While the typical individual is acquainted with the structure of car registration plates—a combination of letters and numbers—few realise that this arrangement isn’t merely a random fusion. Unveiling the hidden layers behind this façade, one uncovers an intriguing tapestry of meaning.
Common knowledge dictates that the numerical component on the plate denotes the year of the vehicle’s registration, coupled with the specific half of the year. An illustration of this is evident in this year’s context, where automobiles registered before September 1 bear a 23 number plate, while those enrolled thereafter sport a 73 registration.
Yet, a lesser-known revelation pertains to the two letters that precede these numbers. Jon Kirkbright, the Sales Director at Private Number Plates, possesses over a decade’s worth of expertise in this realm. He enlightens us that these letters are no arbitrary symbols, but rather regional identifiers.
“To the casual observer, number plates may appear as an amalgamation of arbitrary letters and numbers. While many grasp the connection between the numbers and the car’s manufacturing and registration year, the concealed meaning behind the preceding letters may elude them. These letters, aptly referred to as ‘regional identifiers,’ shed light on the DVLA office responsible for the car’s registration.”
This intricate feature could well explain the similarity in the starting letters of number plates for those who procure multiple vehicles from a single dealership. Contrary to mere coincidence, these shared letters reflect a deeper narrative.
However, those opting for private registration plates diverge from this norm, as they are bestowed the liberty to personally choose their letter-number combination. Jon emphasises the importance of understanding that private plates shouldn’t be manipulated to falsely age a vehicle.
He asserts, “Misrepresenting the registration is a violation. While you can make your vehicle seem older, you are prohibited from bestowing it with a deceptive appearance of being newer. For instance, affixing an ’11’ number plate onto a car with a ’07’ plate is strictly off-limits.”
For individuals yearning to obscure their vehicle’s age, an appealing alternative is to consider a dateless private registration plate. Jon highlights, “Contrary to popular perception, dateless personalised registrations are attainable at remarkably affordable rates. These are ideal for those seeking an entirely unique plate or aiming to veil their car’s age. However, they tend to find new owners swiftly.”
Equipped with the newfound comprehension of these enigmatic letters, vehicle owners with original plates can unearth their car’s registration origin across the country. The data below facilitates this quest:
Regional Identifiers | Location | Postal area
AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM AN | Anglia | Peterborough
AO AP AR AS AT AU | Anglia | Norwich
AV AW AX AY | Anglia | Ipswich
BA – BY | Birmingham | Birmingham
CA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CJ CK CL CM CN CO | Cymru | Cardiff
CP CR CS CT CU CV | Cymru | Swansea
CW CX CY | Cymru | Bangor
DA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DJ DK | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Chester
DL DM DN DO DP DR DS DT DU DV DW DX DY | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury
EA – EY | Essex | Chelmsford
FA FB FC FD FE FF FG FH FJ FK FL FM FN FP | Forest & Fens | Nottingham
FR FS FT FV FW FX FY | Forest & Fens | Lincoln
GA GB GC GD GE GF GG GH GJ GK GL GM GN GO | Garden of England | Maidstone
GP GR GS GT GU GV GW GX GY | Garden of England | Brighton
HA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HJ | Hampshire & Dorset | Bournemouth
HK HL HM HN HO HP HR HS HT HU HV HW HX HY (HW will be used exclusively for Isle of Wight residents) | Hampshire & Dorset | Portsmouth
KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KJ KK KL | | Borehamwood
KM KN KO KP KR KS KT KU KV KW KX KY | | Northampton
LA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LJ | London | Wimbledon
LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LS LT | London | Borehamwood
LU LV LW LX LY | London | Sidcup
MA – MY (MN + MAN Reserved for the Isle of Man) | Manchester & Merseyside | Manchester
NA NB NC ND NE NG NH NJ NK NL NM NN NO | North | Newcastle
NP NR NS NT NU NV NW NX NY | North | Stockton
OA – OY | Oxford | Oxford
PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM PN PO PP PR PS PT | Preston | Preston
PU PV PW PX PY | Preston | Carlisle
RA – RY | Reading | Theale
SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJ | Scotland | Glasgow
SK SL SM SN SO | Scotland | Edinburgh
SP SR SS ST | Scotland | Dundee
SU SV SW | Scotland | Aberdeen
SX SY | Scotland | Inverness
VA – VY | Severn Valley | Worcester
WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WJ | West of England | Exeter
WK WL | West of England | Truro
WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WV WW WX WY | West of England | Bristol
YA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YJ YK | Yorkshire | Leeds
YL YM YN YO YP YR YS YT YU | Yorkshire | Sheffield
YV YW YX YY | Yorkshire | Beverley
For additional information or assistance regarding private number plate acquisition or sale, consider visiting Private Number Plates or reaching out via Facebook.
