Belgian Licence Plates: Belgian Highs (09 December 2009)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Belgian Highs (09 December 2009)

Normal series: 655-BCY

Motorcycles: WKK 977

NEW HIGH: Dealers: ZEK-091 (10)

Test plates for dealers: 311-ZZA (09)

Corps diplomatique: CD-908B

Oldtimers: OCM-171

Taxis: TXE-427

Rented car with driver: TXH-377

Trailers: QKA-180

Temporary plates – short validity: (12/09) 698331

Temporary plates – long validity: 941455 (valid until May 2011, VAT paid)

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Vanityplates.be is the largest online collection of Belgian vanity plates, consisting of unique entries and quality photos, subdivided between old vanity plates, 9-plates and new vanity plates. Brands and models are included, together with additional tags about the vehicle's type (e.g. oldtimer, truck...) and the reference behind the combination (e.g. first name, company...).

In order to guarantee the plate owners' privacy (in accordance with Belgian law), access to the website can only be granted on request to fans and plate enthusiasts, and on the condition that photos are not shared anywhere. This measure is also necessary to prevent theft of pictures.

The website is available in Dutch, English and French.

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Forbidden combinations in the European system

This list features the series which have been skipped so far (82 different combinations in total):

AAP ('ape' in Dutch) [skipped 8 times for indexes 1, 8, M, O, Q, S, W and X]
AAS ('carrion' in Dutch) [skipped 8 times for indexes 1, 8, M, O, Q, S, W and X]
AEL ('Arab European League', a minor political party) [skipped 6 times for indexes 1, M, Q, S, W and X]
ALA (resembles 'Allah', skipped just like 'GOD' would have been if the O had not been forbidden) [skipped 4 times for indexes 1, M, W and X]
ALI (unknown reason) [skipped 2 times for indexes W and X]
ANE ('donkey' in French) [skipped 4 times for indexes 1, M, W and X]
ASS ('ass' in English) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BEB ('Belgische Eenheid – Entente Belge', a minor pro-Belgium party) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BIT ('bite' means 'cock' in French) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BOM ('bomb' in Dutch) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BOY (the DIV people must be out of their minds to forbid such an innocent combination) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BSP ('Belgische Socialistische Partij', former Flemish name of the Belgian Socialist Party) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BUB ('Belgische Unie – Union Belge', a minor pro-Belgium party) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, W and X]
BWP ('Belgische Werkliedenpartij', former Flemish name of the Belgian Socialist Party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
BYT (could be read in the same way as 'bite', which means 'cock' in French)
CAP ('Comité pour une Autre Politique' / 'Comité voor een Andere Politiek' = 'Committee for Another Policy', a minor left-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CDF ('Chrétiens Démocrates Francophones', i.e. 'French-speaking Democratic Christian', a minor right-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CDH ('Centre Démocrate Humaniste', i.e. 'Humanist Democratic Centre', a contemporary right-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CDV (CD&V stands for 'Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams', i.e. 'Christian-Democrats & Flemish', a contemporary right-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CON ('con' means 'idiot', 'asshole' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CSP ('Christlich-Sozialistische Partei', i.e. 'Christian-Socialist Party', a Belgian political party active in the German-speaking Community) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CUB (unknown reason) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CUL ('cul' means 'ass' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CUT ('kut' means 'fucking' and 'cunt' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
CVP ('Christelijke Volkspartij', former Dutch name of the present-day Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams [CD&V] party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
DCD (in French this is pronounced the same way as 'décédé', which means 'passed away', 'dead') [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
DIK ('dik' means 'fat' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
DOM ('dom' means 'stupid' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FAG ('faggot' is a derogative term to designate homosexuals) [skipped for index X only!]
FAT [skipped for index X only!]
FDF ('Front des francophones', former name of DéFI, a French-speaking right-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FOK ('fokken' means 'to breed' in Dutch, but it is also a Dutch derivation of 'fuck') [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FOL ('folle' is a feminine adjective meaning 'crazy' in French'; 'une folle' can also derogatively refer to a gay man) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FOU ('fou' means 'crazy' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FUC (resembles 'fuck') [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
FUK (resembles 'fuck') [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
GAT ('gat' means '[ass]hole' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
GAY (words referring to sexuality tend to be forbidden) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
GEK ('gek' means 'crazy' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
GLA to GLZ (skipped to avoid 'confusion' with tractor G-L** plates) [skipped for index 1 only!]
GOD (references to religion are forbidden) [skipped for index X only!]
