of codes were allocated to the départements following (for the most part) the alphabetical order of their names. The first département, Ain, thus received AB, AC, AD, and AE, while the last, Yonne, received ZU, ZV and ZY. As the system lasted only 22 years, a lot of the départements never used all of their codes. Isère, for instance, was allocated HK, HL, HM, HN, HP, and HQ but used only HK. Registration plates issued after 1928 were similar to the older ones, with one to four numbers followed by the two-letter code. This code could be in turn followed by a number from 1 to 9 for the same purpose as in the 1901 system. The first car registered in Paris obtained 1 RB, and when 999 RB had been reached the following car obtained 1 RB1. Temporary plates for vehicles in transit on the French territory were created in 1933. They used TT instead of the geographical code. Diplomatic plates were first issued in 1936. They were in dark yellow with white lettering. Initially planned to last 75 years, the system was withdrawn in 1950. The following format kept the geographical structure but identified départements with numbers rather than letters, allowing a greater range of combinations. Overseas territories Overseas territories of France do not have the same system as continental France, unlike the overseas départements. Overseas territories have diverse statuses and enjoy a large autonomy. They are French Polynesia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, New Caledonia, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) and Clipperton Island. Saint Pierre and Miquelon: white front plate and white or yellow rear plate with black lettering. Contains SPM followed by one to three digits and a letter. SPM 999 A Saint Barthélemy: white front plate and white or yellow rear plate with black lettering. Contains one to three digits and a letter. 999 A Saint Martin: white front and rear plates. Contains four digits, a dash and three letters. 9999 - AAA New Caledonia: white front plate and yellow black plate or black plates with silver lettering. Contains one to six digits followed by NC. 999999 NC French Polynesia: white front plate and yellow black plate or black plates with silver lettering. One to six digits followed by P. 999999 P French Southern and Antarctic Lands: two digits indicating the year the car was built followed