Looking to find your cars year of manufacture from the registration number?
The following tables show the year or registration for the current and previous versions of UK registration numbers.
- New Style Number Plate Identifiers – Example: AB51 ABD
- Prefix Number Plates Identifiers – Example: A21 ABC
- Suffix Number Plate Identifiers – Example: ABC 1A
- Order Number Plates Online
Important notes:
Vehicles with custom plates or Q plates are not covered, as they can be any year.
The registration is the date the vehicle was first registered in the UK. It is possible for it to have been manufactured the previous year but not registered, and import vehicles may not have the correct year specific registration number.
You cannot fit or assign a number plate to a vehicle that is older than the registration identifier. For example, you would not be allowed to assign a 63 Plate to a 54 plate vehicle. You can however, change your vehicle’s registration to a newer vehicle model.
Please note this tool is as accurate as possible. It won’t tell you what wiper blades will fit your car but it will help you to find out what year your car registration is though.
Please Note: We also offer number plate printing as a service to all vehicle owners AND we also offer showplate printing for those looking for something a bit different.
New Style Age Identifier For UK Number Plates
Current System – 2001 to 2049(assuming it runs to the end)
Number plates in the UK are issued twice a year – between 6 month intervals, and are in the format AB51 ABD, where the numeric characters show the year.
New style registrations are also known as Millennium Registrations and these offer more insights into the information around the number plate.
The first 2 letters depict the town the vehicle was issued in and are known as memory tags. This article has a great section around memory tags.
Plate | From | To |
51 | September 2001 | March 2002 |
02 | March 2002 | September 2002 |
52 | September 2002 | March 2003 |
03 | March 2003 | September 2003 |
53 | September 2003 | March 2004 |
04 | March 2004 | September 2004 |
54 | September 2004 | March 2005 |
05 | March 2005 | September 2005 |
55 | September 2005 | March 2006 |
06 | March 2006 | September 2006 |
56 | September 2006 | March 2007 |
07 | March 2007 | September 2007 |
57 | September 2007 | March 2008 |
08 | March 2008 | September 2008 |
58 | September 2008 | March 2009 |
09 | March 2009 | September 2009 |
59 | September 2009 | March 2010 |
10 | March 2010 | September 2010 |
60 | September 2010 | March 2011 |
11 | March 2011 | September 2011 |
61 | September 2011 | March 2012 |
12 | March 2012 | September 2012 |
62 | September 2012 | March 2013 |
13 | March 2013 | September 2013 |
63 | September 2013 | March 2014 |
14 | March 2014 | September 2014 |
64 | September 2014 | March 2015 |
15 | March 2015 | September 2015 |
65 | September 2015 | March 2016 |
16 | March 2016 | September 2016 |
66 | September 2016 | March 2017 |
17 | March 2017 | September 2017 |
67 | September 2017 | March 2018 |
18 | March 2018 | September 2018 |
68 | September 2018 | March 2019 |
19 | March 2019 | September 2019 |
69 | September 2019 | March 2020 |
20 | March 2020 | September 2020 |
70 | September 2020 | March 2021 |
21 | March 2021 | September 2021 |
71 | September 2021 | March 2022 |
22 | March 2022 | September 2022 |
72 | September 2022 | March 2023 |
23 | March 2023 | September 2023 |
73 | September 2023 | March 2024 |
24 | March 2024 | September 2024 |
74 | September 2024 | March 2025 |
25 | March 2025 | September 2025 |
75 | September 2025 | March 2026 |
26 | March 2026 | September 2026 |
76 | September 2026 | March 2027 |
27 | March 2027 | September 2027 |
77 | September 2027 | March 2028 |
28 | March 2028 | September 2028 |
78 | September 2028 | March 2029 |
29 | March 2029 | September 2029 |
79 | September 2029 | March 2030 |
30 | March 2030 | September 2030 |
80 | September 2030 | March 2031 |
31 | March 2031 | September 2031 |
81 | September 2031 | March 2032 |
32 | March 2032 | September 2032 |
82 | September 2032 | March 2033 |
33 | March 2033 | September 2033 |
83 | September 2033 | March 2034 |
34 | March 2034 | September 2034 |
84 | September 2034 | March 2035 |
35 | March 2035 | September 2035 |
85 | September 2035 | March 2036 |
36 | March 2036 | September 2036 |
86 | September 2036 | March 2037 |
37 | March 2037 | September 2037 |
87 | September 2037 | March 2038 |
38 | March 2038 | September 2038 |
88 | September 2038 | March 2039 |
39 | March 2039 | September 2039 |
89 | September 2039 | March 2040 |
40 | March 2040 | September 2040 |
90 | September 2040 | March 2041 |
41 | March 2041 | September 2041 |
91 | September 2041 | March 2042 |
42 | March 2042 | September 2042 |
92 | September 2042 | March 2043 |
43 | March 2043 | September 2043 |
93 | September 2043 | March 2044 |
44 | March 2044 | September 2044 |
94 | September 2044 | March 2045 |
45 | March 2045 | September 2045 |
95 | September 2045 | March 2046 |
46 | March 2046 | September 2046 |
96 | September 2046 | March 2047 |
47 | March 2047 | September 2047 |
97 | September 2047 | March 2048 |
48 | March 2048 | September 2048 |
98 | September 2048 | March 2049 |
49 | March 2049 | September 2049 |
99 | September 2049 | March 2050 |
Prefix Registration Plates
Prefix Type registration numbers – 1983 to 2001
Number plates are in the format ‘A21 ABC‘, with the first letter denoting the year code.
