Dates of issue for the various UK number plate formats

Current Style registration numbers issue dates(also known as New Style plates)Example of a current style 51 registration: AB51 CDE51 registrations1st September 2001 to end of February 200202 registrations1st March 2002 to end of August 200252 registrations1st Sept 2002 to end of February 200303 registrations1st March 2003 to end of August 200353 registrations1st Sept 2003 to end of February 200404 registrations1st March 2004 to end of August 200454 registrations1st Sept 2004 to end of February 200505 registrations1st March 2005 to end of August 200555 registrations1st Sept 2005 to end of February 200606 registrations1st March 2006 to end of August 200656 registrations1st Sept 2006 to end of February 200707 registrations1st March 2007 to end of August 200757 registrations1st Sept 2007 to end of February 200808 registrations1st March 2008 to end of August 200858 registrations1st Sept 2008 to end of February 200909 registrations (not yet released)1st March 2009 to end of August 2009Prefix Style registration numbers issue dates(also known as Classic Style plates)Example of a prefix style Y registration: Y8 LJBA registrations1st August 1983 to end of July 1984B registrations1st August 1984 to end of July 1985C registrations1st August 1985 to end of July 1986D registrations1st August 1986 to end of July 1987E registrations1st August 1987 to end of July 1988F registrations1st August 1988 to end of July 1989G registrations1st August 1989 to end of July 1990H registrations1st August 1990 to end of July 1991J registrations1st August 1991 to end of July 1992K registrations1st August 1992 to end of July 1993L registrations1st August 1993 to end of July 1994M registrations1st August 1994 to end of July 1995N registrations1st August 1995 to end of July 1996P registrations1st August 1996 to end of July 1997R registrations1st August 1997 to end of July 1998S registrations1st August 1998 to end of February 1999T registrations1st March 1999 to end of August 1999V registrations1st September 1999 to end of February 2000W registrations1st March 2000 to end of August 2000X registrations1st September 2000 to end of February 2001Y registrations1st March 2001 to end of August 2001Suffix Style registration numbers issue dates(also known as Letters First plates)Example of a old suffix style H registration: KEL 5HA1st February 1963 to end of December 1963B1st January 1964 to end of December1964C1st January 1965 to end of December 1965D1st January 1966 to end of December 1966E1st January 1967 to end of July 1967F1st August 1967 to end of July 1968G1st August 1968 to end of July 1969H1st August 1969 to end of July 1970J1st August 1970 to end of July 1971K1st August 1971 to end of July 1972L1st August 1972 to end of July 1973M1st August 1973 to end of July 1974N1st August 1974 to end of July 1975P1st August 1975 to end of July 1976R1st August 1976 to end of July 1977S1st August 1977 to end of July 1978T1st August 1978 to end of July 1979V1st August 1979 to end of July 1980W1st August 1980 to end of July 1981X1st August 1981 to end of July 1982Y1st August 1982 to end of July 1983Dateless registration numbers(also known as Ageless plates)Example of a dateless style registration: 32 TBDateless registration numbers are exactly that, dateless. This means that they can be transferred to any age of vehicle as they were issued before date related number plates were introduced in 1963.Irish registration numbers(also known as Paddy plates)Example of a dateless style registration: BNZ 8754Irish registration numbers can be transferred to any age of vehicle as they do not contain an age identifier.Q registration numbers(also known as Q plates)Example of a dateless style registration: Q123 ABCThere are a few vehicles on the road which bear a Q registration number, these are generally issued to vehicles that have been constructed of bits and pieces from several vehicles. You usually find that kit cars make up the largest amount of Q registered vehicles on the road. Vehicles which have a Q registration plate CANNOT participate in registration transfers.