If you have ever taken a closer look at a German number plate, then you might have been curious as to what the coloured discs mean, that are stuck onto it.
I’ve answered this question previously in a podcast. The discs are called “Plaketten”. They show the date of the next M.O.T. (TÜV) and, until recently, the date of the next emissions test.
However, that changed at the beginning of this year, and now both are combined into just one sticker.
The whole reason for two stickers was probably due to the introduction of the emissions test in the 1980s and its revision in the 1990s, which did not necessarily have to be at the same time as the M.O.T. But since all new cars had the tests synchronised to be on the same date, the number of cars with differing stickers has dwindled. This has led to the tests being officially combined.
Before: on this car the sticker is still in place
So at the front of the car, the hexagonal sticker has now gone. Ersatzlos.
After: a car where the emissions sticker has been removed
The round one at the back remains.
The sticker on the rear number plate, showing the new combined M.O.T. is valid until September 2012
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