Prefix | From | To |
A | August 1983 | July 1984 |
B | August 1984 | July 1985 |
C | August 1985 | July 1986 |
D | August 1986 | July 1987 |
E | August 1987 | July 1988 |
F | August 1988 | July 1989 |
G | August 1989 | July 1990 |
H | August 1990 | July 1991 |
J | August 1991 | July 1992 |
K | August 1992 | July 1993 |
L | August 1993 | July 1994 |
M | August 1994 | July 1995 |
N | August 1995 | July 1996 |
P | August 1996 | July 1997 |
R | August 1997 | July 1998 |
S | August 1998 | February 1999 |
T | March 1999 | July 1999 |
V | August 1999 | February 2000 |
W | March 2000 | July 2000 |
X | August 2000 | February 2001 |
Y | March 2001 | July 2001 |
Suffix Registration Plates
Suffix type registration numbers – 1963 to 1983
Number plates are in the format ‘ABC 1A‘, with the last letter designating the year code.
Suffix | From | To |
A | 1963 | |
B | 1964 | |
C | 1965 | |
D | 1966 | |
E | January 1967 | July 1967 |
F | August 1967 | July 1968 |
G | August 1968 | July 1969 |
H | August 1969 | July 1970 |
J | August 1970 | July 1971 |
K | August 1971 | July 1972 |
L | August 1972 | July 1973 |
M | August 1973 | July 1974 |
N | August 1974 | July 1975 |
P | August 1975 | July 1976 |
R | August 1976 | July 1977 |
S | August 1977 | July 1978 |
T | August 1978 | July 1979 |
V | August 1979 | July 1980 |
W | August 1980 | July 1981 |
X | August 1981 | July 1982 |
Y | August 1982 | July 1983 |
Can I Put A New Plate On An Old Car?
Unfortunately, you cannot put a new plate on an old car.
This legislation is in place to prevent owners from making a vehicle appear newer than it is when selling a vehicle.
For example, you cannot put a personalised 21 plate onto a vehicle that was registered in 2012.
Read More
Related Information
- Overview
- Where A Vehicle Is Registered
- When Was A Vehicle Registered
- Private Registrations
Author: Dean Michael
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166 Comments
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Chris co*cks
2 years ago
Hi I have a plate COX 33E and wondered if i could have it on black and silver plates ? But I’m not sure if its old enough to qualify ? Does anyone know please ?
15
Reply
TheMightyImp2
2 years ago
Reply to Chris co*cks
Yes, it’s fine.
-7
Reply
Enthusiastic_Bombastic
2 years ago
Reply to TheMightyImp2
The plate COX 33E uses the old suffix style which should be a 1965 plate.
The actual vehicle that it’s going on was first registered in 2018.
INF104 of the DVLA states the following:
Vehicles made before 1 January 1973 may display traditional
‘black and white’ number plates (for example, white, silver or
grey characters on a black plate). From April 2020 vehicles
manufactured before 1 January 1980 are also able to display
traditional ‘black and white’ number plates. You must:
• have applied to DVLA
• be registered within the ‘historic vehicles’ tax class
Basically OP can’t have those plates because the vehicle needs to be manufactured before 1973…. Not the date of the plate.
2
Reply
Matt
1 year ago
Reply to Enthusiastic_Bombastic
Suffix “E” is 1967
2
Reply
michael lloyd
11 months ago
Reply to Matt
l452ohp
-1
Reply
libby
5 months ago
Reply to michael lloyd
Hi Matt, wonder if you know what year this number plate is, Its an oldie. NLA 29O
Reply
Jwey
7 days ago
Reply to libby
Pre 1963 or so when the year letters came in.
