How come they all have fixed number plates? Do they never use their units with other trailers?
some countries register the trailers separate.
I think iirc trls in foreign countrys are registered separately and have their own identity no,s,i stand to be corrected.
regards dave.
Apart from us and Ireland, most other countries have trailers registered as a vehicle in its own right.
If you see a Dutch semi-trailer, the reg always start with O, where as Dutch tractor units start with B, the current being BX-- until they get to BX-ZZ-99 then it will go to BY I think?
Belgian trailers always start Q.
Boring facts but…
zippy!:
Apart from us and Ireland, most other countries have trailers registered as a vehicle in its own right.If you see a Dutch semi-trailer, the reg always start with O, where as Dutch tractor units start with B, the current being BX-- until they get to BX-ZZ-99 then it will go to BY I think?
Belgian trailers always start Q.
Boring facts but…
Belgian trailers always start Q.
Or U
Think its Q from observation, not sure if their drags/drawbars differ? Or if under their run of numbers it has gone from one to the other.
zippy!:
Think its Q from observation, not sure if their drags/drawbars differ? Or if under their run of numbers it has gone from one to the other.
License plates for trailers and caravans
These plates are delivered especially for trailers and caravans +500 kilogrammes.
A first model of trailer license plate consists of a combination of 3 letters starting with “U” and 3 digits, all red, on white reflecting background with red frame (so the only difference with ordinary plates is the first letter U). (Dimensions: 340 mm x 110 mm). Plates of this model are no longer delivered, but are still valid.
As from 2002 the new European model was introduced. It is a number plate consisting of a combination of 3 letters and 3 digits of black colour on white reflecting background with black frame. This plate always starts with the letter “Q”. On the left of the plate a blue banner of 44 mm width has been added with on top a circle with 12 yellow stars and below a white character " B". These will replace gradually the old model. Dimensions: 521 mm x 110 mm
These plates are never delivered to regular vehicles.
Sorted, you learn something new every day cheers.
I have also noticed that polish units pulling polish trailers (yes they sometimes do, not just trailers from the rest of the EU lol), when they are from the same firm, the trailer reg is very similar to the unit reg. And who knows how the Polish reg system works as there are some with one letter or number combination and others with another. Not really that interested mind. Orys?
bubsy06:
How come they all have fixed number plates? Do they never use their units with other trailers?
Yes, the trailers in many countries have separate number plates, separate registration documents and need separate insurance, in some cases MOT etc.
This always makes a question for me if I see Polish tractor pulling British trailer, he has his Polish plate repeated on the back, but if he swings the back and hit me with his trailer overhang, is he insured? Under the Polish law, tractor is insured only as a tractor itself and insurance do not covers the trailer, as it’s supposed to have it’s own insurance. Under British law the trailers themselves are not insured as they are supposed to be covered under the pulling vehicle policy… So are they insured or not?
zippy!:
Sorted, you learn something new every day cheers.I have also noticed that polish units pulling polish trailers (yes they sometimes do, not just trailers from the rest of the EU lol), when they are from the same firm, the trailer reg is very similar to the unit reg. And who knows how the Polish reg system works as there are some with one letter or number combination and others with another. Not really that interested mind. Orys?
The Polish plates are showing the place of the current registration of the vehicle.
For example: if you live in KÄ…ty WrocÅ‚awskie, you have your number plate starting with “DSR” - it’s stand for DolnoÅ›lÄ…skie province and Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska smaller administrative unit (called Powiat), as KÄ…ty WrocÅ‚awskie are in Powiat Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska, wichi is in DolnoÅ›lÄ…skie province.
Then the four (or five) signs follows. The idea was that it supposed to be 4 or 5 numbers, but it quickly turned out that it won’t be enaugh (as due to the system when number plates are showing CURRENT place of registration, you have to get new number everytime you move to another administrative unit or sell the vehicle to someone from outside your powiat). For the same reason the idea that for trailers last sign will be always P (from Przyczepa = trailer) was abandoned, as there was too many trailer numbers required.
So nowadays if you buy new set of trailer and tractor, you’ll propably register it at one visit to the registration office, and thanks for that you will have two consecutive numbers allocated. Even if not, though, you will still have the same area code at the beginning, and roughly the same numbers if you acquired both vehicle and trailer at about the same time.
This is a registration plate from Kraków city (as big cities have only two letters of area code: one for a province and one for a city, smaller powiats have three - one for a province and two for a powiat, like here:
This stands for Opolskie province, powiat Nysa)
Off course it’s even more complicated, as if you have your vehicle leased or hired, there will be area code for the registered office of the leasing company, not for your company headquarters, so it will be in most cases DW, PO or Wx, as most of the leasing companies are in WrocÅ‚aw, PoznaÅ„ or Warsaw (and Warsaw, as the biggest city has four are codes).
And then you have individual number plates - one letter for province, followed by one number and then up to five signs of your choice… 
See, this car above belongs to Rysio, which tranlates to Ritchie
Simply, isn’t it? 
Says Orys too Orys you sure its not your plate?
Fly sheet
all european trailers are registered seperately, as they are considered to be a vehicle in their own right and in some cases to incur extra road tax!!
spanish trailers registered after 2002 all start with R for remorque then a 4 digit no. followed by 3 letters which signify its age starting at BBB and now i’ve seen BCG as the latest it will be many years til we get to C reg trailers so the system works quite well. my truck and trailer get MOT’d together every year but i carry 2 seperate log books one for each.
i think only spain and italy have to show truck reg on trailer as well as trailer number i don’t think i’ve seen any others displaying both numbers
fly sheet:
Says Orys too Orys you sure its not your plate?Fly sheet
Oh, yeah, indeed…
But no, mine is SG09 ■■■ 
In Germany ALL trailers (from car trailers up to artics) are registered separately and the number plate is permanently fixed to that particular “vehicle” (they are classed as vehicles in their own right).
All our trailer registration plates have green lettering on a white background, as opposed to the normal black lettering on a white background.
This is to show that the trailer is not subject to the normal vehicle tax.
However, the unit used to pull these trailers is subject to an increased vehicle tax and the trailer must still be separately insured.
Inselaffe:
In Germany ALL trailers (from car trailers up to artics) are registered separately and the number plate is permanently fixed to that particular “vehicle” (they are classed as vehicles in their own right).All our trailer registration plates have green lettering on a white background, as opposed to the normal black lettering on a white background.
This is to show that the trailer is not subject to the normal vehicle tax.
However, the unit used to pull these trailers is subject to an increased vehicle tax and the trailer must still be separately insured.
Thanks for that, it was one question I have always wanted to ask. Green or Black. I have used the red trade plates while picking a truck up from the garage
Hi Malc
The green number plates are also used by a number of organisations like the Fire Brigade and the Red Cross, as they are exempt from road tax.
Farmers’ tractors and trailers can also have green plates, but this is subject to certain conditions and varies according to Bundesland (eg minimum farm area of 2 ha)