60-second summary
Here’s what you need to know about UK car number plates in a nutshell:
UK registration plates are used to identify vehicles so they can be registered, taxed and recognised by police.
There have been a few different number plate formats over the years, but the current system has been in place since 2001.
You can tell when and where your car was first registered by looking at the ‘age identifier’ characters on your number plate.
Registration numbers are allocated by the DVLA, but you can buy a personalised number plate if you want.
UK number plates created after September 2021 are subject to strict design rules that govern the font, colour, spacing and national identifying symbols.
You could get a fine and your car will fail its MOT if your number plates aren’t displayed properly or are obscured.
If your number plate is stolen, you’ll need to report it to the police, your insurance provider and the DVLA, and get a replacement from an authorised dealer.
Why do we have number plates?
Number plates are used to identify vehicles so they can be registered and taxed. They’re also used to identify vehicles for law-enforcement purposes.
Number plates come with the vehicle, not the person who owns it, so when you sell your vehicle the number plate goes with it unless you apply to keep it. Number plates are allocated by the DVLA and officially owned by the Secretary of State.
When did number plates first start?
Number plates were first introduced in the UK as part of the Motor Act of 1903. In the early days of UK licence plates, registration numbers consisted of a single or double letter and a number from 1 to 9999.
Within a few decades, these combinations were all used up as more and more cars hit UK roads, and the format was extended to three numbers and three letters – a system that lasted from 1932 through to the sixties.
Between 1963 and 1965, a new element was added – a letter at the end of the plate that indicated the vehicle’s age. This was moved to the beginning of the plate in 1983 and was followed by three numbers, a serial code and an area code.
This system was replaced by the UK number plate format we recognise today in 2001. The current series of number plates are sometimes called ‘Millennium’ or ‘new-style’ plates.
What do number plate characters mean now?
The number plate registration format we know today was introduced in September 2001. It has three elements:
The DVLA memory tag
This is two letters at the beginning of the plate. They identify the region where the vehicle was first registered. There are 19 regions covering England, Scotland and Wales.
Northern Ireland uses a different system to the rest of the UK, but it also uses two letters to identify the county where the vehicle was first registered, all of which contain either an I or a Z.
I, Q and Z aren’t used in these memory tags in England, Scotland or Wales because they look too similar to other characters and could cause confusion.
Q plates are used if a vehicle’s age or identity is in doubt, and may be used for radically modified cars, rebuilt classic cars and kit cars.
The age identifier
This is two numbers telling you when the vehicle was first registered. It doesn’t appear on Northern Ireland plates.
The age identifier tells you when your vehicle was first registered, within a six-month period.
The age identifier for new registration plates changes on 1 March and 1 September every year.
Three randomly generated letters
Although it is excluded from the memory tag, Z may be included as a random letter.
In Northern Ireland plates can include up to four random numbers.
DVLA memory tags
Letter | Postal area | DVLA memory tag identifier | |
|---|---|---|---|
A | Anglia | Peterborough Norwich Ipswich | AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM ANAO AP AR AS AT AU AV AW AX AY |
B | Birmingham | Birmingham | BA – BY |
C | Cymru | Cardiff Swansea Bangor | CA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CJ CK CL CM CN COCP CR CS CT CU CV CW CX CY |
D | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Chester Shrewsbury | DA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DJ DK DL DM DN DO DP DR DS DT DU DV DW DX DY |
E | Essex | Chelmsford | EA – EY |
F | Forest & Fens | Nottingham Lincoln | FA FB FC FD FE FF FG FH FJ FK FL FM FN FP FR FS FT FV FW FX FY |
G | Garden of England | Maidstone Brighton | GA GB GC GD GE GF GG GH GJ GK GL GM GN GO GP GR GS GT GU GV GW GX GY |
H | Hampshire & Dorset | Bournemouth Portsmouth | HA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HJ HK HL HM HN HO HP HR HS HT HU HV HW HX HY (HW used exclusively for Isle of Wight residents) |
K | Borehamwood Northampton | KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KJ KK KLKM KN KO KP KR KS KT KU KV KW KX KY | |
L | London | Wimbledon Borehamwood Sidcup | LA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LJ LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LS LT LU LV LW LX LY |
