Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom
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![]() UK regular legal standard front (top) and rear (bottom) number plates. The national identifier on the UK's number plates is optional. Number plates including the "UK" code are valid in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic if displayed on its own or together with the Union Jack.[a] | |
Country | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Country code | UK (previously GB) |
Current series | |
Size | 520 mm × 111 mm 20.5 in × 4.4 in |
Serial format | AA11 AAA |
Colour (front) | Black on white |
Colour (rear) | Black on yellow |
Introduced | 1 September 2001 |
Availability | |
Issued by | Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency |
History | |
First issued | 1 January 1904 |
Vehicle registration plates (commonly referred to as "number plates" in
The Motor Car Act 1903, which came into force on 1 January 1904, required all motor vehicles to be entered on an official vehicle register, and to carry alphanumeric plates. The Act was passed in order that vehicles could be easily traced in the event of an accident, contravention of the law or any other incident. Vehicle registration alphanumeric plates in the UK are rectangular or square in shape, with the exact permitted dimensions of the plate and its lettering set down in law. Front plates are white, rear plates are yellow.
Within the UK itself, there are two systems: one for Great Britain, whose current format dates from 2001, and another for Northern Ireland, which is similar to the original 1904 system. Both systems are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea. Until July 2014, Northern Ireland's system was administered by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Coleraine, which had the same status as the DVLA. Other schemes relating to the UK are also listed below. The international vehicle registration code for the United Kingdom is UK.[2] Prior to 28 September 2021, it was GB.[3] The specification of plates incorporating the UK code was created by the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association, and is seen as the default design by the Department for Transport.[4]
Standard requirements
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Pre-1980_United_Kingdom_license_plate.svg/200px-Pre-1980_United_Kingdom_license_plate.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/British_%28Northern_Ireland%29_vehicle_registration_plate_%28UK_side_badge%29.svg/200px-British_%28Northern_Ireland%29_vehicle_registration_plate_%28UK_side_badge%29.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Regular_GB_Front_Plate_%28No_Band%29.png/200px-Regular_GB_Front_Plate_%28No_Band%29.png)
Number plates must be displayed in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.
Number plates must be made of reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear, with black characters. This was first required on all vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1973, having been optional before then. Subsequently, the requirement was modified by the Finance Act 2014, to allow any vehicles registered within the "historic vehicles" tax class to use the older style pre-1973 black number plates. This rule applied on a 40-year exemption basis, and until 2021 rolled forward automatically each year on 1 April to include vehicles manufactured before the first of January forty years prior.[5] A change was introduced on 1 January 2021 that will permit only vehicles dating prior to 1 January 1980 to use the old style pre-1973 black and silver number plates.[6]
The post-1973 type of reflecting plate were permitted as an option from 1968: many older vehicles may therefore carry the white/yellow reflective plates and, where they were first registered during or after 1968, they may have carried such plates since new. Many buses delivered to London Transport between 1973 and the mid-1980s continued to bear white-on-black plates.[7] This was also true of some other bus operators, though only on the rear end in most instances; Reading Transport was one other operator which persisted with black front plates into the 1980s.[8]
Characters on number plates purchased from 1 September 2001 do not use a specific named typeface, but must use what is known as the "prescribed font" within legislation set out in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.
