This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents  
►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1003/2010  
of 8 November 2010  
concerning type-approval requirements for the space for mounting and the fixing of rear 
registration plates on motor vehicles and their trailers and implementing Regulation (EC) 
No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components 
and separate technical units intended therefor
 
(Text with EEA relevance)  
(OJ L 291, 9.11.2010, p. 22)  
Amended by:  
Official Journal  
No page  date  
►M1 Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/166 of 3 February 2015  L 28  3  4.2.2015  2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 1
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1003/2010  
of 8 November 2010  
concerning type-approval requirements for the space for mounting 
and the fixing of rear registration plates on motor vehicles and their trailers and implementing Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate 
technical units intended therefor
 
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,  
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor (
 1 ), and in particular Article 14 (1)(a) thereof,  
Whereas:  
(1) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 is a separate Regulation for the 
purposes of the type-approval procedure provided for by Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) (
 2 ). 
(2) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 repeals Council Directive 
70/222/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration plates on motor vehicles and their trailers (
 3 ). The requirements set out in that Directive should 
be carried over to this Regulation and, where necessary, amended in order to adapt them to the development of scientific and technical knowledge.
 
(3) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down fundamental provisions 
on requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers with regard to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration plates. Therefore, it is necessary to also set out the specific procedures, tests and requirements for such type-approval.
 
(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance 
with the opinion of the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles,  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 2  
( 1 ) OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, p. 1. 
( 2 ) OJ L 263, 9.10.2007, p. 1. 
( 3 ) OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 25.
 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  
Article 1  
Definitions  
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall 
apply:  
(1) ‘vehicle type with regard to the space for mounting and the fixing 
of rear registration plates’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as:
 
— the dimensions of the space for mounting and fixing of the rear 
registration plate;  
— the location of the space for mounting and fixing of the rear 
registration plate;  
— the shape of the surface for mounting and fixing of the rear 
registration plate.  
(2) ‘virtually flat surface’ means a surface of solid material, which may 
also consist of patterned mesh or grille, with a radius of curvature of at least 5 000 mm.
 
(3) ‘surface of patterned mesh’ means a surface consisting of an evenly 
spread pattern of shapes such as round, oval, diamond, rectangular or square holes spread evenly at intervals not exceeding 15 mm.
 
(4) ‘surface of grille’ means a surface consisting of parallel bars which 
are spread evenly and have a mutual distance of not exceeding 15 mm.
 
(5) ‘nominal surface’ means the theoretical geometrically perfect 
surface without taking into account surface irregularities such as protrusions or indentations.
 
(6) ‘longitudinal median plane of the vehicle’ means the plane of 
symmetry of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is not symmetrical, the vertical longitudinal plane passing through the middle of the vehicle 
axles.
 
(7) ‘inclination’ means the degree of the angular deviation in relation to 
a vertical plane;  
Article 2  
Provisions for EC type-approval of a motor vehicle or a trailer with 
regard to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration 
plates  
1. The manufacturer or his representative shall submit to the 
type-approval authority the application for EC type-approval of a vehicle with regard to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration plates on motor vehicles and their trailers.
 
2. The application shall be drawn up in accordance with the model of 
the information document set out in Part 1 of Annex I.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 3
 
3. If the relevant requirements set out in Annex II to this Regulation 
are met, the approval authority shall grant an EC type-approval and issue a type-approval number in accordance with the numbering system set out in Annex VII to Directive 2007/46/EC.
 
A Member State may not assign the same number to another vehicle 
type.  
4. For the purposes of paragraph 3, the type-approval authority shall 
deliver an EC type-approval certificate established in accordance with the model set out in Part 2 of Annex I.
 
Article 3  
Validity and extension of approvals granted under Directive 
70/222/EEC  
National authorities shall permit the sale and entry into service of 
vehicles type-approved before the date referred to in Article 13(2) of 
Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 and continue to grant extension of approvals to those vehicles under the terms of Directive 70/222/EEC.
 
