License plates of the world

January 29, 2004 10:49 AM

License plates of the world.Because you never know when your familiarity with Mongolian tags may come in handy. (via the ultimate insult)
posted by Ufez Jones (11 comments total)

Speechless. This is what the Internet (and Metafilter) is for. Thanks, Ufez Jones.
posted by carter at 11:46 AM on January 29, 2004

I think it is awesome that Newfoundland silently morped from "Canada's Happy Province" to "The Mighty Churchill" just before the summer of love.
posted by jon_kill at 11:50 AM on January 29, 2004

In '97-'98 we missed out on the RTO 3, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India issued license plate by a few months. I really really really really wanted our car to have MH 03 R 2378 as it's plate.
posted by riffola at 12:03 PM on January 29, 2004

Oh I should explain that MH is the 2 letter acronym for the state of Maharashtra, 03 is the Regional Trasnport Office #, which is located in North-West Mumbai.
posted by riffola at 12:06 PM on January 29, 2004

The Bosnian plates, and in particular the many variations thereof, say a lot.

Superb link, Ufez, thanks.
posted by Ljubljana at 12:12 PM on January 29, 2004

I really really really really wanted our car to have MH 03 R 2378 as it's plate.

Is there a significance to the R 2378, or to the whole thing as an entity, riffy? I don't quite get why you had such a desire for that particular plate.
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:10 PM on January 29, 2004

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa have seven clans, each with a totemic animal. A few years ago, they started issuing plates with the appropriate clan symbol in the background. Picture on the site shows the Eagle and the Bear.
posted by gimonca at 1:24 PM on January 29, 2004

Are the Northwest Territories and Nunavut the only places in the world with non-rectangular plates? I remember seeing those from time to time in my childhood in Manitoba and thinking that they were the neatest things ever.
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:27 PM on January 29, 2004

Bonus link (from a comment left on tui): 15q.net: strictly North America, but some really good background info and a ton of plates represented. For example:

Oklahoma 1994 passenger issue. This graphic motif contains several different symbolic elements related to Oklahoma's native heritage, as explained to me by Oklahoma resident John Kerestes: "The tan circle is the battle shield of the Osage Nation. The calumet and olive branch represents the unity of Native Americans and white settlers. The four white crosses (there are really 5, but one is hidden) are actually *stars* to Indians. They represent the Five Civilized Tribes that were forced here under Pres. Jackson's command. They are the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. Last, the 7 feathers represent the first seven counties of Oklahoma Territory which were once a part of the Unassigned Lands prior to the first of five Land Runs in 1889. The first seven counties are Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne." Thanks again for the enlightening information, John. These plates were introduced in 1989 and issued through the end of 1993. The plate shared the ALPCA Plate of the Year award in 1989 with Nova Scotia. This graphic was modified for the next base in 1994.

Cool shit.
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:29 PM on January 29, 2004

Ufez, this is the best thing on MeFi in ages. Thanks.
posted by languagehat at 1:34 PM on January 29, 2004

Is there a significance to the R 2378, or to the whole thing as an entity, riffy? I don't quite get why you had such a desire for that particular plate.

My first name is Mihir, I was born on 23-03-1978.
posted by riffola at 3:40 PM on January 29, 2004