Characters must also conform to set specifications as to width, height, stroke, spacing and margins. The physical characteristics of the number plates are set out in
Number plates with smaller characters meeting standards for motorcycles are only permitted on imported vehicles, and then only if they do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval and their construction/design cannot accommodate standard size number plates, for example vehicles made for the US or Japanese market may only have a 305 mm × 152 mm (12.0 in × 6.0 in) area to affix a number plate in which a standard one line plate is too long (460 mm) to fit whilst a two line plates is too tall (199 mm).[12]
The industry standard size front number plate is 520 mm × 111 mm (20+1⁄2 in × 4+3⁄8 in). Rear plates are either the same size, or 285 mm × 203 mm (11+1⁄4 in × 8 in) or 533 mm × 152 mm (21 in × 6 in). There is no specified legal size other than an absolute minimum margin of 11 mm producing a minimum height of 101 mm (one line) and 199 mm (2 line) on cars, and 86 mm for one line import vehicles and 164 mm for a two line motorcycle or import vehicles, with the overall length being based on the registration number itself, with the smallest number plate possible being 1 having a minimum size of 36 mm × 101 mm on a car, or 32 mm × 86 mm on a motorcycle or import vehicle; whereas a 7 character registration number without a 1 or I having a minimum size of 460 mm × 101 mm (one line), or 255 mm × 199 mm (two line) on a car, or 231 mm × 164 mm on an import or motorbike.[13] The material of UK number plates must either comply with British Standard BS AU 145e,[14] which states BSI number plates must be marked on the plate with the BSI logo and the name and postcode of the manufacturer and the supplier of the plates or
(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification, and which, in either case, is marked with the number (or such other information as is necessary to permit identification) of that standard or specification.[15]
Older British plates had white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972 and, until 2012, legal to be carried only on vehicles first registered before 1 January 1973. A vehicle which was first registered on or after 1 January 1973 shall be treated as if it was first registered before that date if it was constructed before 1 January 1973.[9] However, the Finance Bill 2014 and subsequent Finance Acts extended the Historic Vehicle class cut-off year from 1973 to 1974 and subsequently, a rolling forty years. This had the effect of linking eligibility to display old-style plates with "Tax Exempt" vehicle status, provided that an application had been made to the DVLA to have the vehicle included in the historic vehicle class.[16] However, this exemption was rescinded in 2021, with a new qualifying date for vehicles constructed before 1 January 1980 registered in the historic vehicle class.[17]
Motorcycles
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Coventry_Triumph_Motorcycle.jpg/220px-Coventry_Triumph_Motorcycle.jpg)
Until 1975, motorcycles had to display a front plate, colloquially known as the "pedestrian slicer",[18] which was usually, but not always, a double-sided plate on top of the front mudguard, curved to follow the contour of the wheel and visible from the sides. Motorcycles registered after 1 September 2001 may only display a rear number plate, while motorcycles registered before that date can display a number plate at the front if desired.[19]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/UK_Motorcycle_Registration_Plate.png/220px-UK_Motorcycle_Registration_Plate.png)
Great Britain
Current system
Characters
The current system for Great Britain was introduced on 1 September 2001. Each registration index consists of seven characters with a defined format.[11]
From left to right, the characters consist of:
- A local memory tag, or area code, consisting of two letters which together indicate the local registration office. By December 2013, all local offices had been closed,[20] but the letters still represent a region. The letters I, Q and Z are not used as local office identifiers, though O is used for Oxford; Z can be used only as a random letter.
- The first of these two letters is a mnemonic, standing for the name of the broad area where the registration office was located. This is intended to make the registration more memorable than an arbitrary code.[21][22] For example, A is used as the first character in all registrations issued by the three offices located in the vicinity of East Anglia;
- A two-digit age identifier, which changes twice a year, on 1 March and 1 September. The code is either the last two digits of the year itself, if issued between March and August (e.g. "18" for registrations issued between 1 March and 31 August 2018), or else has fifty added to that value if issued between September and February the following year, (e.g. "68" for registrations issued between 1 September 2018 and 28 February 2019);
- A three-letter sequence which uniquely distinguishes each of the vehicles displaying the same initial four-character area and age sequence. The letters I and Q are excluded from the three-letter sequence, as are combinations that may appear offensive (including those in foreign languages). Due to batch allocation of new registration marks to dealers, it is common for cars with "neighbouring" letter sequences to be of the same manufacturer.
This scheme has three particular advantages:-
- A buyer of a second-hand vehicle can in theory determine the year of first registration of the vehicle without having to look it up. However, a vehicle is permitted to display a number plate where the age identifier is older (but not newer) than the vehicle. The wide awareness of how the "age identifier" works has led to it being used in advertising by used car showrooms instead of simply stating a year.
