French Registration plates.

[namwaldog]

We have just driven up the A1 from Alnwick to the THS at Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival
A lot of French regd. cars have passed us heading south with the number plate made up of white letters on a red ground. I can't remember seeing any in France a month ago.
Has their system changed??

 

[frogijock]

I think they are temporary plates, issued whilst you are waiting on your vehicle registration coming from the French equivalent of our DVLA

 

[Fenman]

If I remember rightly those plates are for cars that are free of VAT as they will be exported within 6 months or something like that.

I remember as a kid on our annual French holiday my father always said they were cars belonging to the diplomatic corps.

 

[The Nomad]

Export or temporary registration.

 

[old-mo]

"Belgium"....

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[namwaldog]

That was my first thought MO, but definitely had a "F". I'm wondering if they had been shipped to Leith and didn't want to use a transporter. We saw about 10 in the space of an hour all heading south on the A1.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Don't know why they would be in the UK, but they are lease vehicles. Aussie friends who come here (France) for six months find it cheaper to lease for that time. They always have red plates. Trouble is they stand out to the scroats who delight in causing damage.
Steve

 

[Allanm]

From Wikipedia, so, of course it’s true.......

Vehicles in transit on French territory must carry a red plate with white characters. Instead of the regional code, the right hand band displays the expiry date of the plate. Vehicles purchased in the free trade zones of Gex and Savoie also carry red plates, but with the regional code. Diplomatic vehicles carry green plates with orange or white characters. Vehicles owned by the French Forces and Civilian Elements stationed in Germany (FFECSA) carry a pale blue plate with white characters.