Reply
Noel Magee
2 years ago
What year is the UK registration 412 UXC many thanks
11
Reply
Scott Morris
2 years ago
Reply to Noel Magee
That is a dateless plate, it can be put on any age of vehicle.
Reply
Laurence Harvey
2 years ago
We’re was RC 3848 re
8
Reply
barry brooks
3 years ago
hi my old gentry car has a reg number 345 DDT. could you tell me the year and car it came from regards
8
Reply
securespark
3 years ago
Reply to barry brooks
1960.
Cannot find the car on the DVLA database.
Reply
Nicola
1 year ago
I am trying to find out the area and year for an old black and silver reg number OOF 76. Can anybody help
6
Reply
Please tell me what year in the uk was YHZ 1704 made
2
Reply
Mike Hobbs
1 year ago
Hi I’m looking for information/history about my plate “HOB 737” it’s been mine since 1995
1
Reply
Amanda senior
11 months ago
Reply to Mike Hobbs
I own HOB 1
Been in the family over 55 years
Reply
Emy
1 year ago
Where can I find out the histroy of GGK 108c
1
Reply
Olpy
1 year ago
Reply to Emy
car Tax Check?
Reply
Ian
3 years ago
My car was re registered in 2006 , the original reg was 522AXF it has been sorn. Can I contact dvla to buy it back for the original car it was registered to?
1
Reply
TheMightyImp2
2 years ago
Reply to Ian
To move plates or put on retaining slips, the car must be taxed and more importantly MOT’d.
Also, if a car is stolen without MOT and tax, you can never get the plate back (unless you recover the car and tax and MOT it)
Reply
simon barrett
3 years ago
can anyone advise as my car reg is AE14 VPT 2014 model and i want to put number I
have brought L15XSB, and having issues with online change: i was advised that can use this L15 as not issue as not making the
car look younger can someone advise please.
1
Reply
Author
Dean Michael
3 years ago
Reply to simon barrett
Hi Simon,
This is a strange one because the sequence for L15 XSB is the old style “Prefix Registration” which makes the vehicle have a 1993 plate so this should be fine to put onto your vehicle.
It might be worth calling the right department or try contacting them on Twitter.
Reply
David
1 year ago
Reply to simon barrett
Wat year is ndx186
2
Reply
Michael
13 days ago
Hi there, I am in the process of registering in the UK a Mercedes first registered in Australia in March 1975 (recently imported to the UK). Can I put black and white plates on this car?
Reply
Shaun
1 month ago
Can I put S18 OLJ on a 2012 registered car SA12 KGF
Reply
Andy
3 days ago
Reply to Shaun
Yes
Reply
Dimi
3 months ago
Hello I want to buy a plate that needs to be assigned can only be assigned to a ‘C’ registered or newer vehicle (Registered after 1 August 1985). Would I be able to put this plate into a 2022-2023 car
Reply
Fred
6 months ago
When was my registration first issued SOX55
Reply
Phyllis Denton
6 months ago
WKD538H does anybody know where I can locate this plate …?
Reply
Robert
7 months ago
Old motorbike no. Plate . Registered in Yorkshire. (YE 4276) Anyone any idea roughly what year it could have been. Many Thanks Robert.
Reply
mel smith
8 months ago
I have plate BXC 924 on London Taxi 1930.s trying to find out what year it was issued, Any and all help appreciated. Would be great to track how it has ended up in Canada
Reply
Ark Redwood
9 months ago
I have spotted registration numbers which don’t correspond to the current list. They are JB and XX. Does anyone know what they signify? I can find no reference to them anywhere.
Reply
Rosanne smith
10 months ago
Can you age my car registration for me please, it’s ORG 1
Reply
Ron
10 months ago
Weren’t there any vehicles registered in August 2001 ???
The table shows suffix “Y” as finishing 31-July-2001, while year code “51” started in September 2001 – and year code “01” is not in this table!
So, what DID happen in that month ???
Reply
john vare
10 months ago
Anyone know the year of motor cycle DE9418?
Reply
William Barron Murray
10 months ago
Hi can anyone tell me what year A1 WBM is please.
Reply
Andy
3 days ago
Reply to William Barron Murray
1983
Reply
Ralph
11 months ago
Hi can anyone tell me if PUT 55 can still be purchased?
This was on my dads Morris Cowley back in the sixties.
Reply
Jeanne Warburton
11 months ago
Can I put the Reg 308 DRX on a 1964 1800S Volvo?
