1983 Y/A
1984 A/B
1985 B/C
1986 C/D
1987 D/E
1988 E/F
1989 F/G
1990 G/H
1991 H/J
1992 J/K
1993 K/L
1994 L/M
1995 M/N
1996 N/P
1997 P/R
1998 R/S
1999 S/T/V
2000 V/W/X
2001 X/Y
Old System
The previous system is familiar to millions, and on a sample
A 123 BCD plate, works as follows:
* A represents the age identifier. Up to 1999, they changed on a yearly basis (August); afterwards, they changed every six months (March and September), to use all the letters up before the introduction of the new system. See the full list below.
* 123 are random numbers; you can have only two - or even one - but they may well be 'cherished' plates, and will probably be very expensive.
* BCD are random letters. There are never less than three, and again, if you want, you can buy plates that 'spell' your name.
New System
As of September 2001, the registration plate follows a new format, with a new, smaller typeface. To use the example
AB 52 DVL
* AB represents the 'local memory tag' - where the vehicle was registered. A full list is available from the DVLA (
www.dvla.gov.uk) but examples include BA-BY for Birmingham, LA to LY for London, and so on.
* 52 represents the age identifier. Not entirely obvious at first, it is changed at half-yearly intervals (March and September) in the following way: September 2001 = 51, March 2002 = 02, September 2002 = 52, etc. In 2010, the numbers are 10 and 61, in 2020 they are 20 and 71, and so on.
* DVL is the random part.
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