Supplies Service 91-

caduceus on white of tricolour Army Health Service 92-

winged dividers above SAACMA Army Ministry Central vehicle dept. 98-

CAD on tricolour Central Administration 00-

DCN on tricolour Naval Construction department 01-

The second group of numerals is serial within year and vehicle type, but the first group is coded: the first numeral indicates the service (see Table 3a), the second and third are the year of registration (e.g. 92 = 1992), whilst the fourth indicates the type of vehicle (see Table 3b).

Some gendarmerie boat trailers have been seen with RPMB and four numerals in white on black: The first two numerals indicate the year but it is not known if the next two are serial numbers for a given year (e.g. RPMB 7712, 7902 or 8106). It is not also known whether this series is still in use.

(g) Temporary plates for vehicles temporarily imported, or purchased tax free for subsequent export, or even hired by foreign citizens, have had silver on red plates with up to up to three numerals and TAA to TZZ, allocated in blocks to various manufacturers, and followed by the department code. At the right of the plate is the month, in numbers, above the last two digits of the year of validity.

TAA - TCZ other makes (any department) TMA Daimler-Chrysler (Yvelines)

TDA - TKZ Peugeot (Hauts-de-Seine) TVA - TZZ Citroën (Paris)

TLA - TSZ Renault (Hauts-de-Seine)

Since 1st January 1988 similar plates but with the letters IT have been issued to foreign cultural staff and the like. These have also been noted without the date indication.

Similarly coloured plates are issued for use as normal registrations in the two “Free Zones” north and south of Geneva. Up to five numerals are followed by the letters TTQ (Haute-Savoie) or TTW (Gex, department of Ain).

(h) Diplomatic plates were changed in 1965 to the present complex system. The registration consists of a code number indicating the Embassy or Organization (see Table 2, column 1), one of the following code letters and a serial number:

CMD Chief of Diplomatic Mission

CD Members of the Diplomatic Corps

}

these plates are orange on green

C Consular officials attached to Consulates

K Consular officials attached to Embassies

and administrative and technical staff

}

these plates are silver or white

on green

In the case of the C series, a period and the department code follows the serial number, although the period is often omitted.

Members of delegations to International Organizations have a code letter prefixing a normal diplomatic registration, in addition to which 200 is added to the normal Embassy code (see Table 2, column 2):

E O.E.C.D. S Council of Europe

N N.A.T.O. -70 U U.N.E.S.C.O.

Vehicles bought normally in France or imported have the letter X after the registration if not exempt from duty.

Note: diplomatic plates are frequently made in the incorrect colours; orange characters are used on all series.

(j) Paris Fire Brigade have a special series of plates which are normal reflective colours. The registration consists of an alphabetic code denoting the vehicle class (see Table 8) and a serial number of up to three digits.

(k) Mopeds and small motorcycles under 125 cc are not required to be registered and therefore do not carry plates of any description.

(l) Several vehicles have been noted in the area of Vimy Memorial Park at Vimy Ridge near Lens, which was donated by the people of France as a tribute to the Canadian dead of the First World War. These have British style plates with two pairs of numerals and the letters XG. They are not issued by French authorities but by Canadian ones very likely.

Note: see also French Forces in Germany and German Forces in France.

FORMER SERIES

(p) Normal series plates were originally issued with up to three numerals (only Paris use 4 numérals), a single letter and the department code. Prior to 1st January 1993, for normal and official series and Paris buses, reflective plates were optional and generally only used on commercial vehicles; formerly plates were black with white or silver lettering.

HISTORICAL NOTES

(z) 1893-1901 France may have issued the first plates of all: the Paris Police Ordinance of 14th August 1893 states that “Each motor vehicle shall bear on a metal plate and in legible writing the name and address of the owner, also a distinctive number used in the application for authorization. This plate shall be fixed at the left hand side of the vehicle and shall never be hidden.” However, we have been unable to get any further confirmation or information from any French authority; also the description suggests that it is not a registration plate in the general sense described herein.

1899-1941 bicycles and motorcycles carried metal plates with the year of validity; alone for bicycles, with MOTOCYCLE for the latter, or with SERVICE PUBLIC for both if in public use. The name and address of the owner was inscribed on the plate.

(y) 1901-28 normal series were white on black with up to four numerals, a code letter (see Table 4) (the letter being doubled later) and a serial number.

All areas followed the following system, although the dates relate only to the Paris area:

1901-02 up to three numerals and one letter;

1902-03 up to three numerals and two letters;

1903-10 up to three numerals, one letter and one numeral (2 - 9);

1910-14 four numerals and one letter;

1914-28 four numerals, one letter, one numeral (1 - 9);

1928 only three numerals, one letter and two numerals;

Strasbourg added by 1920, Tunisia by 1924, Algeria by 1925 and Morocco by 1926.

(x) 1909 W series commenced with a serial number, W and a code number for the office (see Table 5): for tax exempt vehicles (test vehicles, freight trucks at the time).

