Brandenburg's old license plates: Who is fighting to return to their homeland?

Brandenburg's old license plates: Who is fighting to return to their homeland?

In Brandenburg there is a remarkable trend towards reviving old license plates. Around 50 different location codes are already in circulation, a development that is being driven primarily by the return to old license plates in many Brandenburg districts. This is particularly evident in cities like Rathenow and Nauen, which have had the well-known abbreviations “RN” and “NAU” since 2016. However, other municipalities are struggling to get their own license plates - according to the principle: “The best is saved for last”. The city of Falkensee in Havelland applied for the “FKS” license plate, but the application was rejected on the grounds that a license plate would not contribute to strengthening regional identity maz-online.de reported.

What exactly is behind this return to old license plates? The license plates, which many people in Brandenburg consider to be part of their home culture, are not only nostalgic, but also an expression of regional identity. After all, which city doesn't feel the need to distinguish itself with its own acronym? If we take a closer look, the revival of old license plates is a phenomenon that has been spreading rapidly since license plate liberalization in 2012. Previously, drivers could only use county plates, and now many municipalities have the option to reintroduce their individual plates.

A look at the developments

However, introducing new location abbreviations is not an easy undertaking. It requires extensive approvals at the state and federal levels, which sometimes drags out the process. One example is Bad Belzig in Potsdam-Mittelmark, which has been waiting for 12 years to get its old license plate “BEL” back. Hohen Neuendorf in Oberhavel would like to introduce the abbreviation “HND”, while the Barnim district has again used the symbols “EW” for Eberswalde and “BER” for Bernau, according to information from wunschkennzeichen-reservieren.de.

But not all applications are successful. The district council in Prignitz rejected an application for its own old license plates in 2018, and there are also restrictions in Neuruppin: The combination “NP-D” is banned due to its association with a right-wing extremist group. The temporal overview shows that a particularly large number of old license plates were newly registered in the new federal states. No wonder, as they are popular collector's items. In other federal states, such as Bavaria and Thuringia, many old license plates have also found their way back.

Practical aspects of return

Practicality plays a key role in this process. Drivers have to expect fees of between 20 and 40 euros if they want an old license plate. The re-registration itself is usually uncomplicated; all you need to do is have your ID card and registration certificate ready. It is also important to inform the insurance company about the new license plate number, because over the last few years it has been shown that old license plates are not only nostalgic, but can also have a positive influence on the resale value of the vehicle.

Another advantage is that old license plates can be kept when moving, but the new address must be entered in the vehicle documents. However, the availability of these old license plates varies greatly. According to kfz.net, over 300 distinctive signs have been newly defined nationwide - a statement about the connection to regional roots and the identity creation that these signs bring with them.

Overall, it remains to be seen how this trend will develop further. License plates are not only a practical identification feature, but also a beloved part of culture that gives regional identity a face. It remains to be hoped that many more municipalities will be able to fulfill the desire for their own nostalgic license plate.