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The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, is an international
One of the main benefits of the convention for motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognize the legality of vehicles from other signatory countries. The following requirements must be met when driving outside the country of registration:
* Cars must display their registration number (vehicle registration plate) at the rear at least. Registration numbers must consist either of figures or of figures and letters. They must be displayed in capital 
The requirement to display a distinguishing sign as defined in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic is waived between some countries, for example within the
Ratifications (list of countries)
{{Traffic signs Treaties concluded in 1949 Treaties entered into force in 1952 Transport treaties 1949 in Switzerland Rules of the road United Nations treaties Treaties of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania Treaties of Algeria Treaties of Argentina Treaties of Australia Treaties of Austria Treaties of Bangladesh Treaties of Barbados Treaties of Belgium Treaties extended to the Belgian Congo Treaties extended to Ruanda-Urundi Treaties of the Republic of Dahomey Treaties of Botswana Treaties of the People's Republic of Bulgaria Treaties of Burkina Faso Treaties of the Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970) Treaties of Canada Treaties of the Central African Republic Treaties of Chile Treaties of the Republic of the Congo Treaties of Ivory Coast Treaties of Cuba Treaties of Cyprus Treaties of Czechoslovakia Treaties of the Czech Republic Treaties of the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) Treaties of Denmark Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands Treaties extended to Greenland Treaties of the Dominican Republic Treaties of Ecuador Treaties of the Republic of Egypt (1953–1958) Treaties of Estonia Treaties of Fiji Treaties of Finland Treaties of the French Fourth Republic Treaties of Georgia (country) Treaties of Ghana Treaties of Greece Treaties of Guatemala Treaties of the Holy See Treaties of Haiti Treaties of the Hungarian People's Republic Treaties of Iceland Treaties of India Treaties of Ireland Treaties of Israel Treaties of Italy Treaties of Jamaica Treaties of Japan Treaties of Jordan Treaties of Kyrgyzstan Treaties of the Kingdom of Laos Treaties of Lebanon Treaties of Lesotho Treaties of Luxembourg Treaties of Madagascar Treaties of Malawi Treaties of the Federation of Malaya Treaties of Mali Treaties of Malta Treaties of Monaco Treaties of Montenegro Treaties of Morocco Treaties of Namibia Treaties of the Netherlands Treaties extended to Aruba Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles Treaties of New Zealand Treaties of Niger Treaties of Nigeria Treaties of Norway Treaties of Papua New Guinea Treaties of Paraguay Treaties of Peru Treaties of the Philippines Treaties of the Polish People's Republic Treaties of the Estado Novo (Portugal) Treaties of South Korea Treaties of the Socialist Republic of Romania Treaties of the Soviet Union Treaties of Rwanda Treaties of San Marino Treaties of Senegal Treaties of Serbia and Montenegro Treaties of Yugoslavia Treaties of Sierra Leone Treaties of Singapore Treaties of Slovakia Treaties of the Union of South Africa Treaties of the Dominion of Ceylon Treaties of Francoist Spain Treaties of Sweden Treaties of the Syrian Republic (1930–1963) Treaties of Thailand Treaties of Togo Treaties of Trinidad and Tobago Treaties of Tunisia Treaties of Turkey Treaties of Uganda Treaties of the United Arab Emirates Treaties of the United Kingdom Treaties extended to Gibraltar Treaties extended to Guernsey Treaties extended to the Isle of Man Treaties extended to Jersey Treaties of the United States Treaties extended to American Samoa Treaties extended to Baker Island Treaties extended to Guam Treaties extended to Howland Island Treaties extended to Jarvis Island Treaties extended to Johnston Atoll Treaties extended to Midway Atoll Treaties extended to Navassa Island Treaties extended to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Treaties extended to Palmyra Atoll Treaties extended to Puerto Rico Treaties extended to the United States Virgin Islands Treaties extended to Wake Island Treaties of Venezuela Treaties of Zimbabwe Treaties extended to the Territory of Papua and New Guinea Treaties extended to French Morocco Treaties extended to the French Protectorate of Tunisia Treaties extended to French Togoland Treaties extended to French Cameroon Treaties extended to Netherlands New Guinea Treaties extended to Surinam (Dutch colony) Treaties extended to the Western Samoa Trust Territory Treaties extended to Portuguese Angola Treaties extended to Portuguese Cape Verde Treaties extended to Portuguese Guinea Treaties extended to Portuguese India Treaties extended to Portuguese Mozambique Treaties extended to Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe Treaties extended to Portuguese Timor Treaties extended to South West Africa Treaties extended to British Guiana Treaties extended to British Honduras Treaties extended to the Colony of Aden Treaties extended to British Cyprus Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Seychelles Treaties extended to the Uganda Protectorate Treaties extended to the Gambia Colony and Protectorate Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Singapore Treaties extended to British Mauritius Treaties extended to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Treaties extended to the Sultanate of Zanzibar Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Malta Treaties extended to the Colony of Sierra Leone Treaties extended to the Colony of North Borneo Treaties extended to British Hong Kong Treaties extended to the Colony of the Bahamas Treaties extended to Swaziland (protectorate) Treaties extended to the Colony of Fiji Treaties extended to Spanish Sahara Treaties extended to Spanish Guinea Treaties extended to the West Indies Federation Treaties extended to the Panama Canal Zone Treaties extended to the Territory of Alaska Treaties extended to the Territory of Hawaii
treaty
A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal per ...
promoting the development and safety of international road traffic by establishing certain uniform rules among the contracting parties. The convention addresses minimum mechanical and safety equipment needed to be on board and defines an ''identification mark'' to identify the origin of the vehicle. The Convention was prepared and opened for signature by the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...
