Tanzanian Association Oslo

Personalized plates

finally come to Norway

Nearly forty years after they debuted in places like California, personalized license plates can soon start adorning cars in Norway. Some Norwegians are already calling them an "ego trip," others think they'll just be plain fun.

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It was back in the early 1970s that Californians started sporting plates like "10SNE1" (Tennis, anyone?). The trend spread through the US, and eventually overseas.

Norway is coming a bit late to the game, and not without controversy. Some egalitarian-minded Norwegians, who don't always value those who stick out in a crowd, have been skeptical to the idea and Transport Minister Liv Signe Navarsete initially vetoed a plan to introduce personalized plates (also known as "vanity plates" in some areas). "Fancy plates are just vanity," she told news bureau NTB last year. "I don't want a system here in Norway where car owners can buy themselves a special plate."

But when it became clear that the state could generate more needed revenues by producing such plates, and that public opinion was against her, she changed her tune.Highway officials are now working on a new data system that, when introduced next year, likely will allow Norwegians to create and order their own personalized plates.

Motorists will need to pay extra to do so. That in turn can bring in more money for needed highway projects.

It remains unclear how much the extra fee will be for personalized plates, but newspaper Aftenposten reported it likely will be around NOK 300 (about USD 40). Earlier reports have speculated it will be much more.

Plates stick with the motorist
The plates also will stay with the motorist ordering them, not with the car itself. So if the motorist sells his or her vehicle, the plates will be removed and can be remounted on another car. That's a change from the current system in Norway.

Ivar Fjeldberg, chief engineer for the state highway department, said it hasn't yet been decided how many numbers or letters can be used on a plate. Today's maximum is seven.

Motorists are fairly free to let their imaginations run wild, but state officials won't allow any phrases that can be considered offensive.

Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund