What is a British Car License Plate?
A British number plate (commonly called a license plate) is a vehicle identifier showing where and when a vehicle was first registered.
The first two letters indicate the registration area; the numbers show the vehicle’s age.
All UK road-legal vehicles must display number plates linked to the DVLA database, which includes MOT records, tax status, and ownership history.
The system helps prevent fraud, supports law enforcement, and ensures compliance with road safety standards.
It also allows quick verification of a vehicle’s age and history during resale or inspection.
This guide covers standard and personalised plates, area codes, year identifiers, special categories (trade, diplomatic, temporary), and how to check a vehicle’s registration history.
What Are the Types of British Car License Plates?
British car license plates fall into three main types: standard plates, personalised (private) plates, and special category plates.
Each type follows DVLA regulations to ensure legal use, correct vehicle identification, and traceability.
Understanding these types supports accurate vehicle history checks and informed buying decisions.
Standard UK Car Number Plates
Standard plates follow the 2001 format, combining region, age, and unique ID:
- First two letters: Local DVLA office (registration area)
- Two numbers: Age identifier (based on March or September registration)
- Last three letters: Random sequence for uniqueness
Example: AB12 CDE → AB = area, 12 = March–August 2012, CDE = unique ID
This format confirms age and origin, supports enforcement, deters fraud, and aids resale checks.
Personalised (Private) Car Number Plates
Private plates allow custom combinations for branding or to obscure a vehicle’s age.
Common formats include:
- Dateless plates: No year code; cannot be used to make a car appear newer
- Prefix plates: Start with a letter denoting the year (1983–2001)
- Suffix plates: End with a letter denoting the year (1963–1983)
Always check availability and DVLA rules before purchase.
Other Types of British Car License Plates
Beyond standard and private formats, some UK plates indicate special vehicle status under DVLA rules.
These include legal, historical, or operational use cases. Recognising them helps confirm authenticity, compliance, and potential collector value.
Dateless Number Plates
Issued before 1963, dateless plates have no age identifier. They contain only letters and numbers.
Examples: ABC 123, 123 ABC
Often used to hide a vehicle’s age and valued for clean appearance.
Suffix Number Plates
Used from 1963 to 1983, these plates end with a letter showing the registration year.
Format: Letters + numbers + year code
Examples: ABC 123A (1963), XYZ 456Y (1983)
Common on classic cars; supports verification of older registrations.
Prefix Number Plates
Used from 1983 to 2001, prefix plates begin with a letter showing the registration year.
Format: Year code + numbers + letters
Examples: A123 ABC (1983), Y456 XYZ (2001)
Still valid for use and transfers on older vehicles.
Trade Plates
Temporary plates for dealers, garages, and testers.
Allow legal road use of unregistered or untaxed vehicles for testing, repairs, or delivery.
Restricted to DVLA-licensed businesses.
Q Plates
Assigned to vehicles with unknown or unverified identity, such as kit cars, rebuilds, or undocumented imports.
Always begin with Q.
Require extra checks for legality and insurance.
Diplomatic Plates
Issued to embassies, consulates, and international bodies.
Feature unique codes and colour formats indicating diplomatic status.
Grant legal protections under UK diplomatic protocols.
What Are Northern Ireland Number Plates?
Northern Ireland number plates are dateless registrations with no age identifier.
Format: Three letters followed by up to four numbers (e.g. ABC 1234)
Letter groups such as IA, IZ, and AZ indicate NI origin.
These plates are popular for hiding a vehicle’s age and offering a clean look.
They are typically cheaper than personalised plates in mainland UK and can be assigned to vehicles anywhere in the UK.
Despite lacking a year code, NI plates retain traceability through regional area codes and remain fully DVLA-compliant.
What are Number Plates by Year?
UK number plates change twice a year to show when a vehicle was first registered.
How the year identifiers work
- March to August: Plates display the last two digits of the registration year (for example, 24 for 2024 - RV24 OZT).
- September to February: Plates add 50 to that year number (for example, 74 for late 2024)
Number plate codes by year
Year on the Road | Mar–Aug Code | Sept-Feb Code |
2025 | 25 | 75 |
2024 | 24 | 74 |
2023 | 23 | 73 |
2022 | 22 | 72 |
2021 | 21 | 71 |
2020 | 20 | 70 |
2019 | 19 | 69 |
2018 | 18 | 68 |
2017 | 17 | 67 |
2016 | 16 | 66 |
2015 | 15 | 65 |
2014 | 14 | 64 |
2013 | 13 | 63 |
2012 | 12 | 62 |
2011 | 11 | 61 |
2010 | 10 | 60 |
2009 | 09 | 59 |
2008 | 08 | 58 |
2007 | 07 | 57 |
2006 | 06 | 56 |
2005 | 05 | 55 |
2004 | 04 | 54 |
2003 | 03 | 53 |
2002 | 02 | 52 |
2001 | — | 51 |
Understanding current plate codes is essential, but knowing what comes next is equally important.