Conference on Road and Motor Transport held at Geneva from 23 August to 19 September 1949. It came into force on 26 March 1952. This conference also produced the Protocol on Road Signs and Signals.
There is a European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, in addition to the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, concluded in Geneva on 16 September 1950.
Contracting parties
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic was concluded in Geneva on 19 September 1949. The convention has been ratified by 101 countries. Since its entry into force on 26 March 1952, between signatory countries ("Contracting Parties") it replaces previous road traffic conventions, notably the 1926 International Convention relative to Motor Traffic and the International Convention relative to Road Traffic, and the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic in accordance with Article 30 of the Convention. Many of the contracting parties have also ratified the newer convention theVienna Convention on Road Traffic
The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by establishing standard traffic rules among the co ...
of 1968. Between signatory countries of the 1968 Vienna Convention, this replaces previous road traffic conventions including the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, in accordance with Article 48 of the Vienna Convention.
Cross-border vehicles
One of the main benefits of the convention for motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognize the legality of vehicles from other signatory countries. The following requirements must be met when driving outside the country of registration:
* Cars must display their registration number (vehicle registration plate) at the rear at least. Registration numbers must consist either of figures or of figures and letters. They must be displayed in capital Latin characters
The Latin script, also known as Roman script, is an alphabetic writing system based on the letters of the classical Latin alphabet, derived from a form of the Greek alphabet which was in use in the ancient Greek city of Cumae, in southern ...
and Arabic numerals
Arabic numerals are the ten numerical digits: , , , , , , , , and . They are the most commonly used symbols to write decimal numbers. They are also used for writing numbers in other systems such as octal, and for writing identifiers such a ...
. In addition to this, the registration number may optionally be displayed in a different alphabet. Registration numbers can not consist of only letters; according to the current wording of paragraph 1 of Annex 3, a vehicle with the registration number with only letters would not be allowed in international traffic. This requirement was proposed amended in 2016.
* A distinguishing sign of the country of registration must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. This sign must be placed separately from the registration plate. It may not be incorporated into the vehicle registration plate (such as the EU format registration plates).
*The physical requirements for the distinguishing sign are defined in Annex 4 of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which states that the letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal.
*The vehicle must meet all technical requirements to be legal for road use in the country of registration. Any conflicting technical requirements (e.g., right-hand-drive or left-hand-drive) in the signatory country where the vehicle is being driven do not apply.
* The driver must carry the vehicle's registration certificate, and if the vehicle is not registered in the name of an occupant of the vehicle (e.g., a hire car
A car rental, hire car or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time to the public, generally ranging from a few hours to a few weeks. It is often organized with numerous local branches (which allow a user to ...
), proof of the driver's right to be in possession of the vehicle.
The requirement to display a distinguishing sign as defined in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic is waived between some countries, for example within the European Economic Area
The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the ''Agreement on the European Economic Area'', an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade As ...
, for vehicles with registration plates in the common EU format (which incorporates the distinguishing sign into the registration plate). This is also possible in countries party to the newer Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and between Canada and the United States (where the province, state, or district of registration is usually embossed or surface-printed on the vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificat ...
).
International Driving Permit
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic is one of three conventions that governs International Driving Permits. The other two are the 1926 Paris International Convention relative to Motor Traffic and the 1968Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by establishing standard traffic rules among the co ...
. When a state is contracting to more than one convention, the newest one terminate and replace previous ones in relation between those states.
The 1949 Convention's description of a driving permit and international driving permit are located in Annexes 9 and 10. The 1949 Geneva Convention states that an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue.
* "Permissible maximum weight" of a vehicle means the weight of the vehicle and its maximum load when the vehicle is ready for road.
* "Maximum load" means the weight of the load declared permissible by the competent authority of the country(or jurisdiction) of registration of the vehicle.
* "Light trailers" shall be those of permissible maximum weight not exceeding 750 kg (1,650 lbs).
See also
*List of international vehicle registration codes
The country in which a motor vehicle's vehicle registration plate was issued may be indicated by an international licence plate country code, formerly known as an International Registration Letter or International Circulation Mark. It is ref ...
* International Driving Permit
* Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
The Convention on Road Traffic, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by establishing standard traffic rules among the co ...
* Rules of the road Rules of the road may refer to:
Transportation
*Rules of the Road (Ireland), the official road safety manual for Ireland
* Rules of the road in China
*International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
*
Arts and entertainment
* ''Rules o ...
