User:Walser.FL/sandbox: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

Principality of Liechtenstein Fürstentum Liechtenstein

Standard rear plate from Liechtenstein
Country	Liechtenstein
Country code	FL
Serial format	FL 12345

Vehicle registration plates of the Principality of Liechtenstein are composed of the letters FL, standing for Fürstentum Liechtenstein, followed by the small version of the coat of arms of Liechtenstein and up to five digits. Standard license plates are labelled with white characters on a black background. Due to the small size of the country (42,000 inhabitants), no further distinguishing codes are needed.^[1][2]

Liechtenstein first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1906. The white-on-black color scheme was introduced in 1916 and the current serial format was introduced in 1924. The current design was introduced in 1972. The numbering and color system essentially corresponds to that of Swiss license plates.^[3][4][5][6]

Since 2001, Liechtenstein has been the only European state to issue exclusively black license plates for motor vehicles. In other European countries, black license plates are only issued for specific vehicle groups (e.g. historical or military vehicles) or as an alternative alongside yellow or white license plates, for example, on the Bailiwick of Guernsey.^[7] On June 30, 2025, a total of 47,204 vehicles were registered in Liechtenstein. Of these, 43,041 were motor vehicles and 4,163 were trailers.^[8]

Due to its geographical location and the origins of the Princely House, Liechtenstein maintained strong political and economic ties with the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy for many years. The customs and tax treaty of 1852 established a customs union between the two states, which continued throughout the development of motorized road transport until August 2, 1919.^[9]

• On August 12, 1915, the Liechtenstein government issued a decree mandating the introduction of independent license plates.^[10] They showed white characters on a black base and the registration mark consisted of the letter L for Liechtenstein and an individual number. The very first Liechtenstein license plate, L 1, was issued in February 1919.^[11]

• On May 1, 1924, Liechtenstein acceded to the 1909 International Convention on Motor Traffic. With this accession, the Principality of Liechtenstein had to choose a country code. Since the letter “L” was already assigned to Luxembourg, the code “FL” was chosen. On December 4, 1924, the Liechtenstein government issued an implementing regulation which stipulated in Article 30 that every motor vehicle must display two signs bearing the letters FL and a registration number.^[12][13]

• On June 23, 1961, newly designed license plates were introduced, distinguished by the use of the escutcheon of the princely coat of arms as a sticker, instead of the painted national coat of arms.
• In 1972, the font size and format of the plates were aligned with those of Switzerland, and the national coat of arms was reduced to its current size. Existing license plates could continue to be used if they were still in good condition. Vehicles with well-preserved license plates from the period between 1961 and 1972 can still be seen on the road in Liechtenstein today.^[6]

Motor vehicles in Liechtenstein must be equipped with front and rear license plates made of corrosion-resistantt metal. Current license plates are made of aluminium and may have a reflective or photoluminescent coating. License plates are generally issued based on availability. Returned license plates are put back into circulation after a reasonable period, but no sooner than one year. If no such plates are available, new license plates with consecutive numbers are produced. Unlike in most other European countries, Liechtenstein license plates are not assigned to a specific vehicle, but to its registered owner. If the owner changes vehicles, the license plates can be mounted on the new vehicle after registration. If the owner does not register a new vehicle, the license plates must be returned to the issuing authority, the Road Traffic Office in Vaduz.^[6][5]

The background color of the license plates depends on their intended use and the vehicle type. The plates are numbered independently, so it’s possible for several vehicles to have the same license plate number. The color system is essentially the same as that of Swiss license plates. The following color combinations exist:

• License plates with a black background and white lettering are issued for passenger cars, trucks, buses, commercial tractors, trailers, motorcycles, scooters, trikes, quads, light electric vehicles, motor tricycles, single-axle tractors and motorcycle trailers.
• License plates with a black background and yellow lettering are short-term license plates for motor vehicles and trailers, valid for up to 4 days.
• License plates with a light green background and black lettering are issued to agricultural and forestry vehicles and trailers.
• License plates with a light blue background and black lettering are issued to utility vehicles, industrial vehicles as well as their trailers.
• License plates with a light brown background and black lettering are used for exceptional vehicles and trailers (e.g. for heavy transport).
• License plates with a red background and white lettering are repeater license plates that can be mounted as a “third license plate” on the rear load carrier.
• License plates with a yellow or dark yellow background and black lettering are issued to light vehicles, light motorcycles, small motorcycles, electric vehicles or mopeds and e-bikes.^[14]