Article 4  
Entry into force  
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following 
that of its publication in the  Official Journal of the European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in 
all Member States.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 4
 
ANNEX I  
Administrative documents for EC type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers with 
regard to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration plates  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 5
 
PART 1  
Information document  
MODEL  
Information document No … relating to the EC type-approval of a motor vehicle 
or a trailer with regard to the space for mounting and the fixing of rear regis ­
tration plates.  
The following information shall be supplied in triplicate and include a list of 
contents. Any drawings shall be supplied in appropriate scale and in sufficient detail on size A4 or on a folder of A4 format. Photographs, if any, shall show sufficient detail.
 
If the systems, components or separate technical units referred to in this 
information document have electronic controls, information concerning their performance shall be supplied.
 
0. GENERAL  
0.1. Make (trade name of manufacturer): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.2. Type: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.2.1. Commercial name(s) (if available): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.3. Means of identification of type, if marked on the vehicle (  b ): . . . . . . . . .  
0.3.1. Location of that marking: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.4. Category of vehicle (  c ): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.5. Name and address of manufacturer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.8. Name(s) and address(es) of assembly plant(s): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.9. Name and address of the manufacturer's representative (if any): . . . . . .  
1. GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 
VEHICLE  
1.1. Photographs and/or drawings of a representative vehicle: . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2. MASSES AND DIMENSIONS (  f ) ( g ) 
2.4. Range of vehicle dimensions (overall)  
2.4.2. For chassis with bodywork  
2.4.2.3. Height (in running order) (  g8 ) (for suspensions adjustable for height, 
indicate normal running position): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2.6. Mass in running order  
Mass of the vehicle with bodywork and, in the case of a towing vehicle 
of category other than M  1 , with coupling device, if fitted by the manu ­
facturer, in running order, or mass of the chassis or chassis with cab, without bodywork and/or coupling device if the manufacturer does not fit the bodywork and/or coupling device (including liquids, tools, spare 
wheel, if fitted, and driver and, for buses and coaches, a crew member if 
there is a crew seat in the vehicle) (
 h ) (maximum and minimum for each 
variant): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . 
9. BODYWORK  
9.14. Space for mounting rear registration plates (give range where appro ­
priate, drawings may be used where applicable): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 6
 
9.14.1. Height above road surface, upper edge: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
9.14.2. Height above road surface, lower edge: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
9.14.3. Distance of the centre line from the longitudinal median plane of the 
vehicle: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
9.14.4. Distance from the left vehicle edge: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
9.14.5. Dimensions (length × width): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
9.14.6. Inclination of the plane to the vertical: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
9.14.7. Angle of visibility in the horizontal plane: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Explanatory notes  
( b ) If the means of identification of type contains characters not relevant to describe the 
vehicle, component or separate technical unit types covered by this information 
document, such characters shall be represented in the documentation by the symbol 
‘?’ (e.g. ABC??123??).  
( c ) Classified according to the definitions set out in Directive 2007/46/EC Part A of 
Annex II.  
( f ) Where there is one version with a normal cab and another with a sleeper cab, both sets 
of masses and dimensions are to be stated.  
( g ) Standard ISO 612: 1978 - Road vehicles - Dimensions of motor vehicles and towed 
vehicles - terms and definitions.  
( g8 ) Term No 6.3.  
( h ) The mass of the driver and, if applicable, of the crew member is assessed at 75 kg 
(subdivided into 68 kg occupant mass and 7 kg luggage mass according to ISO 
Standard 2416 - 1992), the fuel tank is filled to 90 % and the other liquid containing 
systems (except those for used water) to 100 % of the capacity specified by the 
manufacturer.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 7
 
PART 2  
EC type-approval certificate  
MODEL  
Format: A4 (210 × 297 mm)  
EC TYPE-APPROVAL CERTIFICATE  
Stamp of type-approval authority  
Communication concerning:  ( 1 ) 
— EC type-approval (  1 ) 
— extension of EC type-approval (  1 ) 
— refusal of EC type-approval (  1 ) 
— withdrawal of EC type-approval (  1 ) 9 
>> > > > > = 
>> > > > > ;
 of a type of motor vehicle or trailer 
with regard to the space for mounting 
and the fixing of rear registration plates
 
