What is the difference between the numbers 1 and the letter l on license plates?
2 Answers
Both represent the number 1. According to the current Chinese motor vehicle license plate standard "GA36-2007" section 5.9.1, "Each digit of the serial number can use English letters individually, but the letters O and I among the 26 letters cannot be used." The following is an explanation of the symbolism of license plate colors: 1. White: Represents military and police license plates. 2. Blue: Represents ordinary small vehicles. 3. Yellow: Represents ordinary large vehicles. 4. Black: Represents foreign investors in China or important figures. 5. Green: Represents new energy vehicles.
As someone interested in car culture, I sometimes find the difference between the number 1 and the letter l on license plates quite confusing. The number 1 is a straight line with a small hook at the top, specifically representing a numeral; whereas the letter l is a lowercase L, usually featuring a slight curve or a slanted tail in its font design. In standard license plate fonts like DIN1451, designers intentionally make the number 1 sharper and the letter l more rounded for instant recognition. Otherwise, traffic police might misread them during identification, leading to incorrect violation records or unnecessary troubles. I recommend avoiding similar combinations when choosing license plate numbers, or taking an extra glance at others' plates to ensure accuracy. For safety's sake, don’t underestimate this small difference—it can prevent a lot of follow-up issues.