Numbers are assigned separately for motor vehicles and trailers on the one hand and motorcycles on the other, and for each type of license plate separately according to base color and special markings, and in ascending order. The number allocation extends to FL 99999 and is currently about 50 percent exhausted. Since the system has existed since 1924, it could suffice for many more decades, even though the number of vehicle registrations has increased significantly in the last hundred years. The numbers are divided into the following number ranges, which have been reserved for certain vehicle groups or purposes:

•  FL  21  to  FL  100  are not issued for standard motor vehicles and trailers.
•  FL  101  to  FL  300  are reserved numbers for dealer license plates.
•  FL  301  to  FL  1999  were used for the first series of trailer license plates.
•  FL  2000  to  FL  50000  are issued consecutively in ascending order for motor vehicles.
• In December 2025, the highest numbers were in the  FL  42800 range. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 31,683 passenger cars, 3,275 vans, 291 trucks, 211 semi-trailer trucks, 551 motorhomes, 58 city buses, and 31 coaches were registered in Liechtenstein.^[8]

The license plates have the following formats, with the corners rounded with a radius of 1 cm:

• 500 × 110 mm are the dimensions of long rear license plates since 1987.
• 300 × 160 mm are the dimensions of square rear license plates since 1972.
• Until 1959, rear license plates were only available in square format (310 × 240 mm).
• Since 1959, they have also been issued in long format upon request.
• Initially, they were 440 × 110 mm, later 380 × 110 mm.
• 300 × 80 mm has been the standard size for a front license plate since 1972.
• Until 1972, front license plates were 380 × 110 mm.
• 180 × 140 mm has been the standard format for license plates for motorcycles, scooters, trikes, quads, light vehicles, light motor vehicles, small motorcycles, light motorcycles, electric vehicles, and light electric vehicles since 1972.
• 100 × 140 mm has been the standard size for license plates for mopeds and e-bikes since 1972.^[15]

Liechtenstein license plates are manufactured in Switzerland. Plaque Suisse AG is headquartered in Nunningen, in the canton of Solothurn. This company produces approximately one million license plates annually for 20 Swiss cantons and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The production process for a standard Liechtenstein license plate begins with a 1.5 mm thick aluminum blank, which is covered with a black foil. The aluminum blank is placed in a press where the required numbers and letters are inserted. The characters and the outline of the national coat of arms are pressed into the blank under high pressure, raised to a height of 1.5 mm. The embossed black plate then passes through a hot stamping machine, where a pressure roller heated to approximately 200 °C transfers a white foil onto the embossed characters. The national coat of arms, or rather its outline, is covered during this process and thus remains black. The small national coat of arms is subsequently affixed to the plate as a sticker.^{[5][6][16][17]}

Since 1960, Liechtenstein has issued temporary license plates for motor vehicles that have cleared customs but are only temporarily registered in Liechtenstein. These plates are valid for a maximum of one year, and all taxes and fees must be paid in advance. Motor vehicles receive temporary license plates with numbers from FL 90000 to FL 92999. Trailers receive plates with numbers starting at FL 95000, and motorcycles receive temporary plates with numbers starting at FL 1800.

The license plates for provisionally registered motor vehicles bear a raised, vertical red bar following the control number. Plates for vehicles that have not yet cleared customs also bear the letter “Z”. On the front plates for cars and on plates for motorcycles and mopeds, the red bar is 33 mm wide and 67 mm high; on the rear plates for cars, it is 36 mm wide and 75 mm high. The two-digit year of the year preceding the expiry year is debossed on the red bar. A control sticker is affixed to the red bar, bearing the number of the expiry month and the last two digits of the expiry year.