with regard to Regulation (EU) No 1003/2010, as last amended by 
Regulation (EU) No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (  1 ) 
EC type-approval number: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Reason for extension: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . 
SECTION I  
0.1. Make (trade name of manufacturer): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.2. Type: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.2.1. Commercial name(s) (if available): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.3. Means of identification of type, if marked on the vehicle (  2 ): . . . . . . . . . .  
0.3.1. Location of that marking: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.4. Category of vehicle (  3 ): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.5. Name and address of manufacturer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.8. Name(s) and address(es) of assembly plant(s): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
0.9. Name and address of the manufacturer's representative (if any): . . . . . . . .  
SECTION II  
1. Additional information: see Addendum.  
2. Technical service responsible for carrying out the tests: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
3. Date of test report: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
4. Number of test report: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
5. Remarks (if any): see Addendum.  
6. Place: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . .  
___________  
( 1 ) Delete where not applicable.  
( 2 ) If the means of identification of type contains characters not relevant to describe the 
vehicle, component or separate technical unit types covered by this information 
document, such characters shall be represented in the documentation by the symbol 
‘?’ (e.g. ABC??123??).  
( 3 ) As defined in Directive 2007/46/EC, Annex II, Section A.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 8
 
7. Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
8. Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . 
Attachments: Information package  
Test report  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 9
 
Addendum  
to EC type-approval certificate No …  
1. Additional information:  
1.1. Brief description of the vehicle type as regards its structure, dimensions, 
lines and constituent materials: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1.2. Description of the rear registration plate space: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2. Rear registration plate space is suitable for fixing a registration plate size 
up to (mm): 520 × 120/340 × 240 (  1 ) 
3. Location of the rear registration plate space: left of centre/centre (  1 ) 
4. Rear registration plate space obscured when any mechanical coupling 
device is fitted: yes/no (  1 ) 
5. Remarks: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 10  
( 1 ) Delete where not applicable.
 ANNEX II  
Requirements for the space for mounting and the fixing of rear registration 
plates  
1. REQUIREMENTS  
1.1. Shape and dimensions of the space for mounting a rear registration 
plate.  
1.1.1. The space for mounting shall comprise of a flat or virtually flat 
rectangular surface with the following minimum dimensions:  
either  
width: 520 mm  
height: 120 mm  
or 
width: 340 mm  
height: 240 mm  
1.1.2. The surface to be covered by the registration plate may have holes or 
gaps.  
1.1.2.1. In case of vehicles of category M  1 the width of the hole or gap shall 
not exceed 40 mm without having to take into account its length.  
1.1.3. The surface to be covered by the registration plate may have 
protrusions, provided that these do not project more than 5,0 mm in relation to the nominal surface. Patches of very soft materials, 
such as foam or felt for the purpose of the elimination of vibration of 
the registration plate, shall not be taken into account.
 
1.2. Mounting and fixing of a rear registration plate.  
1.2.1. The space for mounting shall be such that the registration plate, after 
fixing according to the manufacturer's instructions, shall have the following characteristics:
 
1.2.1.1. Position of the plate in relation to the longitudinal median plane of 
the vehicle:  
1.2.1.1.1. The centre point of the plate shall not be situated to the right of the 
longitudinal median plane of the vehicle.  
1.2.1.2. Position of the plate in relation to the vertical longitudinal plane of 
the vehicle:  
▼M1 
1.2.1.2.1. The plate shall be perpendicular (± 5°) to the longitudinal plane of 
the vehicle.  
▼B 
1.2.1.2.2. The left-hand edge of the plate may not be situated to the left of the 
vertical plane which is parallel to the longitudinal median plane of 
the vehicle and touches the extreme outer edge of the vehicle.  
1.2.1.3. Position of the plate in relation to the vertical transverse plane:  
1.2.1.3.1. The plate may be inclined to the vertical:  
1.2.1.3.1.1. At not less than – 5° and not more than 30°, provided that the height 
of the upper edge of the plate is not more than 1,20 m from the 
ground surface;  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 11
 
1.2.1.3.1.2. At not less than – 15° and not more than 5°, provided that the height 
of the upper edge of the plate is more than 1,20 m from the ground 
surface.  
1.2.1.4. Height of the plate from the ground surface:  
1.2.1.4.1. The height of the lower edge of the plate from the ground surface 
shall not be less than 0,30 m.  
1.2.1.4.2. The height of the upper edge of the plate from the ground surface 
shall not exceed 1,20 m. However, where it is not practicable to 
comply with the height provision due to the construction of the vehicle, the maximum height may exceed 1,20 m, provided that it is as close to that limit as the constructional characteristics of the 
vehicle allow, and shall in no case exceed 2,00 m.
 
