Why some cars have red, pink or green number plates in France

Most vehicles in France carry the standard white number plate, but drivers may occasionally spot cars with red, pink or green plates.

These coloured plates are used in specific circumstances and help authorities quickly identify vehicles with a special status.

What do standard French number plates look like?

Since 2009, all French vehicles being registered for the first time, or existing vehicles being registered to a new owner, have received a number plate using the SIV (Système d'Immatriculation des Véhicules) format.

The SIV applies a standard XX-000-XX format for all vehicles registered in France. Information is written in black on a white background, flanked by two blue banners.

The plate also signifies that the vehicle is registered in France via the letter 'F', surrounded by EU stars on the left-hand side.

Unlike in countries such as the UK and US, number plates cannot be personalised and must adhere to this system.

The only part of the plate that can be customised is the departmental tag on the right-hand side.

Some vehicles, however, use different coloured plates because they are being driven under special circumstances.

Pink number plates

Earlier this year, authorities introduced pink backgrounds for temporary 'WW' plates used by drivers importing a vehicle to France.

The change was designed to make these vehicles easier for authorities to identify and to help with anti-fraud checks.

WW plates are temporary registrations issued while a vehicle completes the French registration process. Owners of vehicles displaying these plates have generally moved to France permanently and are waiting for full registration formalities to be completed.

Once those procedures are finished, the pink WW plate is replaced by a standard French number plate.

Red number plates

Red plates are used for vehicles in temporary transit, or for vehicles that are authorised to drive on French roads only for a limited period.

Unlike pink plates, which are eventually replaced by a standard French registration, vehicles displaying red plates are expected to leave France before the plates expire.

The expiry date is shown on the right-hand side of the plate, indicating the month and year.

A common example is an American employee moving to France for several months on a temporary work assignment and importing a vehicle from the US.

Because they are only residing in France temporarily, they cannot register the vehicle under the normal French system and instead use a red transit plate. The plates are removed when the vehicle leaves the country.

Visitors to France, including second-home owners, do not need red plates as they are not transferring their residence to France.

In rare cases, residents of certain 'free zones' (zones franches), such as the Pays de Gex near the Swiss border, may also use red plates on vehicles purchased outside the EU customs area.

Green number plates

Green number plates are reserved for diplomatic vehicles.

They are used by embassies, consulates and certain international organisations, allowing authorities to immediately recognise vehicles that benefit from diplomatic status.