Vehicle registration numbers and number plates

1 9/14 INF104 Vehicle registration numbers and number platesFor more information go to pageVehicle registration numbers 1 Why we have Vehicle registration numbers 3 2 Entitlement to a Vehicle registration number 3 3 Vehicle registration number format 3 4 Display of Vehicle registration numbers 4 5 DVLA memory tags and age identifiers 5 number plates 6 How to get a number plate 7 7 number plate design specification 8 8 The Euro symbol on a number plate 11 9 National flags on number plates 11 10 What to do if your Vehicle has been cloned 1219525 Vehicle registration numbers1 Why we have Vehicle registration numbers Vehicle registration numbers are a way of identifying vehicles.

2 All registration numbers are owned by the Secretary of State and are allocated to vehicles as part of the process of registering and taxing vehicles. registration numbers can be registration number is given to the Vehicle , rather than its registered keeper. It will stay with the Vehicle (until the Vehicle is broken up, destroyed or exported permanently out of the country) unless the registered keeper of the Vehicle transfers it to another Vehicle or retains it (keeps the right to use it). 2 Entitlement to a Vehicle registration number The registered keeper of the Vehicle gets limited entitlement to display the registration number .

3 When the Vehicle changes hands, entitlement to the Vehicle registration number will stay with the Vehicle unless the registered keeper transfers or retains the Vehicle registration number before they get rid of the can find details of how to transfer, retain or buy the right to display a Vehicle registration number by going to Format of Vehicle registration numbers The current format for Vehicle registration numbers was introduced on 1 September 2001 for all new vehicles being registered. The format is two letters, two numbers , a space and three further letters.

4 The first two letters are the DVLA memory tag, the two numbers (the age identifier) indicate the age of the Vehicle , and the last three letters are random. Age identifierRandom lettersDVLA memory tag3 For example, BD signifies Birmingham, 51 represents September 2001 and SMR are random letters. The age identifier changes every six months in March and September. Note: we cannot guarantee that any specific DVLA memory tag will be issued including where a replacement registration number is is a list of DVLA memory tags and age identifiers on pages 5 and Displaying Vehicle registration numbers Vehicle registration numbers must be correctly displayed on number plates as set out in the Road Vehicles (Display of registration Marks) Regulations (as appropriate).

5 These regulations govern how Vehicle registration number plates are designed, manufactured and displayed. It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent the numbers and letters on a number plate to form names or words, or in a way that makes it difficult to read the registration number . For example, you should not use fixing bolts to change any of the letters or numbers . Anyone with a number plate that does not display the registration number correctly could be fined up to 1000. In some cases, the registration number may be permanently you have misrepresented a Vehicle registration number that you have been given or bought the right to under the Sale of registration Marks Regulations, and the Vehicle registration number is permanently withdrawn, you would not get back any money that you have paid for the registration number .

6 Or any other costs you have to cannot use a registration number to make your Vehicle appear younger than it actually DVLA memory tags and age identifiers5 LetterPostal areaDVLA memory tag identifierAAngliaPeterborough Norwich IpswichAA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM AN AO AP AR AS AT AU AV AW AX AYBB irminghamBirminghamBA BY CCymruCardiff Swansea BangorCA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CJ CK CL CM CN CO CP CR CS CT CU CV CW CX CYDD eeside to ShrewsburyChester ShrewsburyDA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DJ DK DL DM DN DO DP DR DS DT DU DV DW DX DYEE ssexChelmsfordEA EYFF orest & FensNottingham LincolnFA FB FC FD FE FF FG FH FJ FK FL FM FN FP FR FS FT FV FW FX FY GGarden of EnglandMaidstone BrightonGA GB GC GD GE GF GG GH GJ GK GL GM GN GO GP GR GS GT GU GV GW GX GYHH ampshire & DorsetBournemouth PortsmouthHA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HJ HK HL HM HN HO HP HR HS HT HU HV HW HX HY (HW will be used exclusively for Isle of Wight residents)

7 KBorehamwood NorthamptonKA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KJ KK KL KM KN KO KP KR KS KT KU KV KW KX KYLL ondonWimbledon Borehamwood SidcupLA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LJ LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LS LT LU LV LW LX LYMM anchester & MerseysideManchesterMA MY (MN + MAN Reserved for the Isle of Man)NNorthNewcastle StocktonNA NB NC ND NE NG NH NJ NK NL NM NN NO NP NR NS NT NU NV NW NX NYOO xfordOxfordOA OYPP restonPreston CarlislePA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM PN PO PP PR PS PT PU PV PW PX PYRR eadingThealeRA RYSS cotlandGlasgow Edinburgh Dundee Aberdeen InvernessSA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJ SK SL SM SN SO SP SR SS ST SU SV SW SX SYVS evern ValleyWorcesterVA VYWWest of EnglandExeter Truro BristolWA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WJ WK WL WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WV WW WX WYYY orkshireLeeds Sheffield

8 BeverleyYA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YJ YK YL YM YN YO YP YR YS YT YU YV YW YX YYn We will not use I, Q or Z in local memory tags We will still issue existing Q We will only use Z as a random identifiersDateCodeDateCodeSept 2001 Feb 200251 March 2002 Aug 200202 Sept 2002 Feb 200352 March 2003 Aug 200303 Sept 2003 Feb 200453 March 2004 Aug 200404 Sept 2004 Feb 200554 March 2005 Aug 200505 Sept 2005 Feb 200655 March 2006 Aug 200606 Sept 2006 Feb 200756 March 2007 Aug 200707 Sept 2007 Feb 200857 March 2008 Aug 200808 Sept 2008 Feb 200958 March 2009 Aug 200909 Sept 2009

9 Feb 201059 March 2010 Aug 201010 Sept 2010 Feb 201160 March 2011 Aug 201111 Sept 2011 Feb 201261 March 2012 Aug 201212 Sept 2012 Feb 2013 62 March 2013 Aug 201313 Sept 2013 Feb 201463 March 2014 Aug 201414 Sept 2014 Feb 201564 March 2015 Aug 201515 Sept 2015 Feb 201665 March 2016 Aug 201616 Sept 2016 Feb 201766 March 2017 Aug 201717 Sept 2017 Feb 201867 March 2018 Aug 201818 Sept 2018 Feb 201968 March 2019 Aug 201919 Sept 2019 Feb 202069 March 2020 Aug 202020 Sept 2020 Feb 202170 March 2021 Aug 202121 Sept 2021 Feb 202271 March 2022 Aug 202222 Sept 2022 Feb 202372 March 2023 Aug 202323 Sept 2023 Feb 202473 March 2024 Aug 202424 Sept 2024 Feb 202574 March 2025 Aug 202525 Sept 2025 Feb 202675 March 2026 Aug 202626 Sept 2026 Feb 202776 March 2027 Aug 202727 Sept 2027 Feb 202877 March 2028 Aug 202828 Sept 2028 Feb 202978 March 2029 Aug 202929 Sept 2029 Feb 203079 This pattern will continue until all possible variations have been

10 Plates6 How to get a number plateTo have a number plate made for your Vehicle , you will need to go to a Registered number Plate Supplier (RNPS). You can find details of your nearest RNPS at will need to produce at least one document from each of the lists below to allow the RNPS to confirm your name, address and your entitlement to the registration number . All documents must be original. We do not accept to show entitlement to the registration numbern The Vehicle registration Certificate (V5C)n The New keeper s details section (V5C/2) of the V5Cn A Certificate of Entitlement (V750) n A Retention Document (V778)n A reminder to get Vehicle tax or make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) (V11) or (V11(NI))n A Temporary