1920 WW series commenced with a serial number, WW and a code number for the office (see Table 5): initially only for vehicles intended to export. In 1923 WW series included in addition the delivery of vehicles across the French territory, with the same coding; the following year (1924) codes WW1 to WW17 became reserved for delivery within France, whilst WW20 was created for the sole purpose of exported vehicles. Time of validity was 10 days.

1923-40 French army vehicles had white on black plates with one letter, the tricolour and up to six numerals issued in blocks to areas (see Table 9). Vehicles requisitioned after September 1939 had similar plates but the letter and flag were frequently omitted. Similar registrations were used by the Free French Forces during the war and continued after liberation.

(w) Oct 28 white on black plates with up to four numerals, two letters issued in blocks to Departments (see Table 7), and later one serial number from 1 to 9. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia used two digit serial numbers after 9 has been reached. Trade plates had up to four numerals, W or WW, and a code number (see Table 5).

Oct 33-55 First Temporary series commenced, plates were white on red, a serial number (up to four numerals), the letters TT, the last digit of the year of issue, and a letter denoting the “port” (see Table 6). It is specified that the series also applied to the free zones between France and Switzerland. They used the codes 1Q (Savoie) and 1W to 9W (Gex).

1933-55 diplomatic vehicles had silver on yellow plates with the letters CD a serial number of up to four numerals and a letter denoting the "port" (see Table 6), Later these were black on green in the same format.

(v) 1939/40 in Paris: DP and a low serial number in white on black used by the “Défense Passive”.

1940-44 French military plates in Vichy controlled areas had white on black plates with up to four numerals, two code letters for the Military Region (see Table 10a) and one or two numerals for the vehicle type (Table 10b).

16 Aug 40 - 10 Jan 45 diplomats in Vichy France used silver on yellow plates with the letters CD, a number from 1 to 289 and the letters NH (for Puy de Dôme). From 6th June 1942 diplomatic vehicles on which tax had been paid had similar plates with CD, a number from 1 to 23 and the letter Z. Such plates remained in use until at least 1951.

Aug 44 a press photograph shows a ‘light on dark’ plate with VE 13 ZG on a car: VE 17 NU is also known. Nothing further is known about these plates.

(u) Apr 50 current series commenced; initially up to three numerals (only Paris used 4 numerals from the

beginning). Letter I and O have never been used.

The President had the special Paris registrations 1 - 500 PR 75 reserved for his use, of which the numbers 1 - 5 PR 75 were on his official vehicles.

Oct 50 departments 13, 33, 59, 69 and 78 allowed to use up to four numerals.

Aug 51 those departments originally issued with codes 1 to 9 changed to 01 - 09 (1 - 9 remained valid

for already issued plates).

Jul 54 departments 62 and 76 allowed to use up to four numerals.

Mar 55-65 diplomatic vehicles had silver on green plates with the department code, the letters IT and a serial number of up to four numerals (later 5 numerals). CD oval is added to the plate.

Nov 58 current W and WW series commenced.

Jun 65 all remaining departments allowed to use up to four numerals, starting with 31. Most departments started to issue up to four serial digits on reaching QA (see Table 11).

1965-67 Paris region reorganized: May 1965: codes 91 and 95 commenced; Oct 1965: code 94; Feb 67: code 93 and code 92 commenced.

1973-93 the letter U has not been used since 1984 through 1991 progressively (as early as 1973 for departments 75, 92, 93, and 94). Between 1975 and 1993 the letter Q was not used in departments 75, 92, 93, 94, and 95.

26 Mar 74 Paris reached 9999 ZZ 75 and issued 1 AAA 75.

Jan 76 Corsica reorganized: codes 2A and 2B replaced 20, which ended at 292 GJ 20.

1976- Paris reached BAA; for subsequent issues refer to Table 11.

1989 departments outside Paris commenced three letters, see table at right.

1992 exceptionally, Savoie, department 73, issued plates with the letters JO (Jeux Olympiques) for use on vehicles connected with the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville.

1 Jan 93 reflective plates mandatory for new registrations.

Sep 99 experimental provisional export plates commenced using WxE and WxL to indicate destination; prior to this date this class of vehicles had a serial number, WW2, and the department code.

1 Sep 02 WW2 discontinued and WxE and WxL series applied to all departments.

(t) 1945 first official series commenced in white on black but with five numerals and D.

Jan 1955-84 former temporary series commenced with a serial number of up to four numerals the letters TT and the department code; they were white on red, but undated, the year of validity being displayed in white on a red oval at the rear of the vehicle but occasionally on the plate itself. (later a letter is added after 9999 TT is reached).