The control sticker is 5 cm high and 3 cm wide. Its background color is red, and the last two digits of the expiry year are repeatedly printed in small white lettering on the sticker. The expiry month is printed in black in the center of the sticker. The numbers of temporary license plates are reissued after the expiry date or upon cancellation of the vehicle registration. Numbering of the license plates generally restarts every two years, beginning with the lowest available number in the allocated number range. Temporary license plates do not necessarily have to be returned after their expiry date. However, in cases of misuse, the license plates must be officially confiscated.^[5]

Example	Numbers		Category
	from	to
	90000	92999	Cars, Trucks
	95000	95099	Trailers

Customs license plates are for motor vehicles and trailers that have not yet been cleared through customs and are temporarily stationed in Liechtenstein. They are designed like temporary license plates, but additionally have the letter “Z” for customs (German: Zoll) printed in white to the right of the red stripe. For space reasons, the front temporary license plates only show a dot between the letters and the number instead of the national coat of arms. The numbering of customs license plates begins with FL 600 Z for motor vehicles and FL 700 Z for trailers.

The numbering also restarts every two years with the lowest available number in the range. These plates do not need to be returned after the expiry date, but must be officially confiscated if misused.[6][26][27] Temporary license plates and customs license plates are issued to natural persons (foreigners holding a short-term residence permit (L) and third-country nationals who have not yet held a residence permit (B) for two years) and legal persons not operating in Liechtenstein, or persons with a foreign residence and a vehicle location address in Liechtenstein.^[18][6]

Example	Numbers		Category
	from	to
	600 Z →		Cars, Trucks
	700 Z →		Trailers

Short-term license plates display yellow characters on a black background and bear numbers between FL 50000 and FL 50299. These plates are issued for a validity period of 24, 48, 72, or 96 hours. Validity begins upon issuance of the plate and surrender of the plates at the counter. Upon expiry, the plates and the temporary registration plate must be returned immediately, either in person or by mail. Temporary registration plates are valid only in Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The cost for a temporary registration, including third-party liability insurance, is approximately 30.00 Swiss francs (CHF) per day for trailers, 40.00 CHF per day for motorcycles, 50.00 CHF for passenger cars, and 60.00 CHF per day for trucks. A deposit of 200.00 CHF is also required.

A vehicle displaying temporary license plates may only be used for journeys free of charge and may not be rented out. A maximum of eight people may be in such a vehicle. Goods transport may not be carried out with vehicles subject to the heavy vehicle tax. A vehicle put into service with temporary license plates must be roadworthy and comply with the technical requirements for road vehicles.[25] The steering, lights, and brakes must function properly, the tire tread depth must be at least 1.6 mm, and the bodywork must not have any defects that significantly affect road safety. If the last inspection date is outside the legally prescribed period, the vehicle must undergo a roadworthiness test before the temporary license plates are issued.^[19][5]

License plates with numbers from FL 101 to FL 300 and the additional letter U are special license plates for the motor vehicle trade. The letter U stands for “Unternehmer” (entrepreneur). These plates, colloquially also called “garage plates” or “U-plates,” are only issued to registered vehicle dealers and repair shops in conjunction with a collective vehicle registration document. Dealer plates can be used temporarily for all motor vehicles, e.g., for inspection and transfer journeys, regardless of their engine power and emissions. For work vehicles and special-use vehicles, there are dealer plates with a blue background; dealer plates with a green background are available for agricultural and forestry vehicles. The numbering here also begins with FL 101 U. For motorcycle plates, the numbering begins with FL 501 U. [6][7]

In addition to attaching them to the vehicles’ standard license plate holders, these “U-numbers” can also be affixed magnetically to the hood and rear or suspended from a plastic bag. Vehicles bearing dealer plates can be made available to prospective buyers for unaccompanied test drives, provided they are roadworthy and comply with regulations. Motorway use without a toll sticker is permitted for motorway-legal vehicles; however, driving abroad is not allowed, as these special plates are not required to be recognized under the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The Vienna Convention only requires the recognition of license plates officially assigned to a vehicle. Garage plates, however, are not assigned by the authorities but by the garage owner; the garage owner is responsible for the vehicle’s roadworthiness (since such a vehicle, while roadworthy, does not necessarily have to undergo a vehicle inspection).

