Guides Find a Private Number Plate Guide Smart Search Guide Number plate search guide Helpful tips If you need guidance you can access the Number Plates Guides for relevant help by clicking this icon To find out which private numberplates are suitable for your age of vehicle, use our handy transfer age checking tool About the Smart Search Our unique system generates all the private number plate searches possible, based on your input, and then checks our database of over 50 million plates for suitable matches. The Smart Search system does all the work so you don’t have to! If you don’t find anything you really like, simply complete a short enquiry form and one of our expert personnel will do the searching for you. How to use the Smart Search To start simply type in what you are looking for, whether it’s a name, a keyword, a special number sequence, initials, anything. Our Smart Search will do the work for you, generating results tailored to your preferences. If you would like to search a little deeper for something more specific, simply click on the Advanced Options tab which will allow you to filter the search results by plate style, plate status, budget etc. This is a great option if you have something specific in mind you would like to purchase. Helpful tip If you’re searching for a specific word let the Smart Search system work out the number/letter swaps for you; PETER, for example, will get you better results than P3T3R.
Guides Find a Private Number Plate Guide Search results explained Plate status descriptions explained As you browse through your search results, you will notice that the private numberplates are listed with different descriptions such as AVAILABLE NOW' or ‘CHECK IT NOW’. This guide will help you understand the differences between the different types of private number plate. NEW – AVAILABLE NOW: You will be the first person to own the exclusive rights to use these private number plates. You can purchase these over the phone or online, immediately, with a choice of transfer options. PRE-OWNED – AVAILABLE NOW: These private number plates are already in private ownership but are available to buy straight away over the phone or online. Some are held on certificates and some are being used on vehicles, so transfer options will vary. PRE-OWNED – CHECK IT NOW: These private numberplates are already privately owned and we are acting for the seller as their agent. If you enquire into one of these we will contact the seller to confirm availability and other details before proceeding. NEW RELEASE – HOW TO BUY: These private number plates are new-series government releases which occur twice each year. They have never existed before and will be released as part of the next registration mark sequence. Click the View button to: See your chosen private number plate on a selection of example vehicles Learn about and choose additional purchase options See the full price for the private numberplate, including VAT and the Government Transfer Fee* *As with all other private number plate transfer agents, prices are initially shown excluding VAT and Government Transfer fees by default.
Guides Find a Private Number Plate Guide A brief history of number plates The UK number plate system was introduced in late 1903 with the registration 'A1', debatably, being the first. Registration marks were issued in sequence and related to the geographic area they were issued. The registration system has undergone many changes since then. We have put together a brief guide to the different private numberplate styles for you below. Dateless Style number plates (Mainland UK) (issued between 1903 and 1963) 123 ABC ABC 123 Show Me How A 1 The Ultimate Registration Mark 25 JR Janet And Ronald’s 25th Anniversary 999 ROB Rob The Fire-fighter TOY 5 Ideal For Toyota or Toy Store Owners AJL 33 April Jeanette Lee 4 CMP For Christopher Michael Parkinson ALF 45 Alfred XMA 55 It’s Christmas! Can be transferred to any age vehicle Very rare due to their age Generally the most expensive style No I, Q or Z in the registration I wanted a Dateless plate to cover the age of my vehicle and that would hopefully act as an investment. Plates4Less suggested BB 1967, BJB 808 and XOX 222. Brett James Brown, DOB 1967, Accountant Our Dateless Number Plates area is the most comprehensive in the industry, including lots of useful tools, check out these areas (these links open in new window): Number 1’s Browse by plate structure Exact Search Cheapest Dateless plates Suffix Style number plates (issued between 1963 and 1983) ABC 1A Show Me How ANG 314D Angela Davies KEN 1X Kenneth, Number 1, Kiss JON 3S Jones EDW 412D Edward GHO 5T Ideal For Rolls Royce Owners and Supernatural Believers! RAC 3R Racer JAC 1P Jack or Jacqueline, Number 1, Peters CAB 846E Cabbage, For Vegetarians! TVR 802T TVR TVR 4X TVR BMW 763V BMW COS 74A Costa JAG 805S Jag Boss Age identifier is the last letter (suffix) No I, Q or Z in the registration Plates4Less offered me SAL 19Y which was a great option for us. suggested BB 1967, BJB 808 and XOX 222. Tom, searching for a present for Sally Here are interesting areas for you to look at (these links open in new window): View and browse Suffix Years Suffix 1's plates Prefix Style number plates (issued between 1983 and 2001) A1 ABC Show Me How L4 URA LAURA E12 ROR Computer Developers G3 MMA Gemma M155 GEG Miss Grace Elizabeth Gallagher K155 AJS Kiss, Amy Jane Smith J46 UAR Jaguar X999 ROB Kiss, For Rob who works in emergency services N16 GKM Nov 16th (Date of Birth), George K Moore X40 JHD Kiss, 40th Birthday, Janet Hannah Davies K8 KLX Katherine (Kate) Lambert, X for a kiss Age identifier is the first letter (prefix) No I, Q or Z in the registration I wanted a fun plate for my new car. Plates4Less