How does the number plate system work?

If we take the plate AT65 TDR as an example:

1. The first two letters represent the ‘local memory tag’ – where the vehicle was registered. For example, LA to LY cover London.

2. The third and fourth digits are numbers known as the ‘age identifier’. These are changed every six months in March and September. The easiest way to remember this is to think of March as the year and September as the year plus 50. For example:

• '14' was introduced in March 2014 and '64' in September 2014
• '15' in March 2015 and '65' in September 2015
• '16' in March 2016 and '66' in September 2016
In other words, if car has a '14' plate, it was registered between the beginning of March and the end of August in 2014, and a '64'-plate car was registered between September 2014 and the end of February 2015.

3. The last three letters are randomly chosen and allocated to a dealership when the car is registered. However, bear in mind some personalised plates don’t follow this system.

If you want to buy a new car with the latest numberplate, when you visit the dealer, arrange to wait until March or September for your new car to be registered and delivered to you.

If you’re looking for a bargain, however, it can work out best to buy sooner. Dealers occasionally get rid of old stock at discounted prices in February and August each year.

For more advice and information on buying a new car, visit the New Cars section of our website.

In the old format, number plates followed this style: A 470 TDR

1. The first letter is the ‘age identifier’ – representing the year the car was registered. This originally changed each year in August, but from 1999 it was updated every six months instead.

2. The three digits are random numbers.

3. Two of the final three letters designate the area of registration, while the other is random. From 1963 to 1983, the letter identifying the year of the car was at the end of the plate, and the original once-a-year plate change system operated until 1999. As a result, dealers would see a huge increase in car sales in August each year from drivers who wanted to be seen in the newest cars, which led to lower sales during the rest of the year.

This system was phased out in 2001 and changed to the twice-yearly arrangement, which is still in place today.

The DVLA says the format will be reviewed and updated again in 2050.

Here’s the full list of number plate years and their age identifier for used cars:

• 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/51
• 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