What do English license plates mean?

The first two letters are known as the local memory tag and they show where the vehicle was registered. The first letter represents the region and the second letter represents a DVLA local office. For example, a vehicle registered in London will have a number plate starting with LA through to LY.

How do license plates work in China?

The plates accommodate a one-character provincial abbreviation, a letter of the Pinyin alphabet, and five numbers or letters of the alphabet (Ex. 沪A·12345; 京C·A1234; 苏A·1P234; 浙B·AB987; 粤Z·7C59港). Previously, all licence plates had used the five-number designation.

What do license plates in China look like?

Private vehicles are issued blue plates with white lettering; farm vehicles are green on white and larger vehicles such as trucks and buses, as well as motorcycles, receive yellow plates. Police vehicles are black on white and suffixed with the character 警 (police) in red.

Why are British number plates yellow and white?

The reason for a yellow plate at the rear and white at the front is because it is illegal to show a white light to the rear at night, and that the law includes reflectors in its definition of what constitutes a light.

What Colour are Chinese number plates?

And what do Chinese plates actually look like? The current format was first introduced back in 1992, and was updated in 2007. Passenger-car plates comprise white lettering – usually seven characters – on a light-blue background. As we have already noted, the first character is Chinese and denotes one of the provinces.

How much does a license plate cost in China?

In big Chinese cities, including Shanghai, residents have to go through lucky draws or auctions to get a car license plate—a way for authorities to curb congestion and air pollution. A plate can cost as much as 100,000 yuan ($15,566).

What does hiragana mean on license plate?

If license plates could only talk! A Japanese license plate bears a locality and a small number topping a hiragana character and up to four large digits below. Hiragana characters lack the suggestiveness of kanji, but still, shi (し) is taboo – “death” again.

Are smoked plates illegal?

Tinted number plates are not legal for road use. Number plates need to meet strict criteria on each of their characteristics, and one of these is the reflective levels. A tinted number plate uses a darkened/tinted acrylic in front of the reflective, which affects the output of the reflective material.

What are the license plates called in China?

China vehicle license plates. Vehicle registration plates in China (Chinese: 牌照; pinyin: pái zhào) are mandatory metal or plastic plates attached to motor vehicles in mainland China for official identification purposes. The plates are issued by the local Vehicle Management Offices, under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

What are 港 and 澳 licence plates?

Licence plates with a black background and the character 港 or 澳 in place of the last number are used for Hong Kong and Macau vehicles, respectively, when they engage in cross-border traffic to and from Mainland China. These plates often exist side by side with a local HK or Macau licence plate on the same car.

Can I get a Hong Kong or Macau licence plate from China?

Vehicles from Mainland China have to apply for Hong Kong licence plates or Macau licence plates to enter those territories . The number of registered cars, buses, vans, and trucks on the road in China reached 62 million in 2009, and is expected to exceed 200 million by 2020.

What does Guangdong border crossing plate mean?

Guangdong border crossing plate displayed on a vehicle below a standard Hong Kong plate. Licence plates with a black background and the character 港 or 澳 in place of the last number are used for Hong Kong and Macau vehicles, respectively, when they engage in cross-border traffic to and from Mainland China.