91 Essonne 02 Jan 89

95 Val d’Oise 03 Jul 89

77 Seine-et-Marne 21 Jan 91

38 Isère 16 Mar 93

92 Hauts-de-Seine 13 Dec 94

78 Yvelines 07 Jul 95

57 Moselle 29 Sep 97

06 Alpes-Maritime 16 Jun 98

44 Loire-Atlantique 20 Jul 98

31 Haute-Garonne 22 Oct 98

59 Nord 22 Mar 00

83 Var 25 Aug 00

51 Marne 14 Mar 01

67 Bas-Rhin 18 Jan 02

35 Ille-et-Vilaine 20 Sep 02

34 Hérault 17 Oct 02

1959 official series extended to five numerals followed by DA, DB, DE, DF, DG, DH or DJ (for which 10001 to 29999 were for central administration, e.g. police, and 30001 to 99999 for other administrations). DC (all serials) was reserved for Central Government Departments. DZ was reserved for overseas departments and territories.

1960s PP and up to six numerals in white on black used in Paris for the Préfecture de Police. Police motorcycles in Paris had a plain serial number in black on white.

1945-68 see Allied Forces in France for SHAPE vehicles.

1980 current military series introduced. From 1960 plates were similar to the current series but with only three code numerals: the first numeral (see Table 3a) and the last as now, but with the middle numeral being the last digit of the year. Plates were invariably white on black and those on gendarmerie motorcycles had the upper corners cut away.

Jan 84 former temporary series commenced, still in white on red, with up to three numerals, TTA to TTZ, and the department code; the month and year of validity were placed to the right of the plate as at present.

Jan 84 - Dec 87 Foreign cultural staff, etc., used plates similar to the present IT series (see paragraph (g)) but with the letters TTT.

1984. The current series for Free Zones started at this date with the issue of 9000 TTQ following 8999 TT1Q and 10000 TTW following 9999 TT9W.

Jan 88 IT series commenced.

1990-92 new military insignia introduced.

1991-94 exceptionally, temporary series were issued with TxT only in Hauts-de-Seine, department 92.

1992 current official series commenced.

1993- reflective plates become progressively mandatory for military and official series.

Jan 94 current temporary series commenced with up to three numerals, the letter T and two serial letters and the department code. the month and year of validity were placed to the right of the plate.

-2001 diplomatic and consular vehicles bought normally in France or imported after payment of customs duty had the letter X after the registration; otherwise letter was Z for vehicles exempt from customs duty. It was permitted to omit the letter Z, which was almost invariably the case, as most vehicles were in this category.

