France

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Normal series plates

	1950-2009 normal series plates, pre-1993 plate style. 2A = Corse-du-Sud. In 1976, the department of Corse (code 20) was split into Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse, which received the new codes 2A and 2B respectively, thus deviating from the normally numeric-only department codes. 28 = Eure-et-Loire. 75 = Ville de Paris.
	1950-2009 normal series plates, pre-2003 plate style. After having been optional before, reflective plates became mandatory in 1993. Front plates had to be white, rear plates yellow 17 = Charente-Maritime. 49 = Maine-et-Loire. This pair obviously was on a Lutus car. The front plate is smaller than legally allowed, probably to complement the aerodynamics of the sports car.
	1950-2009 normal series plates, Euroband style. After having been optional before, the Euroband became mandatory in 2004. Front plates became the same size as rear plates. 59 = Nord.
	2009 onwards national series pair. In 2009, a new nationwide numbering system was introduced, consisting of two letters, three numerals and two letters, which are purely serial. On the right edge is a blue band showing a former department code and the corresponding regional logo. However, this is not necessarily indicative of the place were the car is registered; the department can be freely chosen by the car owner.

Motorcycle plates

	1950-2009 motorcycle plates, pre-1993 plate style 69 = Rhône. 75 = Ville de Paris. This is a crudely made plate with plastic stickers on a cardboard backing. I don't know whether this is legal, but motorcycle plates are much more often seen in odd styles than car plates.
	1950-2009 motorcycle plate, 2007 onwards style, 42 = Loire. The Euroband has been mandatory since 2004, white rear plates were optionally permitted in 2007.

42 = Loire.

Special series plates

	Official vehicle plates Top: Pre-1992 official vehicle front plate. Number above 30000: Authority other than the central administration. Bottom: 1992-2009 official vehicle rear plate. 33 = Gironde, R = permitted to circulate in the region (Aquitaine) and in adjoining regions. With the introduction of the 2009 central system official plates were abolished, these vehicles now carry normal numbers.
	Military and gendarmerie plates Top: Gendarmerie motorcycle plate. 6 = army and gendarmerie, 3 = 1973, 9 = motorcycle. Bottom: Army rear plate. 6 = army and gendarmerie, 82 = 1982, 3 = truck, tractor or other machine. With the introduction of the 2009 central system military and gendarmerie plates were abolished, these vehicles now carry normal numbers.
	Diplomatic front plate. 100 = Senegal.
	Consular rear plate. 59 = Israel, 75 = Ville de Paris.

Temporary and provisional plates

	Temporary rear plate, 75 = Ville de Paris. Before 1984, the expiration date was not shown on the plate
	Temporary rear plate,expiring January 1989, IT = foreign cultural staff and the like, 01 = Ain. IT series plates are the only French plates using the letter I.
	Provisional numbers in the form of a sticker, 92 = Essonne.
	Provisional number. WW2 = valid for export out of France, 75 = Ville de Paris.

See also from the Military Forces Abroad page:

	SHAPE Fontainbleau SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe) personnel plate. Series up to 1968. In that year France left NATO and SHAPE was moved to Brussels.
	French forces in Germany Upper plate: Official motorcycle plate, probably from the 1950s or 1960s. Lower plate: Current series for private vehicles. Second digit 3 = Landau/Pfalz (issued until 1999).
	German forces in France Current series.
	United States forces in France 1954-1958 series. 1958-1961 series 1961-1968 series. This is the last series, since U.S. Forces left France in 1968.