Annex 3. Distinguishing Sign of Motor Vehicles and Trailers to International Traffic

1. The distinguishing sign referred to in Article 37 of this Convention shall consist of one to three letters in capital Latin characters.

2. When the distinguishing sign is displayed separately from the registration plate, it must conform to the following conditions:
   
    (a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.08 m and their strokes a width of at least 0.01 m. The letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal. The white background may be of a retro-reflective material;
    (b) When the distinguishing sign consists of only one letter, the major axis of the ellipse may be vertical;
    (c) The distinguishing sign shall not be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility;
    (d) On motorcycles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least 0.175 m and 0.115 m. On other motor vehicles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least:

           (i) 0.24 m and 0.145 m if the distinguishing sign comprises three letters;
           (ii) 0.175 m and 0.115 m if the distinguishing sign comprises less than three letters.

3. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate(s), the following conditions shall apply:
     (a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.02 m, taking as a reference a registration plate of 0.11 m.;
     (b) (i) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration, which may be supplemented where applicable by the flag or emblem of the State or the emblem of the regional economic integration organization to which the country belongs, shall be displayed on the far left or right of the rear registration plate, but preferably on the left or the far upper left on plates where the number takes up two lines;
           (ii) When, in addition to the distinguishing sign, a non-numerical symbol and/or a flag and/or a regional or local emblem is displayed on the registration plate, the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall obligatorily be placed on the far left of the plate;
     (c) The flag or emblem supplementing where applicable the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so that it cannot impair the legibility of the distinguishing sign and shall preferably be placed above it;
     (d) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so as to be easily identifiable and so that it cannot be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility. The distinguishing sign shall therefore be at least of a different colour from the registration number, or have a different background colour to that reserved for the registration number, or be clearly separated, preferably by a line, from the registration number;
      (e) For the registration plates of motorcycles and their trailers and/or for registration plates taking up two lines, the size of the letters of the distinguishing sign as well as, where applicable, the size of the national flag or emblem of the State of registration or the symbol of the regional economic integration organization which the country belongs to may be appropriately modified;
      (f) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply according to the same principles to the front registration plate of the vehicle when this plate is obligatory.

4. The relevant provisions of Annex 2, paragraph 3, shall apply to the distinguishing sign.