Annex XVIII to the General Regulation of Vehicles, approved by Royal Decree 2822/1998 of 23 December 1998, regulates registration plates, specifying the colours and inscriptions of the registration plates, their passwords, number and location of the plates and the dimensions and technical specifications of the plates and their characters.

The current system for numbering the standard number plates set out in the said annex is to be exhausted in the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona, so it is essential to develop a new system of numbering.

Taking into account that Spain belongs to the European Union, it has been considered appropriate to take advantage of this modification of the contents of the regular registration plates to include in the left part of the same a blue band vertical with the community symbol, consisting of 12 yellow stars arranged following a circumference, and the distinctive symbol of Spain represented by the letter E of white colour, increasing the dimensions of the plates. This will also contribute to the awareness of citizens in favour of European integration and the identification of vehicles as belonging to the same common European area. The number plate model chosen is, moreover, already incorporated into their respective legal systems by the majority of the Member States of the European Union.

Moreover, Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community movement of the distinguishing sign of the Member State of registration of motor vehicles and their trailers, lays down the obligation for Member States to recognise the distinguishing sign of the Member State of registration, situated on the left end of the registration plate in accordance with its Annex, as equivalent to any other sign distinguishing the Member State of registration, such as the Member State of registration, included in an ellipse located at the rear of the vehicle. Consequently, a vehicle registered in Spain on whose registration plate is the distinguishing sign of our country in accordance with what is established in this Order, will not have to also carry such a sign on another plate or adhesive apart located at the rear of the vehicle when circulating in the other Member States of the European Union.

By analogy with the contents of the rest of the registration plates of the General Regulation of Vehicles, the use of a combination system of a four-digit number and three letters has been decided. Of the latter, the five vowels are excluded, in order to avoid malsonant or acrostic words, especially meanings, the letters N and Q, due to their easy confusion with the letter N and the number 0, respectively, and the letters CH and LL, due to incompatibility with the design of the registration plate which would not support the entry of four characters in the last group. With regard to the latter, the modification is used to remedy the omission of the express exclusion of the same in the current system, which is consistent with Table 4 of Annex XVIII itself that did not include them.

Likewise, holders of vehicles registered prior to the entry into force of this Order may, on a voluntary basis, replace the registration plates with other plates on which the Community flag is displayed, Dimensions shall be in accordance with the new provisions laid down in this Order, but shall retain the number of registration numbers assigned to them. In the event that they are obliged to replace the registration plates with loss, subtraction or deterioration, they must necessarily adjust the dimensions of the new plates to those of the model provided for in this Order, even though they retain their number registration.

Finally, the final third provision of the General Regulation of Vehicles empowers the Ministers of the Interior and Industry and Energy (today of Science and Technology) to modify by Order its annexes.

In its virtue, on the proposal of the Ministers of the Interior and of Science and Technology, I have:

Single item.

Point (a) (a) is amended; point (a) (b), (c) and (d); points (b) and (c) of paragraph I. (b) and points (a) and (b) of paragraph I. (b) are added; paragraph IV, tables 1, 2 and 3 are amended, and a Table 5 to this paragraph IV, all of them in Annex XVIII to the General Regulation of Vehicles, approved by Royal Decree 2822/1998 of 23 December 1998.

(A) Paragraph I.A.( a), relating to the colours and inscriptions of the ordinary registration of motor vehicles, is worded as follows:

" a) Motor vehicles:

The bottom of the plates will be retroreflective, white. The embossed characters will be painted in matte black color.

In the number plates, two groups of characters consisting of a four-digit number, ranging from 0000 to 9999, and three letters, starting with the letters BBB and ending with the letters ZZZ, shall be entered. deleting the five vowels, and the letters N, Q, CH and LL.

In addition, on the left side of the registration plate will be included, on a blue band arranged vertically, the symbol of the European flag, consisting of 12 yellow stars, and the distinctive symbol of Spain represented by the white letter E, in accordance with Table 5 of this Annex.

Automobiles registered in Spain on whose registration plates the European flag and the distinctive symbol of Spain, when circulated by the other countries of the European Union, shall not be required to carry following the distinguishing sign of the Spanish nationality provided for in signal V-7 of Annex XI to this Regulation. '

B) A point (b), (c) and (d); (b), (b) and (c) and (c), points (a) and (b) of paragraph I. (b) are added below "... for easy confusion with the letter N and the number 0, respectively", of the the following literal wording: "and the letters CH and LL for incompatibility with the design of the registration plate that would not support the four-character consignment in the last group".

C) The first four rows of Table I of paragraph IV, relating to the dimensions and specifications of the plates and their characters: Long, high, long front and ordinary motorcycles, are written in the form next:

LICENSE PLATE TYPE	Measures (mm)		Characters (mm)			Sepa- ration between carac- teres (mm)	Space between carac groups- teres (mm)	Separation to edges (mm)						Color		Character tolerance, group characters and distance to edges
	Total	Reflective Surface	Width	Height	Plot Crane			Hori- zonal	Between Lines	Top Line Verticals		Bottom Line Verticals		Background	Carac- teres
										Izq.	Der.	Izq.	Der.
Long Ordinary (1)	520 × 110	510 × 100	45	77	10	14	41	11.5	-	62	22	-	-	B	N
× 210		330 × 210	45	77	10	10	-	15	26	80	40	87.5	87.5	B	N
340 × 110		330 × 100	30	60			24	20	8	8		48	8	-	-		B	N
× 160		210 × 150	30	60	6	10	-	10	10	50	10	50	50	B	N

(D) In Table 2 of paragraph IV, on the dimensions and specifications of the plates and their characters, the drawings of the ordinary number plates are replaced by the following:

1. Models of ordinary license plates.

2. Number plate models in accordance with the provisions of the transitional provisions of this Order.

E) In Table 3 of paragraph IV, on the dimensions and specifications of the plates and their characters, the title relative to the minimum values of the coefficient of retraction in the sheets shall be as follows:

"Minimum values of the retraction coefficient on the sheets and on the logo."

F) A table 5, on dimensions and colors of the community symbol, is added with the following content:

TABLE 5

Community symbol dimensions and colors

(Measures in mm)

First transient disposition.

The holders of vehicles registered prior to the entry into force of this Order may, on a voluntary basis, replace the registration plates with others on which the Community flag is displayed, the dimensions of which are adjust to the new ones provided for in this Order, while retaining the number of registration fees assigned to them.

Second transient disposition.

The holders of vehicles registered prior to the entry into force of this Order, who are obliged to replace the registration plates with loss, subtraction or deterioration, must necessarily adjust the dimensions of the new plates to those of the model set out in this Order but retaining their registration number.

Single end disposition.

This Order shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

Madrid, 15 September 2000.

RAJOY BREY

Excma. Ms. Minister of Science and Technology and H.E. Mr. Minister of the Interior.