Hesse Cities Push for Local License Plates to Boost Identity

Cities in Hesse want their own license plates. The initiative could boost regional identity and city marketing, but the final decision lies with the Federal Ministry of Transport.

, and Administrator

2025 October 17 . 2:03 PM

1 min read

This is a picture of a logo of a vehicle and a name plate with numbers and words on it , which are fixed to the vehicle.

Hesse Cities Push for Local License Plates to Boost Identity

Several medium-sized cities in Hesse, led by Rodgau's mayor Max Breitenbach, are pushing for their own vehicle license plates. The initiative, supported by the German Cities and Municipalities Association, aims to boost regional identity and city marketing. The magistrate of Obertshausen, one of the nine cities involved, sees these plates as a symbol of identity and belonging.

The cities, including Rodgau (ROG), Rödermark (RÖD), and Obertshausen (OBH), have sent a joint letter to Hessian Minister of Transport Kaweh Mansoori, requesting a change in vehicle registration regulations. The project, based on a reform concept by Heilbronn tourism researcher Ralf Bochert, would allow cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants to apply for their own local identifiers, but only for new registrations and without additional costs.

The decision lies with the Federal Ministry of Transport, with no specific date announced yet. While city councils like Rödermark are deliberating their support, the magistrate of Obertshausen has proposed 'OBH' as the desired license plate for their city. If approved, a total of nine cities in the Offenbach district could benefit from the new regulation.

The initiative to introduce local vehicle license plates in Hesse is still pending, with the final decision resting with the Federal Ministry of Transport. If approved, it could strengthen regional identity and city marketing for medium-sized cities like Obertshausen and Rodgau, among others.