Number plates and the new-driver «L»: the rules made clear 🔠
Quick answer: A car carries 2 plates (front and rear); a motorcycle only 1, at the rear — front plates on motorbikes aren't required (and aren't used). Plates must be legible, reflective and free of frames hiding characters: circulating with an illegible or tampered plate is sanctionable. Separate from this is the «L» plate: the green square with a white L that new drivers must display at the rear for 1 year after getting their licence.
Number plates seem like the least glamorous topic in motoring — until a «decorative» plate holder earns you a fine, or the theory test asks how many plates a motorcycle carries. Here's everything the rules require — plates by vehicle type, legibility, and the famous green «L» of the new driver — minus the legalese.
How many plates per vehicle (table) 🚗🏍️
| Vehicle | Required plates |
|---|---|
| Car / van | 2: front and rear |
| Motorcycle and moped | 1: rear only, upright and visible |
| Light trailer (≤750 kg) | 1 rear plate with the towing vehicle's number |
| Heavy trailer | Its own rear plate (red background) |
| Decorative / mini / tinted acrylic plates | ❌ Not homologated: fined |
Plates must stay clean and readable: snow, «accidental» mud or plate holders covering the euro band can cost you a fine — and deliberately hiding a plate to beat cameras is a very serious offence with points deducted.
The green «L» of the new driver 🟩
| Question | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who must display it? | Every driver during the first year after their first licence |
| Where does it go? | Rear of the vehicle, visible (left of the rear window or bodywork) |
| Which car? | Any vehicle the new driver uses — the L follows the driver, not the car |
| On a motorbike too? | Yes: also compulsory, visible at the rear |
| Fine for not showing it | Minor sanction (≈€100), no points |
The «L» itself no longer caps your speed — the old novice limits disappeared years ago; today the general limits apply. What does change in the first period: 8 starting points instead of 12 (how the balance works) and the reduced alcohol limit for the first two years.
Exam questions (and real-life ones) 🎓
«How many plates does a motorcycle carry?» is a theory-test classic: one, at the rear. The V16 beacon, badges and vehicle signals come up too — drill them with TraficoTest's official questions and the V16 beacon guide.
The most common (and absurd) plate fines 📸
- A holder covering the euro band or a character: fined even if it came «from the dealer».
- Tinted acrylic or «mini» plates on bikes: not homologated — fine plus replacement order.
- Plates unreadable through dirt: technically sanctionable; after a muddy route, a rag saves you €200.
- Deliberate concealment (anti-radar spray, films, a passenger's hand on the bike): a very serious offence — with cameras involved, borderline criminal.
- The «L» in the glovebox: carrying it isn't displaying it — it goes visibly at the rear.
Conclusion 🏁
Two plates on the car, one on the bike, the «L» visible for a year — all clean and homologated. It's the cheapest rule set in the whole Code to comply with. If you're in your new-driver year, what really rides with you is the reduced 8-point balance: drive it with the same care you'll put into the theory tests.
Frequently asked questions ❓
How many number plates does a motorcycle carry in Spain?
One only, at the rear, mounted upright and clearly visible; motorcycles carry no front plate.
How many plates does a car carry?
Two: one front and one rear, both homologated, reflective and legible.
What is the «L» plate?
The green square with a white L that new drivers must display at the rear for their first year after getting the licence.
Does the «L» belong to the car or the driver?
To the driver: it must be shown on any vehicle a new driver uses, even someone else's car.
Is there a fine for not displaying the «L»?
Yes, a minor sanction of about €100, with no points deducted.