- In the case of a police investigation of an accident or vehicle-related crime, witnesses usually remember the initial area code letters – it is then quite simple to narrow down suspect vehicles to a much smaller number by checking the authority's database without having to know the full number.[23]
- The scheme should have sufficient numbers to run until 28 February 2051, assuming there are enough three-letter random sequences for every combination of area code and age identifier.[24]
Local memory tags
First letter | Official local mnemonic[11][22] | DVLA Office
|
Second letter (DVLA Office identifier) |
---|---|---|---|
A | Anglia | Peterborough | A B C D E F G J K M N |
Reserved for select issue | H L | ||
Norwich | O P R S T U | ||
Ipswich | V W X Y | ||
B | Birmingham | Birmingham | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W X |
Reserved for select issue | Y | ||
C | Cymru (Wales) | Cardiff | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O |
Swansea | P R S T U V | ||
Bangor | W X Y | ||
D | Deeside | Chester | A B C D E F G H J K |
Shrewsbury | L M N O P S T U V W X Y | ||
Reserved for select issue | R | ||
E | Essex | Chelmsford | A B C E F G J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y |
Reserved for select issue | D H | ||
F | Forest and Fens | Nottingham | A B C D E F G H J K L M N P |
Banned and not issued | O U | ||
Lincoln | R S T V W X Y | ||
G | Garden of England | Maidstone | A B C D E F G H J K L M N |
Reserved for select issue | O | ||
Brighton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
H | Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight | Bournemouth | A B C D E F G H J |
Portsmouth | K L M N P R S T U V X Y | ||
Reserved for select issue | O | ||
Reserved for the Isle of Wight (issued in Portsmouth) | W | ||
K | No official mnemonic[b] | Borehamwood (formerly Luton)[c] | A B C D E F G H J K L |
Northampton | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
L | London | Wimbledon | A B C D E F G H J |
Borehamwood (formerly Stanmore) | K L M N O P R S T | ||
Sidcup | U V W X Y | ||
M | Manchester and Merseyside[d] | Manchester | A B C D E F G H J K L M P T U V W X |
Reserved for the Isle of Man (not issued) | N | ||
Reserved for select issue | O R S Y | ||
N | Newcastle | Newcastle | A B C D E G H J K L M N O |
Stockton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
Not issued | F | ||
O | Oxford | Oxford | A B C D E F G H J L M O P T U V W X Y |
Reserved for select issue | K N R S | ||
P | Preston | Preston | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T |
Carlisle
|
U V W X Y | ||
R | Reading | Reading | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y |
Reserved for select issue | U | ||
S | Scotland[e] | Glasgow | A B C D E F G H J |
Edinburgh | K L M N O | ||
Dundee | P R S T | ||
Reserved for select issue | U | ||
Aberdeen | V W | ||
Inverness | X Y | ||
V | Severn Valley
|
Worcester | A B C E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V X Y |
Reserved for select issue | D W | ||
W | West of England | Exeter | A B D E F G H J |
Reserved for select issue | C | ||
Truro | K L | ||
Bristol | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
X | Personal export[29] |
|
A (March/September issue) B (April/October issue) C (May/November issue) D (June/December issue) E (July/January issue) F (August/February issue) |
Reserved for select issue | G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
Y | Yorkshire | Leeds[f][g] | A B C D E F G H J K L |
Sheffield[f][g][h] | M N O P R S T U V | ||
Beverley[h] | W X Y |
In addition to the above local memory tags, personalised registrations are also offered with arbitrary "local memory tags" prefixes, except for the letters I, Q and Z but including the letters J, T and U, which are unused as area codes.[30]
Age identifiers
|
|
National identifier and emblems
Vehicles registered in Great Britain are authorised by the
Only number plates with the distinguishing code "UK" on its own, or together with the Union flag are valid as a distinguishing sign when driving in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, as such number plate displays a distinguishing code for the country of registration incorporated into the vehicle registration plate, and is supplemented with a flag or emblem of the national state, and hence satisfies the requirements set out in the convention.[3] A “UK" black on white sticker must be affixed at the rear of the vehicle when driving abroad if said vehicle has number plates with the national flag of England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.[33]
From October 2021 if an owner of a vehicle wishes to avoid attaching a separate black on white "UK" sticker, it is necessary for the number plates to display "UK" on the left side together with, optionally, a Union flag (but not a national flag of England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland). If the vehicle is driven in a country not a party to the Vienna Convention, a separate sign (black on white "UK" sticker) also has to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle.[34] Of the EU countries, a separate identifier is only needed when travelling in Cyprus, Malta, and Spain, as they are not party to the convention.[j]
The specification of plates incorporating the UK code was created by the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association, and is seen as the default design by the Department for Transport:[4]
- "UK" in black (matching the main text on the plate) or blue (matching the blue in the Union flag).
- The Union flag in landscape in specific colours (the flag must be positioned to the far-left side of the number plate)
- A background that is the same colour as the number plate (white for front, yellow for rear) except for green flash plates, where the background area behind the flag can be the same as set out on green number plates.
Up until 28 September 2021 the distinguishing sign was GB. On 30 June 2021, the United Nations published a notification stating that the United Kingdom has given three months' notification that it intended to change its distinguishing sign from GB to UK.[3]
-
The default post-September 2021 UK National Identifier plate[4] (text can also be black)
-
An example of a number plate with the new UK identifying badge
Flag of Europe
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/EU-section-with-GB.svg/81px-EU-section-with-GB.svg.png)
When the UK was a member state of the European Union, it was permissible (but never mandatory) to display number plates conforming to the
EU member states that require foreign vehicles to display a distinguishing sign of the country of origin (e.g. "UK" for the United Kingdom) are obliged by Article 3 of EU Regulation No. 2411/98 to accept this standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state, making a separate sign unnecessary for vehicles registered in the EU.