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus; references to sexuality are forbidden) [skipped for index X only!]
HJN (unjustified, skipped by mistake probably) [skipped for index 1 only!]
HOL ('holebi' is a Dutch abbreviation for homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals; references to sexuality are forbidden)
[skipped for index X only!]
III (skipped to 'avoir confusion' with 111) [skipped for index X only!]
JBA to JBZ (skipped by mistake) [skipped for index 1 only!]
JCC to JDZ (skipped by mistake) [skipped for index 1 only!]
JEK (unknown reason, but expected) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
KAK ('kak' means 'shit' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
KKQ ('caca' means 'shit' in French and 'Q' reads like 'cul', i.e. 'arse/ass' in French) [skipped for index X only!]
KKY (unjustified, skipped by mistake probably) [skipped for index 1 only!]
KKZ (unjustified, skipped by mistake probably) [skipped for index 1 only!]
KUL (phonetically resembles 'cul', i.e. 'ass' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
KUT ('kut' means 'fucking' [when used as a prefix] and 'cunt' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
LAF ('laf' means 'coward(ly)' in Dutch) [skipped 3 times for indexes 1, G and X]
LDD ('Lijst De Decker', a minor Flemish right-wing political party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
LJA to LJH (skipped by mistake) [skipped for index 1 only!]
LSP ('Linkse Socialistische Partij', a minor Belgian Trotskyist party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
LUL ('lul' means 'idiot' and 'dick' in Dutch) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
MAS ('Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste', a French minor left-wing party? If so, it's stupid to skip it: are all the names of foreign political parties going to be skipped as well?!?) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
MCC ('Mouvement des Citoyens pour le Changement', a French-speaking movement making part of the liberal party MR, Mouvement Réformateur) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
MDP ('Moslim Democratische Partij', i.e. 'Moslim Democratic Party', a minor Flemish party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
MOR ('mort' means 'dead' in French) [skipped for index X only!]
MOU ('mou' means 'soft', 'feeble' in French) [skipped for index X only!]
NVA ('Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie', name of a major right-wing Flemish political party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PDB ('Partei der Deutschsprachige Belgier', i.e. 'Party of German-speaking Belgians', now ProDG) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PET ('pet' means 'fart' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PFF ('Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt', name of a German-speaking liberal party [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PJU ('Parteiloos – Jugendliche – Unabhängige', i.e. 'Without a party, young, independent', now ProDG) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PKK ('Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan', i.e. 'Kurdistan Workers' Party'; this is the first time a non-Belgian party name has been banned in the European system but one can assume the DIV did so because it is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union, among others) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PRL ('Parti Réformateur Libéral', former name of the French-speaking Liberal Party, now Mouvement Réformateur [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PSB ('Parti Socialiste Belge', former name of the Belgian Socialist Party, currently known as PS, Parti Socialiste)
[skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PSC ('Parti Social-Chrétien', i.e. Christian-Democrat Party, former name of the CDH, Centre Démocrate Humaniste [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PSL ('Parti Socialiste de Lutte', i.e. 'Socialist Party of Struggle', a minor extreme-left-wing party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PTB ('Parti du Travail de Belgique', i.e. 'Belgian Work Party', a federal communist party)
[skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PUE ('[il/elle] pue' means '[he/she] stinks' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PUT ('pute' means 'whore', 'bitch' in French) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PVV ('Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang', i.e. 'Party for Freedom and Progress', former name of Open-VLD, the Flemish Liberal Party) [skipped 2 times for indexes 1 and X]
PYK (resembles 'pik', i.e. 'cock' in Dutch)
PYN (resembles 'pijn', i.e. 'pain' in Dutch, or 'pine', i.e. 'dick' in French)
PYP (resembles 'pipe', i.e. 'blowjob' in French, and '[ik] pijp', i.e. '[I] give a blowjob' in Dutch)
PYS (resembles 'pis' in Dutch or 'pisse' in French, i.e. 'piss')
PYT (unjustified, skipped by mistake probably)
SEX (references to sexuality are forbidden)
SLN (unjustified, skipped by mistake probably)
SPA ('Socialistische Partij Anders', present name of the Flemish Socialist Party)
SUL ('sul' means 'idiot', 'moron' in Dutch)
TAK ('Taalaktiekomité' is the name of a controversial Flemish-nationalist movement)
TET ('tet' means 'tit' or 'boob' in Dutch)
TIT ('tit' in English) [skipped for index X only)
TUE ('[je/il/elle] tue' means 'I/he/she kill(s)' in French)
VCD ('Vlaams Christen-Democraat', former name of a minor Flemish political party, the VCP) [skipped for indexes 1 and X]
VIH ('HIV' in French) [skipped for index X only]
VLD ('Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten', former name of Open-VLD, a Flemish right-wing political party) [skipped for indexes 1 and X]
VMO [skipped for index X only]
VNV ('Vlaams Nationaal Verbond', name of a former extreme-right Flemish-nationalist movement) [skipped for indexes 1 and X]
ZAC (resembles 'zak' = 'testicle' in Dutch)
ZAK ('testicle' in Dutch)

