What are 59 plates?
We explain how the number plate system works and what will happen from 2010 onwards.
How does the current plate system work?
Example plate: AT59 TDR
1. The first two letters represent the 'local memory tag' - where the vehicle was registered. For example LA to LY for London.
2. The third and fourth digits are numbers known as the 'age identifier.' These are changed every six months in March and September. For example:
• ‘09’ in March 2009 and ‘59’ in September 2009
• '10' in March 2010 and '60' in September 2010
• '11' in March 2011 and '61' in September 2011
The easiest way to remember this is to think of March as the year and September as the year plus 50.
3. The last three letters are random. Bear in mind some personalised plates don't follow this system.
Have you got a private number plate? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog
Is it worth waiting until March or September?
If you want to buy a car which looks brand new, it's a good idea to wait until March or September before visiting a dealership.
If you're looking for a bargain however, buy a month earlier - dealers occasionally get rid of old stock at discount prices in February and August each year.
What was the old number plate system?
Example plate: A 470 TDR
1. The first letter is the 'age identifier' - representing the year the car was registered. This changed each year in August and after 1999 it was updated every six months instead. For example from August 1996 new cars were P-reg and from August 1997 they were R-reg.
2. The third and fourth digits are random numbers.
3. The final three letters are also random. From 1963 to 1983, the letter identifying the year of the car was at the end of the plate.
The original once-a-year plate change system was in place until 2001. Dealers would see a huge sales spike in August each year from drivers who wanted to be seen in the newest cars, which resulted in lower sales during the rest of the year.
This was phased out in 2001 and changed to the twice-annual number plate system which is still in place today.
How can I find out a car's age?
Here's the full list of number plate years and their age identifier:
• 1963 A
• 1964 B
• 1965 C
• 1966 D
• 1967 E/F
• 1968 F/G
• 1969 G/H
• 1970 H/J
• 1971 J/K
• 1972 K/L
• 1973 L/M
• 1974 M/N
• 1975 N/P
• 1976 P/R
• 1977 R/S
• 1978 S/T
• 1979 T/V
• 1980 V/W
• 1981 W/X
• 1982 X/Y
• 1983 Y/A
• 1984 A/B
• 1985 B/C
• 1986 C/D
• 1987 D/E
• 1988 E/F
• 1989 F/G
• 1990 G/H
• 1991 H/J
• 1992 J/K
• 1993 K/L
• 1994 L/M
• 1995 M/N
• 1996 N/P
• 1997 P/R
• 1998 R/S
• 1999 S/T/V
• 2000 V/W/X
• 2001 X/Y
• 2002 02/52
• 2003 03/53
• 2004 04/54
• 2005 05/55
• 2006 06/56
• 2007 07/57
• 2008 08/58
• 2009 09/59
• 2010 10/60
• 2011 11/61
• 2012 12/62
• 2013 13/63
• 2014 14/64
• 2015 15/65
• 2016 16/66
• 2017 17/67
• 2018 18/68
• 2019 19/69
• 2020 20/70
• 2021 21/71
• 2022 22/72
• 2023 23/73
• 2024 24/74
• 2025 25/75
• 2026 26/76
• 2027 27/77
• 2028 28/78
• 2029 29/79
• 2030 30/80
• 2031 31/81
• 2032 32/82
• 2033 33/83
• 2034 34/84
• 2035 35/85
• 2036 36/86
• 2037 37/87
• 2038 38/88
• 2039 39/89
• 2040 40/90
• 2041 41/91
• 2042 42/92
• 2043 43/93
• 2044 44/94
• 2045 45/95
• 2046 46/96
• 2047 47/97
• 2048 48/98
• 2049 49/99
A spokesperson for the DVLA said the format will be changed again in 2050. The current system will be reviewed and updated nearer the time.
View images and video of the UK's most popular 09-plate car - the Ford Fiesta:
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