After Brexit, other EU countries are no longer required to accept GB "Europlates", as the regulation only requires member states to accept the standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state. After this, GB Europlates must be replaced by a number plate that features the UK sign in order to be valid as a national identifier.[37][38]
-
The British version of the EU standard number plate issued until the transition ended after the UK withdrew from the EU; this was optional in the UK.
-
This format is used for motorcycles and other vehicles where a narrower plate is required (showing optional EU symbol).
Typography
The standard (79 mm height) typeface is set out in the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.[39] An alternative (64 mm) font is provided for motorcycles (schedule 4 part 2, p. 24).
The standard font, unofficially known as Charles Wright 2001, is a subtly redrawn version of Charles Wright's original 1935 font. The width of the previous font was condensed from 57 mm to 50 mm to allow space for the extra letter and the optional blue EU strip. The letter O and the digit 0 are intentionally identical, as are the letter I and digit 1. But the typeface accentuates the differences between characters such as 8 and B, or D and 0, with
The design has similarities with the FE-Schrift number-plate font which was introduced in Germany in 1994 and which has been mandatory there since 2000. However, the UK design remains more conventional in its character shapes.
Special plates
Registrations having a combination of characters that are particularly appealing (resembling a name, for example) are auctioned each year. The first of these auctions was in 1989.[40][41]
For the 07 registration period a higher than usual number of Scottish 07 codes were retained as Select registrations for sale and an additional allocation of Tx letter pairs were released for use by the local offices in Scotland with the same allocation as the Sx letter pairs (for example Edinburgh with SK to SN allocated had TK to TN added)[e].[42]
Green band plates
The national identifier on British number plates is optional. A "UK" code has replaced the "GB" code from 28 September 2021 and is valid in countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic if displayed on its own or together with the Union flag.
From 8 December 2020, vehicles with a Zero Emission value are allowed to display a green band on the left hand side of the plate, where the country identifier would usually sit. This is optional, and may be blank, or combined with the existing national flag options.[43][44][45][46]
-
Zero Emission Vehicle Number Plate with GB Identifier
-
An example of the green band - on a Tesla - signifying the vehicle has zero emissions.
Older plates
Vehicles registered under previous numbering systems continue to retain their original number plates but the area identifier in the previous number system is not the same area as the post-2001 area identifier, e.g. AA
pre-2001 is Bournemouth whereas AA
post-2001 is Peterborough. Subject to certain conditions, number plates can be transferred between vehicles by the vehicle owner; some of these transfers involve tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds changing hands, because of the desirability of a specific letter/number combination.[citation needed]
History
Before 1932
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/United_Kingdom_license_plate_AH_72_Norfolk_1904-1932_Flickr_-_woody1778a.jpg/180px-United_Kingdom_license_plate_AH_72_Norfolk_1904-1932_Flickr_-_woody1778a.jpg)
The first series of number plates was issued in 1903 and ran until 1932, consisting of a one- or two-letter code followed by a sequence number from 1 to 9999.[47] The code indicated the local authority in whose area the vehicle was registered. In England and Wales, these were initially allocated in order of population size (by the 1901 census) – thus A
indicated London, B
indicated Lancashire, C
indicated the West Riding of Yorkshire and so on to Y
indicating Somerset, then AA
indicated Hampshire, AB
indicated Worcestershire and so on to FP
indicating Rutland.
The letters G, S and V were initially restricted to Scotland, and the letters I and Z to the whole of Ireland. In both cases, allocations of codes were made in alphabetical order of counties, followed by county boroughs[48] – thus in Scotland, Aberdeenshire was allocated SA
, Argyll received SB
and so on, while in Ireland Antrim was allocated IA
, Armagh received IB
, and so on.
When a licensing authority reached 9999, it was allocated another two-letter code, but there was no pattern to these subsequent allocations as they were allocated on a first come first served basis. London and Middlesex quickly took most codes with L and M as the first letter respectively, while Surrey, initially allocated P
, took many codes beginning with that letter.
