Australian drivers have been left baffled after spotting a car with an unusual number plate driving across the country.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser was recently spotted on a road with a yellow license plate on the back and a matching white one on the front.
One motorist was so baffled by the plates that he took a photo and posted it on Reddit to find out what it meant.
‘What’s wrong with this plate?’ they wrote.
They soon learned about a “little-known” law that allows foreign drivers to use their own cars (with full registration) in Australia.
The law allows foreigners to bring their vehicles into the country for tourist purposes, as long as they have a Carnet De Passages in Douane (CPD).
Australian drivers were baffled to see a car with an unusual number plate driving around the country.
CPD notebooks can be applied to motor vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes, four-wheel drive vehicles, caravans and trailers and, according to the Australian Automotive Association, Australians can do the same overseas.
According to the website, the Carnet de Passages en Douane, or CPD Carnet, are the international customs documents that cover the temporary admission of motor vehicles.
“The carnet (pronounced car-nay) is valid for 12 months and allows visitors to temporarily import their private vehicles for tourist purposes only,” it reads.
The vehicle photographed is from Hong Kong and belongs to an avid traveler. He has been to 29 countries in the car, including China, Europe and the Middle East.
The Reddit post proved popular.
‘It is legal to import a car into Australia temporarily and drive it with the registration from its original destination; think about driving on vacation. It’s not profitable,” one person said.
“It would be fun if you liked attracting attention and being stopped repeatedly by confused police officers,” said another.
‘It’s a Hong Kong dish, I saw this guy on Facebook. He’s going around the world in this car. A dream life,” added another.