Here’s the upcoming registration cycle for 2025 and beyond:
Future Registration Plate Releases (2025–2026)
The "25" series launched in March 2025, followed by the "75" series in September 2025. The "26" series will begin in March 2026.
This scheduled release system helps drivers and dealers track registration changes and assess vehicle age.
New plate launches often reduce the market value of older vehicles, as buyers prefer newer registration years. This affects resale pricing and should factor into age-based valuations.
🔙 Older prefix system (1983–2001)
Before 2001, plates used a prefix system where the first letter showed the registration year.
Year on the Road | Prefix Letter |
2001 (Mar–Aug) | Y |
2000 | X |
1999 | T |
1998 | S |
1997 | R |
1996 | P |
1995 | N |
1994 | M |
1993 | L |
1992 | K |
1991 | J |
1990 | H |
1989 | G |
1988 | F |
1987 | E |
1986 | D |
1985 | C |
1984 | B |
1983 | A |
Why These Codes Matter
- Provide instant age verification for buyers and insurers.
- Support accurate valuations and fraud prevention.
- Help align MOT, tax, and ownership checks with true vehicle age.
What Are Number Plate Area Codes?
Check a complete list of local area codes and their DVLA regions.
Complete Reg Plate Area Codes list
Plate Codes | Region | Local DVLA Office |
AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AJ, AK, AL, AM, AN | Anglia | Peterborough |
AO, AP, AR, AS, AT, AU | Anglia | Norwich |
AV, AW, AX, AY | Anglia | Ipswitch |
BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK, BL, BM, BN, BO, BP, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BY | Birmingham | Birmingham |
CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, CO | Cymru (Wales) | Cardiff |
CP, CR, CS, CT, CU, CV | Cymru (Wales) | Swansea |
CW, CX, CY | Cymru (Wales) | Bangor |
DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DG, DH, DJ, DK | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Chester |
DL, DM, DN, DO, DP, DR, DS, DT, DU, DV, DW, DX, DY | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury |
EA, EB, EC, ED, EE, EF, EG, EH, EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EO, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EV, EW, EX, EY | Essex | Chelmsford |
FA, FB, FC, FD, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FL, FM, FN, FP | Forest and Fens | Nottingham |
FR, FS, FT, FV, FW, FX, FY | Forest and Fens | Lincoln |
GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, GF, GG, GH, GJ, GK, GL, GM, GN, GO | Garden of England | Maidstone |
GP, GR, GS, GT, GU, GV, GX, GY | Garden of England | Brighton |
HA, HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HH, HJ | Hampshire and Dorset | Bournemouth |
HK, HL, HM, HN, HO, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HY | Hampshire and Dorset | Portsmouth |
HW | Hampshire and Dorset | Isle of White |
KA, KB, KC, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ, KK, KL | Luton | Luton |
KM, KN, KO, KP, KR, KS, KT, KU, KV, KW, KX, KY | Northampton | Northampton |
LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LJ | London | Wimbledon |
LK, LL, LM, LN, LO, LP, LR, LS, LT | London | Stanmore |
LU, LV, LW, LX, LY | London | Sidcup |
MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, MX, MY | Manchester and Merseyside | Manchester |
NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NL, NM, NN, NO | North | Newcastle |
NP, NR, NS, NT, NU, NV, NW, NX, NY | North | Stockton |
OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OJ, OK, OL, OM, ON, OO, OP, OR, OS, OT, OU, OV, OW, OX, OY | Oxford | Oxford |
PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PM, PN, PO, PP, PR, PS, PT | Preston | Preston |
PU, PV, PW, PX, PY | Preson | Carlisle |
RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RH, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RN, RO, RP, RR, RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RY | Reading | Reading |
SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJ | Scotland | Glasgow |
SK, SL, SM, SN, SO | Scotland | Edinburgh |
SP, SR, SS, ST | Scotland | Dundee |
SU, SV, SW | Scotland | Aberdeen |
SX, SY | Scotland | Inverness |
VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VG, VH, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN, VO, VP, VR, VS, VT, VU, VV, VW, VX, VY | Severn Valley | Worcester |
WA, WB, WC, WD, WE, WF, WG, WH, WJ | West of England | Exeter |
WK, WL | West of England | Truro |
WM, WN, WO, WP, WR, WS, WT, WU, WV, WW, WX, WY | West of England | Bristol |
YA, YB, YC, YD, YE, YF, YG, YH, YJ, YK | Yorkshire | Leeds |
YL, YM, YN, YO, YP, YR, YS, YT, YU | Yorkshire | Sheffield |
YV, YW, YX, YY | Yorkshire | Beverley |
Why area codes matter
- Confirm a car’s original registration region.
