What do the current license plate formats in Mallorca indicate about the vehicle's origin?

In Mallorca, as part of Spain, vehicle registration plates follow a standardized format established by the Spanish government. The current license plate format consists of four numbers followed by three letters, for example, "1234 ABC". This system was introduced in 2000, replacing the previous format that included province codes. The absence of a geographic identifier on the plates means that the specific region of the vehicle's registration is not explicitly indicated, unlike older formats that might have started with a two-letter province code, such as "MA" for Mallorca.

However, vehicles registered in Mallorca can still have local distinctions, as the vehicles are processed through the traffic authorities in Palma, the island's capital. In local contexts, residents can sometimes determine the vehicle's origin based on registration documents or by recognizing certain characteristics associated with locally registered vehicles. Additionally, vehicles registered in Mallorca must adhere to Spanish national regulations, including emissions standards and safety inspections, reflecting their origin as part of a unified national framework.