Number plates in Belgium are driver specific. If you trade in your old car for a new one, you keep your old number plate.
The rear license plate is state supplied, while the front license plate is owner supplied. This has its influence on the look of the front license plate which can be identical to the rear one or similar to European license plates with a blue EU flag in it. The rear license plate is usually mounted to another plate which contains the "B" letter and usually an advertisement for the car dealer. This explains why you often see scratched and dirty old number plates on new cars in Belgium
Types
Standard
The number plate has a white background with red numbers and letters. Standard Belgium plates are 325mm by 105mm - smaller than most other European countries. More recently, non-standard (for Belgium) sizes have become more popular for the front plate - in part due to influence from rest of Europe and in part due to plates carrying additional information such as the Euro flag. Belgium plans introducing the standard European format in 2010; at this time, the present colour scheme (red characters on white background) will be replaced with black characters on a white background.
Belgian plates are usually a three-letter combination followed by a three number combination: "AAA-111"; since 2008 plates are issued with the numbers in front: "111-AAA". There are still many "old" number plates in use (from the 1951-1973 system): one letter/four numbers or two letters/three numbers in various combinations. The combination on the plate does not give any information about the geographical location.
Starting on 25 June 2008 a new layout is used: three numbers followed by three letters, as all previous series have been issued up to the Y-series (Z-series being reserved for dealer use). For a limited time, until approximately the first quarter of 2009, the last Y-series plates of the old type were issued simultaneously with the new layout, the latter being reserved at first for registrations made through Internet.
Plates for motorcycles with a capacity of more than 50 cc have black letters on a yellow background and begin with the letters "M" or "W". These plates have a square design, with the three letters on the first row and the three numbers on the second. Motorcycles with a capacity less than 50 cc have no license plate.
Sometimes the first letter (or first and second letter) has a special meaning:
- CD: Diplomats
- M or W: Motorcycles
- O: Can be used on vintage vehicles which are more than 25 years old ("Oldtimers") and with some restrictions (cannot be driven at night or at more than 25 km from the home of the owner, except to go to vehicle meetings)
- TX: Taxi
- U or Q: Trailer Plates
- Z: Dealer Plate
- ZZ: Test Drive Vehicle
For the remaining letters, any letter of the alphabet except O is used. Initially the letters I,M,Q and W were never used as the 2nd or 3rd letter, but they were added later to extend the number of available combinations.
History
Plates no longer in use
- 1899-1911: First plates used black letters on white plate.
- 1911-1919: White numbers on black plate. Like currently, only rear plate was provided by the state.
- 1919-1925: White numbers on blue plate.
- 1925-1928: White characters: one letter followed by numbers.
- 1928-1951: Red numbers on white plate.
Plates still in use, red on white
- 1951-1961: 1 letter, 4 digits (possible layouts: A.1234, 1.A.234, 12.A.34, 123.A.4, 1234.A)
- 1962-1971: 2 letters, 3 digits (possible layouts: AB.123, 1.AB.23, 12.AB.3, 123.AB)
- 1971-1973: 1 letter, 3 digits , 1 letter (A.123.B)
- 1973-2008: 3 letters, 3 digits (ABC.123)
- 2008 (June 25) on: 3 digits , 3 letters (123.ABC)
Diplomats
The initial letters (CD) are printed in green, followed by a dot "." and 4 symbols printed in red. By chronological order of registration, these symbols can be:
- 4 digits
- 1 letter + 3 digits
- 3 digits + 1 letter (observed in 2008).
Members of the Royal Family
The license plate consists of numbers only, following the standard colouring scheme. Cars used by the king and queen only have one number (1 to 9). Cars used by other members of the royal family have two numbers.
Officials
The license plate consists of 1 letter followed by 1 to 3 numbers. Roughly speaking, the initial letter is either "A" for Ministers (including regional executives) and Ministers of State (an honorific title for distinguished politicians), or "P" for members of Parliament (including regional parliament), or "E" for members and services of the regional executives. The prime minister has the license plate "A1".
Military
White plate with black numbers and a Belgian flag on the left.
The NATO Headquarters formerly used a red plate with the white letters SB followed by a number.
License plates for trailers and caravans
These plates are delivered especially for trailers and caravans +500 kilogrammes.