- Support traceability and authenticity checks.
- Help buyers understand a vehicle’s background.
Can I Find a Car Owner’s Name or Address by Registration Number?
You cannot access a car owner’s name or address using only a registration number.
In the UK, this information is protected by law and regulated by the DVLA under GDPR and data privacy rules.
When Can You Request Owner Details?
The DVLA releases keeper information only if you have a valid legal reason, known as ‘reasonable cause’.
Accepted reasons include:
- Following up after an accident or hit-and-run
- Rebuilding a missing service history
- Tracing a classic car’s ownership for provenance
- Identifying a vehicle owner on private land
- Issuing a parking charge or trespass notice
- Locating someone who failed to pay for fuel or services
- Investigating insurance fraud or legal claims
- Finding the keeper of an abandoned vehicle
How to Request Details from the DVLA
You must submit a V888 form to request keeper details.
Steps:
1️⃣ Download the V888 form from GOV.UK or collect it from a Post Office
2️⃣ Provide your name, contact details, and the vehicle’s make, model, and registration number
3️⃣ State your reason and include supporting evidence
4️⃣ Pay the £2.50 fee (cheque or postal order to "DVLA Swansea")
5️⃣ Post to: Vehicle Record Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AJ
The DVLA assesses all requests to ensure they meet legal and privacy standards. Only limited details are released.
What Carveto Offers Instead?
CarVeto provides full vehicle history reports without disclosing personal details like names or addresses.
✅ Previous owners count and ownership change dates
✅ First registration location (DVLA office)
✅ MOT history, mileage records, tax status, insurance write-offs, and more
A CarVeto report helps you verify a vehicle’s background and legal status before considering a formal keeper details request from the DVLA.
It offers instant DVLA-verified data on MOT, tax, finance, stolen/write-off flags, VIN matching, and plate history
How to Check Car Number Plate History by Registration
A number plate history check reveals a vehicle’s background before purchase.
It helps detect hidden issues, prevent fraud, and support informed buying decisions.
What Does a Number Plate History Check Include?
- MOT history: Test results and advisory notes
- Tax status: Confirms legal road use
- Mileage records: Flags odometer fraud
- Stolen/write-off status: Verifies against police and insurer databases
- Plate change history: Lists previous plates with exact transfer dates
These records confirm the car’s traceability and reduce legal and financial risk.
Why Check Number Plate History?
- Peace of mind: Confirms legality and safety
- Financial protection: Avoids cars with hidden damage
- Informed choice: Supports data-led purchase decisions
How to Run a Check Easily
CarVeto offers instant number plate history checks using only the registration number.
Reports include plate change timelines, ownership records, MOT and mileage data, plus tax, theft, and write-off status, all verified from DVLA and police sources.
Start by entering the reg on CarVeto’s DVLA Number Plate Check page.
CarVeto helps confirm vehicle history quickly, securely, and with no personal data exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A detailed vehicle history check can reveal the last four digits of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). CarVeto reports include this data, matching the VIN to registration records. This confirms the car’s identity, supports authenticity, and helps prevent fraud.
Conduct a VIN Check and Vehicle Identification Lookup.
- Report the theft to the police and get a crime reference number
- Notify your insurer to update vehicle records
- Run a stolen vehicle check to ensure your car isn’t falsely flagged
Run a Theft Car Check and See if a Vehicle is Reported Stolen.
The numbers show the registration period:
- March to August: Last two digits of the year (e.g. 24 = March 2024)
- September to February: Add 50 (e.g. 74 = September 2024)
These numbers confirm the vehicle’s age at a glance.
- First two letters: DVLA area code (e.g. LA = London)
- Last three letters: Random sequence for unique ID
These letters confirm origin and support vehicle history tracking.