found K155ESS for me which I love! Amy, looking for a plate for her new car Take a look at the useful features within our Prefix Style Area (opens in new window) Current Style number plates (issued since 2001) AA51 ABC Show Me How OO07 RAY For Raymond, A James Bond fan AN63 LAJ Angela Jones YU11 MMY Tasty Plate! LO12 RYS Haulage Firm AN11 MAL Sports Car Fans/ Vets SH12 LEY Best Plate for Shirley SA12 AHJ Sarah Jayne BO55 RPJ Boss, Rhys Paul James JE55 GAZ Jessica and Gary MR52 DVS Mrs Davies XK03 JRC XK Jaguar, John Robert Clark JD04 CPD Mr John Dawson and Mrs Claire P Dawson FA57 BMW Fast BMW car BE57 JAG Best Jaguar car Age identifier is the two digit number in the middle No I or Q and Z only in the last three letters I was looking for a plate that spelled my name exactly. Plates4Less suggested the ultimate ‘Shirley’ plate, SH12LEY. Shirley, looking for the perfect plate for her name Find your perfect plate by searching in our Current Style Area (opens in new window) Northern Irish Number plates ABZ 1234 Show Me How SHZ 40 Sharon’s 40th Birthday Present BAZ 101 Barry BIG 8055 Big Boss GIL 2068 Gillian GAZ 6468 Gareth LNZ 12 Lyndsey OIL 999 Petrol-head MIG 6857 Cover Plate, Ideal for hiding vehicle age! Can be transferred to any age vehicle Always have an I or Z in the registration A cheaper alternative to a dateless number plate Find your perfect plate by searching in our Irish Style Area (opens in new window)
Dateless Style number plates (Mainland UK) (issued between 1903 and 1963) 123 ABC ABC 123 Show Me How A 1 The Ultimate Registration Mark 25 JR Janet And Ronald’s 25th Anniversary 999 ROB Rob The Fire-fighter TOY 5 Ideal For Toyota or Toy Store Owners AJL 33 April Jeanette Lee 4 CMP For Christopher Michael Parkinson ALF 45 Alfred XMA 55 It’s Christmas! Can be transferred to any age vehicle Very rare due to their age Generally the most expensive style No I, Q or Z in the registration I wanted a Dateless plate to cover the age of my vehicle and that would hopefully act as an investment. Plates4Less suggested BB 1967, BJB 808 and XOX 222. Brett James Brown, DOB 1967, Accountant Our Dateless Number Plates area is the most comprehensive in the industry, including lots of useful tools, check out these areas (these links open in new window): Number 1’s Browse by plate structure Exact Search Cheapest Dateless plates
Suffix Style number plates (issued between 1963 and 1983) ABC 1A Show Me How ANG 314D Angela Davies KEN 1X Kenneth, Number 1, Kiss JON 3S Jones EDW 412D Edward GHO 5T Ideal For Rolls Royce Owners and Supernatural Believers! RAC 3R Racer JAC 1P Jack or Jacqueline, Number 1, Peters CAB 846E Cabbage, For Vegetarians! TVR 802T TVR TVR 4X TVR BMW 763V BMW COS 74A Costa JAG 805S Jag Boss Age identifier is the last letter (suffix) No I, Q or Z in the registration Plates4Less offered me SAL 19Y which was a great option for us. suggested BB 1967, BJB 808 and XOX 222. Tom, searching for a present for Sally Here are interesting areas for you to look at (these links open in new window): View and browse Suffix Years Suffix 1's plates
Prefix Style number plates (issued between 1983 and 2001) A1 ABC Show Me How L4 URA LAURA E12 ROR Computer Developers G3 MMA Gemma M155 GEG Miss Grace Elizabeth Gallagher K155 AJS Kiss, Amy Jane Smith J46 UAR Jaguar X999 ROB Kiss, For Rob who works in emergency services N16 GKM Nov 16th (Date of Birth), George K Moore X40 JHD Kiss, 40th Birthday, Janet Hannah Davies K8 KLX Katherine (Kate) Lambert, X for a kiss Age identifier is the first letter (prefix) No I, Q or Z in the registration I wanted a fun plate for my new car. Plates4Less found K155ESS for me which I love! Amy, looking for a plate for her new car Take a look at the useful features within our Prefix Style Area (opens in new window)
Current Style number plates (issued since 2001) AA51 ABC Show Me How OO07 RAY For Raymond, A James Bond fan AN63 LAJ Angela Jones YU11 MMY Tasty Plate! LO12 RYS Haulage Firm AN11 MAL Sports Car Fans/ Vets SH12 LEY Best Plate for Shirley SA12 AHJ Sarah Jayne BO55 RPJ Boss, Rhys Paul James JE55 GAZ Jessica and Gary MR52 DVS Mrs Davies XK03 JRC XK Jaguar, John Robert Clark JD04 CPD Mr John Dawson and Mrs Claire P Dawson FA57 BMW Fast BMW car BE57 JAG Best Jaguar car Age identifier is the two digit number in the middle No I or Q and Z only in the last three letters I was looking for a plate that spelled my name exactly. Plates4Less suggested the ultimate ‘Shirley’ plate, SH12LEY. Shirley, looking for the perfect plate for her name Find your perfect plate by searching in our Current Style Area (opens in new window)
Northern Irish Number plates ABZ 1234 Show Me How SHZ 40 Sharon’s 40th Birthday Present BAZ 101 Barry BIG 8055 Big Boss GIL 2068 Gillian GAZ 6468 Gareth LNZ 12 Lyndsey OIL 999 Petrol-head MIG 6857 Cover Plate, Ideal for hiding vehicle age! Can be transferred to any age vehicle Always have an I or Z in the registration A cheaper alternative to a dateless number plate Find your perfect plate by searching in our Irish Style Area (opens in new window)
Guides Find a Private Number Plate Guide Search Help Information centre If you would like to access our Information Centre, where you will find guidance about everything number plate related just click on the button whenever you see it. Help finding results If you cannot find what you are looking for or would like some help with your search results then simply complete the Search Assistance form and one of our friendly, expert sales team will contact you with some ideas. Any other Query If you require any further assistance or need help with any other queries, click on a Request Help button to submit your details for our friendly, expert sales team to contact you. Alternatively call us on 01792 477316.