Five surprising facts about Swiss number plates

They’re so commonplace that we don’t even notice them any more. Yet the number plates on our vehicles hold many surprises for the discerning eye – particularly in Switzerland. 1. The number plate is linked to the owner, not to the vehicle In the vast majority of countries, number plates are linked to the vehicle. In practical terms, a plate number is created when a vehicle is first registered and then remains associated with the vehicle throughout its life on the road, regardless of who owns it. This number is generally destroyed when the vehicle is permanently withdrawn from circulation and will never be assigned again. This is the case in France, for example. Switzerland, on the other hand, is one of the few countries where number plates are not linked to a vehicle, but to its owner. Much less widespread, this system also exists in Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden and certain American states such as California and Oregon. In practical terms, in Switzerland you receive a set of ...