What does EU stand for on a license plate?
Christopher Harper
Updated on April 03, 2026
License Plates of the European Union.
Are EU number plates still legal?
New number plates can no longer have the EU GB badge on them. Yet there’s no need to replace your existing number plates, even those with the Euro flag. But in order to drive within the EU, you must display a separate Oval UK Sticker.
What does D on a number plate mean?
diplomats
The letter in the number plate represents the type of person the vehicle is allocated to, with D being used for diplomats and X for non-diplomatic accredited personnel.
What does Germany license plates look like?
Standard German number plates use black print on a white background. There is a blue strip featuring the stars of the European Union and Germany’s country code on the left. The registration number can have up to eight characters, which are visually split into three clusters.
How do European number plates work?
EU format plates are either white or yellow, on a plate wider than it is tall. Yellow registration plates are used both front and rear in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Denmark and Hungary use yellow plates for vehicles registered as commercial vehicles. Denmark implemented the EU format on a voluntary basis in 2009.
Can I drive my EU car in UK after Brexit?
EU licence-holders visiting the UK can continue to drive using their EU licence without needing an International Driving Permit.
What does B on a number plate mean?
“M on military vehicles is for ‘Man’, B on police vehicles is for ‘Boys’.”
What country is H on a number plate?
Hungary
Vehicle registration codes of the Europe
| Code | Country | From |
|---|---|---|
| GR | Greece | 1913 |
| H | Hungary | 1910 |
| HR | Croatia | 1992 |
| I | Italy | 1919 |
Do you have to display the oval number plate in Europe?
In the European Economic Area, vehicles from one member state do not need to display the oval while within another state, provided the number plate is in the common EU standard format introduced in the 1990s, which includes the international vehicle registration code on the plate.
What is the registration identifier of the number plate in Europe?
The registration identifier of the number plates in Europe is an alphanumeric or numeric code that uniquely identifies the car or vehicle right within the issuing of the authority’s database. Most countries here in Europe have adopted the common format for license plates, like the common EU format which is issued in EU member states.
Can I still put the euro symbol on my number plate?
It is now not possible to fit a new number plate displaying the Euro symbol. This follows the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. As part of the UK’s membership of the EU, cars were able to display the Euro symbol and Great Britain (GB) national identifier on the front and rear number plates.
What does a blue EU strip mean on a license plate?
About blue EU strip: The common designs of the license plates that are used in European countries consist of a blue strip on the left part of the license plate and this blue strip has 12 yellow stars which is the European flag symbol. Along with the blue strips is the country code of the member country or state where the vehicle was registered.
