Do Oval Stickers Indicating Nationality Still Matter on European Cars?
With the recent changes in European Union regulations and the widespread adoption of EU-standard number plates, questions arise about the necessity of the traditional oval-shaped stickers indicating a car's nationality. This article explores whether these stickers are still relevant or if they are now largely unnecessary.
EU Regulations 1003/2010 and Nationality Indicators
The European Union Regulation 1003/2010, which came into effect starting from 2008, standardized number plates across member states. This regulation introduced a new format that incorporated a small, square indicator of the country of registration, instead of the previous traditional oval stickers.
Many countries started using these new EU number plates around this time. For instance, when I bought my car in 1997, it already featured the square nationality indicator. In fact, the transition to this new format was nearly complete by then, and the oval stickers were gradually becoming a thing of the past.
It is worth noting that not all countries in the EU made it compulsory to display the nationality indicator on number plates. The UK is a prime example; until the British Government changed the indicator from GB to UK, many cars relied on the oval stickers to show the country of registration. However, since this change, the use of oval stickers has significantly reduced in the UK.
The Current State of Oval Stickers in Europe
Today, you rarely see oval nationality stickers on modern cars, except perhaps on classic or older models. Even in the UK, where the change from GB to UK on number plates has been implemented, the necessity of these stickers has diminished.
In other European countries, such as Germany, the use of oval nationality stickers is even more rare. I have observed that a substantial proportion of the cars I encounter on German roads are registered in other European countries, and they all feature the country code on the left margin of the license plate, often in a blue field. This indicates that the use of traditional oval stickers is no longer necessary in these regions.
For non-EU European countries like Ukraine, the trend is similar. Since 2022, I have noticed a significant number of Ukraine-registered cars, all featuring the letter 'UA' in the blue field on their number plates, and never with an additional oval sticker. This suggests a broader adoption of this modern format.
It is also important to note that for UK-registered vehicles, the small nationality field on the left of the license plate is optional. If this field is absent, a separate oval sticker is required when driving outside the UK. However, considering the rarity of UK-registered cars in Germany, this rule often goes unapplied.
Economic and Practical Considerations
The phasing out of oval nationality stickers is also influenced by practical considerations. Car manufacturers, especially those producing vehicles for the European market, have found it cost-effective to standardize the number plate surrounds. This means that many cars now come with the square nationality indicator instead of the oval sticker, reducing production costs and improving aesthetic uniformity.
There are exceptions, such as when someone orders a license plate with the nationality information as an extra cost option. In cases where a car does not have this information, an oval sticker is still necessary for international travel. However, this is a less common practice.
From a personal perspective, I find the small nationality field on the left hand of the number plate to be less desirable. The letters are very small and much less legible at a distance compared to the earlier, larger oval stickers. This practical drawback further supports the trend towards the adoption of the new square format.
Conclusion
While oval nationality stickers were once ubiquitous on European cars, they have largely become obsolete with the implementation of EU regulations and the transition to new number plate formats. In many parts of Europe, such as Germany and Ukraine, these stickers are rarely seen and are no longer necessary.
For car owners, this means that unless you are specifically required to use them by a local regulation or ease of international travel, you can maintain the aesthetic uniformity of your car’s number plate without the additional cost of oval stickers.