License Plate Misuse: Definition, Penalties and More

License plates are unique combinations of letters and numbers. They should identify each vehicle individually. This enables simple and unambiguous identification and assignment. For this reason, the incorrect use and falsification of license plates are punishable. Such cases are referred to as License Plate Misuse.

What is Meant by License Plate Misuse?

In Germany, the road traffic authority or the registration office only assigns each license plate once. This should ensure a clear assignment of each vehicle. Without an individual number plate, there are too many motor vehicles for precise assignment to a specific owner. The identifiable is important for the prosecution and punishment of traffic offenders in traffic offenses. For this reason, it is forbidden to use a fake number plate. Changing a license plate can also be considered License Plate Misuse. This offense is defined in the Road Traffic Act (StVG). Paragraphs 1 and 2 are decisive here. These passages state that you commit license plate misuse if you do any of the following:

• You attach a sign to your vehicle or trailer that acts like an official identification.
• You are using a license plate that is intended for another motor vehicle or trailer.
• You change or remove your car's license plate.
• You are interfering with the visibility of your license plate.
• Incidentally, it is also a criminal offense if you only drive with an incorrect or altered number plate.
• You do not have to have made the change yourself to make yourself liable to prosecution.

In the case of License Plate Misuse, it does not depend on the type of license plate or sign. A change or misuse is also punishable in the case of E-number plates, variable number plates, country numbers, short-term number plates, or seasonal number plates. However, it is not considered license plate misuse if you are driving with an expired temporary license plate. This only counts as an offence. According to the current catalog of fines, a fine of 50 euros is due for this offence. The same applies if you drive with a seasonal license plate outside of the specified period. Incidentally, License Plate Misuse often goes hand in hand with other criminal offences. Many organized car thieves use false license plates to make it harder for police to track and identify them. The police can easily check the number plate and quickly identify a stolen or unregistered vehicle.

Such gangs, in many cases, do not forge the license plates themselves. Instead, they steal them from other vehicles. In this case, if you lose your license plate, you must act quickly. Above all, you should report the loss or theft to the police as soon as possible. This makes it clear that any License Plate Misuse was not committed by you. This also applies to other administrative offenses that occur in connection with your license plate.

You can then get a new number plate from the registration office so that you can continue to use your car without any problems. As a car buyer, you should always make sure that the vehicle is registered to the seller and that the license plate is correct. There are license plates that are exempt from License Plate Misuse. These are the so-called insurance indicators. The insurance companies issue these signs to identify mopeds or scooters.

What are the Penalties for using the Wrong Number Plate?

The penalties that follow License Plate Misuse are also regulated in Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG). This offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine. In some cases, however, there can be significant penalties. This can be, for example, an additional serious act. There can also be a forgery of documents in connection with a vehicle registration number. This is defined in § 267 of the Criminal Code (StGB)Are defined. A license plate number and the associated vehicle form a document.

For this reason, it is considered a forgery if you use a license plate for another car. In this case, only the forgery of documents is punished, even if there is simultaneous License Plate Misuse. It can result in a prison sentence of up to five years. Another important term is the so-called document suppression. This crime is described in Section 274 of the Criminal Code. It is present when you remove or tape the license plate so that it is no longer legible.

Practical Examples

It will be easier for you to recognize what a License Plate Misuse is if you know some examples. An example is using one set of license plates for two vehicles. If you get the idea that you can save on insurance premiums and vehicle taxes in this way, you should forget it again. If you attract attention with this method, you will be punished for license plate misuse in any case. The court may even check whether a document has been forged.

Also, you may not make cardboard license plates to attach to an unregistered car. This is also a punishable offense if the car is not being driven but is parked on private property. Attaching false license plates is always a License Plate Misuse.

Sometimes you can also unknowingly be guilty of license plate misuse. Theoretically, a dirty license plate is also an abuse because the dirt can cover the license plate. In practice, however, this circumstance should only be penalized if you intentionally wanted to cover the license plate with the dirt. In any case, you should check your license plate regularly and clean it if necessary. This is particularly important after driving off-road or when it is frozen. Should it actually happen that you are wrongly accused of misusing a dirty license plate, you can consult a lawyer.

All license plates are equipped with lighting. This should always ensure that the license plate is legible. If you switch off this lighting, this is also considered License Plate Misuse. Switching off prevents identification of the vehicle and can be prosecuted.

Some people come up with the idea of ​​covering the license plate with a reflective film or paint. This is to prevent it from being captured by speed cameras. But you should also refrain from this manipulation, because it is also considered license plate abuse.

An UN stamped number plate may no longer be used on the road. This also counts as License Plate Misuse. By doing this, you give the impression that the vehicle is still registered.

Personalize your License Plate - What you can and can't do?

Many people want to personalize their car. You can use special car films or stickers for this, for example. Basically nothing speaks against it. However, you should make sure that you do not stick anything on the license plates. Even a small taped-over part of a number plate is considered License Plate Misuse.

This also makes it clear that you are not allowed to change anything on the license plate number. If you notice something stuck to the license plate, it is important that you remove it immediately. This also applies if your car is only parked on private property. A sticker or similar can mean that you have to pay a fine or get points in Flensburg. Also, always keep a clean and well-lit license plate. Then you shouldn't have any problems.

However, there is a way to personalize your license plate number. To do this, you must apply for a license plate number from the registration authority. You can get such a license plate for an extra charge. However, you cannot get any combination. On the one hand, your desired number plate must comply with the guidelines and the combination must not have been assigned before. Otherwise the license plate would no longer be clearly and unambiguously assigned.

You can also keep such a desired license plate number if you register your car after moving house must. That wasn't possible for a long time. Only since 2015 have you been able to keep your license plate number when you register your car. Up to this point, you had to apply for your desired number plate again if you moved to another number plate district. Since 2019, the number plate can remain the same even after a change of owner. When choosing a license plate, also remember that it must correspond to the prescribed license plate size. This limits the number of numbers and letters.

In addition, there are also prohibited license plates. This is regulated in Section 8 Paragraph 1 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV). In Germany, for example, letter combinations that glorify National Socialism are prohibited. These combinations are against common decency. These include the letter combinations NS (National Socialism), SA (Sturmabteilung), SS (Schutzstaffel), HJ (Hitler Youth) or KZ (concentration camp). If someone coined or used license plates with these letter combinations, he or she could face serious consequences.