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September 2001 has seen the most dramatic change to UK car registrations since 1963, when the alphabetical suffix was introduced to mark the age of a vehicle.

DVLA consider the current system has now run its course and as of 1st September 2001 will be introducing not only a totally new format, but also new regulations in terms of print, size, layout and style of number plates.


Current Style Y123 ABC
New Style LA51 ABC

New Style registration plate example



The new registration marks will all be made up of seven characters. There are three parts to the registration mark, each with a separate meaning.

In the example above "51" represents the 6 month period from September 2001 to February 2002.
In the"AB" shows that the vehicle was first registered in Anglia (A) at the Peterborough office (B).
  • The first two letters show where the vehicle was registered, the local memory tag.
  • The two numbers indicate the age of the vehicle, the age identifier.
  • The last three letters give a unique identity to a vehicle, the random letters.


    Full List Of Local Memory Tags


    From September 2001


    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



Age Identifier

Age identifiers will continue to change twice yearly in March and September.


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