M | Manchester & Merseyside | Manchester | MA – MY (MN + MAN reserved for the Isle of Man) |
N | North | Newcastle Stockton | NA NB NC ND NE NG NH NJ NK NL NM NN NO NP NR NS NT NU NV NW NX NY |
O | Oxford | Oxford | OA – OY |
P | Preston | Preston Carlisle | PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM PN PO PP PR PS PTPU PV PW PX PY |
R | Reading | Theale | RA – RY |
S | Scotland | Glasgow Edinburgh Dundee Aberdeen Inverness | SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJSK SL SM SN SOSP SR SS STSU SV SWSX SY |
V | Severn Valley | Worcester | VA – VY |
W | West of England | Exeter Truro Bristol | WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WJ WK WL WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WV WW WX WY |
Y | Yorkshire | Leeds Sheffield Beverley | YA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YJ YK YL YM YN YO YP YR YS YT YU YV YW YX YY |
DVLA age identifiers
If your car was registered after 2001, it will have one of the following two number codes in the middle of the number plate. These tell you the year and the time of year it was first registered:
Date | Code | Date | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
Sept 2001 – Feb 2002 | 51 | ||
March 2002 – Aug 2002 | 02 | Sept 2002 – Feb 2003 | 52 |
March 2003 – Aug 2003 | 03 | Sept 2003 – Feb 2004 | 53 |
March 2004 – Aug 2004 | 04 | Sept 2004 – Feb 2005 | 54 |
March 2005 – Aug 2005 | 05 | Sept 2005 – Feb 2006 | 55 |
March 2006 – Aug 2006 | 06 | Sept 2006 – Feb 2007 | 56 |
March 2007 – Aug 2007 | 07 | Sept 2007 – Feb 2008 | 57 |
March 2008 – Aug 2008 | 08 | Sept 2008 – Feb 2009 | 58 |
March 2009 – Aug 2009 | 09 | Sept 2009 – Feb 2010 | 59 |
March 2010 – Aug 2010 | 10 | Sept 2010 – Feb 2011 | 60 |
March 2011 – Aug 2011 | 11 | Sept 2011 – Feb 2012 | 61 |
March 2012 – Aug 2012 | 12 | Sept 2012 – Feb 2013 | 62 |
March 2013 – Aug 2013 | 13 | Sept 2013 – Feb 2014 | 63 |
March 2014 – Aug 2014 | 14 | Sept 2014 – Feb 2015 | 64 |
March 2015 – Aug 2015 | 15 | Sept 2015 – Feb 2016 | 65 |
March 2016 – Aug 2016 | 16 | Sept 2016 – Feb 2017 | 66 |
March 2017 – Aug 2017 | 17 | Sept 2017 – Feb 2018 | 67 |
March 2018 – Aug 2018 | 18 | Sept 2018 – Feb 2019 | 68 |
March 2019 – Aug 2019 | 19 | Sept 2019 – Feb 2020 | 69 |
March 2020 – Aug 2020 | 20 | Sept 2020 – Feb 2021 | 70 |
March 2021 – Aug 2021 | 21 | Sept 2021 – Feb 2022 | 71 |
March 2022 – Aug 2022 | 22 | Sept 2022 – Feb 2023 | 72 |
March 2023 – Aug 2023 | 23 | Sept 2023 – Feb 2024 | 73 |
March 2024 – Aug 2024 | 24 | Sept 2024 – Feb 2025 | 74 |
March 2025 – Aug 2025 | 25 | Sept 2025 – Feb 2026 | 75 |
March 2026 – Aug 2026 | 26 | Sept 2026 – Feb 2027 | 76 |
March 2027 – Aug 2027 | 27 | Sept 2027 – Feb 2028 | 77 |
March 2028 – Aug 2028 | 28 | Sept 2028 – Feb 2029 | 78 |
March 2029 – Aug 2029 | 29 | Sept 2029 – Feb 2030 | 79 |
How can I find out the age of a pre-2001 vehicle?
Cars registered between 1983 and 1 September 2001 used a ‘prefix registration’ format in this sequence:
One letter (age identifier) – symbolising the year the car was first registered
Random numbers
Three letters (area code).
Cars registered between 1963 and 1982 used a ‘suffix registration format’ in this sequence:
Three letters (area code)
Random numbers
One letter (age identifier) – the year the car was first registered.
The car registration years chart below shows how old a car is depending on the suffix (1963-1982) or prefix (1983-2001) formats.
Age identifier | Suffix | Prefix |
|---|---|---|
A reg year | Jan-Dec 1963 | Aug 1983 - July 1984 |
B reg year | Jan-Dec 1964 | Aug 1984 - July 1985 |
C reg year | Jan-Dec 1965 | Aug 1985 - July 1986 |
D reg year | Jan-Dec 1966 | Aug 1986 - July 1987 |
E reg year | Jan-July 1967 | Aug 1987 - July 1988 |
F reg year | Aug 1967 - July 1968 | Aug 1989 - July 1989 |
G reg year | Aug 1968 - July 1969 | Aug 1989 - July 1990 |
H reg year | Aug 1969 - July 1970 | Aug 1990 - July 1991 |
J reg year | Aug 1970 - July 1971 | Aug 1991 - July 1992 |
K reg year | Aug 1971 - July 1972 | Aug 1992 - July 1993 |
L reg year | Aug 1972 - July 1973 | Aug 1993 - July 1994 |
M reg year | Aug 1973 - July 1974 | Aug 1994 - July 1995 |
N reg year | Aug 1974 - July 1975 | Aug 1995 - July 1996 |
P reg year | Aug 1975 - July 1976 | Aug 1996 - July 1997 |
R reg year | Aug 1976 - July 1977 | Aug 1997 - July 1998 |
S reg year | Aug 1977 - July 1978 | Aug 1998 - Feb 1999 |
T reg year | Aug 1978 - July 1979 | March 1999 – Aug 1999 |
V reg year | Aug 1979 - July 1980 | Sept 1999 – Feb 2000 |
W reg year | Aug 1980 - July 1981 | March 2000 – Aug 2000 |
X reg year | Aug 1981 - July 1982 | Sept 2000 – Feb 2001 |
Y reg year | Aug 1982 - July 1983 | March 2001 – Aug 2001 |
Other ways to check the age of your car
If you don’t fancy decoding your number plate, there are other ways to find out how old it is.