References
External links
Ratifications (list of countries)
{{Traffic signs Treaties concluded in 1949 Treaties entered into force in 1952 Transport treaties 1949 in Switzerland Rules of the road United Nations treaties Treaties of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania Treaties of Algeria Treaties of Argentina Treaties of Australia Treaties of Austria Treaties of Bangladesh Treaties of Barbados Treaties of Belgium Treaties extended to the Belgian Congo Treaties extended to Ruanda-Urundi Treaties of the Republic of Dahomey Treaties of Botswana Treaties of the People's Republic of Bulgaria Treaties of Burkina Faso Treaties of the Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970) Treaties of Canada Treaties of the Central African Republic Treaties of Chile Treaties of the Republic of the Congo Treaties of Ivory Coast Treaties of Cuba Treaties of Cyprus Treaties of Czechoslovakia Treaties of the Czech Republic Treaties of the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) Treaties of Denmark Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands Treaties extended to Greenland Treaties of the Dominican Republic Treaties of Ecuador Treaties of the Republic of Egypt (1953–1958) Treaties of Estonia Treaties of Fiji Treaties of Finland Treaties of the French Fourth Republic Treaties of Georgia (country) Treaties of Ghana Treaties of Greece Treaties of Guatemala Treaties of the Holy See Treaties of Haiti Treaties of the Hungarian People's Republic Treaties of Iceland Treaties of India Treaties of Ireland Treaties of Israel Treaties of Italy Treaties of Jamaica Treaties of Japan Treaties of Jordan Treaties of Kyrgyzstan Treaties of the Kingdom of Laos Treaties of Lebanon Treaties of Lesotho Treaties of Luxembourg Treaties of Madagascar Treaties of Malawi Treaties of the Federation of Malaya Treaties of Mali Treaties of Malta Treaties of Monaco Treaties of Montenegro Treaties of Morocco Treaties of Namibia Treaties of the Netherlands Treaties extended to Aruba Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles Treaties of New Zealand Treaties of Niger Treaties of Nigeria Treaties of Norway Treaties of Papua New Guinea Treaties of Paraguay Treaties of Peru Treaties of the Philippines Treaties of the Polish People's Republic Treaties of the Estado Novo (Portugal) Treaties of South Korea Treaties of the Socialist Republic of Romania Treaties of the Soviet Union Treaties of Rwanda Treaties of San Marino Treaties of Senegal Treaties of Serbia and Montenegro Treaties of Yugoslavia Treaties of Sierra Leone Treaties of Singapore Treaties of Slovakia Treaties of the Union of South Africa Treaties of the Dominion of Ceylon Treaties of Francoist Spain Treaties of Sweden Treaties of the Syrian Republic (1930–1963) Treaties of Thailand Treaties of Togo Treaties of Trinidad and Tobago Treaties of Tunisia Treaties of Turkey Treaties of Uganda Treaties of the United Arab Emirates Treaties of the United Kingdom Treaties extended to Gibraltar Treaties extended to Guernsey Treaties extended to the Isle of Man Treaties extended to Jersey Treaties of the United States Treaties extended to American Samoa Treaties extended to Baker Island Treaties extended to Guam Treaties extended to Howland Island Treaties extended to Jarvis Island Treaties extended to Johnston Atoll Treaties extended to Midway Atoll Treaties extended to Navassa Island Treaties extended to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Treaties extended to Palmyra Atoll Treaties extended to Puerto Rico Treaties extended to the United States Virgin Islands Treaties extended to Wake Island Treaties of Venezuela Treaties of Zimbabwe Treaties extended to the Territory of Papua and New Guinea Treaties extended to French Morocco Treaties extended to the French Protectorate of Tunisia Treaties extended to French Togoland Treaties extended to French Cameroon Treaties extended to Netherlands New Guinea Treaties extended to Surinam (Dutch colony) Treaties extended to the Western Samoa Trust Territory Treaties extended to Portuguese Angola Treaties extended to Portuguese Cape Verde Treaties extended to Portuguese Guinea Treaties extended to Portuguese India Treaties extended to Portuguese Mozambique Treaties extended to Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe Treaties extended to Portuguese Timor Treaties extended to South West Africa Treaties extended to British Guiana Treaties extended to British Honduras Treaties extended to the Colony of Aden Treaties extended to British Cyprus Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Seychelles Treaties extended to the Uganda Protectorate Treaties extended to the Gambia Colony and Protectorate Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Singapore Treaties extended to British Mauritius Treaties extended to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Treaties extended to the Sultanate of Zanzibar Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Malta Treaties extended to the Colony of Sierra Leone Treaties extended to the Colony of North Borneo Treaties extended to British Hong Kong Treaties extended to the Colony of the Bahamas Treaties extended to Swaziland (protectorate) Treaties extended to the Colony of Fiji Treaties extended to Spanish Sahara Treaties extended to Spanish Guinea Treaties extended to the West Indies Federation Treaties extended to the Panama Canal Zone Treaties extended to the Territory of Alaska Treaties extended to the Territory of Hawaii