1.2.1.5. Geometrical visibility:  
▼M1 
1.2.1.5.1. If the height of the upper edge of the plate from the ground surface 
does not exceed 1,20 m, the plate shall be visible in the whole space 
included within the following four planes:  
— the two vertical planes touching the two lateral edges of the plate 
and forming an angle measured outwards to the left and to the 
right of the plate of 30° in relation to the longitudinal plane, parallel to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle, passing 
through the centre of the plate,
 
— the plane touching the upper edge of the plate and forming an 
angle measured upwards of 15° with the horizontal,  
— the horizontal plane through the lower edge of the plate.  
1.2.1.5.2. If the height of the upper edge of the plate from the ground surface 
exceeds 1,20 m, the plate shall be visible in the whole space 
included within the following four planes:  
— the two vertical planes touching the two lateral edges of the plate 
and forming an angle measured outwards to the left and to the 
right of the plate of 30° in relation to the longitudinal plane, parallel to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle, passing through the centre of the plate,
 
— the plane touching the upper edge of the plate and forming an 
angle measured upwards of 15° with the horizontal,  
— the plane touching the lower edge of the plate and forming an 
angle measured downwards of 15° with the horizontal.  
▼B 
1.2.1.6. The space between the edges of the mounted and fixed registration 
plate and the actual surface of the registration plate space shall not 
exceed 5,0 mm along the complete outline of the registration plate.  
1.2.1.6.1. The prescribed maximum space may locally be exceeded in the case 
it is measured at a hole or gap within the surface of patterned mesh 
or between the parallel bars of the surface of grille.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 12
 
1.2.2. The actual position and shape of the mounted and fixed registration 
plate as determined in accordance with paragraph 1,2, in particular 
its resulting radius of curvature, shall be taken into account for the purpose of rear registration plate lighting device requirements.
 
▼M1 
1.2.3. Whenever it is declared by the vehicle manufacturer that a vehicle is 
suitable for towing loads (point 2.11.5 of Annex I to Directive 
2007/46/EC) and if the space for mounting the rear registration plate may as a result be (partly) obscured within the planes of geometrical visibility due to the permitted and/or recommended 
installation of any mechanical coupling device, this shall be noted 
in the test report and stated on the EC type-approval certificate. Furthermore, vehicle type-approval shall not be granted unless measures are taken to ensure that such mechanical coupling 
device, if installed and not in use, can be removed or repositioned 
only without the use of any tools, including release keys.
 
▼B 
2. TEST PROCEDURE  
2.1. Determination of the vertical inclination and height of the regis ­
tration plate from the ground surface  
2.1.1. The vehicle is placed on a smooth ground surface with the vehicle's 
mass adjusted to that of the manufacturer's declared mass in running order, but without the driver, before the measurements are made.
 
2.1.2. If the vehicle is equipped with hydropneumatic, hydraulic or 
pneumatic suspension or a device for automatic levelling according 
to load, it shall be tested with the suspension or device in the normal 
running condition, as specified by the manufacturer.  
2.1.3. If the registration plate is facing downwards, the measurement result 
concerning the inclination is expressed in minus.  
2.2. Projection measurements shall be made perpendicularly and directly 
towards the nominal surface to be covered by the registration plate.  
2.3. Measurement of the space between the edge of the mounted and 
fixed registration plate and the actual surface shall be made perpen ­
dicularly and directly towards the actual surface to be covered by the registration plate.
 
2.4. The registration plate used for checking conformity shall have one of 
the two sizes as specified in paragraph 1.1.1.  ▼B 2010R1003 — EN — 24.02.2015 — 001.001 — 13