Look in your V5C logbook
The V5C logbook can tell you when the car was first registered. To find out when your car was first registered, go to the ‘Vehicle Details’ section.
Get info on your car directly from DVLA
You can find out a whole heap of interesting information about your car on the DVLA website.
What’s a personalised number plate?
A personalised plate is one you choose for yourself. Also known as a private number plate, it will often have the characters arranged to spell something like a name or to show a significant date, such as a birthday.
If you’re thinking about getting a private number plate, there are a few factors to bear in mind. For example, if your personalised plate has an age identifier, you can put it on a vehicle of that age or a newer one. But you can’t put it on an older vehicle as this could make it appear newer than it is.
There are also rules about what number plates can say. Combinations spelling out offensive words are banned, for example, as you might expect.
Number plate rules
Plates can’t be altered and there are strict rules on:
Fonts
The spacing between letters
Colours (must have a white background at the front of the vehicle and a yellow background at the back)
Letters must be solid and black – two-tone letter styles that are made to look 3D were banned from September 2021
The material the number plate is made from must be reflective.
All UK number plates for vehicles registered after September 2021 must now show who supplied the number plate and be marked with a new British Standard Number, for example, ‘BS AU 145e’. The new plates are made from a more durable material that makes them more resistant to damage.
Number plates must only be displayed on the back of motorbikes, if they were registered on or after 1 September 2001. Bikes registered before may also display a number plate on the front, although they don’t have to.
Rules on flags and nationality letters
You can choose to have a flag and identifying nationality letters on your number plate if you want. Permitted flags are:
Union flag, known as the Union Jack
Cross of St George
Cross of St Andrew, known as the Saltire
Red Dragon of Wales.
You can show the following national identifier letters, below the flag:
UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom or UK
GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain or GB
CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym
ENGLAND, England, ENG, Eng
SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco
WALES or Wales.
It’s vital that you display your number plate correctly. If you don’t, you could be fined as much as £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT.
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FAQs
Are Northern Ireland number plates different to the rest of the UK?
Yes, Northern Ireland plates have a different format to the rest of the UK. They show three letters – a serial letter followed by a two-letter code indicating the county – followed by a number sequence of up to four digits.
Northern Ireland number plates don’t indicate the age of the vehicle.
How much does it cost to buy a personalised number plate?
Prices vary widely, but a personalised plate is likely to cost several hundred pounds and possibly even thousands. Some private number plates are available to buy for a fixed price online, but the DVLA also holds regular auctions for its most popular numbers
How do I replace a damaged licence plate?
You can only buy UK number plates from a registered supplier. You can find an authorised number plate dealer in your area using the postcode search tool on GOV.UK. You’ll need to show evidence that you own the vehicle – normally the V5C log book – as well as proof of identity and proof of address.
To get a replacement number plate you’ll need to show evidence that you own the vehicle – normally the V5C log book – as well as proof of identity and address.
It’s an offence to drive with an obscured or illegible licence plate, so if your number plate is damaged and is no longer clear to read, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible to avoid a fine of up to £1,000.
What should I do if my licence plate is stolen?
If your licence plate is stolen, you should contact the police and your insurance provider as soon as possible and let the DVLA know. Unfortunately, if the police are unable to return your stolen plates, you’ll need to buy a replacement.
What is licence plate cloning?
Licence plate cloning is when criminals copy the registration of a car and use it on a stolen car of the same make, model and colour to make it seem legitimate.
If you start receiving bills or fines that you weren’t responsible for, then you may be a victim of licence plate cloning.
In such a case, you should contact the police, return any fines to the issuer with a letter stating your case, and contact the DVLA in writing with the crime reference number given to you by the police.
What are green number plates?
If you have a zero-emission vehicle you can show off your green credentials with the help of a green number plate. They show a green flash on the left-hand side of the number plate.
Can I have two-tone letters on my licence plate?
According to DVLA rules, vehicles registered after 1 September 2021 must show solid black lettering on their licence plate only. These rules ban the two-tone style that used different shades to give the characters on a registration plate a 3D effect.
This change is designed to make it easier for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to read the registration on UK number plates.
Do I need a number plate for my trailer?
Yes, if you’re towing a trailer, you’ll need to fix a number plate on the back with the same registration number as the vehicle you’re using to tow it.
If your trailer weighs over 3,500kg in gross weight, you may need to register your trailer with the DVLA if you plan on driving it abroad in certain countries in Europe.
Once a trailer has been registered with the DVLA it gets its own unique registration number.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
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Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
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What our expert says...
“Number plate characters have meaning – they can tell you where a car was registered, as well as how old it is. Altering a number plate is against the law, but you can buy your own personalised number plate.”