Table 1

01 Ain (Bourg-en-Bresse) ra

02 Aisne (Laon) pd

03 Allier (Moulins) au

04 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence 70-

(Digne-les-Bains) ca

05 Hautes-Alpes (Gap) ca

06 Alpes-Maritime (Nice) ca

07 Ardèche (Privas) ra

08 Ardennes (Charleville-Mézières) ch

09 Ariège (Foix) mp

10 Aube (Troyes) ch

11 Aude (Carcassonne) lr

12 Aveyron (Rodez) mp

13 Bouches-du-Rhône (Marseille) ca

14 Calvados (Caen) bn

15 Cantal (Aurillac) au

16 Charente (Angoulême) pc

17 Charente-Maritime 41-* (La Rochelle) pc

18 Cher (Bourges) ce

19 Corrèze (Tulle) lm

Corse [Corsica]: * -76

2A Corse-du-Sud 76- (Ajaccio) co

2B Haute-Corse 76- (Bastia) co

21 Côte-d’Or (Dijon) bg

22 Côtes d’Armor 90-* (Saint-Brieuc) br

23 Creuse (Guéret) lm

24 Dordogne (Périgueux) aq

25 Doubs (Besançon) fc

26 Drôme (Valence) ra

27 Eure (Evreux) hn

28 Eure-et-Loir (Chartres) ce

29 Finistère (Quimper) br

30 Gard (Nîmes) lr

31 Haute-Garonne (Toulouse) mp

32 Gers (Auch) mp

33 Gironde (Bordeaux) aq

34 Hérault (Montpellier) lr

35 Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes) br

36 Indre (Châteauroux) ce

37 Indre-et-Loire (Tours) ce

38 Isère (Grenoble) ra

39 Jura (Lons-le-Saunier) fc

40 Landes (Mont-de-Marsan) aq

41 Loir-et-Cher (Blois) ce

42 Loire (Saint-Etienne) ra

43 Haute-Loire (Le Puy-en-Velay) au

44 Loire-Atlantique 57-* (Nantes) pl

45 Loiret (Orléans) ce

46 Lot (Cahors) mp

47 Lot-et-Garonne (Agen) aq

48 Lozère (Mende) lr

49 Maine-et-Loire (Angers) pl

50 Manche (Saint-Lô) bn

51 Marne (Chalons-en-Champagne) ch

52 Haute-Marne (Chaumont) ch

53 Mayenne (Laval) pl

54 Meurthe-et-Moselle (Nancy) ln

55 Meuse (Bar-le-Duc) ln

56 Morbihan (Vannes) br

57 Moselle (Metz) ln

58 Nièvre (Nevers) bg

59 Nord (Lille) np

60 Oise (Beauvais) pd

61 Orne (Alençon) bn

62 Pas de Calais (Arras) np

63 Puy-de-Dôme (Clermont-Ferrand) au

64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques 69-* (Pau) aq

65 Hautes-Pyrénées (Tarbes) mp

66 Pyrénées-Orientales (Perpignan) lr

67 Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg) al

68 Haut-Rhin (Colmar) al

69 Rhône (Lyon) ra

70 Haute-Saône (Vesoul) fc

71 Saône-et-Loire (Mâcon) bg

72 Sarthe (Le Mans) pl

73 Savoie [Savoy] (Chambéry) ra

74 Haute-Savoie (Annecy) ra

75 Paris 65-* (Paris) if

76 Seine-Maritime 55-* (Rouen) hn

77 Seine-et-Marne (Melun) if

78 Yvelines 65-* (Versailles) if

79 Deux-Sèvres (Niort) pc

80 Somme (Amiens) pd

81 Tarn (Albi) mp

82 Tarn-et-Garonne (Montauban) mp

83 Var (Toulon) ca

84 Vaucluse (Avignon) ca

85 Vendée (La Roche-sur-Yon) pl

86 Vienne (Poitiers) pc

87 Haute-Vienne (Limoges) lm

88 Vosges (Épinal) ln

89 Yonne (Auxerre) bg

90 Territoire-de-Belfort (Belfort) fc

91 Essonne 65-* (Evry) if

92 Hauts-de-Seine 67-* (Nanterre) if

93 Seine-Saint-Denis 67-* (Bobigny) if

94 Val-de-Marne 65-* (Créteil) if

95 Val d’Oise 65-* (Pontoise) if

* obsolete codes and names

04 {Basses-Alpes -70} ca

17 {Charente-

Inférieure -41} pc

20 Corse [Corsica] -76

(Ajaccio) co

22 {Côtes-du-Nord -90} br

44 {Loire-Inférieure -57} pl

75 Seine -65 (Paris) if

64 {Basses-Pyrénées -69} aq

76 {Seine-Inférieur -55} hn

78 Seine-et-Oise -65

(Versailles) if

91-94 Algeria 51-57

see Algeria

Regions:

al Alsace

au Auvergne

aq Aquitaine

bg Bourgogne

[Burgundy]

bn Basse-Normandie

[Lower Normandy]

br Bretagne [Brittany]

ca Provence-

Alpes-Côte d’Azur

ce Centre-Val de Loire

ch Champagne-Ardenne

co Corse [Corsica]

fc Franche-Comté

hn Haute-Normandie

[Upper Normandy]

if Île-de-France

lm Limousin

ln Lorraine

lr Languedoc-

Rousillon

mp Midi-Pyrénées

np Nord-Pas-de-Calais

pc Pitou-Charentes

pd Picardie

pl Pays de la Loire

ra Rhône-Alpes

Table 2

1 Afghanist.

2 S.Africa

3 Albania

4 Algeria

5 Germany

6 U.S.A.

7 Egypt

8 S.Arabia

9 Argentina

10 Australia

11 Austria

12 Belgium

13 Myanmar

14 Bolivia

15 Bhutan

16 Brazil

17 Bulgaria

18 Burundi

19 Cambodia

20 Cameroon

21 Canada

22 C.A.R.

23 Sri Lanka

24 Chile

25 Taiwan

26 China

27 Cyprus

28 Colombia

29 Congo R.

30 D.R.Congo

31 Korea, R.

32 C.Rica

33 C.d’Ivoire

34 Cuba

35 Benin

36 Denmark

37 Dom. Rep.

38 El Salvador

39 Ecuador

40 Spain

41 Ethiopia

42 Finland

43 Gabon

44 Ghana

45 U.K.

46 Greece

47 Guatemala

48 Guinea

49 Haiti

50 Burk. Faso

51 Honduras

52 Hungary

53 India

54 Indonesia

55 Iraq †

56 Iran

57 Ireland

58 Iceland

59 Israel

60 Italy

61 Jamaica

62 Japan

63 Jordan

64 Kenya

65 Kuwait

66 Laos

67 Lebanon

68 Liberia

69 Libya

70 Liechtenst.

71 Luxemb’g

72 Malaysia

73 Malawi

74 Madagasc.

75 Mali

76 Morocco

77 Mauritania

78 Mexico

79 Monaco

80 Nepal

81 Nicaragua

82 Niger

83 Nigeria

84 Norway

85 N.Zealand

86 Uganda

87 Pakistan

88 Panama

89 Paraguay

90 Netherl’ds

91 Peru

92 Philippines

93 Poland

94 Portugal

95 Rhodesia

96 Romania

97 Rwanda

98 S.Marino

99 Vatican

100 Senegal

101 S.Leone

102 Somalia

103 Sudan

104 Sweden

105 Switzerl’d

106 Syria

107 Tanzania

108 Chad

109 Czechosl.

110 Thailand

111 Togo

112 Trinidad

113 Tunisia

114 Turkey

115 Russia

116 Uruguay

117 Venezuela

118 Vietnam

119 Yemen

120 Serbia & M

121 Zambia

122 Mauritius

123 Mongolia

124 P.D.R.Y.

125 Banglad’sh

126 Qatar

127 U.A.E.

128 G.D.R.

129 Singapore

130 Oman

131 Bahrain

132 D.P.R.K †

133 Seychelles

134 Malta

135 Djibouti

136 Comoros

137 Angola

138 Eq.Guinea

139 Zimbabwe

140 C.Verde

141 Gu.Bissau

142 Mozamb’q

143 ?

