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
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.
Related Information
- Overview
- Where A Vehicle Is Registered
- When Was A Vehicle Registered
- Private Registrations
Author: Dean Michael
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 ?
Yes, it’s fine.
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:
Basically OP can’t have those plates because the vehicle needs to be manufactured before 1973…. Not the date of the plate.
Suffix “E” is 1967
What year is the UK registration 412 UXC many thanks
That is a dateless plate, it can be put on any age of vehicle.
We’re was RC 3848 re
hi my old gentry car has a reg number 345 DDT. could you tell me the year and car it came from regards
1960.
Cannot find the car on the DVLA database.
I am trying to find out the area and year for an old black and silver reg number OOF 76. Can anybody help
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?
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)
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.
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.
Hi can you tell me what year my car was made/registered by the vin number?
Hi. I have a 1990 VW T25 but the registration says 2003. Any idea why this would be the case ?
Oh the Registration is G49 WKL
sorry , i may be a bit slow but what year is V15 ***
thanks in anticipation
Please tell me what year in the uk was YHZ 1704 made
Dateless Northern Ireland; N/A
Where can I find out the histroy of GGK 108c
car Tax Check?
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?
Check on cartaxcheck.co.uk
I have a Mercedes C220 AMG 2013 with Number plate BOB 832K already on can i change plate to a Vintage Number plate
Hi could you tell me what year was number plate issued please BN9458
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.
According to Stone and Cox: Motor Specifications and Prices (1979 edition) your number plate was issued in August 1955, in Essex.
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?
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
“13” in the pre-fix set, such as “D13” or “L13” identifies the registration as what status?
what year is the registration T3094 (DEVON registered)
Hi, what about 00D 865?
Thanks
Any idea what year the number plate LYS 201 would be?
AF 3742 in Cornwall is that 1963 or before?
That’s a 1930’s plate.
Which year was 519KD about please?
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?
You can apply the D-Reg Plate to any car made after August 1986.
Hi I have a registration Y984eba is this registration legal it’s for a 2001 Mitsubishi thanks in advance .
I have a Nissan Micra VA53 APX, what year would that be registered
Your registration indicates it’s for a Nissan Micra 2003-2004.
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.
When was registration plate SB9864 first issued
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
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
Is it posible to trace a vehicle with a partial Regitration Number. I’m try to trace my old scooter.? VDU*75X Green Vespa 125. I can’t remember the whole reg number.
It’s VDU 875X, but now it’s pink.
East way to check is to Google “check car tax” and then just type in VDU 875X and the detail will pop up. I checked 175 – 975 and there were 2 combinations with no matches. This could be scrapped numbers or were never issued (unlikely)
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
What year was W.3098
Around 1900
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?
What year is a Morris Traveller 475 MCH or MOH please
Is there a way of finding out what type of car that 1 BAY was originally issued to and what cars the same registration has been on since?
It’s currently on a Jaguar
Hi John. Is 1 BAY for sale ? I’d be interested
Not unless you have 400K plus
can i put a personalised “05” plate on a 2005 ford ka?
Yes, so long as the 05 plate is younger than the 05 car. (Check month carefully)
I want to find out what happened to my dads’ old car. Her reg was WAN10G. Can you please help me. Thanks.
It was a Daimler and last taxed 1st June 2006. It still comes up in the “check car tax” gov.uk site on Google, so maybe it’s in storage. If it was scrapped the registration wouldn’t show up at all
I have a R plate that I want to put on a G reg vehicle. Is this allowed?
Hi, could you tell me what HC 66 signifies ?
It was on a 1956 MG I bought in Kent. The car was shipped to Canada and the seller , Mr. Mervyn Lambourne. was able to keep the plates as the Magnette met with MOT approval.
When was a Triumph Herald 3190 PT registered
Years ago my dad built a car reg JAP232. Can any one give me the date please?
If a car has a 61 reg plate on but was registered in 2012, can i put a private plate on which is KH12A**
My first car was a triumph herald, Reg 7763 NU. What year was it. Thanks.
That registration number was issued by Derbyshire County Council some time between July 1963 and May 1964.
Thank you.
Can I put a personalised reg K24 CED on a 2010 car?
Yes
Trying to find out what make of UK vehicle had registration no. USA16L in the 1970s
Hi Ruth,
If that license plate is no longer registered to a vehicle then you might struggle trying to find anything.
It might be worth contacting the DVLA to see if they can help.
What year was this car manufactured PE57ZPT
2007 September onwards up to March 1st 2008
Have a Ford Fusion reg:- KY11WZO trying to find year of registration please.
Hi Jennifer,
It looks as though it’s a 2011 Ford Fusion.
I would like to know the yeah of this plate JRD8658