Vehicle registration plates of Austria

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Example of a licence plate in Austria used since 2002 ("K" for Klagenfurt), with the Carinthian coat of arms Austria 2002 license plate - Klagenfurt.jpg
Example of a licence plate in Austria used since 2002 ("K" for Klagenfurt), with the Carinthian coat of arms
Example of a licence plate in Austria without the EU symbol used 1990-2002 License plate of Austria 1990-2002.jpg
Example of a licence plate in Austria without the EU symbol used 1990–2002

Austrian car number plates are mandatory vehicle registration plates displaying the registration mark (German : Kennzeichen) of motor vehicles in Austria. They are used to verify street legality, proof of a valid liability insurance and to identify and recognise the vehicle.

Contents

Appearance

Moped plate Austria moped plate.JPG
Moped plate

The licence plates are made of metal; the imprinted text is in black letters and digits on a white background. Since November 1, 2002 the common design comprises a blue section on the left with the EU circle of stars and the country code ('A') like other vehicle registration plates of the European Union. On the top and bottom, there are red-white-red tribands, the national colours of Austria. Two plates have to be present on each car (front and rear). Dealer plates show white letters on a green background, temporary plates show white letters on a cyan background, and foreign trailers show white letters on a red background. For motorbikes and cars with smaller areas for plates, smaller licence plates are available with two lines of text. Moped plates are in different appearance and shape, they show white letters on a red background.

Lettering system

Licence plate issued in Vienna ("W" for Wien) Austrian registration 2118.JPG
Licence plate issued in Vienna ("W" for Wien)
A FF plate from former Furstenfeld district, with the lowest digits 10 and Styrian arms A Kennzeichen FF Fuerstenfeld.jpg
A FF plate from former Fürstenfeld district, with the lowest digits 10 and Styrian arms

The alphanumeric format for registration plates is "XX ∇=provincial emblem number+letter(s)" or "XX ∇=provincial emblem personalised letters+number";

There are several lettering schemes:

Chilean ambassador in Vienna Austria diplomatic license plate WD-15.jpg
Chilean ambassador in Vienna

Personalised plates

Personalised plate from Dornbirn, with Vorarlberg arms Austria licenseplate EU.JPG
Personalised plate from Dornbirn, with Vorarlberg arms

In Austria, it is possible to obtain a customized registration plate by payment of €228.30 for registration and €21.00 for the plates themselves. [1] An example of a customized plate is XX  ABC 1. In general, the alphanumeric combination that goes after the coat of arms must consist of at least three characters and begin with a letter and end with a number. The letters and numbers must each be grouped together in a block. This makes such plates easily distinguishable from standard ones.

Electric plates

Electric plate from Feldkirch Austria license plate for electric vehicles.jpg
Electric plate from Feldkirch

Since 2017, electric plates have been introduced in Austria, [2] these special plates are given only to electric vehicles and are exempt from parking charges in Vienna, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Wels, Linz, Graz, Mödling, Zell am See, Klosterneuburg and Krems.

Other plates

Export transit plates

Export transit plates Austria Export plate.jpg
Export transit plates

Export transit plates are vehicle plates that are issued to vehicles that are being exported, the plate is used for vehicles that need to get to their desired export destination, but are not allowed to use regular licence plates because they have been deregistered abroad. For motor vehicles the cost of an export transit plate is €197.3. [3] The export transit plates are valid for 3 to 21 days.

Provisional plates

Provisional plates Austria temporary license plate Feldkirch.jpg
Provisional plates