144 St Lucia

145 Gambia

146 Brunei

147 ?

148 Belize

149 Namibia

150 Estonia

151 Latvia

152 Lithuania

153 Ukraine

154-160 ?

161 P.N.G.

162-164 ?

165 Slovenia

166 Croatia

167 Slovakia

168 Czech R.

169 Bosnia-H.

170 Macedonia

171 Armenia

172 Belarus

173 Kazakhst.

174 Georgia

175 Turkmen.

176 Iraq ‡

177 Uzbekist.

178 Azerbaijan

179 Andorra

180 Eritrea

181 Moldova

190 Québec

191 Int. Court

of Justice

193 D.P.R.K *

194 ?

195 Palestine

200 France

201-380

as 1-180

(see para.h)

Notes

† only at

UNESCO

‡ Interests Sect-

ion at embassy

of Morocco

* commercial

representatives

401 U.N.E.S.C.O

402 O.E.C.D.

403 N.A.T.O.

404 E.L.D.O.

405 E.S.R.O.

406 Rhine Navigation

Commission

407 I.C.A.O.

408 I.B.R.D.

409 I.M.F.

410 U.N.I.C.E.F

411 U.N.I.C.

412 I.L.O.

413 W.E.U.

414 U.N.H.C.R.

415 E.U.

416 Eur. Atomic Energy Community

417 Eur. Coal & Steel Community

418 Eur. & Mediterranean Org’n for

Plant Protection

419 Int’l Meteorological Organization

420 Eurocontrol

421 Int’l Office for Vineyards & Wine

422 International Exhibitions Bureau

423 Inter-American Development Bank

424 International Polar Institute

425 Inter-African Coffee Organization

426 International Conference for

African Insurance

427 African & Madagascan Coffee Org’n

428 Franco-German Office

429 Inter-gov’t Copper Export Council

430 West African Central Bank

431 Eur. Nuclear Research Conference

432 Interpol (Int’l Criminal Police Org’n)

433 Cultural & Techn’l Co-op. Agency

434 Int’l Weights & Measures Bureau

435 Eur. Laboratory for Molecular Biology

436 Arab Bank for Economic

Development in Africa

437 U.N. Programme for the

Environment

439 Int’l Centre for the Registration of

Serial Publications

440 Eutelstat (European Television

Satellite Organization)

441 Latin Union

442 ?

443 Central African States Central Bank

444 Int’l Cancer Research Unit

445 ?

446 ?

448 European Court of Human Rights

(Strasbourg)

500 Other Persons of High Diplomatic

Status

501- Delegates to the Vietnam

504 Peace Conference (??-73)

505 Int’l Conf. on Economic

Co-operation

600 Council of Europe

700 Int’l Cancer Research Institute

800 N.A.T.O. (65-70)

Table 3a

2 Army and Gendarmerie 60 -69

2 Gendarmerie 89-

3 Air Force 60-69

4 Navy 60-69

5 Common Services 60-69

6 Army, Gendarmerie 70-88

6 Army 89-

7 Air Force 70-

8 Navy 70-

9 Common Services 70-

Table 5

Table 3b

re-

new built

cars and coaches 1 5

vans 2 6

lorries, tractors,

machines 3 7

armoured vehicles 4 8

motorcycles 9 9

2 & 4 wheel trailers 0 0

Table 4

A Alès

AL Algeria

B Bordeaux

C Chalons-sur-

Saône -19

C Lyon 19-

D Douai

E Paris

F Clermont

Ferrand

G Paris

H Grenoble -19

H Lyon 19-

I Paris

J1 Strasbourg 22-

J2 Colmar 22-

J3 Metz 22-

K Poitiers 09-19

K Bordeaux 19-

L Le Mans -19

L Nantes 19-

M Marseille

MA Morocco

N Nancy

O Nancy 09-

P Poitiers -19

P Bordeaux 19-

R Arras

S St Etienne

T Toulouse

TU Tunisia

U Paris

V Marseille 04-

W provisional

(see Table 5)

X Paris

Y Rouen

Z Rouen

1920-22:

