page_title: Vehicle registration plates of Switzerland
section_title: Obsolete types
hierarchical_section_title: Vehicle registration plates of Switzerland / Obsolete types
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Post Autonummer back
context_page_description: Vehicle license plates of Switzerland, are composed of a two-letter code for the canton and a number with up to 6 digits. The rear plates also display two shields with the flags of Switzerland and the respective canton.
  The sizes of the plates are 300 x 80 mm, 500 x 110 mm or 300 x 160 mm. The current style was introduced in 1972.
  The vehicle license number plates are assigned to the car owner and not to the vehicle. If the owner changes the vehicle, the same vehicle license number plates are attached to the new vehicle. The previous vehicle receives the vehicle license number plates of the new owner.
  It is also possible to own two vehicles that share the vehicle license number plates: the plates are physically unmounted from one vehicle and mounted on another, provided the vehicles in question are owned by the same owner of the vehicle license number plate. These plates are known locally as "Wechselschilder".
  In some cantons, when vehicle license number plates are returned and retired, they are made available again after a certain time.
context_section_description: Civilian Federal vehicles had registration plates composed of the Swiss shield followed by the letter "A" (short for "Administration") and a number with up to five digits. The first digit indicated the department. In 2004 these plates were replaced with normal cantonal plates.
  A 1xxxx - Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
  A 2xxxx - Federal Department of Home Affairs
  A 3xxxx - Federal Department of Justice and Police
  A 4xxxx - Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport
  A 5xxxx - Federal Department of Finance
  A 6xxxx - Federal Department of Economy
  A 7xxxx - Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication
   
  The Post, Telegraph and Telephone company (PTT) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) were part of the federal government until 1997/98. Their vehicles had registration plates composed of the Swiss coat followed by the letter "P" (short for "Post") and a number with up to five digits. When they became independent companies, the P-plates were replaced with cantonal plates in 2004.
  P 1xxxx to P 7xxxx were attributed to PTT
  P 8xxxx to P 9xxxx were attributed to SBB
caption: PTT / SBB, rear plate
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