The process
Personalised vehicle number plates
When registering a vehicle, it is often possible to request a chosen number rather than one assigned automatically. We guide you through this administrative process.
A number plate is the official identifier of your vehicle. In several European countries, in addition to the automatic allocation of a number, the authorities allow you to request a personalised plate: a combination of letters and figures that you choose from those still available. This is a service separate from registration itself, governed by its own rules, formats and administrative fees, which vary from one country to another.
This page explains the general principle of personalised plates and how we support you. Our role is purely administrative: we help you check the permitted formats, draw up your list of preferences, confirm whether a number is available, and submit the request to the competent authority as part of your registration. Depending on your situation, we assist in the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium and France.
Personalised plates in detail
How does a personalised plate work and which formats?
A personalised plate means reserving a specific combination rather than receiving the next number in the sequence assigned by the authorities. Depending on the country and the series in force, the available formats differ: the number of letters and figures, the length of the combination and the permitted characters. Some countries offer several series in parallel, including shorter formats with very limited availability.
The combinations you can actually obtain depend on those not already taken and on the rules specific to each authority. A plate that is clearly ambiguous, contrary to public order or non-compliant with the official format cannot be issued. We tell you, country by country, which formats are valid and how to frame a request that will be accepted.
How do I check whether a number is available?
Before any submission, you need to make sure the combination you want is free. The best approach is to prepare a list ranked in order of preference: if your first choice is not available, we can move on to the next without restarting the whole procedure.
Several authorities provide an online service allowing you to test a number's availability before requesting it. You can carry out this search yourself, or send us your preferences and we will handle the check and the submission. In all cases, a plate already issued or reserved by another applicant cannot be obtained.
What are the fees and validity of a plate?
Requesting a personalised plate generally entails specific administrative fees, separate from those of an ordinary registration (which may itself be free or charged at a standard rate). The amount, the validity period of the reservation and the conditions for renewal or transfer depend on the country and the regulations in force at the time of the request.
To avoid out-of-date information, we do not publish amounts here: we provide the fees applicable to your specific case when preparing your file. Bear deadlines in mind too: a personalised plate is often reserved for a fixed period, after which a renewal may be required to keep it.
How does the plate fit with vehicle registration?
A personalised plate is not a stand-alone formality: it forms part of the overall registration procedure. The chosen number is allocated to the vehicle (or, depending on the country, to the holder) once the registration file is complete and validated. The usual documents are therefore still required: vehicle papers, identity document, proof of residence or establishment, insurance and, where applicable, the technical inspection.
We coordinate everything so the plate request is submitted in step with your registration, avoiding needless back-and-forth. For the list of documents to provide, see our Documents page, and for the full procedure, our page on registering a vehicle.
Good to know. Availability, format and cost of a personalised plate vary by country of registration: the reservation is made during the registration process.