18th Oct 2023
Are you unsure how old a vehicle is? Well, there is an easy way to tell when you look at most vehicles. This is though the number plate.
In the UK you can identify the age of the vehicle by looking at theregistration plate. That is because registration plates in the United Kingdomfollow a specific format and set of rules.
For example, Standard UK car number plates consist of a combination of letters and numbers, typically in the format of two letters, followed by two numbers, a space, and then three more letters or numbers (for example, AB12 CD3).
Also, the first two letters on the plate represent the region where the vehicle was originally registered and are assigned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
However, it is the ‘age identifier’ that most people are aware of. These are the two numbers in the middle represent the age of the vehicle. The first number indicates the year of registration, and the second number indicates the specific six-month period within that year (March to August or September to February).
The last three letters on the plate are generally random and do not carry any specific information.
It is a legal requirement for vehicles to display front and rear number plates.
Some vehicles will have personalised number plates that don’t follow any of these rules.
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Number plate registration years chart
| Year of release | March 1st - August 31st Plate Numbers | September 1st - 28th/29th February Plate Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 23 | 73 |
| 2022/23 | 22 | 72 |
| 2021/22 | 21 | 71 |
| 2020/21 | 20 | 70 |
| 2019/20 | 19 | 69 |
| 2018/19 | 18 | 68 |
| 2017/18 | 17 | 67 |
| 2016/17 | 16 | 66 |
| 2015/16 | 15 | 65 |
| 2014/15 | 14 | 64 |
| 2013/14 | 13 | 63 |
| 2012/13 | 12 | 62 |
| 2011/12 | 11 | 61 |
| 2010/11 | 10 | 60 |
| 2009/10 | 09 | 59 |
| 2008/09 | 08 | 58 |
| 2007/08 | 07 | 57 |
| 2006/07 | 06 | 56 |
| 2005/06 | 05 | 55 |
| 2004/05 | 04 | 54 |
| 2003/04 | 03 | 53 |
| 2002/03 | 02 | 52 |
| 2001/02 | 01 | 51 |
| 2001 | Y | Y |
| 2000 | X | X |
| 2000 | W | W |
| 1999 | T | T |
| 1999 | V | V |
| 1998 | S | S |
| 1997 | R | R |
| 1996 | P | P |
| 1995 | N | N |
| 1994 | M | M |
| 1993 | L | L |
| 1992 | K | K |
| 1991 | J | J |
| 1990 | H | H |
| 1989 | G | G |
| 1988 | F | F |
| 1987 | E | E |
| 1986 | D | D |
| 1985 | C | C |
| 1983 | B | B |
| 1983 | A | A |
From 1983 until 2001, the letters used to date a number plate we used as prefixes before the rest of the letters and numbers.
Before 1983, they used the letters as a suffix. this started in 1963 with the letter A, and ended in 1983 with Y.
When will the 2024 car registration plates be released?
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will release the 2024 car registration plates on the 1st March.
The release date for new registration plates happens every March.
Typically, the DVLA will release the information through their website, and if you purchase a new vehicle, they will appear on the front and rear bumpers.
This guide will be updated every six months to reflect the latest developments.
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Complete peace of mind for less
•Cheaper than AA price guarantee^
•We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
•Our patrols fix 4/5 on the spot
Buy now
*10% of customers paid this or less between 21/06/24 - 30/06/24. Comparison based on www.theaa.com closest equivalent cover as at 12/08/24.^New customers. Find the same cover cheaper via theaa.com within 7 days & we'll beat it by 10%.
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