Key Benefits:
Minister of State, Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land Management, and Minister of Interior, Overseas and Territorial Communities,
In view of Council Directive 70 / 222 / EEC of 20 March 1970 concerning the approximation of the legislation of the Member States concerning the location and installation of the rear registration plates of motor vehicles and their trailers;
Having regard to Council Directive 74 / 151 / EEC of 4 March 1974 concerning the approximation of the legislation of the member States relating to certain elements and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors;
Considering Directive 93 / 94 / Amended EWC of the Council of 29 October 1993 on the location of the rear registration plate for two or three-wheeled motor vehicles;
Given the road code, including its articles R. 313-12 and R. 317-8 ;
Vu le Decree No. 2009-136 of 9 February 2009 having various provisions relating to plates and registrations, reception and registration of vehicles;
See?Decree of 15 April 1996 amended to reflectorized registration plates;
In view of the Decree of 1 July 1996 on the registration plates of vehicles;
See?9 February 2009 relating to vehicle registration procedures;
On the proposal of the prefect, delegated to road safety and traffic, and the Director of Modernization and Territorial Action,
Stop:
Scope of application.
This Order sets out the technical requirements for registration plates referred to inR. 317-8 road code and their regulatory content.
Approval.
The registration plates and reflective materials used for their manufacture must conform to a type approved by the Minister responsible for transport and marked with a number assigned to their manufacturer.
The conditions for the registration of registration plates and reflective materials used for their manufacture are defined by the order of April 15, 1996 referred to above.
The registration number is indelibly marked on the right part of the plate, either at the bottom for the plates at one line or immediately above the horizontal symmetry axis for the two-line plates, in accordance with the models in Annexes 2 to 4 to this Order.
For the moped plate, the registration number is indelibly marked at the top and left of the plate, in accordance with the models set out in Annex 5 to this Order.
General conditions of pose.
Each of the registration plates is made of a rigidly-reported piece, attached to the chassis or bodywork of the vehicle in a removable manner.
If the vehicle has a location for the installation of the registration plate, within the meaning of Directive 70/222/EEC or 74/151/EEC or 93/94/EC, the registration plate shall be fixed at that location, even provided with the plate illuminator referred to in the reference to theR. 313-12 road code.
If the vehicle does not have a specific location for the installation of the registration plate, the plate shall be fixed according to the provisions:
- Paragraph 2 of the annex to Directive 70/222/EEC for vehicles of international categories M, N and O;
– Paragraph 2 of Annex II to Directive 74/151/EEC referred to above for vehicles of international categories T, R and S;
- from paragraph 2 of the annex to the above-mentioned directive 93/94/EC for vehicles of international category L,
following definitions ofR. 311-1 road code.
The fixing elements of the registration plates shall be of the same color as that of the area on which they are affixed.
Derogatory regime.
By derogation from the provisions of Article 3 of this Order, removable registration plates are permitted in the case of a vehicle under cover of a W garage certificate or, pursuant to theR. 317-8 road codein the case of a rear trailer of a set, not subject to the registration requirement.
General constitution of the plaque.
A registration plate consists of a useful part included in a physical support that constitutes the dimension beyond the entire plate.
An appendix known as "slipper" can be integrated, out of use, on all or part of the length of the lower part of the registration plate. This appendix must be separated from the useful part of the plate by a stroke or by a bump. The information provided on this slip can only be the references of the professional who sold the vehicle or that who sold or fixed the plate.
The outer shape of the physical support shall be symmetrical to a vertical axis.
The useful part has a rectangular shape whose large side is horizontal.
The physical support constituting the dimensions above all of the plate is included in a rectangular form whose large side is horizontal and whose dimensions above all are indicated in Appendix 1 to this Order.
The outer shape of the physical support can be slightly curved within the boundary of the gap between useful dimensions and dimensions.
The surface of the registration plate may not be strictly flat on the express condition that its curvature does not result in any deformation of the numbers and letters which would affect the reading of the registration number.
All dimensional characteristics of the plate and its contents are contained in Appendix 1 to this Order.
No information or indication not provided for in this Order shall be included in the useful part of the plate.
Elements of the registration number.