From 1933 to 1976, dealer plates had the same format as normal plates (without the “U”), but with red lettering on a black background. The current dealer plates were introduced in 1977. From 1977 to 2001, there were special dealer plates for trailers with four-digit numbers, the series starting at FL 1700 U. These individual plates for trailers have not been issued since 2001, but existing plates are still valid. Since 2001, the normal dealer plates (FL 101 U to FL 300 U) have been used for trailers. The front plate is attached to the towing vehicle and the rear plate to the trailer.^[6][5]

Green license plates with black lettering and numbers between FL 21 and FL 2000 are issued to agricultural vehicles, such as tractors, as well as forestry vehicles and their trailers. These vehicles may not be used for commercial journeys and must be limited to a maximum speed of 40 km/h. Only one front license plate is issued per vehicle, which can be mounted either at the front or rear. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 985 agricultural vehicles and trailers were registered for road use in Liechtenstein.^[8][6]

License plates with a light blue background and black lettering, bearing numbers between FL 21 and FL 2000, are issued for vehicles and trailers that do not transport goods but are used exclusively for work, such as fire engines, vehicles and trailers used in civil engineering and construction, forestry, or road maintenance, such as snowplows, street cleaning vehicles, etc. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 879 work and industrial vehicles and trailers were registered in Liechtenstein.^[8][6]

License plates with a light brown background and black lettering are issued for unusual vehicles and trailers, so-called special vehicles, which, due to their design or intended use, do not comply with the general regulations regarding weight and size. Such vehicles may only be driven with a special written permit. This category includes, for example, crane trucks, heavy excavators, oversized tractors, heavy transport vehicles and trailers, etc. The numbering on these plates also begins at FL 21. Trailers have license plates with numbers starting at FL 5000.^[6]

On October 5, 2021, the Liechtenstein government amended several regulations of the Road Traffic Act. Among other things, the amendments introduced a “third license plate” for towbars. Since March 1, 2022, it has been possible to obtain a red license plate for mounting on the rear towbar from the Road Traffic Office; this plate is also recognized abroad. Previously, the black rear license plate had to be mounted on the towbar if it obscured the rear license plate on the vehicle. This is no longer necessary, as the new license plate only needs to be attached once when the towbar is in use and can then remain there. The third license plate has a red background with white lettering. It is issued exclusively in the long format (500 × 110 mm).

The price of a red license plate is CHF 25.00. The corresponding entry in the vehicle registration document costs CHF 20.00. Purchasing the license plate is voluntary. It remains permissible to mount the rear black license plate on the cargo carrier. The new red license plate may only be used together with the main pair of plates. Liechtenstein introduced the third license plate at the same time as Switzerland. Since March 1, 2022, it can be ordered exclusively by email from the Office of Road Traffic. Delivery is made according to the order in which orders are received.^[14][5]

Motorcycle license plates are 18 cm wide and 14 cm high. License plates for motorcycles, scooters, trikes, quads, light electric vehicles, and motorcycle trailers, as well as dealer plates and temporary plates, have a black background with white lettering. Day plates have yellow lettering. Numbers are assigned sequentially in ascending order. Returned motorcycle license plates are reissued after at least one year or auctioned online. In December 2025, the highest license plate numbers were in the FL 6700 range.

As of June 30, 2025, a total of 5,044 vehicles in the motorcycle category were registered for road use. With 4,645 vehicles, conventional motorcycles constitute the largest segment in this group. Of these, 3,137 were standard motorcycles and 1,508 were scooters.^[8]

Yellow license plates with black lettering are issued to mopeds, light motorcycles, and electric vehicles with an engine capacity of less than 125 cubic centimeters and a maximum speed of 45 km/h, as well as their temporary license plates. The assigned number range for these plates is FL 7000 to FL 7999.