Prefixes

CodeCity, District and official vehiclesNotes
AFederal officials A 1000 - License plate of the president of Austria.jpg Federal president's plate
AM Amstetten
B Bregenz, Burgenland official
BA Bad Aussee sub-districtSuspended on July 1, 2013; replaced with LI.
BB Bundesbahnen (Federal Railways)Obsolete, ÖBB vehicles now use W  XXX BB plates
BDKraftfahrlinien Bundesbus (Bus Service) Austria Bus license plate (electric vehicle).jpg Since 2008 for Postbus coaches only, until 1997 also for ÖBB coaches
BG Bundesgendarmerie (Federal gendarmerie) Registarska tablichka na politsijata na Sojuzna Republika Avstrija (A BG-21006).jpg Obsolete since July 2005, when Gendarmerie and police merged
BH Bundesheer (Federal Army) Austria army plate.jpg
BL Bruck an der Leitha
BM Bruck-Mürzzuschlag Since 2013, Bruck an der Mur until 2012.
BN Baden
BP Bundespolizei (Federal police) Austria police plate 01.JPG Since July 2005 for all new registered police cars
BR Braunau am Inn
BZ Bludenz
DL Deutschlandsberg
DO Dornbirn
E Eisenstadt Also for the city of Rust, Burgenland.
EF Eferding
EU Eisenstadt-Umgebung Eisenstadt surrounding area
FB Feldbach Suspended on July 1, 2013; replaced with SO.
FE Feldkirchen
FF Fürstenfeld Suspended on July 1, 2013; replaced with HF.
FK Feldkirch
FR Freistadt
FVFinanzverwaltung (Financial Administration) Kennzeichen der Finanzverwaltung Osterreich A - FV 833.jpg since 2005
FWFeuerwehr (Fire brigade) Austria 2020 fire brigade license plate (Bregenz).jpg since February 2020
G Graz
GB Gröbming sub-district
GD Gmünd
GF Gänserndorf
GK Consular corps in Styria
GM Gmunden
GR Grieskirchen
GS Güssing
GU Graz-Umgebung Graz surrounding area.
HA Hallein
HB Hartberg Suspended on July 1, 2013; replaced with HF.
HE Hermagor
HF Hartberg-Fürstenfeld Since July 1, 2013.
HL Hollabrunn
HO Horn
I Innsbruck
IL Innsbruck-Land Innsbruck countryside area.
IM Imst
JE Jennersdorf
JO St. Johann im Pongau
JU Judenburg Suspended on July 1, 2012; replaced with MT.
JWJustizwache (Justice police)
K Klagenfurt
KB Kitzbühel
KG Klosterneuburg
KI Kirchdorf an der Krems
KF Knittelfeld Suspended on July 1, 2012; replaced with MT.
KK Consular corps in Carinthia
KL Klagenfurt-Land
KO Korneuburg
KR Krems-Land Krems countryside area.
KS Krems City
KU Kufstein
L Linz
LA Landeck
LB Leibnitz
LE Leoben City
LF Lilienfeld
LI Liezen
LL Linz-Land Linz countryside area.
LN Leoben (district) Leoben countryside area.
LZ Lienz
MA Mattersburg
MD Mödling
ME Melk
MI Mistelbach
MT Murtal Since July 1, 2012.
MU Murau
MZ Mürzzuschlag Suspended on July 1, 2012; replaced with BM.
N Lower Austria official
ND Neusiedl am See
NK Neunkirchen
O Upper Austria official
OP Oberpullendorf
OW Oberwart
P St. Pölten
PE Perg
PL St. Pölten-Land St. Pölten countryside area.
PTPost & Telekom Austria (national mail and phone company)Actually for postal cars only.
RA Bad Radkersburg Suspended on July 1, 2013; replaced with SO
RE Reutte
RI Ried im Innkreis
RO Rohrbach
S Salzburg City and official
SB Scheibbs
SD Schärding, Diplomatic corps in Salzburg
SE Steyr-Land Steyr countryside area.
SK Consular corps in Salzburg
SL Salzburg-Umgebung Salzburg countryside area.
SP Spittal an der Drau
SO Südoststeiermark Since July 1, 2013.
SR Steyr City
ST Styria official
SV St. Veit an der Glan
SW Schwechat City
SZ Schwaz
T Tirol official
TA Tamsweg
TD Diplomatic corps in Tirol
TK Consular corps in Tirol
TU Tulln
UU Urfahr-Umgebung
V Vorarlberg official
VB Vöcklabruck
VD Diplomatic corps in Vorarlberg
VI Villach City
VK Völkermarkt, Consular corps in Vorarlberg
VL Villach-Land Villach countryside area.
VO Voitsberg
W Vienna (Wien)
WB Wiener Neustadt-Land Wiener Neustadt countryside area
WD Diplomatic corps in Vienna
WK Consular corps in Vienna
WE Wels City
WL Wels-Land Wels countryside area
WN Wiener Neustadt City
WO Wolfsberg
WT Waidhofen an der Thaya
WU Wien-Umgebung Vienna surrounding area; suspended on January 1, 2017; replaced with BL, KO, PL, TU
WY Waidhofen an der Ybbs
WZ Weiz
ZE Zell am See
ZT Zwettl
ZWZollwache (Customs officials)Obsolete since 2005 when Zollwache merged with federal police