The first mark to be issued in London was A 1
. This was registered to Earl Russell. It is often stated he queued all night to obtain the registration,[49] or he made his butler queue all night.[50] However, the registrations were issued by the London County Council, and that Russell served on council as an Alderman from 1895 to 1904, and was the chairman of the council's highways committee.[51]
A zero has been issued by several issuing authorities for the official car of the council head, in cases where plate number "1" had already been issued by the time the councils decided to give priority to its first citizen.RG 0
).[52]
1932 to 1963
By 1932, the available codes were running out, and an extended scheme was introduced. This scheme placed a serial letter before an existing two-letter code, and had the sequence number run only to 999, thus restricting the number of characters in a registration to six. The first area to issue such marks was Staffordshire in July 1932 with ARF 1
etc.,[54] and all other areas in England and Wales, plus most areas in Scotland, followed suit once they had issued all their two-letter registrations.
I, Q, and Z were not used as serial letters, as the use of I and Z continued to be restricted to Ireland and Q was reserved for temporary imports, while the single-letter codes were left out of this scheme as a serial letter would have created a duplicate of an existing two-letter code. (The
In some areas, the available marks within this scheme started to run out in the 1950s, and in those areas, what became known as "reversed" registrations – the letters coming after the numbers – were introduced. Staffordshire was again the first area to issue such registrations, starting with 1000 E
in 1953. In most cases, the three-letter combinations (e.g. 1 AHX
for Middlesex) would be issued first, while in later years some areas started with the one- and two-letter combinations and others issued all three at the same time. The ever-increasing prevalence of the car meant that by the beginning of the 1960s, these registrations were also running out.
Some three-letter combinations were not authorised for licensing use as they were deemed offensive. These included ARS
, BUM
, GOD
, JEW
, SEX
, and SOD
, sod being a mild British profanity derived from "sodomite."[55][56] DUW
was issued in London for several months in 1934 before it was realised it was the Welsh for God, and withdrawn.[42]
Even then, there were some registrations which would now be called cherished plates. One was RAD10 (BBC) and another was IND1A (Indian High Commission).
1963 to 1982
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Lotus_Esprit_Submarine_Car.jpg/220px-Lotus_Esprit_Submarine_Car.jpg)
In August 1962, an attempt was made to create a national scheme to alleviate the problem of registrations running out. This used the scheme introduced in 1932, of a three-letter combination followed by a sequence number from 1 to 999, but also added a letter suffix, which initially changed on 1 January each year. An "A" suffix was thus used for 1963, "B" for 1964, etc. Middlesex was the first authority to adopt this scheme when it issued AHX 1A
in February 1963.[57] Most other areas followed suit during 1964, but some chose to stick to their own schemes up until 1 January 1965, when the letter suffix was made compulsory.
As well as yielding many more available numbers, it was a way for vehicle buyers to know the age of the vehicle immediately. However, the year letter changing on 1 January each year meant that car retailers soon started to notice that buyers would tend to wait until the New Year for the new letter to be issued, so that they could get a "newer" car. This led to major peaks and troughs in sales over the year, and to help flatten this out somewhat the industry lobbied to get the scheme changed, so that the change of year letter occurred on 1 August rather than 1 January. This was done in 1967, when "E" suffixes ran only from 1 January to 31 July, before "F" suffixes commenced on 1 August.
All number plates were originally black with white, grey or silver characters, until
In October 1974, responsibility for issuing registrations was transferred from local and regional authorities to specialist Local Vehicle Licensing Offices (LVLOs) or Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs) run by the DVLA. Most of the two-letter area codes allocated during the first scheme continued in their respective areas, albeit now indicating the nearest LVLO/VRO rather than the local or regional authority. However, the decision to streamline the allocations of these codes meant that some were transferred to new areas. For instance, the former Suffolk code CF
was transferred to Reading, while the former Edinburgh code WS
was re-allocated to Bristol.[54]
1983 to 2001
By 1982, the year suffixes had reached Y and so from 1983 onwards the sequence was reversed again, so that the year letter – starting again at "A" — preceded the numbers then the letters of the registration. The available range was then A21 AAA
to Y999 YYY
, the numbers 1–20 being held back for the government's proposed, and later implemented, DVLA select registration sales scheme.
Towards the mid-1990s there was some discussion about introducing a unified scheme for Europe, which would also incorporate the country code of origin of the vehicle, but after much debate such a scheme was not adopted because of lack of countries willing to participate.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Q-plate_on_construction_vehicle.jpg/180px-Q-plate_on_construction_vehicle.jpg)
The changes in 1983 also brought the letter Q into use – although on a very small and limited scale. It was used on vehicles of indeterminate age, such as those assembled from kits, substantial rebuilds, or imported vehicles where the documentation is insufficient to determine the age. There was a marked increase in the use of Q registrations in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fuelled by car crime.[citation needed] Many stolen vehicles had false identities given to them, and when this was discovered and the original identity could not be determined, a Q registration would be issued to such vehicle. It was seen as an aid to consumer protection. Due to indeterminate age, origin and specification of Q registration vehicles, most motor insurers are reluctant to offer coverage for these 'Q-plate' vehicles.
