WHY ARE NUMBER PLATES REQUIRED?

Updated March 2024.

Why do we need number plates?

Registration plates are essential for identifying vehicles on the road. They not only aid local enforcement but also enable individuals to verify whether their vehicle is properly taxed and registered under the correct ownership. It's important to note that the number plate stays with the car and not its owner until the car is destroyed or exported.

In early 1999, the UK transitioned from annual to biannual release of new registration plates, occurring on the 1st of March and 1st of September. Since 2001, the current format of number plates comprises three components: the Local Memory Tag, Age Identifier, and Random Letters.

Three Part Identification (March 2024 Update)

How to read number plates?

1. Local Memory Tag

The first two letters shown on the registration plate are known as local memory tags and are used to show where the vehicle was registered. According to the DVLA, the first letter signifies the region, and the second letter identifies the postal area within the region. Check out the memory tags in the table below for more information about memory tags in your region.

Click the following link for more information about DVLA memory tags and age identifiers.

2. Age Identifier

Registration plates also function as an age identifier for the vehicles. Cars registered in March state the current year’s last two numbers, while those in September add 50 to the number. If March 2024 new cars use 24 as an age identifier, new cars registered on or after the 1st of September will be 74 plates (24+50).

You can see the reg plate changes until 2029 in figure 2 below:

Under the current system in place, 2030 reg plates will follow a similar structure. From the 1st of March new plates will be registered as 30, and then new plates from 1st of September will be 80 (still applying the year plus 50 rule).

3. Random Letters

The last three letters are randomly generated to provide the car with a unique identifier. The letter Z will always be used as a random letter at the end of a number plate, never in the memory tags.

Personalised Number Plates

Private number plates otherwise known as personalised number plates are a great way to add style and individuality to your vehicle. In the UK, these can be bought from the DVLA website or private seller. They make a great gift and can be tailored with initials or combinations of your choice depending on how much you wish to pay. Prices start at a couple of hundred and can increase to thousands.

Unlike a traditional number plate which is supplied with the vehicle, private plates stay with the individual and can be transferred to different vehicles when needed. The whole process is hassle-free and can be completed on the DVLA website by removing it from the old vehicle and assigning it to the new vehicle. If preferred, this service can also be performed by sending the correct form by post.

Registration Plate Rules

To meet British Standard, number plates must follow a strict design in order to avoid problems or penalties. All number plates need to have characters of a certain height, font and size, be made from a reflective material, display solid black characters on a white background (front plate), display solid black characters on a yellow background (rear plate), not have a background pattern, be marked to show who supplied the number plate be marked with a British Standard number (‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021) as well as being DVLA registered.

However, they can have raised 3D characters, display certain flags, and have a green slash which indicates a zero-emission vehicle (Introduced in December 2020, Further information can be found on the Government's website.)

In order to comply with the new rules for 2022, vehicles equipped with newer, older, or replaced number plates fitted from the 1st of September 2001, must follow strict guidelines concerning the specification of the letters, numbers, and style of the reg plate, as seen below.

Under no circumstances should you alter registration plates or make them difficult to read. Doing so could result in a fine of one thousand pounds, and incorrectly displayed number plates may lead to a failed MOT test.

Number Plate Emergencies

If your number plate is lost, stolen or damaged, it is important to take immediate action. A stolen or lost number plate will need to be reported to the police as your details will be connected and could be involved in fraudulent activity. It is against the law to drive without a visible reg so you must wait for your new plates to arrive before heading back onto the roads.

The DVLA can provide guidance surrounding most number plate queries here.

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