A first model of trailer license plate consists of a combination of 3 letters starting with "U" and 3 digits, all red, on white reflecting background with red frame (so the only difference with ordinary plates is the first letter U). (Dimensions: 340 mm x 110 mm). Plates of this model are no longer delivered, but are still valid.
As from 2002 the new European model was introduced. It is a number plate consisting of a combination of 3 letters and 3 digits of black colour on white reflecting background with black frame. This plate always starts with the letter "Q". On the left of the plate a blue banner of 44 mm width has been added with on top a circle with 12 yellow stars and below a white character " B". These will replace gradually the old model. Dimensions: 521 mm x 110 mm
These plates are never delivered to regular vehicles.
Plates for personnel of international bodies
Plates given out to persons working for the international bodies in Belgium, including EU staff. "International" plates can be time-limited (according to the work contract) or have unlimited validity. If applicable, the time limitation is displayed inside the European circle of stars.
The plates have blue characters on a white background. The combination consists of 6 digits without letters. Until now the first digit is always "9".
European Institutions
Staff of the institutions of the European Union located in Belgium may request a specialized number plate. These plates are blue and display the letters "EUR" in a circle of yellow stars on the left hand side. These plates are increasingly less favoured than the "international" plates as the owner runs the risk of vandalism (because many Belgians erroneously believe that the car owner is not subject to the Belgian car tax).
EUROCONTROL
Employees of EUROCONTROL can get a blue number plate consisting of three numbers, followed by the word "EURO".
Dealer plate
Dealer plates are special plates available only to motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers. They can only be used on vehicles owned by the manufacturer/dealer and must be renewed every year. A dealer plate has green letters and numbers on a white background ("green plate"). Furthermore it has the European flag on the left side. Standard dealer plates have Z as initial letter and A to Y as second letter. Plates starting with "ZZ" are reserved for test drives.
Until 1996 dealer plates were inexpensive and dealers tended to stock significant numbers of them, which they then rented out to owners of very expensive cars (dealer plates were exempt from an extra tax on luxury cars). To combat this fraud the law was changed, making a "green plate" much more expensive; also, police control was increased. As a result, dealers now keep fewer plates and abuse has diminished.
Personalized plate
It is possible to obtain a personalized plate. These plates can
Dealer License Training: Auto Broker Training. Car Dealer Training.
NUMBER ONE QUESTION: Is it possible to get your retail dealers license WITHOUT a "Car Lot"? ... Get two days of hands on, one-on-one, training in Dallas Texas. Reading is ...
Car Dealer License
Surfing the web for car business information, or looking to get your used car dealer license? ... Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont ...
Texas DMV Guide for Dealers & Auto Industry - License Requirements ...
Texas auto dealers & industry- Texas License Requirements, Texas Dealer Forms, Texas Dealer Related Information, Texas Zoning, Texas Bonding, Texas Dealer Licensing Fees.
dealer license
- Examples of Car Dealer's License Topics Covered in Detail... (plus many more!) ... Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia ...
Dallas TX Used Car Dealer Dallas Texas Used Car Dealers Dallas Used ...
Dallas TX Used Car Dealer, Denison TX Used Car Dealer, Dallas Texas Used Car Dealers and Dallas Used Car Dealer ... difference, You pay a fair market value plus tax, title and license ...
Obtaining a car dealer license
license requirements - Texas License Application Information, Texas Car Sales Regulations, Texas Car Sales ... Pennsylvania SAMPLE Used Car Dealer License Plate Finally I should say ...
Texas Dealer License
Learn the specific requirements of getting a Texas Used Car Dealers License. Learn how to get your license as cheap as possible
WikiAnswers - How do you get a car dealer's license in Texas
Car Selling question: How do you get a car dealer's license in Texas? Dealers License in Texas From anywhere in Texas, contact the Texas Department of Transportation or go to their ...
WikiAnswers - Car Selling Questions including "How do you get a car ...
Car Selling Questions including ... How do you get a car dealer's license in Texas? From anywhere in Texas, contact the Texas Department of Transportation or go to their Web site.
Dealer Licence in Texas at The Unofficial DMV Guide
SUMMARY: Texas auto dealers & industry- Texas License Requirements, Texas Dealer Forms ... Texas auto dealership license requirements - Texas License Application Information, Texas Car ...