Sign types and formats

Types of license plates

The basic color of the license plates indicates the type of vehicle or its special purpose.

Black plates

Vehicle for transporting goods or people

Blue background

Vehicle that can only be used as an implement for carrying out special work, has no loading area and therefore cannot transport goods.

Brown ground

Vehicle which, due to its design or intended use, cannot comply with the provisions of the VTS (Ordinance on the Technical Requirements for Road Vehicles) with regard to masses and weights. Vehicles with brown license plates are exceptional vehicles and may only operate with a written special permit.

Green ground

Agricultural vehicle (may not be used for commercial work, but exclusively for agricultural journeys).

Control plate formats

  • The front plate (300 x 80 mm)
  • The rear plate
  • Portrait format (300 x 160 mm)
  • Long format (500 x 110 mm)
  • Motorcycle plate / small motorcycle plate
  • This is what the other signs look like
  • Agricultural tractor sign
  • Work motor vehicle / cart signs
  • Work trailer plates
  • Exceptional motor vehicle / cart plates
  • Exemption trailer plates
  • Temporary license plates
  • Temporary trailer plates
  • Temporary motorcycle plate / small motorcycle plate
  • Normal goods and passenger trailer plates
  • Moped plates / electric vehicle plates
  • Customs plates
  • Day plates
  • Dealer plates

Legal basis

Ordinance on the technical requirements for road vehicles (VTS)