Next skipped series: VNV (Vlaams Nationaal Verbond, name of a former extreme right Flemish movement)

Series issued while they were forbidden/unused in the previous system: AVN, BCP, BID, BIL, BIQ, CHI, EVN, FAT, FBA, FLN, FVN, GAD, GAG, GAI, GAS, GAZ, GIF, GVN, PUA, RAL, RAT, ZAT.

No E plates were skipped; this was the first time ever that a whole *AA-001 to *ZZ-999 range, including combinations with the letter O), was issued in Belgium. 675,324 E plates were issued, making it the largest ordinary series ever.

Series which have been skipped due to a programming mistake (probably): AYF (only 5 plates issued), AYG, AYH, AYI, AYJ, AYK, AYL, AYM, AYN, AYO, AYP, OAG, OAH, OAI, OAJ, OAK, OAL. [Total: 17 series, = (17 x 999) – 5 = 16,978 combinations lost.] Some of the skipped AY* and OA* series have been issued, although other bugs have occurred since, causing those series to be skipped again, then reintroduced… The gap in the O plates was closed on 11 September 2012 and, incidentally, the gap in the AY* plates was closed on 12 September 2012.

On 28 May 2013, plates ranging from 1-FDG-001 to 1-FDG-100 were skipped for an unknown reason. They still have not been issued. (Thanks Dagonh for the tip.)

On 17 October 2013, plates ranging from G-LYC-103 to G-LYC-402 were skipped for an unknown reason. The DIV started issuing the skipped plates as of 17 December 2015 [still ongoing].

On 5 November 2013, plates ranging from 1-AZG-102 to 1-AZG-201 were skipped for an unknown reason. The DIV started issuing the skipped plates as of 17 December 2015 [still ongoing].

On 20 December 2013, plates ranging from 1-ZZK-901 to 1-ZZL-001 were skipped for an unknown reason. The DIV issued all those skipped plates between 16 and 24 December 2015.

On 10 February 2014, the whole GHO series was skipped, which hinted at a possible decision not to use the O anymore on Belgian license plates. This guess was confirmed on 18 February 2014, when the GIO series was skipped as well. Oldtimer plates will be the only plates which will still feature the letter O as the first letter. The 1-BYO, 1-MLO, 1-QEO, 1-ZZO and G-LBO series were later issued nevertheless because they had been made before the instruction not to use the O anymore was given.

On 7 March 2014, plates ranging from 1-GLA-001 to 1-GLZ-999 were skipped to avoid any confusion with G-L** tractor plates.

On 30 May 2014, plates ranging from 1-GXT-005 to 1-GXX-008 were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 3 June 2014, the whole HAI series was skipped. This marked the end of the use of the letters I, M, Q and W because of so-called 'readability issues', according to the Belgian Police forces.
Last series to use the letter I: 1-GXI, 1-MMI, 1-OBI, 1-QEI, 1-ZAI, 1-ZZI, 8-AAI, G-LBI, G-LYI, S-AAI (by mistake), S-BAI (by mistake)
Last series to use the letter M: 1-GXM, 1-MMN, 1-OBM, 1-QEM, 1-ZAM, 8-AAM, G-LBM, G-LYM
Last series to use the letter Q: 1-GXQ, 1-CYQ (by mistake), 1-MLQ, 1-OBQ, 1-QEQ, 1-ZAQ, 8-AAQ, G-LAQ, G-LYQ, Q-AAQ (by mistake)
Last series to use the letter W: 1-GWZ [GXW was skipped a little later], 1-MLW, 1-OBW, 1-QDW, 1-ZAW, G-LBW, G-LYW

On 1 July 2014, plates ranging from 1-HEN-001 to 1-HEN-500 were skipped for an unknown reason. (Thanks Dagonh for the tip.)

