Vehicle registration plates of the United States Army in Germany

The license plates of the U.S. forces in Germany were called up to the end of 2005 " Lookalike " flag. Since 2006, there are German marks, which are issued to U.S. soldiers stationed, civilian employees who are U.S. citizens and their family members based in Germany. When driving in the non -EU countries, a nationality sticker ("D" or "EU") must be placed at the rear are (so far "USA " sticker ). On new vehicles German mark should be affixed for safety reasons, the vehicles will be not undergone the German HU and AU tests. For the older Lookalike Mark "AD ", " AF", " HK " and " IF " was a distinguishing mark selected, the last- named place exclusively for civil military vehicles of the U.S. Army use, for example, the U.S. military police vehicles AAFES and vehicles of non- appropriated funds organizations ( organizations with budgetary law special funds and financed from the budget places ), which ( 1982 to 2000 between years ) wore the distinguishing sign "NZ " earlier.

3.1 Issue German mark
3.2 number plates
3.3 Export Features
3.4 Department of Defense

Development until 2000

The first license plate issued in 1946. Under U.S. law, the vehicle registration is only valid for one year and then must be renewed for a fee by a further year. From 1951 up to and including 1961, the year of validity appeared on the license plate. Since 1962, the abbreviation "USA " appears only in a smaller font, found himself in front of it on the plate nor the inscription "United States of America" or "U.S. Forces in Germany". The number structure was predominantly to 2000 in the form " AB 1234".

In the 1960s and 1970s, the license plate was provided mostly green and black font. In the 1980s and 1990s, then white with black lettering, from about the mid- 1990s, in addition with printed wide top and bottom black border to visually approximate the Höhen-/Seitenverhältnis something to the German style. Size and format of the label corresponded to the typical characteristics in the U.S. (6 "x 12").

Lookalike Mark between 2000 and 2005

Due to security concerns of the U.S. armed forces ' sound-alike " license plate were used with the approval of the German government since about 2000 EU signs modeled and unobtrusive acting. Since January 1, 2002 only " Euro - plates" were issued. As a " registration district " the abbreviation " AD" ( standard size) and " AF" were (small size ) chosen because these were the first free two -digit combinations in the alphabet. Some time later, you could see that "AF" easily with Allied Forces ( Allied forces ), American Forces ( American forces ) or Air Force (Luftwaffe ) can be associated. The military authorities decided not to award the combination of " AF" and replace by "HK post ". The combinations listed were awarded to private vehicles by members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Germany. For official vehicles registered to use the combination of " IF " marks in all sizes. The mark "HK " has yet been assigned to the end of 2009, after which it is, as "AD" and " AF", discontinued and is replaced by exclusively German mark. "HK " is assigned to the District of Heidekreis since 1 July 2012.

Construction

The structure of the number followed by the form " AB AD 123". On the left side the NATO emblem and the letters " USA" were specified instead of the EU circle of stars. The badge of approval on the district was " armed forces of the United States of America in Germany ." The emblem of the symbols of the three branches of the armed forces were ready. Instead of the inspection sticker - the vehicles were not subject to German law and therefore did not require any major investigation - the expiry date of the authorization was given. The plaque initially differed from the inspection sticker is that the four-digit year and the months with letters (J, F, M, A ... ) were identified instead of numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 ...) and also the expiration month the approval was punched. This hole had to be found on the 12 o 'clock position. However, HU- plaques were from 2004, German-style (ie with numbers and with two-digit year ) is used, the hole still keeping. Front and rear plate were the same, as there were no AU - badge.

Appearance

In addition to the acronyms abound, there were other differences to vehicles with German approval. The frequently encountered scaled indicator version that was used for registration plates with " AF" and "HK ", will be awarded with German approval only to agricultural ( train ) cars, light motorcycles and only in very exceptional cases, to cars, to which not enough space for the usual indicator is, which are imports from North America for the most part. By using the scaled-down version of cars of a U.S. Person located relativized the security gain, since the smaller marks were relatively easy to spot from a distance. Encouraged this effect was also by the fact that often two-line indicator were attached to cars on which the space for a single-line indicator in the normal German size would have been enough ( mark with "AD" ). Furthermore, many private cars in the U.S. armed forces even from a distance at her - to recognize features and appearance, for example at the front tinted windows, red rear turn signals and / or side marker lights or the orange parking light front - unusual in Germany.

Recent history ( 2005 to present )

Edition German mark

The end of 2005 it was decided by the military authorities that the Lookalike Mark did not provide adequate security for the private vehicles of U.S. military personnel. Therefore, 2005 new cars with German license plates of the respective registration district are equipped since December, in which the military installation is located. Are not concerned in apparent official vehicles, such as vehicles in the U.S. military police; this will continue to receive Lookalike Mark the series " IF ". Civilian crew vehicles of the U.S. Army (eg minibuses ), however, obtained German civil flag.

At the request of private vehicle owners running Lookalike Mark were replaced by German civil flag. This affects, including the following locations with the corresponding distinguishing marks:

Meanwhile, there are no Lookalike Mark more for the private vehicles of the U.S. military personnel; switching to German civil flag is completed.

Furthermore, there were the following changes:

An entrainment of the flag as a souvenir is no longer possible; it must always be returned after cancellation of the military power driver's place. The usual in Germany " Entstempelung " ( removal or scraping the seal) is not currently practiced.
There are ( for example, if there is too little space for normal sized plates) issued reduced mark only in exceptional cases. It balances it out to the German regulations.
When driving in the non -EU countries, a nationality sticker ( "D") must be attached to the rear of the vehicle are (so far "USA " sticker ).

Number plates

Since the end of 2008, new number plates are in use. They have red FE- font in the notation "T XX 00012 ", where " T" ( time-limited ) and "XX " stands for the location abbreviation for " transfer " ( transfer ) or " Temporary", followed by a number with leading zeros.

Export registration

Since 2009 will be issued for the movement of vehicles abroad special combinations. The structure of the identifier is identical to the "HK " series. 2009, "SH" awarded since 2010 is "QQ " used. The characteristics are valid 90 days.

Department of Defense

The Ministry of Defense of the United States Department of Defense ( DoD) has its own license plates. The construction is based on the old German license plates, but they are smaller.

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