What Determines the Order of License Plate Letters?
2 Answers
License plate letter ordering is not solely based on economic factors but also considers comprehensive administrative area and total population size, among other elements. The English letters on license plates indicate the vehicle's identity and the region where it is registered. The letters represent prefecture-level cities, with 'A' typically reserved for provincial capitals, while the remaining letters are allocated to other cities. The method of assigning license plate letters varies; some provincial regions distribute them according to the economic status of each prefecture-level city. License plate numbers are mandatory classification identifiers for motor vehicles as stipulated by national regulations. Each license plate number is unique nationwide, with no duplicates.
I once learned at the traffic management office that the arrangement of license plate letters is mainly based on the geographic coding rules of the vehicle's registration location. Different provinces and cities have their own representative initial letters. For example, in some regions, the first letter indicates the province, while the following numbers or letters are issued in registration order. This is done to ensure each license plate is unique, preventing duplication and confusion. From personal experience, when I see a neighbor's license plate, I can quickly guess whether it's a local or out-of-town vehicle. This system also helps police quickly locate information during vehicle inspections, reducing traffic disputes. I think the design is quite ingenious—simple and efficient, without requiring much high-tech. In daily driving, the license plate arrangement has been very helpful, especially when navigating unfamiliar cities; seeing the plate gives a rough idea of the area. Overall, these rules have been tested and optimized over the years to ensure everyone can understand them.