On 3 July 2014, plates ranging from 1-HEV-605 to 1-HEX-400 were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 4 July 2014, plates ranging from 1-OBQ-500 to 1-OBQ-999 were skipped because the letter Q is not used anymore [however, the OBW series is being issued despite it features a 'forbidden' letter].

On 31 July 2014, plates ranging from 1-MMP-001 to 1-MMZ-999 were skipped for an unknown reason. I suggest it is because the letter M is no more used in other series — which is paradoxical because M is still the first letter for motorcycles!

On 1 August 2014, plates ranging from 1-HJN-001 to 1-HJN-999 were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 12 August 2014, plates ranging from G-LYY-375 to G-LYZ-999 were skipped, probably in order to anticipate the incoming end of the G-LY* series; the issuing process of square tractor plates resumed as of G-LXA-001.

On 22 September 2014, plates ranging from 1-MNM-001 to 1-MNN-999 were skipped for an unknown reason. I suggest that the goal was to skip the MNM series because it contains a 'forbidden' M — which is paradoxical, I know — and MNN was skipped in the process, as it precedes the also skipped MNO series.

On 7 October 2014, series starting with 1-M, 1-O, 1-Q and 1-TX were discontinued and replaced with combinations with an index letter: M (motorcycles), O (oldtimers), Q (trailers), T-X** (taxis), T-L** (rental cars with driver). Highs:
– Motorcycles: 1-MNS-916
– Trailers: 1-QFJ-391, 1-QYD-313, 1-QZA-051
– Oldtimer cars: 1-OBX-098, 1-OYK-609, 1-OZH-338
– Oldtimer trailers: 1-OQA-058
– Taxis: 1-TXF-234, 1-TXY-008, 1-TXZ-013
– Rental cars with driver: 2-TXL-881, 1-TXH-036, 1-TXV-067

On 7 October 2014, plates starting with index digit 8 were discontinued because of complaints related to the easy recognition of personel working for international organizations such as the SHAPE and the EU. These people are now given ordinary combinations, with a limited validity though. Highs:
– Cars: 8-AAV-526, 8-AYA-724, 8-AZA-461
– Motorcycles: 8-MAB-375
– Trailers: 8-QAA-099, 8-QYA-004

On 9 October 2014, square tractor plates had reached G-LXC-002. Combinations skipped on 12 August 2014, starting with G-LYY-375, were issued afterwards.

On 13 October 2014, the very first Belgian oldtimer plates for motorcycles (O-MXX-***) were issued.

On 20 November 2014, plates ranging from 1-JBA-201 to 1-JBZ-999 were skipped for an unknown reason. Then plates ranging from 1-JCA-001 to 1-JCB-201 were issued between 20 and 21 November 2014, when another problem occurred: plates ranging from 1-JCB-202 to 1-JDZ-999 were also skipped for an unknown reason. The issuing process then resumed as of 1-JEA-001. 1-JB* plates are therefore the rarest ordinary plates.

On 20 January 2015, plates ranging from 1-JLS-002 to 1-JLV-999 were skipped for an unknown reason, for a total of 3,995 plates. The issuing process resumed as of 1-JLX-001 and continued up to 1-JNA-985 on 21 January 2015, then the skipped 1-JL* plates were issued up to 1-JLV-999 on 22 January 2015. After that, 1-JNA-986 and following were issued.

On 11 February 2015, plates ranging from 1-JSA-001 to 1-JSA-400 were skipped for an unknown reason, amounting to 400 unissued plates. The issuing process resumed as of 1-JSA-401.

On 16 February 2015, the first oldtimer plate for a B Class scooter was issued (O-SBA-001).

The Q-AAQ series should not have been issued (just like AAP, which was skipped because it means 'ape' in Dutch), since Q is one of the 'forbidden letters' (except in vanity plates and as index); Q-AAR-001 should have come right after Q-AAN-999… The Q-AAQ series was issued from 20 February to 3 March 2015.

The S-BAI series should not have been issued, since I is one of the forbidden letters; however, it was issued between 12 May 2015 and 23 June 2015.

On 19 May 2015, tractor plates had reached G-LYZ-562, but issuance went back to G-LXG-002 and following. Will the G-LY* series ever be completely issued?

On 23 September 2015, motorcycle plates reached M-AEH-007, then the issuing process jumped forward to M-AEK-002 for an unknown reason. 1,992 combinations (992 + 999 + 1) were skipped in the process. Issuance continued up to M-AEK-398, then went back to M-AEH-008 and following on 24 September. After M-AEJ-999 was issued on 7 October 2015, the next plate was M-AEK-399. Issuance continued up to M-AEK-999, then the M-AEL series was skipped on 9 October 2015 (AEL being a forbidden combination as it refers to the Arab European League), issuance following as of M-AEN-001.