VI-A Strasbourg

VI-B Colmar

VI-C Metz

W0 Paris 1945-59

W1 Paris (1^e Arron-

Disement) -45

W2 Arras

W3 Bordeaux

W4 Châlons-sur-

Saône -19

W4 Lyon 19-44

W5 Grenoble -19

W5 Strasbourg 22-

W6 Clermont

Ferrand

W7 Douai

W8 Le Mans -19

W8 Nantes 19-

W9 Marseille

W10 Nancy

W11 Poitiers -19

W11 Lyon 45-59

W12 Paris (2e Arron-

Disement) -45

W13 St Etienne

W14 Toulouse

W15 Alès

W16 Algeria 25-

W17 Tunisia 24-

W18 Morocco 26-

Table 6

A Dunkerque

B Calais

C,D Boulogne

E Dieppe

F,G Le Havre

H,J Cherbourg

I Strasbourg 50-

K St Nazaire

L La Rochelle

M Bordeaux

N Bayonne

P Sète

R Toulon

S Marseille

T Nice

U Villefranche

V Lyon

X,Y,Z Paris

“zone franche”

Q Haute-Savoie

W Ain

Table 7

AB 01

AF 02

AN 03

AR 04

AS 05

AT 07

AV 08

AZ 09

BA 06

BN 10

BT 11

BX 12

BZ 90

CA 13

CB 13

CT 14

CZ 15

DB 16

DG 17

DN 18

DR 19

DT 20

DU 21

EA 22

ED 23

EG 24

EK 25

ES 27

FA 26

FE 28

FJ 29

FN 30

FS 31

FY 32

GA 33

GC 33

GP 34

GV 35

HA 36

HD 37

HK 38

HR 39

HU 40

HX 41

JA 42

JG 43

JH 44

JP 45

JT 46

JV 47

JZ 48

KA 49

KF 50

KJ 51

KQ 52

KS 53

KU 54

LA 55

LE 56

LH 57

LP 58

LS 60

MB 59

MD 59

ME 59

MX 61

NA 62

NB 62

NH 63

NM 64

NS 65

NT 66

NV 67

PB 68

PF 69

PG 69

QA 70

QD 71

QJ 72

QN 73

QR 74

QU 77

RB,

RD-RG,

RJ-RQ,

RS 75

XA 76

XB 76

XL 79

XP 80

XV 81

YA-YD

YS 82

YU 83

ZA 84

ZE 85

ZH 86

ZL 87

ZQ 88

ZU 89

The numbers

are the current

department

codes

(see Table 1).

AL Algeria

IF French India

MA Morocco

MC Monaco

(suffixed)

TU Tunisia

W dealer

WW provisional

Other codes were allocated but never issued.

Table 8

AR cardiac aid ambulance

BEA high level inspection trk -90s

CA accessory lorry

CAR staff bus 90s-

CB dumper truck 90s-

CC petrol tanker

CDE accident rescue light van

CDMP pumping hose truck -90s

CE foam tanker

CESD propping, salvage &

clearing truck 90s-

CET shoring up materials trk -90s

CG mobile crane

CI tanker truck 90s-

CMF lift/winch equipment truck

CMH high pressure oxygen trk -90s

CMI buried persons rescue truck

CMIR radiological incident van 90s-

CO oxygen truck 90s-

CPB floating barrage carrying truck

CRAC reserve compressed air van

CSL rubber dinghy trailer -90s

DEP breakdown vehicle

EATT cross-country

automatic trailer -90s

EMP motorized ladder on carrier

EP extending ladder

EPA automated pivoting ladder trk

EPSA semi-auto. pivoting ladder trk

ESI flood punt

F fire tender -80s

FA fire support tender

FC compressor van -90s

FE evacuation tender

FEV generator/ventilator van

FM general fire tender

FP fire pump -90s

FPT high capacity fire pump -90s

FPTL light high capacity fire pump

GDP high pressure hose truck -90s

GREP search and deep

exploration truck 90s

LAT remote-control

water cannon -90s

LCM foam cannon trailer -90s

LMBA } high pressure -90s

LMBRA } sprinkler trailer 90s-00

MPR motorized pump trailer

PC mobile command post

PE ladder carrier

PEV special ladder carrier 90s-

PF boat carrier 90s-

PR fight general assistance trk -90s

PRM foam producing truck

PS fire engine

PSM foam producing fire engine -90s

PSR first aid & release truck 90s-

PST first aid truck 90s-

RM foam producing trailer -90s

RP powder reservoir trailer

RPOU " " 90s-00

RSR road accident rescue trlr -90s

RSU emergency rescue trailer -90s

RVAP anti-pollution trailer -90s

SIPREL specialized pick-up

SIS specialized sub-aqua rescue

SP general truck

SPC mobile compressor

SPCT slideback recovery veh. 90s-

SPF light van 90s-

SP CAR coach

SPG mobile lubrication crew

SPM motorcycle

SPR trailer

SPRC water trailer

SPRP machine carrying trailer

SPT tractor unit

SPVA small ambulance 90s-

SPVT small gen’l purpose van 90s-

SPVL light liason van -90s

VAP toxic fluid evacuation tanker

VGD ‘FC’ with breathing equipment

VID general rescue vehicle

VLIS First Aid mini-vehicle

VSAB ambulance with special

suspension

Table 9

Notes:

