History of number plates
The UK number plate system was introduced in late 1903, with the registration 'A1' (issued in London) debatably being the first.
Due to the rise of traffic at the time it became necessary for individual vehicles to be identified easily. The registration marks would be issued in sequence and relate to the area they were issued. The number plate system has undergone many changes in the last 100 years, and cherished number plates have certainly become the ultimate car accessory.
Styles of number plates and their traits:
Mainland UK Dateless number plates (issued between 1903 and 1963)
- Generally the most expensive style.
- Can be transferred to any age vehicle.
- Very rare due to their age.
- No I, Q or Z in the registration.
Examples: A 1, A 123, ABC 123, 1 A, 123 A, 123 ABC
Suffix Number plates (Issued between 1963 and 1983)
- Age identifier is the last letter (suffix).
- Very rare.
- No I, Q or Z
Examples: ABC 1D, ABC 123F, WOO 13Y, ANN 4S, PAU 10S, HEL 3N
Prefix Number plates (issued between 1983 and 2001)
- Age identifier is the first letter (prefix).
- Many available, generally a cheaper option.
- No I, Q or Z
Examples: A1 ABC, A123 ABC, S5 UES, A117 ONY, P4 ULS, T4 MMY, K155 ESS, B16 CAR, S4 UCY, K1 NGS
Current Style/ New style Number plates (from 2001 on)
- Most options
- New release each 6 months
- No I, Q or Z in first group. Are allowed Z in last group
Examples CU06 SDE, CU56 SDE, HP02 HEL, RU55 ELL, AS02 ZZZ
Northern Ireland Number plates (from 1903 on)
- Can be transferred to any age vehicle. In northern Ireland or the mainland UK.
- Always contain either an I or a Z
- Readily available.
Example 1 AZ, AZ 1, AZ 1234, ABZ 1, GIL 123, GAZ 1234, BIG 1234, JUI 135
Basic rules to consider when looking to buy a private registration mark
- It is illegal to miss represent the display of a registration mark.
- You cannot assign a registration mark to a vehicle that makes it appear younger. i.e. If you have a 1998 vehicle with registration mark R189 UED then you could not put the 2005 registration mark AB05ABC onto it.
- Vehicles must have current MOT (if of the necessary age) and TAX (or be exempt) to take part in the government transfer scheme.
- Registrations always contain a number!
Owning a private Registration
Private registrations can be held on either a vehicle or on a certificate.
There are two types of holding certificate:
- Certificates of entitlement – V750 (never been on a vehicle)
- Certificates of retention – V778 (previously been on vehicle)
We have a wealth of information on our Full website; taking you through each transfer process and giving you useful information about the DVLA and DVLA documents. SEND YOURSELF A LINK TO PLATES4LESS.