First Numberplates
The first number plates were issued in the United Kingdom in 1903, as a result of the Motor Car Act, which came into effect on January 1, 1904. The act also introduced driving licenses and speed limits. The idea for vehicle registration was borrowed from the Netherlands, which was the first country to use national registration plates in 1898.
The first number plate known to have been issued was DY1, which was given to the second Earl Russell’s Napier car in Hastings on November 23, 1903. The early number plates were made up of one letter and one number, and often included an area code to identify a specific location. For example, “A” was used for London and “B” for Lancashire.
Numberplate Format
The format of number plates has changed over time:
1932: A three letter and three number series was introduced
Mid-1950s: Some authorities began reversing the order of letters and numbers
1963–1965: A year suffix was added to all plates
1967: The registration year was changed from January 1 to August 1
Alphabet System
In the UK, number plates on a car were ran the alphabet system. They were annually moved to the next year on the 1st September. This system started in 1983.
Example plate is L123 ABC – The L at the beginning of number plate was related to the year it was 1st registered…
1993 – L 1994 – M 1995 – N 1996 – P 1997 – R 1998 – S 1999 – T
1999 – V 2000 – W 2000 – W 2001 – Y
You might notice there’s no O, Q, U or Z, these weren’t used as they looked too much like other numbers or letters, or were kept for special vehicles.
All Change!
In 2001/2002 it all changed as they were running out of number plate configurations, so they introduced the new system. Twice a year new number plates were bought out, 1st March & 1st September.
From the 1st September 2021, the DVLA decided to start the plates at 51, so September 2001 was an example plate like this BR51 NGG.
Years And Reg Plates
Year March September
2002/03 02 52
2003/04 03 53
2004/05 04 54
2005/06 05 55
2006/07 06 56
2007/08 07 57
2008/09 08 58
2009/10 09 59
2010/11 10 60
2011/12 11 61
2012/13 12 62
2013/14 13 63
2014/15 14 64
2015/16 15 65
2016/17 16 66
2017/18 17 67
2018/19 18 68
2019/20 19 69
2020/21 20 70
2021/22 21 71
2022/23 22 72
2023/24 23 73
2024/25 24 74
Year
2002/3
2003/4
2004/5
2005/6
2006/7
2007/8
2008/9
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
March
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
September
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
Year
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
March
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
September
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
Standard car number plates contain 7 letters and numbers divided into two separate blocks.
The first two letters are called an area code, and correlate with a region in the UK where the car was initially registered. For example RD51 SMR is first registered in Reading. It depends on which region you come under, with the area code system. If you live in Leeds for example, you then start your number plates with a Y, for the Yorkshire region…
The two numbers that follow identify the age of the vehicle (so if it was registered in March 2024, it will read ‘24’). The final three letters are selected at random
Learn to Drive
We have the knowledge and skills to teach you to drive, whichever year your first car was registered! Get in touch today if you’d like some driving lessons.