On 5 October 2015, plates ranging from 1-LJA-001 to 1-LJH-999 were skipped for no reason.

On 9 November 2015, after M-AET-001, issuance skipped to M-AEX-001 and continued up to M-AEX-348 on 10 November 2015; then issuance resumed as of M-AET-002 and following, until M-AEV-999 was issued on 8 December 2015, after which M-AEX-349 and following were issued.

The S-AAI series should not have been issued, since I is one of the forbidden letters; however, it was issued between 15 October 2015 and 17 December 2015.

On 23 October 2015, the first oldtimer plate for an A Class scooter was issued (O-SAA-001).

On 6 November 2015, issuance of square tractor plates reached G-LXH-002. The following Monday, 9 November 2015, issuance resumed at G-LYZ-563. It continued up to G-LYZ-701 on 16 December 2015, then issuance went back to G-LYC-103 and following (see below).

On 16 December 2015, issuance of car test plates stopped at 1-ZZP-789, went back to 1-ZZK-901 and continued up to 1-ZZL-001 because those plates had been skipped on 20 December 2013 — that's two years to correct a mistake…

On 16 December 2015, issuance of small car plates stopped at 1-AZN-511 and went back to 1-AZG-102 as of 17 December 2015. Plates ranging from 1-AZG-102 to 201 had been skipped on 5 November 2013… 1-AZG-201 was issued on 7 January 2016, then issuance resumed as of 1-AZN-512.

On 16 December 2015, issuance of square tractor plates stopped at G-LYZ-701 and went back to G-LYC-103 as of 17 December 2015. Plates ranging from G-LYC-103 to G-LYZ-402 had been skipped on 17 October 2013… G-LYZ-402 was eventually issued on 16 February 2016, then issuance resumed as of G-LYZ-702.

Between 17 and 21 December 2015, no S-UA* plates were issued for an unknown reason.

The first small format oldtimer plate for a micro car (O-SUW-001) was issued on 31 March 2016.

The first new export plate for a car, XA-16-AAA, was issued on 2 May 2016 at 11.01 a.m.; 36 export plates were issued that first day. The first new export plate for a trailer, XQ-16-AAA, was also issued that day at 2.09 p.m.

The first new temporary plate, WA-16-AAA, was issued on 2 May 2016 at 1.05 p.m. The first new temporary plate for a motorcycle, WM-16-AAA, was issued on 4 May 2016.

The first small format oldtimer plate for a trailer, O-QZA-001, was issued on 11 May 2016.

The first new export plate for a motorcycle, XM-16-AAA, was issued on 17 May 2016 at 11.28 a.m.

On 26 May 2016, 1-CYQ-001 followed 1-CYP-999 instead of 1-CYR-001, the letter Q being unused on ordinary plates.

The first new square format export plate for a car, XA-16-AYA, was issued on 9 June 2016 at [time].

The first 2017 temporary plate for a car, WA-17-AAA, was issued on 17 June 2016.

Between 17 and 21 June 2015, no S-UAC plates were issued for an unknown reason.

The first 2017 temporary plate for a motorcycle, WM-17-AAA, was issued on 8 July 2016.

The first 2017 temporary plate for a trailer, WQ-17-AAA, was issued on 1 August 2016.

The first 2017 temporary plate for a scooter, WS-17-AAA, was issued on 8 August 2016.

On 13 September 2016, plates ranging from S-ABH-108 to S-ABH-207 (i.e. 100 plates) were skipped for an unknown reason: issuance went from S-ABH-107 to S-ABH-208. On 22 September 2016, issuance stopped at S-ABJ-345, then the skipped combinations were issued until 23 September. After S-ABH-207 was eventually registered, issuance resumed as of S-ABJ-346 and continued up to S-ABK-217 on 30 September 2016.

On 23 September 2016, issuance stopped at S-BCB-999 for an unknown reason; the following numbers were not issued until 29 September… It is possible that either unknown skipped numbers were issued (although unlikely), or the DIV skipped forward to an undetermined series. Another, more likely hypothesis would be that issuance was simply blocked due to some programming bug and that no S-B** plates were issued between 23 and 29 September 2016. Indeed, some 650+ S-B** plates were issued on 29 September, which indicates that the DIV was catching up with delayed registrations. Issuance continued up to S-BCC 990, which was the last B Class scooter plate using the small format.

