This vehicle license registration number is the only legal identification plate that shows a car’s registration number, which has been used in Spain since 1900. Plates must be displayed by most motor vehicles driven on public roadways. The Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) is the organization responsible for registering cars and assigning them numbers.

The Structure of Spanish Vehicle Registration Plates

Spain uses the current format LNNNN LLL for its plates. This means:

NNNNN is a unique sequence number from 9999 to 0000.

LLL is a “counter” with three letters, where it increases as the sequence number approaches 9999.

For a million possible numbers plates in the system, they use B C D F G H J K L M N P R S T V W X Y Z as consonants.

They are white with black lettering on both sides. There are blue stripes on the left side that represent all 12 stars of the European flag and an identification number for the country (E) (for Spain). The stripe must be visible.

This type of vehicle registration was first introduced in Spain on September 18th, 2000. It has been widely adopted throughout the country and there is no way to tell what country your car is registered in any longer. However, while second-hand imports from abroad are registered like new cars locally, “Counter” counter gives a rough indication of when it was registered as year month but not reliable because months can be skipped and counted again later next years due to importations so this information could provide only certain range of time during which particular vehicle might have been first put through its MOT-test at least once over here before being sold again or something else happening thereof even if otherwise still valid (validity could expire abroad earlier without further testing required back home). In March 2022 a three-letter counter came into use in the L-series: it began with MBB. The system is expected to run out of combinations in 2040 if five series are used per decade at the current pace.

The Former System of Vehicle Registration Plates In Spain

Previously, there were two systems based on provinces. The first system was introduced in 1900 and consisted of an alphabetic code for each province where vehicles were registered (full list of codes below) followed by an alphabet that could be up to six figures long (XXX-NNNNNNNN). The codes usually represented the first letter or two letters of the province name, or the capital city of that province (many provinces are named after their capital cities), as prescribed by a law in 1926 that also eliminated three-letter codes for some provinces which had them initially. The registration system for plates on cars from Spain discontinued in October 1971.

The New System Of Vehicle Registration Plates In Spain

The second version was in effect between 1971 and 2000. It had an official provincial code number that consisted of a number of letters followed by a number (XXX-NNNNNNNNN). The first two or more letters of the provincial code were made up by two or more alphabets, while the last digit ranged from one to fifty representing alphabetical order within provinces; e.g., A-1 for Alava B-8 stands for Barcelona M-28 is for Madrid among others. In addition, this system also helped us identify where the car was registered because different regions had different numbers assigned to them.

Registration plates are used as badges which help to identify cars by their origin. We have looked into both old and new versions of Spanish car registration systems. We hope you found it informative and interesting.

Summary Of Vehicle Registration Plates In Spain

This is a long piece about Spanish vehicle registration plates:

Registration plates are mandatory identifiers that show a vehicle’s registration number; they have been used in Spain since 1900. Most motor vehicles driven on public roads must display them.

The authority responsible for vehicle registration and naming is situated at the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT).

The LLL structure forms part of the LLL system introduced in 2000 where:

NNNNN represents an identifier running from 0000 through to 9999.

LLL represents “counter” comprising three letters; each time sequence reaches 9999, letters are incremented.

For all millions of potential plates within the system alphabetically B.C.D G,H J,L N R S T,V Z,Z consonants are employed.

Being nationwide makes it impossible to tell where your vehicle is registered under this system. However, “counter” also known as “counter” gives rough indication when your vehicle’s registration happened but not accurate enough for figuring out exact date especially considering foreign-imported second-hand ones are registered same as brand new vehicles.

They are white and black with black letters on both back and front, blue stripe along left containing twelve stars of European flag plus country identification number alphabet “E” (for Spain) which must be visible.

Prior to this method two methods were used based on provinces.

The first system was introduced in 1900 it consisted of an alphabetical code that indicated the state where the vehicle was registered (full list of codes can be found below) followed later by a sequential number which had at least six numerals XXX-NNNNNNNNN.

A second system October 1971 to September 2000. It comprised one or two letters identifying the province (same as previous systems) followed by dashes and four figures XX- NNNNNN and X-NNNNNN.