If you’re a new driver or anyone new to UK number plate formats, our beginner's guide is the perfect place for you to get valuable information about the different types of car registrations.
The UK has had various number plate formats throughout the years to meet growing car demand. This guide will help you understand all formats, beginning with the earliest – dateless plates. We'll then cover suffix, prefix, Irish, and new formats, clarifying how the numbers and letters are arranged, why they’re organised that way and what each of them means.
Dateless number plates were first introduced in 1903. They’re unique and valuable as they don't reveal the age of the vehicle, allowing for greater flexibility in personalisation. Ranging from 1 to 6 characters, dateless plates can contain letters, numbers, or a combination of both.
These plates don’t follow DVLA rules regarding age identification, so you can attach them to any vehicle. Considered a wise investment, dateless plates have appreciated in value over time due to their rarity. Some of them are among the most expensive globally.
Have a look at an example below for a clearer understanding:
In this example, the district code ‘AM’ starts with the letter ‘A’, meaning that the vehicle was registered in London. This is because, in England and Wales, the letter codes were given in alphabetical order based on the population size in each region. London was the most populated area, and therefore is represented by the letter ‘A’.
The number ‘51’ doesn’t have a special meaning. It’s just simply used to provide identification for the vehicle within the London area.
The chart below outlines some of the most popular letter codes and their corresponding registered city or region.
Area Letter Code
Registered City or Region