The numbering of these license plates is not sequential, but rather based on availability or randomly. Although relatively few vehicles are registered in this category, plates with numbers from all parts of the allocated number range exist. As of June 30, 2025, approximately 400 vehicles were registered in this category.^[8]

The license plates for motorized bicycles, mopeds, and e-bikes are 10 cm wide and 14 cm high. They have a reflective dark yellow background with black lettering and do not bear a national emblem. Until 1985, these plates were issued annually and displayed the current two-digit year in the upper right corner, next to the letters FL.

From 1985 onwards, the year was omitted from the license plates, and they have not been replaced annually since then. Instead, an insurance sticker with the current year must be affixed as proof of insurance. This sticker is valid from January 1st of the printed year of issue until May 31st of the following year. At the same time, the numbering was stopped at FL 31xxx and restarted at FL 80000. Currently, the highest numbers on moped license plates are in the FL 88200 range (as of December 2025).^[6][5]

License plates are assigned by the Road Traffic Office in Vaduz when a vehicle is registered. The numbers are generally assigned sequentially, in ascending order. Occasionally, lower numbers that have been returned are put back into circulation. License plates, with the exception of temporary plates and customs plates, remain the property of the state and must be returned after the vehicle is deregistered. If license plates are stolen or lost, they are reported to the national police’s search system. The plates and their corresponding numbers are then blocked from being issued for 15 years.

A standard license plate costs CHF 25.00, two standard plates cost CHF 40.00. Since January 2019, license plates with a matte black base color (black paint without gloss, which absorbs light instead of reflecting it) have also been issued upon request. A single matte black license plate for motorcycles costs CHF 130.00, two matte black license plates for cars cost CHF 250.00. The rear license plates can be ordered in either portrait or landscape format.

License plates are assigned to the vehicle owner, not the vehicle itself. If the owner changes vehicles, the same license plate can be affixed to the new vehicle after registration. This also makes it possible to purchase a new vehicle and drive it immediately with the owner’s existing license plates (provided the insurance company has been notified by phone beforehand). The vehicle registration documents for both the new and old vehicles can then be sent by mail to the road traffic office, and the owner will receive the new documents by mail within a few days. During the transition period, the new vehicle may be driven without official documents; however, a special document (available free of charge online) must be carried and presented during any police checks.[33] This procedure is only permitted in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Driving in other countries is not recommended until the vehicle has the necessary documents.[8]

License plate numbers are generally assigned in increasing order. Returned license plates with lower numbers will be assigned to a new owner after a blocking period of one year. As of today, approximately 50 percent of all available numbers for standard license plates in black (FL 21 to FL 99999) have been assigned, the other 50 percent are still available.

It is possible to register two vehicles under one license plate. However, only one vehicle may be in operation at any given time. For veteran vehicles whose initial registration was at least 30 years ago and which correspond to the original design, it is possible to register more than two vehicles under one interchangeable license plate. This applies, however, only if exclusively veteran vehicles are registered under that license plate. For vehicles with interchangeable license plates, the tax is levied on the vehicle with the highest tax rate. All additional vehicles are subject to an annual interchangeable license plate fee of CHF 114.00, but not exceeding the amount of the first tax payment.

Since August 2025, license plates can be purchased via online auctions.[34] Previously, the special license plates were auctioned off every two years at the inspection hall of the Road Traffic Office in Vaduz. The auctions were public and accessible to everyone. This led to data protection concerns. Against this background, the Ministry of Transport commissioned the Road Traffic Office to develop a modern and data protection-compliant solution. In the future, the auctions will be held online over a period of two to three weeks. Four to five auctions per year are planned, each with around five license plates for motor vehicles, as well as additional motorcycle plates to coincide with the start of the season in spring. Only license plates for personal use may be bid on. Payment for a purchased plate can be made by invoice or directly at the counter upon collection.