By the late 1990s, the range of available numbers was once again starting to run out, exacerbated by a move to biannual changes in registration letters (March and September) in 1999 to smooth out the bulge in registrations every August,[citation needed] so a new scheme needed to be adopted. It was decided to research a system that would be easier for crash or vehicle related crime witnesses to remember and clearer to read, yet still fit within a normal standard plate size.
Year identifiers
In order to avoid any confusion, the letters I, O, Q, U and Z have never been issued as year identifiers: I because of its similarity to the numeral 1; O and Q because of similarity to a zero; U because of similarity to the letter V; and Z because of similarity to the numeral 2.[59]
|
|
Pre-2001 codes
Normally the last two letters would indicate where the car was initially registered. The letters I and Z are reserved for Ireland.[61][62] If you want to look for the office code (or council code until 1974) more easily, look at the bold letters next to the examples (ABC 123D; A123 BCD). Note that the first two letters of the post-2001 system are not the same as the last two letters which indicate the original district of registration for pre-2001 number plates; so, for example, pre-2001 AB is Worcester, whereas post-2001 AB is Peterborough.
For the list of Northern Ireland codes, see the Northern Ireland section of this article. For a full list of Irish codes, see Vehicle registration plates of the Republic of Ireland.
First letter | Code | County or city | Code | County or city | Code | County or city |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | A | London (1903–64) | AA | Hampshire (1903–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) |
AB | Worcestershire (1903–74) Worcester (from 1974) |
AC | Warwickshire (1903–74) Coventry (1974–96) |
AD | Gloucestershire (1903–74) Gloucester (1974–97) |
AE | Bristol | |
AF | Cornwall (1903–74) Truro (from 1974) |
AG | Ayrshire (1925–74) Hull (from 1974) |
AH | Norfolk (1903–74) Norwich (from 1974) | |
AJ | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1903–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) |
AK | Bradford (1903–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
AL | Nottinghamshire (1903–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
AM | Wiltshire (1903–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) |
AN | West Ham (1903–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] Reading (from 1974) (MAN reserved for Isle of Man) |
AO | Cumberland (1903–74) Carlisle (from 1974) | |
AP | East Sussex (1903–74) Brighton (from 1974) |
AR | Hertfordshire (1903–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
AS | Nairnshire (1903–74) Inverness (from 1974) | |
AT | Hull | AU | Nottingham | AV | Aberdeenshire (1926–74) Peterborough (from 1974) | |
AW | Shropshire (1903–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) |
AX | Monmouthshire (1903–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
AY | Leicestershire (1903–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | |
B | B | Lancashire (1903–63) | BA | Salford (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
BB | Newcastle upon Tyne |
BC | Leicester (1903–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
BD | Northamptonshire (1903–74) Northampton (from 1974) |
BE | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1903–74) Grimsby (1974–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
BF | Dorset (1903–05) Staffordshire (1960–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) |
BG | Birkenhead (1931–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
BH | Buckinghamshire (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
BJ | East Suffolk (1903–74) Ipswich (from 1974) |
BK | Portsmouth | BL | Berkshire (1903–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
BM | Bedfordshire (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) |
BN | Bolton (1903–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
BO | Cardiff | |
BP | West Sussex (1903–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
BR | Sunderland (1903–74) Durham (1974–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) |
BS | Orkney (1903–74) Kirkwall (1974–80) Inverness (for Kirkwall) (from 1980) | |
BT | Yorkshire (East Riding) (1903–74) York (1974–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) |
BU | Oldham (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
BV | Blackburn (1930–74) Preston (from 1974) | |
BW | Oxfordshire (1903–74) Oxford (from 1974) |
BX | Carmarthenshire (1903–74) Haverfordwest (1974–96) Swansea (for Haverfordwest) (from 1996) |
BY | Croydon (1903–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-West (from 1974) | |
C | C | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1903–64) | CA | Denbighshire (1903–74) Chester (from 1974) |
CB | Blackburn (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
CC | Caernarfonshire (1903–74) Bangor (from 1974) |
CD | Brighton | CE | Cambridgeshire (1903–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74)[63] Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
CF | West Suffolk (1903–74) Reading (from 1974) |
CG | Hampshire (1931–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) |
CH | Derby (1903–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
CJ | Herefordshire (1903–74) Hereford (1974–81) Gloucester (for Hereford) (1981–97) |
CK | Preston | CL | Norwich | |
CM | Birkenhead (1903–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
CN | Gateshead (1903–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) |
CO | Plymouth (1903–80) unused after 1980 | |
CP | Halifax (1903–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) |
CR | Southampton (1903–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
CS | Ayrshire (1934–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) | |
