The complete guide
UK Number Plate Formats Explained
Dateless, suffix, prefix, current style and Northern Irish: how each format came about, how to read the year and region from any plate, and which registrations can go on your car.
Timeline
Over a century of registrations
Five formats, one system. Northern Ireland has kept the dateless style throughout.
- 1903 A 1 Dateless A 1 issued in London. Letters identify the county, numbers run 1–9999.
- 1932 ABC 123 Three letters Busy counties add a third letter: ABC 123, later reversed to 123 ABC.
- 1963 ABC 123A Suffix A year letter is added to the end. Changes every August from 1967.
- 1983 A123 ABC Prefix The year letter moves to the front. Six-monthly changes from 1999.
- 2001 AB51 CDE Current Memory tag, two-digit age identifier, three random letters. Runs to 2050.
Format guides
Every Format, Explained in Depth
History, year tables, regional codes, eligibility rules and buying tips for each.
1903 – 1963
Dateless Number Plates
The oldest, most prestigious registrations on British roads: what they are, how they were issued, how to read one, and why they can go on a car of any age.
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1963 – 1983
Suffix Number Plates
The first plates to carry a year letter. Read the suffix table, learn which letters were skipped and why, and see which vehicles can carry one today.
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1983 – 2001
Prefix Number Plates
Eighteen years of A123 ABC. Decode the year letter, see why the system went six-monthly in 1999, and find out which cars a prefix plate can go on.
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2001 – today
Current Style Number Plates
The AB51 CDE system: how the two-digit age identifier works, what the memory tag tells you about where a car was registered, and which letters you will never see.
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Dateless · any vehicle
Northern Irish Number Plates
The I and Z plates: why they have never carried an age identifier, how to read the county code, and why they are the best-kept secret for putting a private plate on any car.
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Quick decoder
How to read any UK plate in ten seconds
- Two letters, two numbers, three letters (AB51 CDE)? Current style. The numbers are the age identifier; March issues use the year, September issues add 50.
- One letter, numbers, three letters (A123 ABC)? Prefix, 1983 to 2001. The first letter is the year.
- Three letters, numbers, one letter (ABC 123A)? Suffix, 1963 to 1983. The last letter is the year.
- Letters and numbers with no single year letter, containing I or Z? Northern Irish. Dateless, fits any vehicle.
- Anything else with no year letter? Dateless, pre-1963. Fits any vehicle.
Formats in general
Number Plate Formats: Common Questions
How many number plate formats are there in the UK?
Five families: dateless (pre-1963), suffix (1963–83), prefix (1983–2001), current style (2001 onward) and Northern Irish, which has stayed dateless throughout.
Which format can go on any car?
Dateless and Northern Irish plates, because they carry no age identifier. Suffix, prefix and current plates can only go on vehicles registered in or after the period the identifier represents.
Why are the letters I, O, Q, U and Z missing from some plates?
I and Z were reserved for Ireland, Q for vehicles of unknown age, and O and U were dropped as year letters because they resemble 0 and V. Each guide lists exactly which letters its format skipped.
Can I change the format when I transfer a plate?
No. A registration keeps its format for life. You can move it between eligible vehicles but you cannot alter its letters, numbers or spacing.
Where can I check what year a plate is?
Use our free number plate year checker: type the registration and it returns the format, the issue period and the earliest vehicle it can be assigned to.
Found Your Format? Find Your Plate.
Search 72 million live DVLA registrations by format, name or initials. Every price includes the £80 DVLA fee and full transfer service.