License plates in France. Rental Cars.

So this is how they issue vehicle license plates in France, and the system is about to change. Chanced upon this article - real interesting.

'In France, your number plate ends with the two digits of the administrative district, or département, where you live.'
'If you hire a car in France, be aware that everybody else can see that fact and assume you are a hopeless foreigner because your licence number ends with 60. For tax reasons, the big hire companies register their cars in the département where it is cheapest to do so - the Oise - le 60.'

A little different than in the United States, eh? For rental cars, time was when the rental company's name and logo would be displayed on the car. They changed that when many drivers said they didn't want to be seen as driving a rental car. Human nature. Sure, you want people to think that fancy rental SUV or convertible is yours.

But it's good to pretend it's a rental if you rent:

• A Hummer (are these rented out all?). You'd get nasty stares and gestures these days....no kidding. Yell back - 'It's a rental!'
  
• A Hyundai Accent, Kia Sephia or any Korean make. Then you could say your own car's a fancy SUV/convertible. Say it often to your passengers and whoever sees you getting in/out the car.
  
• A Dodge Magnum. Looks like a hearse. Alternatively, pretend to be a hearse driver to get with it and play the part.
  

Be warned it's a dead giveaway for a rental if you get a new Pontiac Bonneville/Grand Am/Sunfire (all discontinued from '06), any GM tank - Impala or similar, Chevy Cavalier/Malibu, or Dodge Stratus. Even easier to spot with out of state license plates. =)
Is this important to know? No.