On 30 September 2016, issuance of long format plates for microcars stopped definitively at S-UAD-875. Issuance of small format plates for microcars stopped at S-UZB 014.

The first micro plate for an A Class scooter (format 10 x 12 cm), SAEA 001, was issued on 1 October 2016.

The first micro plate for a B Class scooter (format 10 x 12 cm), SBCI 027, was issued on 1 October 2016. It was quite striking because the I is normally not being used anymore on non-vanity plates. Issuance continued until SBCI 936 on 5 October 2016, then it skipped to SBFA 001 and following.

The first plate for a 'speed pedelec' (i.e. a bike with an electric engine enabling it to drive faster than 25 km/h), SPAA 001, was issued on 3 October 2016.

The first micro plate for a microcar, SUAG 043, was issued on 3 October 2016.

Issuance of oldtimer plates for A Class scooters stopped at O-SAA 102 on 30 September 2016 and resumed as of OSAA 201, using the new micro format instead of the small format.

Issuance of oldtimer plates for B Class scooters stopped at O-SBA-529 on 30 September 2016 and resumed as of OSBA 601, using the new micro format instead of the small format.

The first 2017 export plate for a car, XA-17-AAA, was issued on 13 Octber 2016.

On 13 October 2015, the PYT series was skipped by mistake, probably because it was in the middle of other series skipped that day, namely: PYK, (PYM), PYN, (PYO), PYP, (PYQ), PYS.

Issuance of 2016 temporary plates stopped on 30 November 2016, with 649 plates issued. There were 7 skipped combinations: AAP, AAS, AEL, ALA, ALI, ANE, ASS, plus AY* and AZ*, reserved for square and small formats. 9 WM-16 plates were issued, but no WQ-16 or WS-16 plates.

Issuance of 2016 export plates stopped on 1 December 2016, with 5,647 plates issued in the long format, plus 1 in the square format. There were 44 skipped combinations: AAP, AAS, AEL, ALA, ALI (for the 1st time), ANE, ASS, BEB, BIT, BOM, BOY, BSP, BUB, BWP, CAP, CDF, CDH, CDV, CON, CSP, CUB, CUL, CUT, CVP, DCD, DIK, DOM, FAG (for the 1st time), FAT (for the 1st time!), FDF, FNB (for the 1st time!), FOK, FOL, FOU, FUC, FUK, GAT, GAY, GEK, GOD, HIV, HOL, JEK and KAK. Combinations starting with the letter I (IAA–IZZ) were skipped, too. AY*, AZ*, BY*, BZ*, CY*, CZ*, DY*, DZ*, EY*, EZ*, FY*, FZ*, GY*, GZ*, HY*, HZ*, JY* and JZ* combinations were skipped as well because they were reserved for square and small formats. 14 XM-16 plates were issued, and 203 XQ-16 plates (AAP, AAS and AEL skipped), but no XS-16 plates.

The first export plate for a trailer, XQ-17-AAA, was issued on 2 December 2016.

The first small format export plate for a car, XA-17-AZA, was issued on 5 December 2016.

The first export plate for a motorcycle, XM-17-AAA, was issued on 7 December 2016.

Fewer scooter plates (both A and B Class, as well as microcars) were issued between 11 December 2016 and 10 January 2017 because of legal restrictions for the first registration of scooters that were already in circulation.

On 20 December 2016, issuance of microcar plates stopped at SUAH 999 and resumed at SUAJ 501 on 21 December 2016. The skipped SUAJ combinations have still not been issued.

The first small format temporary plate for a car, WA-17-AZA, was issued on 30 January 2017.

The first micro format oldtimer plate for a micro car, OSUA 101, was issued on 7 February 2017. Long rectangular format plates, ranging from O-SUA-001 to O-SUA-100, had probably been made, but will never be issued because the micro format is the only one left for scooters.

Due to a problem of data transfer between the Public Service for Mobility and the Public Service for Economy, commercial plates could not be issued between 10 and 27 March 2017.

On 8 June 2017, the whole SLN series was skipped, probably due to a mistake.

On 22 June 2017, plates ranging from M-ALZ 003 up to M-ALZ-999 were skipped (i.e. 997 plates). Issuance had skipped directly from M-ALZ 002 to M-ANA 001, then reached M-ANB 731 before going back to the skipped combinations, which were registered between 27 and 29 June 2017. Issuance then resumed as of M-ANB 732.

