Old license plates in Saxony-Anhalt: The return of love of home!

Old license plates in Saxony-Anhalt: The return of love of home!

With the return of old letter combinations on number plates, the drivers in Saxony-Anhalt experience a real Renaissance. In recent years, the enthusiasm for old license plates has been unbroken, and that since it has been released in 2012. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), more and more drivers are using the opportunity to use traditional license plates. The trend is particularly noticeable in the Salzlandkreis, where around 74,000 vehicles with old license plates such as BBG, SBK and ASL are currently on the road, while the official district grate SLK is around 64,000 vehicles, which shows an amazing picture when you consider that 75,000 vehicles with SLK were still registered in 2012.

The situation shows that the popularity of the historical abbreviation in Saxony-Anhalt is growing steadily. This trend is further reinforced by the optional use of several regional license plates, such as in Wolmirstedt, where the residents can choose between different abbreviations such as WMS, OK and Bö. These old license plates are not only considered a license plate, but are also understood as a home license plate. They are an expression of a regional identity that many drivers proudly look back on their home town. In the Harz, the old abbreviations QLB, HBS and WR in particular dominate, while in Anhalt-Bitterfeld many vehicles are registered under AZE (Zerbst) and BTF (Bitterfeld), in addition to the official ABI license plates.

rising numbers and historical importance

The interest in old license plates is not only in a steady increase in numbers, but also in a cultural context. Old license plates were originally abolished in the course of the 2017 district reform, but found their justification due to public debates. The approval of a variety of old abbreviations has not only a practical, but also an emotional component for the residents - it is about home and identity. The steep increase in vehicles with old license plates is particularly noteworthy: For example, the number of registered vehicles with the abbreviation Mer (Merseburg) rose from 2,800 in 2012 to almost 23,000 in 2025. The situation is similar at BBG (Bernburg), where the number of around 18,400 has risen to almost 26,500 vehicles.

Not only old indicators are coming; The development of the new district license plates also shows that they lose popularity. The number of vehicles with the abbreviation SLK from 74,700 to 63,700, which makes it clear that many drivers prefer to return to the tried and tested numbers. In many regions, for example in the Saalekreis, there are also numerous national license plates in addition to these regionals. There are even 1,344 Leipziger, 136 Berliners and 47 Munichers among the vehicles.

The colorful variety of license plates that are on the road not only reflects the grown interest in regional identity, but also makes it clear that many drivers have a good hand when it comes to selecting the right license plate for their vehicle.