□ tricolour

M.R. Military

Region

□ 1 - □ 9999 Command (1st series)

A 1 - A 50000 1st M.R. (Lille)

B 50001 - B 100000 2nd M.R. (Amiens)

C 100001 - C 140000 3rd M.R. (Rouen)

D 140001 - D 200000 4th M.R. (Le Mans)

E 200001 - E 250000 5th M.R. (Orléans)

F 250001 - F 300000 6th M.R. (Metz)

G 300001 - G 350000 7th M.R. (Besançon)

H 350001 - H 380000 8th M.R. (Dijon)

K □ 1 - K □ 25000 Command (4th series, 1940)

L 380001 - L 410000 9th M.R. (Tours)

M ? - M ? 10th M.R. -34

M □ 1 - M □ 99999 Command (2nd series, 1938)

N 410001 - N 450000 11th M.R. (Nantes)

P ? - P ? 12th M.R. -34

P □ 1 - P □ 99999 Command (3rd series, 1939)

R 450001 - R 480000 13th M.R. (Clermont-Ferrand)

S 480001 - S 510000 14th M.R. (Lyon)

T 510001 - T 565000 15th M.R. (Marseille)

U 565001 - U 59000 16th M.R. (Montpellier)

V 590001 - V 620000 17th M.R. (Toulouse)

X 620001 - X 680000 18th M.R. (Bordeaux)

Y 680001 - Y 710000 19th M.R. (Algeria)

W 710001 - W 750000 20th M.R. (Nancy)

Z 750001 - Z 840000 Paris M.R.

J 840001 - J 850000 Tunisia

K 850001 - K 900000 Morocco

TL 1 - TL 99999 Levant (Syria and Lebanon)

T 1 - T 10000 Indo-China

Table 10a

VG 7th M.R. (Bourg-en-Bresse)

VJ 9th M.R. (Chateauroux)

VM 12th M.R. (Limoges)

VN 13th M.R. (Clermont-Ferrand)

VO 14th M.R. (Lyon)

VP 15th M.R. (Marseille)

VR 16th M.R. (Montpellier)

VS 17th M.R. (Toulouse)

VT 18th M.R. (Bordeaux)

VU Algeria and Morocco

VY Tunisia

VZ Levant (Syria and Lebanon)