The following types of license plates are issued by auction to the highest bidder:

• License plates with low numbers (four-digit car plates or two-digit motorcycle plates)
• License plates with conspicuous number combinations[35][36]

All natural persons of legal age residing in Liechtenstein are eligible to participate. Legal entities must be registered in the Liechtenstein Commercial Register and represented by a natural person authorized to act on behalf of the legal entity, as evidenced by the extract from the Commercial Register. Participation requires registration. After a successful bid, the license plate number is immediately released for registration with the Road Traffic Office. A vehicle must be registered to the auctioned license plate within three months of the auction date. Otherwise, the right to registration expires. If the auctioned license plates are stolen or lost, they will be reported to the National Police’s search system. The plates will be blocked from being issued for 15 years and can then be reassigned to the person who won them at auction. ^{[20][21][22][23][24]} Stolen or lost plates are blocked for 15 years.^[25][5]

It is possible to reserve personalized license plates or personalized license plate numbers (specific number combinations) at the Road Traffic Office. In addition, personalized license plate numbers can be purchased directly at a fixed price. These are available on the online e-auction platform and can be purchased by registered users.[34] A prerequisite is that the desired number combination does not fall under the provisions of section 4 of the license plate regulations, such as four-digit car plates, two-digit motorcycle plates, or conspicuous number combinations like FL 666, FL 20202, or FL 40000. These plates are only available through license plate auctions at the Road Traffic Office in Vaduz. A further requirement is that the number has not already been assigned to another owner.[40] The fee for a personalized license plate number is CHF 500.00 according to the fee schedule and is invoiced upon ordering. Before registration with the desired license plate number, it must be paid for. License plate reservations are only possible within the currently used number range, which currently ranges from FL 2000 to approximately FL 42800 for car license plates and from FL 21 to approximately FL 6700 for motorcycle license plates (as of January 2026).

f the owner does not register a new vehicle, they must return the license plate to the Road Traffic Office. The license plate remains reserved for the previous owner for one year, and the reservation can be extended for another year for a fee of CHF 50.00.[24] Many Liechtenstein vehicle owners keep their license plate number for life or pass it on to their descendants within the family.

When deregistering a vehicle, the owner must return the license plates to the road traffic office. The only exception to this rule is temporary license plates, which do not necessarily have to be returned after their validity period, but will be officially confiscated if misused.

When a vehicle registration is cancelled or the license plates are returned permanently, the vehicle registration document is cancelled and the license plates are destroyed. Taxes are automatically refunded upon return of the plates. The insurance company is also notified accordingly. The license plate number will be reissued after at least one year. The numbers of stolen or lost license plates are blocked for 15 years and entered into the search system.

If the registered owner is only temporarily deregistering their vehicle, they can deposit or reserve the license plates for a fee. The vehicle registration document is cancelled, and the license plates can be deposited for up to one year. The deposit fee is CHF 50.00, or CHF 30.00 for motorcycles and trailers. Taxes are automatically refunded upon return of the plates. The insurance company is also notified accordingly.

If the owner does not use their vehicle for a certain period of time, they can deposit the license plates to stop paying taxes and insurance. The deposit fee is CHF 50.00, or CHF 30.00 for motorcycles and trailers. Taxes are automatically refunded upon return of the plates. A corresponding notification is also sent to the insurance company. The fees are governed by the Fee Ordinance.[24]

If the deposit is to be extended, the owner must contact the Road Traffic Office themselves. The fees for extending the deposit period are also regulated in the Fee Ordinance. If the license plates are not extended or re-registered after the deposit period expires, the owner forfeits their right to re-register them in their name.[42][43]

A change of ownership or the transfer of license plates to another person is only possible in the following cases:

• Between natural persons up to the third degree of kinship (→son →grandson →great-grandson).
• Between partners in a registered partnership.
• Between cohabiting partners who have demonstrably lived in the same household for at least three years.
• In the case of divorce, the ownership history is taken into account. If a connection between the requesting person and the license plate is established, a change of ownership can be carried out with the consent of both parties within a maximum of one year after the divorce proceedings.
• Between a legal entity and a natural person. The connection between the natural person and the legal entity must be demonstrated with an extract from the commercial register.^[26][27]

