Exit numbering systems in Europe

Last updated 13-4-08

Exit numbers are indicated in three ways:

by text, e.g. 'EXIT 20'
using a special shield, like a circle, square or hexagon
by an international symbol indicating a motorway with a slip road turning off ending in an arrow.

This symbol is becoming increasingly popular, and it may be expected that more and more countries will start using it.

Country Sequential / by km Indicated by interchanges numbered match between roads On other roads than motorways Highest number On road remarks introduced (estimate)

Austria km symbol yes no only on some roads 366 A2 Initially used text 'exit'; not all numbers signposted 1990 (1988)

Belgium sequential shield: square no yes no 56 A26 before 1985

Croatia sequential circle yes no no 33 A1 2003

Cyprus sequential stretched circle yes no no A9 unique numbers nationwide before 1996

Czech Republic km text 'exit' yes no no 226 D1 before 1990

Denmark sequential shield: hexagon no yes no 76 E45 before 1978

Estonia sequential unknown not applicable no 12 2 unique numbers nationwide around 2007

Finland sequential symbol unknown E18 yes 81 E18/Vt7 only on Vt 1, 3, 4 and 7 2001

France sequential symbol no yes yes, even D 73 A77 not unique on A16, A29, A51 around 1985?

Germany sequential symbol and shield: circle yes only A46/A445 no 150 A1 gaps > next 10; during a test period around 1990, only a circle was used 1993

Greece sequential symbol yes no yes 165 unique numbers nationwide, replaced by new system around 2005 with numbering per road around 2000

Hungary km circle yes no no 233 M3 only known on M7 so far 2003

Ireland sequential symbol: square yes yes yes 14 M50 around 1990

Italy sequential text: 'uscita' yes no yes 33 Grande Raccordo Anulare (A90) only some bypasses/ ring roads, also letters

Luxembourg sequential symbol no yes no 15 A1 1996?

Netherlands sequential text: 'afrit', new symbol no yes only N15 58 A2 1993

Norway sequential symbol yes not applicable yes 14 yes only on E6 2006

Poland km text: 'wyjazd' no no no 426 A4 not on maps, apparently no longer maintained or extended before 1987

Portugal sequential rectangle yes no yes around 1995?

Slovakia km unknown yes no no 608 D1 obsolete? before 1990

Spain both symbol yes no yes 890 N340 trend towards km before 1980

Sweden sequential shield yes no no 196 E4 2003

Switzerland (old) sequential shield: circle yes n.a. no 10 A2 only in Basel, obsolete before 1990

Switzerland (new) sequential symbol yes no, numbers defined for both roads but only those belonging to lowest road number signposted yes, all A 86 A1 2002

Turkey sequential unknown yes no no 174 O3 spur numbers on spur derived from number of junction between main road and spur, therefore not unique before 1998

United Kingdom sequential shield: square yes no on some A roads 65 A1(M) Oldest in Europe? before 1970, A roads around 2000

Marcel Monterie

Europe main page

Road sign colours
Back to Home

Country	Sequential / by km	Indicated by	interchanges numbered	match between roads	On other roads than motorways	Highest number	On road	remarks	introduced (estimate)
Austria	km	symbol	yes	no	only on some roads	366	A2	Initially used text 'exit'; not all numbers signposted	1990 (1988)
Belgium	sequential	shield: square	no	yes	no	56	A26		before 1985
Croatia	sequential	circle	yes	no	no	33	A1		2003
Cyprus	sequential	stretched circle	yes	no	no		A9	unique numbers nationwide	before 1996
Czech Republic	km	text 'exit'	yes	no	no	226	D1		before 1990
Denmark	sequential	shield: hexagon	no	yes	no	76	E45		before 1978
Estonia	sequential	unknown	not applicable	no	12	2	unique numbers nationwide	around 2007
Finland	sequential	symbol	unknown	E18	yes	81	E18/Vt7	only on Vt 1, 3, 4 and 7	2001
France	sequential	symbol	no	yes	yes, even D	73	A77	not unique on A16, A29, A51	around 1985?
Germany	sequential	symbol and shield: circle	yes	only A46/A445	no	150	A1	gaps > next 10; during a test period around 1990, only a circle was used	1993
Greece	sequential	symbol	yes	no	yes	165		unique numbers nationwide, replaced by new system around 2005 with numbering per road	around 2000
Hungary	km	circle	yes	no	no	233	M3	only known on M7 so far	2003
Ireland	sequential	symbol: square	yes	yes	yes	14	M50		around 1990
Italy	sequential	text: 'uscita'	yes	no	yes	33	Grande Raccordo Anulare (A90)	only some bypasses/ ring roads, also letters
Luxembourg	sequential	symbol	no	yes	no	15	A1		1996?
Netherlands	sequential	text: 'afrit', new symbol	no	yes	only N15	58	A2		1993
Norway	sequential	symbol	yes	not applicable	yes	14	yes	only on E6	2006
Poland	km	text: 'wyjazd'	no	no	no	426	A4	not on maps, apparently no longer maintained or extended	before 1987
Portugal	sequential	rectangle	yes	no	yes				around 1995?
Slovakia	km	unknown	yes	no	no	608	D1	obsolete?	before 1990
Spain	both	symbol	yes	no	yes	890	N340	trend towards km	before 1980
Sweden	sequential	shield	yes	no	no	196	E4		2003
Switzerland (old)	sequential	shield: circle	yes	n.a.	no	10	A2	only in Basel, obsolete	before 1990
Switzerland (new)	sequential	symbol	yes	no, numbers defined for both roads but only those belonging to lowest road number signposted	yes, all A	86	A1		2002
Turkey	sequential	unknown	yes	no	no	174	O3 spur	numbers on spur derived from number of junction between main road and spur, therefore not unique	before 1998
United Kingdom	sequential	shield: square	yes	no	on some A roads	65	A1(M)	Oldest in Europe?	before 1970, A roads around 2000