Registration plates in the United Kingdom follow a specific format and set of rules, which makes it simple to work out the age of a car or van.
Standard UK car number plates consist of a combination of letters and numbers, typically in the format of two letters, followed by two numbers, a space, and then three more letters or numbers (for example, AB12 CDU).
What do the letters and numbers on a UK registration plate mean?
- The first two letters represent the region where the vehicle was registered and are assigned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- The two numbers in the middle are the ‘age identifier’. The second number indicates the year of registration, and the first number indicates the specific six-month period within that year (usually March to August or September to February).
- The last three letters on the plate are generally random and do not carry any specific information
It is a legal requirement for vehicles to display front and rear number plates.
If you are buying and selling vehicles then it's important to be aware that some cars have personalised number plates that don’t follow UK registration rules. It's a popular (and perfectly legal) tactic to hide the age of a car.
Number plate registration years chart
| Year of release | March 1st - August 31st Plate Numbers | September 1st - 28th/29th February Plate Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 25 | 75 |
| 2024/25 | 24 | 74 |
| 2023/24 | 23 | 73 |
| 2022/23 | 22 | 72 |
| 2021/22 | 21 | 71 |
| 2020/21 | 20 | 70 |
| 2019/20 | 19 | 69 |
| 2018/19 | 18 | 68 |
| 2017/18 | 17 | 67 |
| 2016/17 | 16 | 66 |
| 2015/16 | 15 | 65 |
| 2014/15 | 14 | 64 |
| 2013/14 | 13 | 63 |
| 2012/13 | 12 | 62 |
| 2011/12 | 11 | 61 |
| 2010/11 | 10 | 60 |
| 2009/10 | 09 | 59 |
| 2008/09 | 08 | 58 |
| 2007/08 | 07 | 57 |
| 2006/07 | 06 | 56 |
| 2005/06 | 05 | 55 |
| 2004/05 | 04 | 54 |
| 2003/04 | 03 | 53 |
| 2002/03 | 02 | 52 |
| 2001/02 | 51 | 51 |
| March 2001 - August 2001 | Y | Y |
| August 2000 - Feb 2001 | X | X |
| March 2000 - July 2000 | W | W |
| August 1999 - Feb 2000 | V | T |
| March 1999 - July 1999 | T | V |
| August 1998 - Feb 1999 | S | S |
| August 1997 - July 1998 | R | R |
| August 1996 - July 1997 | P | P |
| August 1995 - July 1996 | N | N |
| August 1994 - July 1995 | M | M |
| August 1993 - July 1994 | L | L |
| August 1992 - July 1993 | K | K |
| August 1991 - July 1992 | J | J |
| August 1990 - July 1991 | H | H |
| August 1989 - July 1990 | G | G |
| August 1988 - July 1989 | F | F |
| August 1987 - July 1988 | E | E |
| August 1986 - July 1987 | D | D |
| August 1985 - July 1986 | C | C |
| August 1984 - July 1985 | B | B |
| August 1983 - July 1984 | A | A |
From 1983 until 2001, the letters used to date a number plate were used as prefixes before the rest of the letters and numbers.
Before 1983, they used the letters as a suffix. this started in 1963 with the letter A, and ended in 1983 with Y.
When will the 2025 car registration plates be released?
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) released the '25' car registration on the 1st March 2025. The '75' registration will be launched on 1 September 2025.
Can I find a car owner's detail by the registration number?
Yes, you can request information about a car's owner from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). However, your request will be refused unless you have 'reasonable cause' to obtain this information.
The DVLA may provide a car's owner's details if any of the following circumstances apply:
- Finding the registered keeper of a car that's been abandoned
- Locating the owner of a vehicle that's parked on private land
- Tracing someone who was responsible for a road accident
- Issuing a parking ticket or trespass charge notice
- Tracing a person responsible for driving off without paying for goods and services
- Finding someone who is suspected of insurance fraud
How to request a car owner's details by registration number
To request a car owner's details by registration number you will need to take the following steps:
- Get a V888 form from your local Post Office or download the V888 from Gov.uk/government/publications/v888-request-by-an-individual-for-information-about-a-vehicle
- Complete the V888 by providing your name, address and telephone number. You will also need to supply the details of the vehicle (make, model and registration) plus the reason(s) why you need the car owner's details
- Pay the £2.50 DVLA fee - cheques and postal orders must be made payable to 'DVLA Swansea'
- Send the completed V888 form and payment to: Vehicle Record Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AJ
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