We are used to the fact that standard car numbers look like this: a black font on a white background, but in any other format they can be seen much less often. For example, red numbers on a car are very rare. Of course, they attract attention due to the bright color and non-standard approach, and, based on these features, have a certain value. It should be noted that such registration of a license plate on a car in different countries is interpreted differently. Here we consider their use both in our country and in Belarus and Ukraine. What do the red numbers on the car mean and what is their unusual nature? Let's consider this question in more detail.
Difference of "red" numbers from standard
The state registration number assigned to the car is a kind of document that certifies the "identity" of the vehicle. It has the following format: first comes a letter, then three digits, followed by two more letters. On the right side of the number is the image of the Russian flag, as well as the region code where the car was registered. There is, in addition, a designation in Latin letters - RUS. The letters and numbers are black, the background of the plate is white.
The situation is different with red car numbers. They also contain both numbers and letters, only they are usually white, and the background is red. Here we can say that we have diplomatic numbers. It could be otherwise: on a red background there may be designations of black or another color. For example, in this way transit numbers are issued in Ukraine.
What do such license plates mean in Russia?
If you see signs with white letters on a red background in our country, then they mean that the vehicle belongs to an embassy, consulate or a person who has diplomatic status, as well as a car may refer to a representative office of a foreign company. At the same time, the letters indicated on the number, more specifically, can tell about who owns this or that car.
Decryption
Let us examine in more detail what the diplomatic numbers mean by car in Russia. Certain designations indicate the citizen of which country the car owner is, as well as his status. In this case, the first three digits indicate the code of the country or international organization to which this or that representative office belongs. So, one or two letters indicated in the number indicate a particular status of the owner.
For example, “SS” is the machine of the consul, “CD” is the ambassador, and the letters “D” and “T” indicate that the car contains a diplomat, an employee of the diplomatic mission, consular mission or a person from an international organization without diplomatic status, respectively ( attendants, or, otherwise, the technical position at the embassy). The letter, respectively, is a code that displays the status of a person, for example, consul, ambassador and more. Other designations: P - transit, H - a car of a foreigner who has arrived in Russia for a rather long time, M - a trade and economic representative, K - a foreign correspondent.
The number that follows the letters displays the serial number of the car at the dealership. On the right side is the code of the region in which this number was issued, this rule also applies to ordinary numbers.
In Russia there are representative offices of 168 states, respectively, and numbers will be assigned from 001 to 168.International organizations have designations from 499 to 555.
For example, the USA has a digital designation 004, Great Britain - 001, Germany - 002, France - 007, Ukraine -146, India - 032 and others. Now let's look at examples based on international organizations: the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - 500, the United Nations - 511, the International Monetary Fund - 505. So, we have found out what red numbers mean by car in Russia, now let's talk about which meaning they carry in themselves in other countries.
The meaning of such numbers in Ukraine
In this country, such numbers are considered transit, that is, they are issued to drivers for a while. They can be designed for cars, as well as for buses and trailers. At the same time, the date of issue is indicated on the left of the license plate.
Validity of transit numbers is 3 months. They are issued for one-time trips after removing the car from the register in the bodies of MREO. The period for which these numbers will be valid is provided so that during this time the owner can solve the problems of registering vehicles.
On this number, as well as on the standard, there are both letters and numbers. Thus, red numbers on a car (Ukraine) mean that they have a limited validity period, that is, they are issued for a certain time.
What does this mean in Belarus?
Here, such numbers on a red background belong to diplomats, as well as officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. At the same time, there is some difference in the format: first there are letters, then numbers, and after a hyphen - a region code. Red numbers on a car (Belarus) have practically the same meaning as in our country, with the exception that they can be assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The advantage of red numbers over others
Note that in general, on the road, owners of red numbers do not have an advantage over other drivers. It is the duty of the inspectors to ensure conditions for the unhindered passage of high-ranking diplomats' cars. In the event that the car is traveling with flashing lights, it must be skipped. Often these cars are accompanied by traffic police. It is worth noting: if a driver on a vehicle with such numbers commits a violation of the rules of the road, he will have to compensate for the damage in the same way as other citizens. In this case, the inspector writes out two protocols, while one of them is sent to the consulate.
Note that the vehicles of embassies, according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, have immunity. The traffic police inspector has the right to only inform the owner of the car about a violation of the rules of the road. After the fact of violation, administrative material is compiled and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. By and large, they do not have advantages over other vehicles. But in reality, the traffic police inspectors try not to stop such cars, because it is believed that if the situation is incorrectly assessed, the actions of the department can lead to an international scandal.
What do these numbers mean in other countries?
In Spain and Bulgaria, numbers with a white font on a red background are diplomatic, in Latvia it is the same, but the numbers are black. In Greece, taxis have such signs, in Germany they indicate cars that are for sale, but in Hungary they are designed for slow transport. If you see cars with a similar coloring of license plates in Moldova, this will mean that the transport is transit, in Lithuania means temporary registration of the vehicle, and in Belgium this is considered to be a generally accepted format for license plates.
Concerning Asian countries it predominantly, as in Russia, they mean that the car belongs to persons with diplomatic status. In Turkey, for example, such signs with yellow letters mean cars owned by the government, and red letters on a white background can be found on vehicles that are transported by representatives of the local administration and university rectors.
In overseas states, for example, in the USA, the use of red in government numbers in different states has different meanings. It can mean both belonging to the emergency services, and to the municipal administration and government.In Brazil, such numbers can only be found on public transport, and for Canada this is the traditional design of the number - red letters on a white background.
In general, as we found out, the use of this color on a car sign in different countries has different meanings. However, often red numbers on a car in Russia mean that they belong to diplomats and consuls, as well as to persons equal in status and performing their functions.
