FE-Schrift

Fälschungserschwerende Schrift
CategorySans-serif
Designer(s)Karlgeorg Hoefer
FoundryBundesanstalt für Straßenwesen
Date created1978–1980
Glyphs102
Also known asFE-Schrift
Schrift für Kfz-Kennzeichen
Sample
A demonstration of attempted alteration of characters set in the FE-Schrift typeface. The series "PBF" (top row) is modified to read "R3E" (middle row, in red). The correct appearance of the series "R3E" is shown in the bottom row.

The FE-Schrift[1] or Fälschungserschwerende Schrift ('forgery-impeding typeface') is a sans serif typeface introduced for use on licence plates. Its monospaced letters and numbers are slightly disproportionate to prevent easy modification and to improve machine readability. The typeface was developed in Germany, where it has been mandatory since November 2000.[2]

The abbreviation "FE" is derived from the compound German adjective fälschungserschwerend combining the noun Fälschung ('falsification') and the verb erschweren ('to hinder'). Schrift means 'font' in German (cognate with the English word script). Other countries have later introduced the same or a derived typeface for license plates taking advantage of the proven design for the FE-Schrift.

  1. ^ Schrift für Kfz-Kennzeichen. Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.
  2. ^ "FZV (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung)".