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 2003. Front plates became the same size as rear plates. 59 = Nord.

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.

Special series plates

	Pre-1992 official front plate.
	Gendarmerie motorcycle plate. 6 = army and gendarmerie, 3 = 1973, 9 = motorcycle.
	Army plate. 6 = army and gendarmerie, 82 = 1982, 3 = truck, tractor or other machine.
	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 Current series. Second digit 3 = Lindau.
	German forces in France Current series.
	United States forces in France 1954-1958 series.
	United States forces in France 1961-1968 series. This is the last series, since U.S. Forces left France in 1968.