CT | Lincolnshire (Kesteven) (1903–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) |
CU | South Shields (1903–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) |
CV | Cornwall (1929–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
CW | Burnley (1903–74) Preston (from 1974) |
CX | Huddersfield | CY | Swansea (SCY used for Isles of Scilly) | |
D | D | Kent (1903–64) | DA | Wolverhampton (1903–74) Birmingham (from 1974) |
DB | Stockport (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
DC | Middlesbrough (1904-68) Teesside (1968-74)[64] Middlesbrough (from 1974) |
DD | Gloucestershire (1921–74) Gloucester (1974–97) |
DE | Pembrokeshire (1903–74) Haverfordwest (1974–96) Swansea (for Haverfordwest) (from 1996) | |
DF | Northampton (1903–05) Gloucestershire (1926–74) Gloucester (1974–97) |
DG | Gloucestershire (1930–74) Gloucester (1974–97) |
DH | Walsall (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) | |
DJ | St Helens (1903–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) |
DK | Rochdale (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
DL | Isle of Wight (1903–74) Newport (IoW) (1974–81) Portsmouth (for IoW) (from 1981) | |
DM | Flintshire (1903–74) Chester (from 1974) |
DN | York (1903–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) |
DO | Lincolnshire (Holland) (1903–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) | |
DP | Reading | DR | Devonport (1903–14) Plymouth (1926–80) unused after 1980 |
DS | Peeblesshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
DT | Doncaster (1927–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
DU | Coventry | DV | Devon (1929–74) Exeter (from 1974) | |
DW | Newport (1903–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
DX | Ipswich | DY | Hastings (1903–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) | |
E | E | Staffordshire (1903–63) | EA | West Bromwich (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) |
EB | Isle of Ely (1903–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74)[63] Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) |
EC | Westmorland (1903–74) Kendal (1974–81) Preston (for Kendal) (from 1981) |
ED | Liverpool (Warrington until 1981) | EE | Grimsby (1903–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
EF | West Hartlepool (1903–67) Hartlepool (1967-74)[65] Middlesbrough (from 1974) |
EG | Soke of Peterborough (1931–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74)[63] Peterborough (from 1974) |
EH | Stoke-on-Trent (1903–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | |
EJ | Haverfordwest (Cardiganshire until 1974 Aberystwyth until 1981) |
EK | Wigan (1903–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) |
EL | Bournemouth | |
EM | Bootle (1903–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
EN | Bury (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
EO | Barrow-in-Furness (1903–81) Preston (for Barrow-in-Furness) (from 1981) | |
EP | Montgomeryshire (1903–74) Swansea (from 1974) |
ER | Cambridgeshire (1922–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74)[63] Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) |
ES | Perthshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | |
ET | Rotherham (1903–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
EU | Breconshire (1903–74) Bristol (from 1974) |
EV | Essex (1931–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
EW | Huntingdonshire (1903–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74)[63] Peterborough (from 1974) |
EX | Great Yarmouth (1903–74) Norwich (from 1974) |
EY | Anglesey (1903–74) Bangor (from 1974) | |
F | F | Essex (1903–63) | FA | Burton upon Trent (1903–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) |
FB | Bath (1903–74) Bristol (from 1974) |
FC | Oxford | FD | Dudley | FE | Lincoln | |
FF | Bangor (Merionethshire until 1974 Aberystwyth until 1981) |
FG | Fife (1925–74) Brighton (from 1974) |
FH | Gloucester | |
FJ | Exeter | FK | Worcester (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) |
FL | Soke of Peterborough (1903–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74)[63] Peterborough (from 1974) | |
FM | Chester | FN | Canterbury (1903–81) unused after 1981 |
FO | Gloucester (Radnorshire until 1974 Hereford for Radnorshire until 1981) | |
FP | Rutland (1903–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
FR | Blackpool (1904–74) Preston (from 1974) |
FS | Edinburgh (from 1931) | |
FT | Tynemouth (1904–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) |
FU | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1922–74) Grimsby (1974–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) |
FV | Blackpool (1929–74) Preston (from 1974) | |
FW | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1929–74) Lincoln (from 1974) |
FX | Dorset (1905–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) |
FY | Southport (1905–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | |
G | G | Glasgow (1903–63) | GA | Glasgow | GB | Glasgow |
GC | London (1929–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GD | Glasgow | GE | Glasgow | |
GF | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GG | Glasgow | GH | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) | |
GJ | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GK | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GL | Bath (1932–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
GM | Motherwell and Wishaw (1920–74) Reading (from 1974) |
GN | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GO | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) | |
GP | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GR | Sunderland (1933–74) Durham (1974–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) |
GS | Perthshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
GT | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) |
