License Plates

Unlike the States, where they yield little or no information other than to the police, Irish license plates read like an open book. The license plate above, for instance, indicates the vehicle was purchased new in 2000 in County Dublin (D) and was the 104,950th vehicle registered that year. All rental or hired cars, as they are called in Ireland, are registered in Dublin regardless of where the branch of the hiring agency is located. So it's easy enough to spot a Dub or a blow-in on the road, and some culchies would probably tell you there's not too much difference between the two.