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New Format Car Registrations

From September 2001 the DVLA introduced the latest format of vehicle license plates (an example of which is shown below) to follow the ending of the DVLA Prefix number plates issue which finished at ‘Y’ Prefix.

number plate formatThe registration mark is made up of seven characters. There are three parts to the registration mark, each with a separate meaning.

  • The first two letters show where the vehicle was registered, the local memory tag (area identifier)
  • The two numbers indicate the age of the vehicle, the age identifier
  • The last three letters give a unique identity to a vehicle, the 3 random letters
  • LOCAL MEMORY TAG (area identifier)
  • The first two letters of the new registration mark format form a local memory tag showing the region where a vehicle is first registered. These local memory tags will help with the recall of number plates and the identification of vehicles.
     The letters I, Q and Z are not used in the Local Memory Tag.

The first letter represents the region. The second letter relates to a DVLA Local Office as shown below in the table and map

Local Memory Tag

DVLA office

Local Identifier
A
Peterborough A B C D E F G H J K L M N
Norwich O P R S T U
Ipswich V W X Y
B
Birmingham A - Y
C
Cardiff A B C D E F G H J K L M N O
Swansea P R S T U V
Bangor W X Y
D
Chester A B C D E F G H J K
Shrewsbury L M N O P R S T U V W X Y
E
Chelmsford A - Y
F
Nottingham A B C D E F G H J K L M N P
Lincoln R S T V W X Y
G
Maidstone A B C D E F G H J K L M N O
Brighton P R S T U V W X Y
H
Bournemouth A B C D E F G H J
Portsmouth K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y
  HW Reserved for the Isle of Wight
K
Luton A B C D E F G H J K L
Northampton M N O P R S T U V W X Y
L
Wimbledon A B C D E F G H J
Stanmore K L M N O P R S T
Sidcup U V W X Y
M
Manchester A - Y
N
Newcastle A B C D E G H J K L M N O
Stockton P R S T U V W X Y
O
Oxford A - Y
P
Preston A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T
Carlisle U V W X Y
R
Reading A - Y
S
Glasgow A B C D E F G H J
Edinburgh K L M N O
Dundee P R S T
Aberdeen U V W
Inverness X Y
V
Worcester A - Y
W
Exeter A B C D E F G H J
Truro K L
Bristol M N O P R S T U V W X Y
Y
Leeds A B C D E F G H J K
Sheffield L M N O P R S T U
Beverley V W X Y

dvla map of local offices

* Please note - MN is reserved for the Isle of Man.

AGE IDENTIFIER

The number plate ‘Age Identifiers’ change twice yearly on 1st March and 1st September eg 05 from 1st March 2005 and 55 from 1st September 2005.

LIST OF THE NEW AGE IDENTIFIER NUMBERS AND THEIR ISSUE TIMES

Year

March

September

2001   51
2002 02 52
2003 03 53
2004 04 54
2005 05 55
2006  06 56
2007 07 57
2008 08 58
2009 09 59
2010 10 60
2011 11 61
2012 12 62
2013 13 63
2014 14 64
2015 15 65
2016 16 66
2017 17 67
2018 18 68
2019 19 69
2020 20 70
2021 21 71
2022 22 72
2023 23 73
2024 24 74
2025 25 75
2026 26 76
2027 27 77
2028 28 78
2029 29 79
2030 30 80
2031 31 81
2032 32 82
2033 33 83
2034 34 84
2035 35 85
2036 36 86
2037 37 87
2038 38 88
2039 39 89
2040 40 90
2041 41 91
2042 42 92
2043 43 93
2044 44 94
2045 45 95
2046 46 96
2047 47 97
2048 48 98
2049 49 99

RANDOM LETTERS

The three final letters will provide a random element to make each registration mark unique.

Letters "I" and "Q" are not be issued and any letter combinations that may be considered offensive are withheld.

The letter "Z" is included in the UK number plate series for the first time.

 

 
 
 
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An online Purchase Offer supported by suitable payment card takes priority over any other enquiry.VRM Swansea sells number plates owned by clients, DVLA registrations DVLNI numberplates and our own stock of car private registrations on a 'first come, first served basis'. All private car registrations offered for sale are subject to availability and payment is taken only once availability and price are confirmed*. Our systems record telephone conversations and the date and time of all communication. We shall debit your payment card if your offer is accepted and provide confirmation either way. Under the distance selling regulations we must inform you that our service begins immediately upon payment being taken, that no cooling off period or refunds are given and you will not be able to change your mind. Your instructions will be acted upon immediately and the assignment / number plate transfer process started to ensure your choice of car registration is not sold to someone else. This is a Government process which the Government will not cancel or change once they receive our instructions. Please be absolutely sure about your selected number plate before placing your order. *In the case of pre-release new-issue car plates offers, we will take payment prior to the car registration mark series release date in order to confirm your desire to proceed and ensure we do not offer the car number plate you have chosen to anyone else.If for any reason your offer is not accepted by the Secretary of State for Transport on the release date, then you will receive a full refund by the payment method you have used to make your offer. The Secretary of State's decision to accept or reject your offer is final and we cannot be held responsible for it in any way. If your offer is rejected then you may choose another registration subject to sufficient funds being pre-lodged with us. DVLA, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, DVLNI, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland, are registered trademarks.