<P> EU registration plates were introduced in Finland in 2001 . EU plates are automatically given to all vehicles unless the owner makes a separate request for old model plates . If desired, EU plates can be changed for old model ones at inspection sites . Registration plates used in Finland are made of aluminium with a reflective membrane coating . Numbers and letters are embossed and painted . The embossing height is 1 - 1.2 mm . </P> <P> The number sequence of the registration plate cannot start with a zero, nor can zero be the only number . The letter combination CD is reserved for diplomatic vehicles . Usually the next available ID is given as the plate number . Special registration plates with a selected ID are also available upon request . A special registration plate is a regular plate with a special ID . The ID is subject to certain restrictions and requires a separate application subject to a fee . The application fee for a special registration plate is EUR 900 . A vehicle has one or two plates depending on the vehicle class . In certain cases, a vehicle can also be given an additional plate . </P> <P> The registration number of cars in Norway is maintained by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications . As in most countries, cars are identified only by number plates read visually . The current alphanumerical system (two letters followed by five numbers) was introduced in 1971 . The design of the plates remained the same until 2002, when the road authorities decided on a new font which standardized the width of each character . The new design was unsuccessful due to legibility issues, for example the letters "A" and "R" were often hard to distinguish . From 2006 the font was changed again to improve legibility, and space was provided for a blue nationality stripe with a Norwegian flag . From 2009, plates were made of plastic, and produced in a factory at Tønsberg . From 2012, plates are again produced in aluminium . </P> <P> Current Russian licence plates are a mix of French FNI, traditional Arabic "windows", and Soviet "small characters", introduced in 1993 . See this for Soviet registration plates . </P>

Is tag number the same as plate number