The letters and numbers of the registration number are composed by stick characters that do not include, shrink, wheelbase, or open for closed characters.
The characters and dashes of the registration number shall be resistant to use and shall not be able to be detached without damage to themselves or the plate.
The repositioning of detached characters or dashes is prohibited.
The characters and dashes shall not be parted or sharp or pointed.
Content of the plate.
For vehicles bearing the final number provided for in thearticle R. 322-2 of the road code, the registration number is reproduced on each registration plate in non-reflective black characters on a white retro-reflective background.
For registrations listed in Annex 7 to this Order, the characteristics of the colours of the registration numbers and the background of the registration plates are defined in this Annex. For vehicles registered with a "transported vehicle" and "temporary transit vehicle" use, the end-of-use date is reproduced on the registration plate in accordance with the provisions of Annex 7 to this Order.
On the plate, the registration number can be placed on a line or two lines.
For the plate whose registration number is arranged in a horizontal line, the elements of the registration number are arranged from left to right according to the models in Annex 2 to this Order.
For the plate whose registration number is arranged in two horizontal lines, the elements of the registration number are arranged from left to right according to the models in Annexes 3 to 5 to this Order.
The definition, dimensions, order and spacing of the dashes are fixed by the table in Appendix 1 to this Order and by the plans in Annexes 2 to 5 to this Order.
European symbol.
Vehicle registration plates bearing the final number specified in thearticle R. 322-2 of the road code must be the complete European symbol of the letter "F".
The complete European symbol of the letter "F" must be in the useful part of the registration plate at the left end of the registration plate, on a retro-reflective blue background.
The dimensions and characteristics of the European symbol, supplemented by the letter "F", are contained in annexes 1 and 6 to this decree.
The provisions of this Article shall not apply to specific plates of vehicles registered with a "collective vehicle" use, as set out in Annex 7 to this Order.
Territorial identifier.
Vehicle registration plates bearing the final number specified in thearticle R. 322-2 of the road code must include a territorial identifier consisting of the official logo of a region and the number of one of the departments of that region.
The choice of this territorial identifier is free and may not be related to the home of the holder of the registration certificate.
The territorial identifier must be integrated into its entirety to the registration plate and be located in the useful part of the plate at the right end of it, on a blue background not necessarily retro-reflective. When the vehicle has two plates, the territorial identifier must be identical on the front plate and on the rear plate.
The characteristics of the territorial identifier are annexed to this Order. The official and free-of-law regional logos, which appear on the website of the Ministry of Interior: http://www.interieur.gouv.fr, can only be reproduced on the registration plates by the only manufacturer of plates or reflective material holding the registration.
The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the registration plates of mopeds, vehicles registered with a "transported vehicle" or "temporary transit vehicle" use, as well as to the specific plates of vehicles registered with a "collection vehicle" use, as set out in Annex 7 to this Order.
Special provisions.
It is forbidden to modify the registration plates or to add an element.
The dashes, European symbol and territorial identifier are integrated into the process of manufacture to the plate or reflective material used for its manufacture, in order to guarantee the original respect for their correct positioning and their dimensional and visual characteristics.
It is forbidden to affix on motor vehicles or tow plates or inscriptions that may create any confusion with the indications of the registration plate.
Entry into force.
The provisions of this Order come into force on a date fixed by order of the Minister for Transport, after notice of the Minister of Interior, and no later than 1 July 2009.
The provisions of the above-mentioned decision of 1 July 1996 continue to apply to vehicles already registered whose registration certificate does not include the final number provided for in the above-mentioned decision.article R. 322-2 of the road code until the completion of any administrative formality leading to the issuance of a new registration certificate or no later than 31 December 2020.
Implementation.
The prefect, delegated to road safety and traffic, and the Director of Modernization and Territorial Action are responsible, each with regard to it, for the execution of this decree, which will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
Annexes 1 to 7
Done in Paris, February 9, 2009.
Minister of State, Minister of Ecology,
of energy, sustainable development
and landscaping,
For the Minister and by delegation:
Security delegate
and road traffic,
Mr. Merli
The Minister of the Interior,
the overseas and territorial authorities,
For the Minister and by delegation:
Director of Modernization
and territorial action,
C. Mirmand
