Deciphering number plates: Germany

One of the peculiarities of the German system is the process in place for issuing number plates. The transport authority itself does not give you a plate, but a document containing the vehicle registration number assigned to you. Then, near the authority, there tend to be private businesses that will make the number plate with your registration number while you wait (it can cost about EUR 30 to make plates, though as a rule the further away from the authority you go, the cheaper the price).