ABOUT PLATES

The registration number system began in December 1903 when it was decided to introduce a scheme to uniquely identify each motor vehicle. Each local authority across Britain was allocated particular combinations of letters.

These combinations signified the area where the car was registered. Initially all registrations started with one or two letters followed by the numbers 1 - 9999 (e.g. AB 1234)

Scotland was originally allocated the combinations incorporating G, V, & S (e.g. AG, GA etc) though this was not adhered to strictly except for S. (therefore any registration with an S in the last two letters originates in Scotland (e.g. ASA, AAS etc). Ireland was allocated the letters I & Z and these two letters are never used on mainland UK (i.e. any registration containing I or Z originates in Ireland, any registration without an I or Z does not - except for the brand new plates released September 2001 where Z is available for the first time.). Unfortunately after the partition of Ireland, those combinations allocated to the South were no longer available, and only those combinations allocated to the six counties remain, consequently numbers such as JIM & LIZ are not obtainable!

As issuing authorities ran out of available registrations, in 1931 three letter combinations were issued, the last two letters indicating the issuing authority. The numbers were issued 1 - 999 (e.g. ABC 123)

In the early fifties these numbers were also running out, and reversals were issued, whereby the numbers preceded the letters (e.g. 123 ABC, 1234 SR)

In 1963 these were also running out, and the first "year letter" suffix, A, was issued by some authorities (e.g. ABC 123A) the following year some authorities issued "B" suffixes. By 1965 all authorities were instructed to issue C suffixes. In 1967 the month of issue was changed to August (from January) and consequently the E suffix only ran from January to July 1967.

In 1983 when the suffix letters ran out, the system was simply reversed. (e.g. A123 ABC) which is how it continued; though currently the letter changes twice each year, in March & September.

We have recently witnessed the biggest change to our system so far with a new system of two letters (to indicate place of registration, two numbers to indicate the year or date of issue, and a further three random letters (e.g. AB02 CDE)

Watch for a big upsurge in interest in personalised plates now that the new style has hit the streets and a consequent rise in prices! So if you are thinking of buying a personalised plate better get your order in soon!