Those drivers who expected innovations or greater flexibility in customizing their vehicle license plates will have to adjust to current regulations. The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has recently denied rumors about the introduction of changes to the vehicle registration system in Spain.
Given speculation that the personalization of license plates would be allowed, or that additional characters would be added to avoid saturation of the current system, the DGT has made it clear that there will be no new developments in this regard. According to DGT sources cited by Motorpasión, the current nomenclature system should remain unchanged for the next 30 years.
The idea of modifying the current 0000-XXX format by adding a fifth digit or extra letters has been ruled out for the moment, ensuring that "there is nothing new, nor any line of imminent work."
Fear of a possible shortage of combinations in the current license plate system had caused some concern among drivers and car enthusiasts. However, the DGT has reassured citizens that the possibility of the system running out is not an immediate problem and that the current format is designed to last another three decades.
In Spain, the personalization of license plates is subject to stricter regulations than in other countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United States. The General Vehicle Regulations authorize certain modifications to the license plate design, such as the inclusion of "geometric designs without recognizable meaning", as long as the background color is not altered and does not affect the legibility and retroreflectivity of the license plate. These conditions are essential to guarantee the effectiveness of traffic control systems and identification by the authorities.
Altering the registration of the license plate or including elements that make it difficult to see is not only prohibited, but also carries a fine of 200 euros, although it does not imply the loss of points on the driving license. This type of violation is considered serious as it compromises road safety and the ability of authorities to effectively monitor vehicles on the roads.