Reply
Claire Hinton
1 year ago
What year did registration WYR 222 made
Reply
Jane R
1 year ago
I am looking for the year of issue of plate FP 5789.
Reply
Ricky
1 year ago
Hi can you tell me what year my car was made/registered by the vin number?
Reply
Mike
1 year ago
Hi. I have a 1990 VW T25 but the registration says 2003. Any idea why this would be the case ?
Reply
Mike
1 year ago
Reply to Mike
Oh the Registration is G49 WKL
Reply
Grant Sare
1 year ago
sorry , i may be a bit slow but what year is V15 ***
thanks in anticipation
Reply
Dez
25 days ago
Reply to Grant Sare
1999/2000
Reply
Scott Gratsinger
1 year ago
I have a 1961 Triumph TR3 in the States that came with a white on black plate 9529DU. Is there any way to know if the plate was actually ever used on that car, or was it possibly just a collector’s item that someone attached to the car?
Reply
Olpy
1 year ago
Reply to Scott Gratsinger
Check on cartaxcheck.co.uk
Reply
Robert
1 year ago
I have a Mercedes C220 AMG 2013 with Number plate BOB 832K already on can i change plate to a Vintage Number plate
Reply
Brian Nicholson
2 years ago
Hi could you tell me what year was number plate issued please BN9458
Reply
Helen
2 years ago
My father bought me a numberplate just prior to his death in 1996 which I still have. Its currently on retention awaiting a new vehicle. I am interested in its history if anyone can help please. The registration is 4 EHK.
Reply
Barry
1 year ago
Reply to Helen
According to Stone and Cox: Motor Specifications and Prices (1979 edition) your number plate was issued in August 1955, in Essex.
Reply
Julie Mellis
2 years ago
Please help me with my local library’s heritage dept. They have 2 very dated photos of cars. Registration SE76 and SE80. Could you tell me the make and model but also the registered year of the cars?
Reply
Dave Stewart-White
2 years ago
I’m trying to find out what vehicle a registration was on, as I’ve bought an old plate (my son collects them for his wall) and it’d be great to know what car it came off. Reg is GOH 682N. It’s got “ Montgomery red” written on the back which I presume was the car colour. Thanks
Reply
Derek Frost
2 years ago
“13” in the pre-fix set, such as “D13” or “L13” identifies the registration as what status?
Reply
Michael
2 years ago
what year is the registration T3094 (DEVON registered)
Reply
Ian
2 years ago
Hi, what about 00D 865?
Thanks
Reply
Jason Washington
2 years ago
AF 3742 in Cornwall is that 1963 or before?
Reply
Jeremy Alan Furneaux
2 years ago
Reply to Jason Washington
That’s a 1930’s plate.
Reply
Elaine
2 years ago
Which year was 519KD about please?
Reply
Paul
2 years ago
Hi all,
I have a plate D10FFN and I want to put it on a 2009 car, my mate said you can’t do that but this plate is 1986 or 87 isn’t it?
Reply
Big Gaz
2 years ago
Reply to Paul
You can apply the D-Reg Plate to any car made after August 1986.
Reply
Brad Blount
2 years ago
Hi I have a registration Y984eba is this registration legal it’s for a 2001 Mitsubishi thanks in advance .
Reply
J Grenfell
2 years ago
I have a Nissan Micra VA53 APX, what year would that be registered
Reply
Author
Dean Michael
2 years ago
Reply to J Grenfell
Your registration indicates it’s for a Nissan Micra 2003-2004.
Reply
Ian James
2 years ago
777DOL we own (but are unable to use, as we have emigrated). Would love to know when it was first registered and what it is worth.
Reply
Sandra
2 years ago
When was registration plate SB9864 first issued
Reply
Geoff
2 years ago
Trying to trace the history of my much-loved early 1960s BSA Gold Flash in blue. It was registered new in Oxfordshire and I think the letters were XWL. I’m an octogenarian and my memory is not what it was.Thank you for any help
Reply
Sheila Hardy
2 years ago
My family owned a small lorry. I think the registration reads AY9078 but it definitely reads AY?078 we are trying to date a photo from the number plate. It is circa 1908 thank you
Reply
Jane Peck
2 years ago
I am trying to find out the whereabouts of a red Morgan Reg plate KLT 558D
I have worked out it was registered in 1966
Any info really welcomed
Reply
Simon
2 years ago
Ex MOd Vehicles. I have seen an mot certificate which gives date of manufacture as 1979 yet it has an A 111 ggg style number plate. How is this possible?
Reply