Belgium legalised the use of customisable licence plates a few years ago, and since then they have become quite popular despite the rather steep price tag (1000€ per plate). Brussels being the EU capital, with one third of its population made of foreigners, we see foreign car plates from all over Europe every day. Yet I have never seen any personalised car plates from other countries. There are a few reasons for this:
1) Many European countries do not allow personalised car plates. This includes by alphabetical order: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
2) Some countries allowed personalised car plates but with heavy restrictions, such as:
3) Vanity plates are really expensive relative to the cost of life in these countries:
Some countries accept personalised plates, but must be preceded by the state/region/district/canton code.
This only leaves a few European countries with completely customisable plates (as long as the words chosen are not offensive). These countries are:
Outside Europe, most English-speaking countries also allow vanity plates.
1) Many European countries do not allow personalised car plates. This includes by alphabetical order: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
2) Some countries allowed personalised car plates but with heavy restrictions, such as:
- Czechia : Plates cannot use the letters G, CH, O, Q or W and must include a hyphen and at least one number.
- Finland : Only 2 or 3 letters and up to 3 digits. Costs 790€.
- Germany : The letter(s) for the state must always be shown; the only customisation possible is using one's initials (2 letters max) + 4 numbers (e.g. birth year), if that licence plate is still available. On the up side it only costs 10€.
- Luxembourg : Basically the same as Germany.
- Poland : Plates must include the region code followed by a single digit, then only a choice of 3 to 5 letters OR numbers (not combined).
- Slovakia : Plates must include the district code, 2 letters and 5 other characters.
- United Kingdom : Rules have changed a lot over time, but it seems that at present plates should have 3 letters preceded or followed by 4 other characters (mix of letters and/or numbers). Plates are sold by auction and start at £130 for the least popular. But there is no upper limit. The most expensive plate was sold for £375,000 (about $550,000)!
3) Vanity plates are really expensive relative to the cost of life in these countries:
- Latvia : 3500€ (about 4 times the average monthly salary)
- Czechia : 2000€ (with heavy restrictions)
- Lithuania : 1500€ (1 to 6 characters including at least 1 digit)
- Moldova : 1500€ (and must include 1 digit)
- Estonia : 1350€
- Turkey : from 500€ to 5500€ (as of June 2021 when the Turkish lira is at an all time low against the euro)
- Hungary : 1300€ (5 letters +1 digit) or 350€ (using the standard 3 letters + 3 digits format)
Some countries accept personalised plates, but must be preceded by the state/region/district/canton code.
- Austria : Plate must include state letter (and arms). 3 to 7 characters (min. 1 letter and 1 number). Costs 245€.
- Slovenia : District code + up to 6 characters.
- Switzerland : Canton code + any character (minimum 1). Plates are auctioned. The most expensive one was sold for about 100,000€.
This only leaves a few European countries with completely customisable plates (as long as the words chosen are not offensive). These countries are:
| Country | Price per plate | Character limit |
| Belgium | 1000€ | 1 to 8 (hyphens and spaces allowed) |
| Denmark | ± 1235€ | 2 o 7 (spaces allowed) |
| Iceland | ± 175€ | 2 to 6 |
| Malta | 1500€ | 1 to 9 |
| Norway | ±880€ | 2 to 7 |
| Sweden | ± 600€ | 2 to 7 |
Outside Europe, most English-speaking countries also allow vanity plates.
| Country | Price per plate |
| Australia | Auctions with starting prices between AU$105 and AU$465 (65€ to 300€) per year depending on state. |
| Canada | CA$100 to CA$336 (65€ to 300€) depending on state (+ around $40 annual fee in some state). |
| New Zealand | NZ$169 to NZ$1400 (100€ to 800€) for new ones, but much more for rare ones in auctions. |
| South Africa | From about 30€ to 600€ depending on length. |
| United States | Varies from $10 in Virginia to $100 in D.C. But auctions for rare plates have exceeded $600,000 in Delaware. |
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