History

Austria old plate.JPG
Steiermark Fuerstenfeld.jpg
1954 occupation licence plate US-Forces-in-Austria USFA 1954-1955 license plate 380-2.jpg
1954 occupation licence plate

From 1906 until 1919, the plates always composed one letter followed by Roman numerals and three numbers (e.g. "BXV 639"). Temporary admission plates always followed by prefix. The prefixes are G= Bosnia and Herzegovina, U= Hungary, Z= All other countries.

From 1919 until 1930, the plates format is the same as before but became authority supplied.

From 1930 until 1939, the plates comprised one letter followed by five digits. (e.g. B 12345) The thousands of digits encoded the districts.[ clarification needed ]

From 1939 until 1945, the plates comprised two letters followed by a hyphen and seven digits. (e.g. W-1234567) This followed the Nazi German system.

From 1945 until 1946, the plates comprised by a state coat of arms followed by maximum six numbers. They were only issued in the USSR-occupied zone.

From 1947 until 1989, the plates comprised one or two letters to indicate the state or federal code followed by up to six digits (e.g. W 123.456), the first number block was reserved for vehicles, the second one was the serial, when they run out of serials they began to issue XX 999.A99. The background is black with white characters for private vehicles (unknown for all other vehicles). One or two letters are the prefixes set by state and federals, they are:

Diplomatic codes [4]

CodeCountry
1Flag of the Vatican City (2023-present).svg  Vatican City
2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
3Flag of Albania.svg  Albania
4Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
5Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
6Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
7Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
8Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
11Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
12Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
13Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
14Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
15Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
16Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
17Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
18Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
19Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
21Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg (formerly Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador?)
22Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
23Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
24Flag of France.svg  France
25Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
26Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
27Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
28Flag of India.svg  India
29Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
31Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
32Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
33Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
34Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
35Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
36Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
37Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
38Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
39 Sovereign Military Order of Malta
41Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
42Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
43Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
44Flag of Peru.svg  Peru
45Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
46Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
47Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
48Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
49Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
51Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
52Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
53Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
54Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
55Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
56Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
57Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia (formerly Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro?)
58Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador
59Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
61Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
62Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire)
63Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria (formerly Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon?)
64Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
65Flag of Syria.svg  Syria
66Flag of Libya.svg  Libya
67Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
68 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (formerly Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany)
69Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala
71Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
72Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
73Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
74Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
75Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
76Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
77Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
78Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
79Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
81Flag of IAEA.svg International Atomic Energy Agency
82 Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations Industrial Development Organization
83 Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
84 Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
85 Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
86Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua
87Flag of IAEA.svg International Atomic Energy Agency
88Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
89 Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations Industrial Development Organization
91Flag of OPEC.svg Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
92 International Organization for Migration
93Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
94Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
95Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
96Flag of OPEC.svg OPEC Fund for International Development
97Flag of the Arab League.svg Arab League
98Flag of Europe.svg  European Union
99 ?
247 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
515Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
532 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
551Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
622Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
623Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan/ Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia/ Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe???
624Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde
677Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
678Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia
681 ?
712Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
718Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
723Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
726Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
728Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
846Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
848 ?
853Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan
854Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
858Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
859Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
872Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China?
891Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
982Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
995Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia

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References

  1. "Wunschkennzeichen". oesterreich.gv.at. Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie.
  2. "Green license plates now also available for e-trucks in Austria". oevz.com. Österreichische Verkehrszeitung. 10 August 2017.
  3. "Überstellungskennzeichen". www.oesterreich.gv.at.
  4. "Codes, Austria, diplomatic codes". Dutch Numberplate Archives. Herman Hallo. Retrieved 4 May 2016.