Number Plates News

French Number Plate Solution Pleases No-one

23 April 2010

Arguments over the new-style French number plate system have concluded with a complex and faintly ludicrous compromise.

It was all going to be so simple. Previously, owners had to get new plates whenever they moved to a new region or département. Under the proposed changes, the registration would belong to the vehicle, wherever its owner resided.

The logical conclusion of this plan would be for the plates not to display any reference to a particular département at all. This also addressed the suggestion that vehicles linked to less salubrious areas, such as Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, were often viewed with suspicion by both the public and the police.

Unfortunately, the authorities were not expecting a backlash from supporters of the provincial sectors, which date back to the revolution in 1789.

A survey showed that an astonishing 71% were in favour of retaining compulsory regional identifiers. This is most likely to be explained by wider fears for the abolition of the départements themselves.

So, the regional codes were back again, but this time in small, virtually, illegible characters. It gets worse, though. The French motorist can choose any département number he or she chooses, regardless of where they actually live.

The most popular choices are '69' for the Rhône region, around Lyon, and the '59' Nord region of Lille.

Interestingly, a reluctance to publicise their roots for fear of vandalism, may explain why least popular codes are those representing some of the most affluent areas e.g. Paris (75) and the desirable suburb of Neuilly (92).

Before ridiculing this fudge of a solution, we should remember that our own UK 'regional identifiers' are every bit as pointless since the place of registration does not necessarily have any connection with the residence the owner.

See related article : 'Ten' Plates Available From March

Earlier story: Vive la Difference