From 1977 to 2001, special license plates with the additional letter “V” (for rental) (German: Vermietung) to the right of the number were issued for rental vehicles registered in Liechtenstein, just as in Switzerland. The numbering of the rental vehicle license plates began at FL 1000 V, and there were special license plates for motorcycles with numbers starting at FL 7000 V. Since 2001, normal license plates have been used again for Liechtenstein rental vehicles, as was the case before 1977.^[6]

From 1933 to 1977, Liechtenstein, like Switzerland, had so-called collective license plates or experimental license plates for the motor vehicle trade. The plates were the standard format, with numbers from the current series and a black background, but, as in Switzerland, they were inscribed with red letters and numbers and without the additional letter “U”. These collective license plates could be used by the motor vehicle trade, with a collective vehicle registration document, for test drives, etc. These plates were replaced from 1977 onwards, as in Switzerland, by the current dealer plates.^[28][6]

A 1981 decree of the Princely Government provided for special license plates for vehicles belonging to owners with diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities. The plates were to be made of bare aluminum. They were to have the silver base color of aluminum and black lettering. From left to right, the license plate was to display the country code FL, the assigned numbers, and then the symbol “CD” (French: Corps Diplomatique) or “CC” (French: Corps Consulaire), in the base color of the plate on a dark green or dark blue background. The front license plate was to be 38 cm long and 11 cm high, the rear plate 30 cm long and 16 cm high. The symbols and letters should not be embossed on a 1.5 mm raised surface, as is the case with all other license plates, but should be indelibly etched into the metal using a photographic process.

The 1981 regulation has not been implemented to this day. Liechtenstein diplomatic license plates have never been issued. Vehicles belonging to owners with diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities receive standard license plates. In addition to these plates, an oval plate marked “CD” or “CC” can be affixed if desired. As of the end of 2024, the Principality of Liechtenstein maintained diplomatic relations with 136 states. Of these 136 states, 85 are accredited to Liechtenstein with a non-resident ambassador. They are responsible for Liechtenstein from their embassies in Bern (Switzerland) or Vienna (Austria). Furthermore, there were 45 consular missions in Liechtenstein. Vehicles with Swiss diplomatic license plates are not uncommon on Liechtenstein’s roads. Liechtenstein vehicles with an oval “CC” plate, however, are extremely rare. The introduction of Liechtenstein diplomatic license plates will probably be a long time coming.^[29]

The country in which a motor vehicle‘s vehicle registration plate was issued may be indicated by an international vehicle registration code. It is legally part of the official national vehicle registration plate.

Since Liechtenstein’s accession to the international road traffic conventions of Geneva and Vienna in 2020 and 2021, the oval, white FL sticker on the rear of vehicles, no longer needs to be displayed. Liechtenstein ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on March 2, 2021 and the 1949 Geneva Convention on International Road Traffic on April 1, 2020.

Although the sticker is no longer strictly necessary according to the agreement, its affixing is still recommended. It is expected that it will take several years before Liechtenstein’s accession to the Geneva and Vienna International Conventions on Road Traffic is fully acknowledged by the authorities of neighboring countries.

Accession to the Geneva and Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic is also important for Liechtenstein because it provides greater legal certainty, particularly abroad. This legal certainty was previously lacking or not present to this extent, leading to recurring problems with Liechtenstein driver’s licenses and their recognition abroad. With the simultaneous accession to the Geneva and Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic, the Liechtenstein driver’s license is now recognized in approximately 150 countries worldwide.^{[30][31][32][33]}

Souvenir license plates are genuine license plates, each bearing the invalid number FL 00000. The material, colors, and dimensions of these plates are identical to regular license plates. Souvenir plates are available at the counter of the Road Traffic Office in Vaduz. The price for one plate is CHF 25.00, and a pair of plates costs CHF 40.00.^[34]

Souvenir license plates are available in the following formats:

• 500 × 110 mm – Long rear license plate
• 300 × 160 mm – Square rear license plate
• 300 × 80 mm – Standard front license plate
• 180 × 140 mm – Standard motorcycle license plate

Media related to License plates of Liechtenstein at Wikimedia Commons