On 3 July 2017, oldtimer Class B scooter plates ranging from OSBD 201 to OSBD 299 (i.e. 99 plates) were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 5 July 2017, issuance of small format oldtimer plates stopped at O-AZH 500 and jumped to O-BZA 001 on 7 July 2017 and reached O-BZA 072. Regular issuance then resumed at O-AZH 501 on 12 July 2017.

The first 2018 temporary plate for a car, WA-18-AAA, was issued on 18 July 2017.

The first 2017 square temporary plate for a car, WA-17-AYA,
was issued on 28 July 2017.

The first 2018 temporary plate for a motorcycle, WM-18-AAA, was issued on 7 August 2017.

On 5 September 2017, small format oldtimer plates reached O-AZH 999, then issuance jumped to O-BZA 073 up to O-BZA 100 on 7 September 2017. Issuance was then stuck until 12 September and resumed normally as of O-AZJ 001.

On 5 September 2017, 1-TAM plates were issued unexpectedly, just like 1-TAQ plates on 6 September and 1-TAW plates on 7 September. This indicated that letters M, Q and W were no longer restricted.

The first 2018 temporary plate for a B Class scooter, WS-18-BAA, was issued on 29 September 2017.

The first 2018 square temporary plate for a car, WA-18-AYA, was issued on 17 October 2017.

The first 2018 export plate for a car, XA-18-AAA, was issued on 19 October 2017.

The first 2018 export plate for a trailer, XQ-18-AAA, was issued on 4 December 2017.

The first 2018 export plate for a motorcycle, XM-18-AAA, was issued on 21 December 2017.

The first 2018 square export plate for a car, XA-18-AYA,
was issued on 17 January 2018.

On 24 January 2018, issuance stopped at 1-TRS-003 and resumed as of 1-TRW-008 for an unknown reason. Issuance reached 1-TSX-347, then the skipped plates, ranging from 1-TRS-004 to 1-TRW-007, were issued from 1 February 2018 to 2 February 2018. Issuance then continued as of 1-TSX-348.

On 28 April 2018, plates ranging from O-ADY-001 to O-ADZ-999 (i.e. 1,998 plates) were skipped for no reason.

On 29 June 2018, issuance of speed pedelec plates jumped directly from SPAL 999 to SPAN 052, skipping 51 plates in the process (SPAM plates were not issued because M was still a forbidden letter at the time of production).

The first 2019 temporary plate for a car, WA-19-AAA, was issued on 4 July 2018.

On 27 July 2018, issuance of oldtimer motorcycle plates skipped directly from O-MAP 999 to O-MAX 001 for no reason, skipping the O-MAR, O-MAT, O-MAU and O-MAV series in the process. O-MAS plates would not have been issued because MAS is a forbidden combination, and O-MAW were not made because W was a forbidden combination at the time of production.

On 27 July 2018, issuance of ordinary plates stopped at 1-USG-017 and went straight to 1-UUJ-001 for an unknown reason. These combinations remain unissued so far.

On 27 July 2018, issuance of oldtimer motorcycle plates jumped from O-MAP 999 to O-MAX 001, skipping O-MAQ to O-MAW series in the process. O-MAS series would not have been issued anyway, because MAS is a forbidden series.

The first 2019 export plate for a car, XQ-19-AAA, was issued on 18 October 2018.

The first 2019 export plate for a motorcycle, XM-19-AAA, was issued on 12 December 2018.

The first 2019 export plate for a motorcycle, XM-19-AAA, was issued on 12 December 2018.

[…]

On 6 March 2019, issuance went directly from SUAP 500 to SUAR001, skipping plates ranging from SUAP 501 to SUAQ 999, although it was predictible that the SUAQ series would not be issued.

On 5 April 2019, issuance of speed pedelec plates stopped at SPAZ 662, before resuming as of SPBA 001 on 8 April 2019; only five plates were issued that day, though. The skipped combinations are still available.

On 29 July 2019, issuance stopped at G-LXN 563, then continued as of G-LXN 701, meaning that combinations ranging from G-LXN 564 to G-LXN 700, i.e. 137 plates, were not issued.

On 13 August 2019, issuance of taxi plates stopped at T-XAF-163 and resumed at T-XAF-404 on 19 August 2019! The skipped combinations are still available.

On 20 August 2019, plates ranging from 1-ZZU-661 to 1-ZZU-700 (i.e. 40 combinations) were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 2 September 2019, trailer dealer plates ranging from 1-ZUA-334 to 1-ZUA-400 were skipped for an unknown reason.

