Over 225 thousand vintage-style vehicle registrations found in the Thuringia region. - More than 225,000 instances of longing for the past found in Thuringia
In the eastern German state of Thuringia, an estimated 225,000 vehicles are bearing so-called "old license plates," a revered relic from the region's past. These city and district abbreviations, reinstated as part of liberalizing license plate design, grace more than one out of every six vehicles in the state, according to the State Statistical Office, which reports a total of 1.52 million vehicles registered in Thuringia.
Leading the way is the Ilm district, where around 28,800 vehicles, or 38.8 percent, display the old license plates "IL" for Ilmenau or "ARN" for Arnstadt. The Unstrut-Hainich district follows closely behind with 36.6 percent, featuring the license plate abbreviations "MHL" (Mühlhausen) and "LSZ" (Langensalza). The Saale-Orla district ranks third with 34.7 percent, boasting the old license plates "PN" (Pößneck), "LBS" (Lobenstein), and "SCZ" (Schleiz).
In contrast, the Weimar region sports the fewest of these nostalgic plates, with only 10.9 percent showcasing the abbreviation "APD" for Apolda.
Although the interest in classic cars and nostalgia plates is widespread across Germany, current statistics do not offer district-level details for Thuringia. To obtain such data, official statistics from the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs, or direct requests from the vehicle registration authorities in the respective districts, would likely provide the information.
Given the popularity of old license plates in the Thuringia region, it becomes evident that the community favors retaining certain traditions, such as the use of nostalgic car plates. This preference is observed across various districts, with district policies that encourage the continuation of such lifestyle choices, such as the Ilm district's employment policy in favor of preserving historic car-maintenance practices. Similarly, the Saale-Orla district also employs a policy that supports the exhibition of old license plates on vehicles, contributing to the district's overall sports tourism due to the appeal of classic cars.
