Car Number Plates Explained 2024

The current system was introduced in 2001, with plates changing twice annually.

New car number plates come out on 1^st March and then again on 1^st September.  They’re made up of three parts…

YH24 JCT

1. The first two letters of your car’s number plate refer to where it was registered. The first letter is for the region, and the second is for the local DVLA office.
2. The two numbers following this are an age identifier, changed every 6 months at the beginning of March and September. The number in March equates to the current year, while in September, it’s simply the current year plus 50. For example, March 2024 = 24, and September 2024 = 74.
3. The last three letters are chosen randomly and provide the vehicle with a unique identity.

According to the Government, this system is expected to run until 2051.

The old ‘prefix’ number plate system began in August 1983 as a once-annual plate change. In 1999, it was changed to instead be a change that happened every six months, which then continued as the new system came into action in 2001.

A678 WRL

1. The leading letter indicates the year the car was registered, i.e. ‘A’ = 1983.
2. The three numbers following were allocated randomly.
3. Two of the final three letters represented the area in which the vehicle was registered, while the other was a randomly allocated letter.

Before the ‘prefix’ system, there was a ‘suffix’ number plate system between 1963 and 1983, which worked in a similar way.

The letter which identified the year [in this case ‘A’] was at the end of the number plate, rather than at the beginning, although until 1967, the registration year was from 1 January to 31 December. After 1967, the changeover was moved to 1 August.

How Can I Calculate the Age of My Car?

Need a quick way to figure out how old your car is? The table below shows the full list of number plate years, along with their age identifier.

Green number plates were introduced in 2022 to identify electric vehicles that produce zero emissions. However, hybrid vehicles don't get green plates because they still produce some emissions. The green plates are part of the automotive industry's efforts to promote environmentally friendly transportation and reduce pollution.

If you want to add a personal touch to your car, purchasing a private registration plate is an excellent option. You can buy a private plate either directly from the DVLA or through private companies.

After buying a private registration, you'll need to arrange for the plate to be manufactured and fitted to your vehicle, making sure it follows all legal requirements regarding size, font, and spacing.

When buying a new number plate, there are several important rules to follow, including regulations on spacing, lettering, and colouring. Front plates must have a white background, while rear plates need to be yellow. Additionally, there are specific requirements for the size of the lettering and the spacing between groups of characters. Any number plates that don’t meet these standards are not allowed.

When you purchase a private registration, the original number plate remains associated with your vehicle. This is important because it allows you to revert to your original plate or transfer the private registration to a different vehicle in the future. The old number plate is kept on record, ensuring that it can be re-linked to your vehicle if needed.

If you no longer need your old number plate, you can recycle it. Many local councils and recycling centres accept old number plates, helping to reduce waste and ensure they are disposed of responsibly.

No, you can’t put your number plate on an older car. For example, if your plate is from 2015, it can only be used on cars from 2015 or newer. You can’t use it to make an older vehicle look newer.

If you’re looking to buy a new car with the latest plate, you can browse our brand new vehicles in stock ready to reserve and buy in just a few clicks, or check out our fantastic offers currently available on brand new cars.