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NRW municipalities demand their own license plates – more identity on the road!
Find out why more than 40 municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia, including Menden, are aiming for their own vehicle area code.
NRW municipalities demand their own license plates – more identity on the road!
In Germany, the license plate is more than just an identification feature for vehicles; it can also play an important role in city marketing. Cars are given a specific location code that indicates the place of registration. Smaller cities and communities in particular see their own abbreviation as an opportunity to differentiate themselves from larger neighbors and strengthen their identity. Derwesten reports that around 100 municipalities in Germany are interested in issuing their own vehicle license plates.
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) this includes a considerable number of more than 40 cities. Professor Ralf Bochert from Heilbronn University has created a list of suggestions for their own local abbreviations, which have already been forwarded by almost 80 of these municipalities to their state transport ministers. This shows how great the need is for one's own identity that goes beyond the regular abbreviation.
Commune in search of identity
The exciting thing about the topic is that the enthusiasm for own license plates is not just a newfangled trend, but part of a larger advertising and identity concept. One could say that these municipalities have a good knack for marketing themselves. An overview shows which cities in North Rhine-Westphalia want these abbreviations:
| City | Current abbreviation | Desired abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Ahlen | WAF | AHLD |
| Dates | RE | DAT |
| Dormagen | NE | DOM |
| Dorsten | RED | ORD |
| Dülmen | COE | DLM |
| Tighter | HF | CLOSELY |
| Espelkamp | WED | ESP |
| Gevelsberg | EN | GE |
| Gronau (Westphalia) | BORON | GRO |
| Haltern am See | DEER | LTH |
| Hattingen | EN | HAS |
| Herten | RE | HRT |
| … | … | … |
| Wermelskirchen | GL | WKN |
| Wipperfürth | GL | WIP |
A look at the list shows that this concern goes much deeper than just assigning an abbreviation. For many of these communities it is a statement, a sign of belonging and a piece of self-confidence. In addition, such individual identifiers can ensure that people become more closely connected to their homeland - something that is becoming increasingly important in times of digitalization.
A look into the future
In total there are over 700 different license plates in Germany ADAC reports. The abbreviation KK also refers to the former Kempen-Krefeld district, which was dissolved in 1975. In addition, old abbreviations have been assigned again since 2012, and over 300 “retro license plates” have already been reactivated. The possibilities are diverse and the enthusiasm for custom license plates is constantly increasing.
It remains to be seen how many municipalities will be able to realize their dream of having their own abbreviation and what creative solutions will be found. One thing is clear: the discussion about vehicle license plates will remain exciting in the coming years and will continue to encourage municipalities to think creatively about their identity.