page_title: Vehicle registration plates of Switzerland
section_title: Types
hierarchical_section_title: Vehicle registration plates of Switzerland / Types
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Altes Traktorkontrollschild (bis 1960) aus dem Kanton St.Gallen
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.
caption: Old style tractor plate from Canton of St. Gallen
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