Old homeland symbols: Is Saxony-Anhalt indulging in nostalgia?

Old homeland symbols: Is Saxony-Anhalt indulging in nostalgia?

Saxony-Anhalt is booming – with the old home license plates! Since 2012, drivers in the state have been allowed to use their nostalgic license plates, and enthusiasm for it continues unabated. The latest evaluation by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) shows that many vehicle owners prefer to use historical abbreviations to identify their cars. In particular, license plates such as ASL, BBG and QLB are still in demand among drivers.

A look at the numbers reveals that the use of these old license plates is steadily increasing in many districts. The division is clear in the Salzland district: around 64,000 vehicles carry the official SLK license plate, while around 74,000 drivers use old license plates. In the Harz, however, historical abbreviations such as QLB and HBS are enjoying increasing popularity alongside the traditional HZ license plate. Anhalt-Bitterfeld is also showing a positive development - more and more drivers here are using the abbreviations AZE and BTF, in addition to the current ABI.

The popularity of old license plates

What does this mean for drivers? The numbers speak for themselves: In the Merseburg district, the number of vehicles with the historical license plate MER has increased more than tenfold from around 2,800 in 2012 to almost 23,000 in 2025. A similar trend can also be seen in Bernburg, where the number has risen from around 18,400 to almost 26,500. However, there is also a small decline in the number of new district license plates: For example, in the Salzland district, the number of vehicles with SLK license plates has fallen from around 74,700 to almost 63,700.

For many drivers, home license plates are more than just a number: they are an expression of regional identity. In addition, since 2015, the regulation has allowed drivers to keep their previous license plate when moving to another district. This means that there is a colorful variety of license plates on the roads of Saxony-Anhalt. In the Saale district, not only regional indicators are represented, but also national ones. For example, there are 1,344 people from Leipzig (L), 136 from Berlin (B) and even 47 from Munich (M).

A look at the administration

Anyone who would like to apply for an old license plate can rely on an informative digital map that provides an overview of the administrative situation in Saxony-Anhalt. This overview shows the approval districts and offices, which are based on municipalities, independent cities and districts. Each registration district has its own distinctive symbol, and the administrations act as registration authorities for their own and neighboring license plates. An alphabetical list of the distinguishing signs is also available and ensures transparency for drivers nummernschildmuseum.de.

The Federal Motor Transport Authority has also stipulated that the identification numbers are managed by the responsible state authorities. In Saxony-Anhalt, this happens in agreement with the respective higher authorities. This ensures that double assignment of license plates is excluded. These regulations help ensure that the system remains clear and that the Loved Ones can also show their individual touch on the streets kba.de.

The return to old traditions is not only seen as a trend with the old license plates, but as a piece of identity that connects the people of Saxony-Anhalt with one another. So the next time you're on the road, you should keep an eye on the various license plates - maybe you'll find one or two personal souvenirs!