UK Vehicle Registration Number Format History

1st format (1903)

Vehicle number plates were introduced in the UK under the Motor Car Act of 1903. The original system, which remained in use until 1932, involved a code of one or two letters representing the local authority where the vehicle was registered. These codes were assigned based on population size, with "A" designated for London. Following the letter code was a number ranging from 1 to 9999. Once all the numbers in a sequence were assigned, local authorities were given an additional two-letter code on a first-come, first-served basis. This format is shown below.

2nd format (1932)

In 1932 they changed the format to be 3 letters and a number up to 999. Plates were issued with a format starting with a single letter followed by three numbers, ranging from AXX 1 to AXX 999. After this sequence was exhausted, the next series began with BXX 1. The second and third letters indicated the region where the vehicle was registered. Once all the combinations were used, the format was switched, placing three numbers first, followed by three letters. You can see these formats below.

3rd format (1963)

1963, A new format was introduced with seven characters: three letters, a number between 1 and 999, and a final letter indicating the year of issue. The suffix started with "A" in 1963 and continued up to "Y" in 1982. To prevent misreading, letters like I, O, Q, U, and Z were excluded from use as suffixes. Originally, the suffix changed every January 1st, but in 1967, the date shifted to August 1st in an effort to distribute vehicle sales more evenly throughout the year. You can find an example of this format below.

4th format (1983)

After the previous suffix system go to the letter 'Y,' a new format was introduced where the year was indicated by a prefix letter, followed by a three-digit number (ranging from 1 to 999) and then three additional characters. The letters I, O, U, and Z were excluded from the prefix, while Q was specifically assigned to vehicles of uncertain origin or age, such as kit cars, stolen vehicles, or imports lacking documentation. From 1 March 1999 onward, the prefix system changed twice a year in an effort to balance out vehicle sales, which previously spiked in August. Examples of this format are shown below.

5th format (2001)

The current vehicle registration system was introduced on 1 September 2001 and features a seven-character format. This consists of a two-letter area code, a two-digit number indicating the vehicle’s age, and a random three-letter combination. The first letter of the area code is tied to the broader region, while the second letter identifies the local DVLA office where the vehicle was registered (although these offices closed in 2013). The age identifier changes every 1 March and 1 September. From March to August, the age code is the last two digits of the year (e.g., 01 for vehicles registered between 1 March and 31 August 2001). From September to February, 50 is added to this number (e.g., 71 for vehicles registered between 1 September 2021 and 29 February 2022). Below is a list of local area codes. You will also find an example of the format.