Italy to Let Drivers Personalise Number Plates for a Fee

Rome, Italy. The Italian government will let vehicle owners personalise their number plates, a revenue-raising step that mirrors practices in the United States, Britain and other countries. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the plan on Wednesday while presenting the 2027 budget law, the final one before a general election due next year.

Costs and details

Meloni called the initiative a “colourful note” and said Italians’ creativity could shine, adding that people would be able to indulge themselves as they wish, at a cost. According to a decree, personalised plates will cost about €600 for cars and €360 for motorbikes.

A Treasury official declined to estimate the revenue the government expects from the measure. Italian car plates currently consist of two letters, three numbers and two letters, and it is unclear how far motorists will be permitted to depart from that format.

Public reaction

The reform prompted a wave of memes and jokes on social media, along with concerns that customised plates could open the way to insults and profanities. One meme depicted Meloni dressed as Marie Antoinette, holding a platter of plates and saying “Let them eat personalised plates”, a play on the phrase attributed to the 18th century French queen.

Some groups welcomed the change. Taxi drivers said distinctive personalised plates could help identify legitimate operators and tackle illegal services.

Opposition criticism

Centre-left opposition parties were less enthusiastic. They argued that the number plate initiative distracts from more pressing issues that the budget failed to address.