Licence plates in France
White plates with blue bands on both sides
A white plate with a blue EU band on the left and a blue band on the right holding a region logo and number is French.
- White plates front and back, format AB-123-CD.
- Blue EU band with F on the left.
- A blue band on the right with a region logo and department number.
8 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Blue bands both sides 8
France: what its plates look like
French plates are white at the front and back, with black characters in the format AB-123-CD. The letters and numbers stay with the car for life, so they do not tell you where it is from.
What does tell you the region is the blue band on the right: owners choose a department number and the logo of its region. On the left is the usual blue EU band with an F.
The same design is used across mainland France and overseas departments. Older cars may still carry the previous format, like 123 ABC 75, sometimes on yellow rear plates.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Italy
SpainItaly also has blue bands on both ends, but its format is AB 123 CD without dashes and the left band says I. Spain has a band on the left only, with the format 1234 ABC.
Questions about plates in France
What do the numbers on the right of French plates mean?
They are a department number chosen by the owner, shown with the logo of its region. It is often, but not always, where the owner lives.
Are French rear plates yellow?
Not any more. All new plates are white front and back; yellow rear plates are only seen on old cars.