The Definitive History of German License Plates (1896–Present)

By The German Plate Guy (Former Berlin DMV Specialist)

In my 15+ years working at the Berlin Zulassungsstelle (DMV), I learned that a license plate is more than just stamped metal. It is a timeline of German history. From the chaos of the post-war Occupation Zones to the anti-terrorist fonts of the 1990s, every era has a specific look.

If you are restoring a vintage German car, getting the plate right is just as important as the paint code. Here is the complete evolution of the German registration system.

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1. The Early Years: Roman Numerals (1906–1945)

Before the modern city codes we know today (like "B" for Berlin), Germany used a system based on Roman Numerals to identify the Kingdom or State.

• I = Prussia (Preußen)

• II = Bavaria (Bayern)

• III = Württemberg

During the 1930s and 40s, this system expanded. The Wehrmacht (Military) used WH (Heer/Army) and WL (Luftwaffe/Air Force).

Historical Note: Toward the end of WWII, fuel was so scarce that private driving was banned. Only essential vehicles were allowed on the road, marked with a large Red "V" (Verwendungsberechtigung) painted directly onto the plate.

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2. The "Hour Zero": Occupation Zones (1945–1949)

After the war, the German state collapsed. The Allies carved the country into four zones, each with its own chaotic registration system. These plates are incredibly rare and distinct.

• American Zone (Bavaria/Hesse): To distinguish German civilians from US military convoys, plates were often painted Orange or Yellow with black text.

• French Zone: They used Red text on white backgrounds (or white on red), similar to French temporary plates.

• British Zone: Often reversed the colors to white plates with black text.

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3. The Cold War Split (1949–1990)

This is where the history gets fascinating for collectors. As Germany split into West (BRD) and East (DDR), two completely different visual identities emerged.

West Germany (The Classic Look)

West Germany introduced the system we still use today: City Codes.

• B = Berlin

• M = Munich

• S = Stuttgart

The "Reserved" Codes: The West German government refused to accept the permanent division of the country. For 40 years, they "reserved" specific codes for East German cities, hoping for reunification. No car in West Germany was allowed to use "L" (reserved for Leipzig) or "P" (reserved for Potsdam) until the wall fell.

• The Look: Plain white background, black border, DIN 1451 geometric font.

• Get the Look: Shop our Plain White Vintage Plate (1956-1994 Style)

East Germany (The DDR Style)

The East used a centralized system that didn't use city names.

• The Look: Thinner steel or plastic. Codes like "IA" indicated East Berlin.

• The Font: A condensed, irregular sans-serif font that looked very different from the West's industrial DIN font.

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4. Reunification & The "Euro" Era (1994–Present)

In the 1990s, two major changes happened that define the plates we sell today.

The Blue Euro Strip

To symbolize membership in the European Union, the Blue Field with 12 yellow stars and the "D" country code was introduced. This became mandatory in November 2000.

• Get the Look: Shop our Custom Euro License Plate

The Anti-Terrorist Font (FE-Schrift)

Why do modern German plates look so different from vintage ones? Terrorism.

In the 1970s, the Red Army Faction (RAF) would steal plates and use black tape to modify the letters (turning a P into an R) to evade police.

To stop this, the government created FE-Schrift (Fälschungserschwerende Schrift), or "Forgery-Impeding Script."

• Tamper Proof: In this font, a P has a unique shape that cannot be taped to look like an R. An E cannot become an F.

• The Standard: Since November 2000, this is the only legal font in Germany.

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Summary: Which Plate Fits Your Car?

At GermanPlateGuy.com, we are the only US manufacturer using the original machinery to produce both the vintage DIN plates and the modern FE-Schrift plates. Authentic. Accurate. Made in Knoxville.