On 16 September 2019, square diplomatic plates ranging from CD-YA 213 to CD-YA 300 were skipped for no reason.

[…]

Dealer plates: issuance was stuck at 1-ZBH-907 on 8 January 2020… It resumed on 10 January until 1-ZBJ-100, then stopped again. Probably the stock was empty and the plate producer needed to make more… Issuance resumed on 14 January as of 1-ZBJ-101 up to 1-ZBJ-235, then up to 1-ZBJ-400 on 15 January. Issuance stopped again, then resumed. No fewer than a total of 358 plates were issued on 15 January 2020, which is an absolute record — due to the backlog, admittedly.

Road tests plates: issuance stopped at 2-ZZA-500 on 9 January 2020; no plates on 10 January and issuance resumed on 13 January in the afternoon… to stop again later at 2-ZZA-600. Issuance resumed on 14 January in the afternoon, as of 2-ZZA-601. Probably the stock was empty and the plate producer needed to make more… On 15 January 2020, no fewer than 187 plates were issued, which constitutes an absolute record.

In 2020, Q-AKI and Q-AKO series were also issued this year, despite the fact that the letters I and O are forbidden, except on vanity plates…

On 17 June 2020, a record-breaking amount of motorcycle plates were issued: 946 combinations.

Series temporarily skipped because they are reserved for the square and small formats: BZA to BZZ; CZA to CZZ; DZA to DZZ; FYA to FYZ and FZA to FZZ; GYA to GYZ and GZA to GZZ; JYA to JYZ and JZA to JZZ; KYA to KYZ and KZA to KZZ; LYA to LYZ and LZA to LZZ; NYA to NYZ and NZA to NZZ; RYA to RYZ and RZA to RZZ. The DY* series are currently being issued as square format plates and AZ* series as small format plates. Series ranging from EYA to EZZ, HYA to HZZ, PYA to PZZ and SYA to SZZ have been issued as regular rectangular plates due to a programmer's mistake (respectively in April-May 2013, October-November 2014, October 2016 and August 2017).

1-AAA-001 was issued on 15 November 2010 [on a Renault Traffic]
1-BAA-001 was issued on 14 April 2011 [on a Volkswagen Polo]
1-CAA-001 was issued on 3 October 2011 [on a Ford Focus]
1-DAA-001 was issued on 22 March 2012 [on a Ford Fiesta]
1-EAA-001 was issued on 1 October 2012 (11.04 a.m.) [on a Peugeot 406, then a BMW 118d and now a Hyundai Santa Fe]
1-FAA-001 was issued on 3 May 2013 (at about 8.30 a.m.) [on a Renault Clio, now a Dacia Sandero]
1-GAA-001 was issued on 3 December 2013 (at about 11.20 a.m.) [on a Volkswagen Polo, now a Renault Clio]
1-HAA-001 was issued on 2 June 2014 (at about 10.50 a.m.) [on an Audi A6]
1-JAA-001 was issued on 13 November 2014 (at 10.19 a.m.) [on a Suzuki Grand Vitara]
1-KAA-001 was issued on 17 March 2015 (at 10.55 a.m.) [on a Ford Focus]
1-LAA-001 was issued on 29 July 2015 (at 1.30 p.m.) [on an Audi A1 Sportback]
1-NAA-001 was issued on 1 January 2016 (at 6.34 a.m.) [on a Renault Espace]
1-PAA-001 was issued on 19 May 2016 (at 9.32 a.m.) [on a Jaguar XF]
1-RAA-001 was issued on 24 October 2016 (at 12.35 p.m.) [on a Volvo XC60]. This was the first time since the introduction of the European system that three 'first letters' have started being issued in the same year.
1-SAA-001 was issued on 23 March 2017 (at 8.07 a.m.) [on an Audi Q7]
1-TAA-001 was issued on 1 September 2017 (at 10.09 a.m.) [on a Volkswagen Touareg]
1-UAA-001 was issued on 9 March 2018 (at 10.49 a.m.) [on a Peugeot 207]
1-VAA-001 was issued on 30 August 2018 (at 11.40 a.m.) [on a Mazda CX-5]
1-WAA-001 was issued on 2 April 2019 (at 12.50 p.m.) [on an Audi Q3]
1-XAA-001 was issued on 22 October 2019 (at 10.50 a.m.) [on TBD]

1-YAA-001 was issued on 25 June 2020 (at 8.21 p.m.) [on TBD].

2-AAA-001 should be issued in January 2021.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Belgian Highs (09 December 2009)

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