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)
ITALY 1964 Export ‘EE‘ Brumby archive
DENMARK. An export Volvo destined for Canada, seen in London 1964. The red Copenhagen ‘K‘ with the white lining indicates temporary validity. Brumby archive
SWEDEN – export Volvo from Gothenburg (O) valid during 1964, seen in London. Brumby archive
FINLAND 1994 Export duty-free. The letter is serial, not a regional code. Brumby archive
SWITZERLAND. 1975 Export Vaud 6018 Z. Z=tax unpaid. Brumby archive
LUXEMBOURG – 1978 Export 616. Brumby archive
SPAIN – Export 2004 T 4361 BBC , expiring October 2004. Brumby archive
BELGIUM – some early Export plates and others. Note colour changes. Brumby archive
MONACO – 1979 Export in red on white – TT 51. 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
Liechtenstein – Export 1963 – FL 9043 Z in London. Z means tax unpaid. Brumby archive
SAN MARINO – Export 1992. Thornley album
Posted by Victor Brumby 
