A License Plate is a sign attached to a road traversing vehicle for identification purposes. License Plates differ by colour, size and font depending on their country of origin.
License Plates have never had an influence on the gameplay elements seen in the Need for Speed series as they are mainly used for aesthetic purposes. Drivable vehicles in the Need for Speed only have a License Plate on their rear bumper.
Need for Speed: High Stakes was the first title in the series to feature License Plates.
Need for Speed: High Stakes & Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed
License Plates in Need for Speed: High Stakes and Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed feature no customization options as they only display the player's name.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
License Plates in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 don't use the player's name. They are replaced with "ND 4 SPD" inscribed on the License Plates of all vehicles featured in the title.
Underground Series
Every vehicle featured in both Need for Speed: Underground and Need for Speed: Underground 2 has a US License Plate with "UNDRGRND" illustrated with "NeedforSpeed" written above in small lettering.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
License Plates in Need for Speed: Most Wanted were slightly changed. They feature the inscription "NFSMW". On the left of each License Plate is a small symbol as well as "NeedforSpeed" illustrated again and "City of Rockport" below the main lettering.
Need for Speed: Carbon
License Plates in Need for Speed: Carbon except that with "CARBON" written instead of "NFSMW".
The logos were also replaced with "City of Palmont" as well as a number 11 to show that it is the 11th title in the Need for Speed franchise if Motor City Online is included.
Need for Speed: ProStreet
The License Plates in Need for Speed: ProStreet replaced the old writing with "PROSTREET".
Need for Speed: Undercover
"ND 4 SPD" was used as the License Plate typing for Need for Speed: Undercover. It was last used in Hot Pursuit 2 although every vehicle has a US plate.
It also includes a short inscription stating "Tri City Bay" as this the region in which Need for Speed: Undercover takes place.
Need for Speed: World
Need for Speed: World features default plates with a large Need for Speed logo with "NEED FOR SPEED" written above it.
Need for Speed: World became the first title in the series to allow players to customize the License Plate of their owned vehicles. Custom License Plates were added on March 15th, 2011 as well as being made purchasable from the player's Safehouse.
The range is split between those that can be bought with Speedboost and those that can be bought with ingame Cash. There are also special plates that are only available with specific vehicles.
| Need for Speed: World License Plates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Text | Price | Availability |
| ANDY B | - | BMW Z4 GT3 Team Need for Speed Edition |
| BEAST | - | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The Beast Edition |
| BTLMCHN | - | Mazda RX-7 Battle Machine Edition |
| BUSHIDO |  200
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| CANADA | 800
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| CODE505 | - | Juggernaut Edition Vehicles |
| CROSS | 800
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| DARIUS | 800
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| DTSCHLAND | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| EARL | 800
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| FLEXOR | - | BMW 135i Coupe Flexor Edition |
| FRANCE | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| I BEAT U | 800
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| ITALIA | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| IZZY | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| MIA | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| ND4SPD |  7,500
|
Cash Purchase |
| NGLAND | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| POLSKA | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| RAVEN | - | Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Raven |
| ROSE | - | Porsche 911 Turbo Rose Edition |
| RUSSIA | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| SCPD003 | - | Porsche 911 GT3 RS Seacrest County Police |
| SHATTER | - | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Shatter Edition |
| STAKDEK | 200
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| TREASURE | - | Porsche Cayman S Treasure Hunt Edition |
| UGRND1 | - | Nissan Skyline GT-R Underground Edition |
| UGRND2 | - | Nissan 350Z Underground 2 Edition |
| USA | 400
|
SpeedBoost Purchase |
| VESNA | - | Audi TT RS Vesna Edition |
| WORLD | 7,500
|
Cash Purchase |
| YEAR 1 | 1
|
Discontinued |
| YEAR 1 | - | Porsche 959 Year 1 Edition |
| ZACK | - | Volkswagen Scirocco Zack Edition |
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) reuses the "ND 4 SPD" License Plate writing seen in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and Need for Speed: Undercover.
Some vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Lamborghini Diablo SV use European Plates compared to each and every other vehicle that features a US Plate.
Need for Speed: The Run
Need for Speed: The Run will feature US License Plates with the inscription - "NFS" as well as a small Need for Speed logo on the left side of the text on the vehicle's driven by Jack Rourke.
Some other opponents featured in the story mode of Need for Speed: The Run have special customized License Plates placed onto their vehicles.