Swapping Sticker game: What's that Mysterious "W" on Licence Plates?
- Penned by Christian Hensen
- ± - 2 Min
Car Registration Pattern: The Meaning Behind the Alternate Plate Design on Vehicles - Car Markings Decoded: Understanding the Significance of a 'W' on a License Plate
In Germany's kaleidoscope of vehicular license plates, you'll find various hues, letters, and figures that often pique curiosity when they show up on roads. Recently, a Reddit user posed a question about a small "W" emblazoned above a seal on a licence plate. What on Earth could this mean?
The secret was quickly unveiled: The car bearing the number plates from Ludwigsburg (LB) displayed a so-called swap licence plate. These are used when two vehicles carrying the same registration number are registered in the owner's name. While it's not usual, it has its unique merits.
Swap licence plates follow a specific set of rules
To qualify for such a plate, the vehicles sharing the number must belong to the same vehicle class - for instance, a car with another car, or a motorcycle with another motorcycle. A motorcycle and a car, however, cannot be paired. Furthermore, both vehicles cannot be on the streets simultaneously. Either vehicle can travel, but never both.
The swap licence plate is composed in the following manner: In the front, the common part with the state seal, the “W,” and the initial part of the licence plate's end can be found. The specific part containing the MOT sticker for the respective vehicle, which constitutes the last digit of the licence plate, is located on a short, vehicle-specific part of the number plate. The common part needs to be switched when the vehicles are swapped, while the last digit remains on the vehicle.
The swap licence plate system may seem puzzling. Here are the scenarios that might call for such a shared registration: maybe you have a classic car and a daily driver and wish to alternate every now and then. Or perhaps you own various motorcycles and would like to ride the most suitable one depending on your travel plan.
This arrangement can save money but still sparks little interest
Because it can be less pricey to register two vehicles this way, some insurers offer corresponding tariffs, but calculations should still be made. Especially for classic cars, there are also special insurers for vintage vehicles driven less frequently. There is no reduction in vehicle tax.
Another disadvantage: when one vehicle is deregistered, it's not only forbidden to travel with it on public roads, but it's also not permissible to park the inactive vehicle in public spaces without a full licence plate. Keeping a vehicle without a full licence plate means it must be parked on private property, or else penalties may be imposed.
The swap licence plate has graced German roads since 2012, yet it has seemingly not gained widespread popularity due to its downsides over seasonal licence plates, or traditionally separate licence plates for different vehicles.
- The mysterious "W" on the car number plate from Ludwigsburg, Germany, signifies a swap license plate, used when two vehicles registered to the same owner share the same registration number, adhering to specific rules in the automotive industry.
- In the transportation sector of Germany, owning a swap license plate can potentially save money on vehicle registration and insurance, although it presents limitations such as the need for private parking when one vehicle is not in use, which might explain why it hasn't gained widespread popularity.