Table 10b

1 Renault

2 Citroën

3 Peugeot

4 Berliet

5 Panhard

6 Latil

7 Saurer

8 Rochet

10 Matford

15 others

Table 11

1Jan55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Dec00

01 BA DT GY MD QA QF QZ RV SY VA WN

02 CE FL KD PX QA QR RK SF TE VE WK

03 BG EA GW LK QA QC QQ RD RV SK TG

04 S AN BQ CY EP GT KJLK LP LX MH

05 P AJ BE CD DL FF HH JX JY KE KN

06 CP GU NW RA RN SM TU VG XA YW * AMP

07 AH CD EF HA LG LG LT MF MW NM PG

08 AT CL EJ GX LF QA QA QK QW RG RW

09 T AS BT DA ET FA FE FL FS GA GK

10 AU CQ EM HC LG LG LS MC MP NC NT

11 AU CU FA HV MA MA ML MX NL PB PW

12 AR CW FA HV LA LC LN MA ML MZ NQ

13 AA AQ BK CM DV FR HZ LN PL SJ XJ

14 CE FK KJ QA QB QV RR SP TR VV XJ

15 Y BE CJ DZ FX GA GF GM GV HC HL

16 BC DP GG KV QA QB QP RC RT SK TG

17 BY FJ KC QA QA QT RM SH TH VK WV

18 AY CZ FF JG ND QA QG QU RH RY SV

19 AK CF EC GP KP PH QA QJ QW RH RX

1Jan55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Dec00

20 M AE BH DB FR 31Dec75 (GJ)

2A 05Jan76 BK EE FC FG FR GD

2B 05Jan76 BS EW FN FV GF GT

21 BQ EJ HR MZ QA QK RD RY SX TW VZ

22 AW DJ GS MH QA QH RC RW SV TS VZ

23 Y BB CE DQ FK HN KW ML MM MT NC

24 BF EC HA LW QA QD QT RK SB SX TX

25 BN EN JK PP QA QU RT ST TZ WD XM

26 BD DW HA ME QA QF QY RT SQ TQ VY

27 BP EP JE NV QA QN RH SG TJ VP XC

28 AZ DK GC KQ PY PY QN RE RZ SX VB

29 BR FC KW QA QF RD SE TJ VR XB YT

30 BP ET JL PG QA QP RJ SH TL VS XJ

31 CU HN PU QF QZ RZ TF US WN YM * ALP

32 AH CE EC GM JZ JZ KH KR LB LL LZ

33 Q AC AS BL CK DR FE GZ JX MA PV

34 BT FD KM QA QC QW RV TB VL XC ZE *

35 BQ EY KU QA QF RB SC TG VQ XG ZG *

36 AP CJ EF GU KX PL QA QH QT RE RT

37 BD EA HN NC QA QK RC RX SW TW WC

38 DB JD QW SA ST TV VE WV YS * AGS BKW

1Jan55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Dec00

39 AQ CJ EJ GW LC QA QA QL RA RM SD

40 AJ CB EF HG MA MA MP NC NV PM QL

41 AT CP EX JB NB NG NS PG PX QM RJ

42 CF GE LM QA QF RB SA TC VH WP YF

43 AA BJ CS EN GW HA HG HR JB JM KB

44 CP GN MX QA QP RR TA UN WR YP * AMY

45 BN EP JE PG QA QR RM SK TL VR XJ

46 AA BL CZ EU GY HB HH HQ HZ JH JT

47 AX DK GC KN PQ QA QL RA RP SF TB

48 L AB AR BK CH DM EW GA GA GE GK

49 BQ EY JZ QA QB QV RS SR TX WB XT

50 BH EA HG MT QA QH QZ RT SP TL VN

51 CD FF JZ QA QA QT RP SL TM VP ZY *

52 AH BW DL FN JD LG LJ LS MC ML MY

53 AF BZ DX GQ KX PW QA QK RA RN SF

54 CT GW MS QA QK RG SG TK VQ WX YM

55 AG BT DF FD HT LU QA QA QJ QV RG

56 AT CX FZ LQ QA QF RB RY SZ VD WR

57 CW HQ PB QT RF SJ TR VA XL ZB * ANT

58 AL CE EA GL KK PB QA QH QT RE RS

59 AE BA CA DF EX HD KX NV RZ WJ * AGP

60 CA FJ KK QA QC QY RY TC VN XC ZA

61 AU DD FU KB PG QA QL RA RQ SG TC

62 EA EC ER FH GG HN KC LV NS QS TG

63 BX FP KG QA QA QT RP SL TK VM WV

64 BE ED JB PD QA QP RK SG TH VK WV

65 AE BP DK FR JL MY QA QE QR RB RQ

66 AH BY DX GK KL PV QA QN RD RT SQ

67 CE GA LT QA QH RF SJ TQ WB XP ZP *

68 BQ EM HU NF QA QP RL SL TQ VV XJ

69 U AH BC CD DS FP HV LJ PC SC XA

70 AH BX DP FV JU JU KE KQ LC LQ MG

71 BX FK KH QA QB QU RQ SM TN VQ WY

72 BH EE HP MZ QA QK RD RZ SX TW WB

73 AS CQ EV HT MR QA QH QX RP SH TH

74 BB DJ GD LA QA QE RA RZ TD VH WY

1Jan55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Dec00

75 A DN JN QW WA * AHB CWL FET HRR LCQ NLR

76 EF EG EW FQ GP HW KL MC NZ QZ TH

77 CN GT NJ QP RD SJ UA XA ZK * AXV CJT

78 AF BF DE FV HR KP NE RG VV ZQ * BVE

79 AW DF FW KJ PS QA QM RA RR SJ TG

80 CA EZ JK NV QA QM RF RY SW TR VW

81 BB DN GA KF PA PA PN QB QR RH SC

82 AB BR DL FR GS GV HD HN HY JJ JY

83 BP EU KL QA QD QZ SA TJ VY XT * ABM

84 BN EL JB NQ QA QL RF SC TD VG WS

85 AR CS FL KK QA QB QU RN SK TL VX

86 AV DD FX KP QA QA QP RD RW SP TN

87 AV CY FK JS NT QA QJ QX RM SC SZ

88 BD DL FY KE PV QA QN RC RT SK TH

89 AV CY FH JN NR PA PM PZ QR RG SC

90 S AN BP CZ EX EX FD FL FV GD GP

91 ‑ 03May65 MK QA RL TP XZ * AFL BKW CWB

92 ‑ 01Feb67 A AW EH HX MW TH * AAM CQB

93 ‑ 20Feb67 A AL CW FT JR MT RX WF

94 ‑ 01Oct65 A AW CY FJ JF MG QD TQ

95 ‑ 03May65 LN QA RC TH XT * ADX BKJ CTN

† D DA DA DA DA DB DB DE 31Dec91

‡ D DA DA DB DE DF DG DJ 31Dec91

Notes

NA letters being issued on 1st January each quinquennium (except

QA point at which 4 numeric serial numbers started 2000)

TA highest issue from more than one issuing office

31Dec75 date of first or last issue

* for dates of first three letter issues, see paragraph (u) above.

† Central Administration: serials 10001-29999

‡ Other Administrations: serials 30001-99999

(DC reserved for Government vehicles DD not issued)