Most European countries have a special plate system for vehicles bought within their jurisdiction, but which are intended for permanent export. These are bought free of local taxes, which are charged when they reach their destination country. Germany and France were the first to formalise such systems and here are some examples from the 1960s and on from round Europe.

FRANCE. Export. TT=Titulaire Temporaire or Transit Temporaire?? 73 is from Savoie, seen in Ste. Maxime (83-Var) circa 2005, and seems oddly old for that time, as this series ran 1955-84. A false plate? Brumby archive

GERMANY – Export Customs (Zoll) oval plate . This once-common Z-plate series was issued between 1951 & 1988 as tens of thousands of German cars were collected for export. 818 Z-9348 was seen in London in 1960 prior to its ultimate export to Argentina (RA). Brumby archive

FRANCE TT. On its way to the Central African Republic, Pontiac Bonneville 9 TT 10 first enjoys a drive along the Promenade des Anglais in 1964 Nice. 10= département of Aube, which seemed not to register many of this category! Brumby archive

GB Foreign brand Export. QL 1052 – Peugeot 404L bought in London 1969, for export to Canada. (In fact this car never left, and was re-registered with a normal mark, GGN 157 J.) (Brumby archive/car)

DENMARK. An export Volvo destined for Canada, seen in London 1964. The red Copenhagen ‘K‘ with the white lining indicates temporary validity. Brumby archive
Here is a strange sighting, 27 years later, in Monte Carlo…

MONACO TT 51 Export again, in the later style reflective etc. Front plate at upper right, carries no legend. Brumby archive