GU | London (1929–74) London South-East (from 1974) |
GV | West Suffolk (1930–74) Ipswich (from 1974) | |
GW | London (1931–74) London South-East (from 1974) |
GX | London (1932–74) London South-East (from 1974) |
GY | London (1932–74) London South-East (from 1974) | |
H | H | Middlesex (1903–63) | HA | Smethwick (1907–66) Warley (1966-74)[66] Dudley (1974–96) |
HB | Merthyr Tydfil (1908–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
HC | Eastbourne (1911–74) Hastings (1974–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) |
HD | Dewsbury (1913–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) |
HE | Barnsley (1913–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
HF | Wallasey (1913–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
HG | Burnley (1930–74) Preston (from 1974) |
HH | Carlisle | |
HJ | Southend-on-Sea (1914–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
HK | Essex (1915–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
HL | Wakefield (1915–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
HM | East Ham (1916–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London Central (1974–97) |
HN | Darlington (1921–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) |
HO | Hampshire (1917–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) | |
HP | Coventry (from 1919) | HR | Wiltshire (1919–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) |
HS | Renfrewshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
HT | Bristol (from 1920) | HU | Bristol (from 1924) | HV | East Ham (1930–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London Central (1974–97) | |
HW | Bristol (from 1927) | HX | Middlesex (1930–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London Central (1974–97) |
HY | Bristol (from 1930) | |
J | J | Durham (1903–64) | JA | Stockport (1929–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
JB | Berkshire (1932–74) Reading (from 1974) |
JC | Caernarfonshire (1931–74) Bangor (from 1974) |
JD | West Ham (1929–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London Central (1974–97) |
JE | Isle of Ely (1933–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
JF | Leicester (1930–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
JG | Canterbury (1929–81) unused after 1981 |
JH | Hertfordshire (1931–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
JJ | London (1932–74) Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 |
JK | Eastbourne (1928–74) Hastings (1974–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) |
JL | Lincolnshire (Holland) (1932–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) | |
JM | Westmorland (1931–74) Reading (from 1974) |
JN | Southend-on-Sea (1930–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
JO | Oxford (from 1930) | |
JP | Wigan (1934–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) |
JR | Northumberland (1932–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) |
JS | Ross and Cromarty (1903–74) Stornoway (1974–80) Inverness (for Stornoway) (from 1980) | |
JT | Dorset (1933–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) |
JU | Leicestershire (1931–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
JV | Grimsby (1930–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
JW | Wolverhampton (1931–74) Birmingham (from 1974) |
JX | Halifax (1932–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) |
JY | Plymouth (1932–80) unused after 1980 | |
K | K | Liverpool (1903–64) | KA | Liverpool (from 1925) | KB | Liverpool (from 1914) |
KC | Liverpool (from 1920) | KD | Liverpool (from 1927) | KE | Kent (1920–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
KF | Liverpool (from 1930) | KG | Cardiff (from 1931) | KH | Hull (from 1925) | |
KJ | Kent (1931–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KK | Kent (1922–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KL | Kent (1924–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
KM | Kent (1925–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KN | Kent (1917–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KO | Kent (1927–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
KP | Kent (1928–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KR | Kent (1929–74) Maidstone (from 1974) |
KS | Roxburghshire (1903–74) Selkirk (1974–80) Edinburgh (for Selkirk) (from 1980) | |
KT | Kent (1913–74) Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 |
KU | Bradford (1922–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
KV | Coventry (from 1931) | |
KW | Bradford (1926–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
KX | Buckinghamshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) |
KY | Bradford (1931–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
L | L | Glamorgan (1903–64) | LA | London (1910–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LB | London (1908–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LC | London (1905–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LD | London (1909–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LE | London (1911–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
LF | London (1912–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LG | Cheshire (1928–74) Chester (from 1974) |
LH | London (1913–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
LJ | Bournemouth (from 1929) | LK | London (1913–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LL | London (1914–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
LM | London (1914–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LN | London (1906–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LO | London (1915–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
LP | London (1915–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LR | London (1916–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LS | Selkirkshire (1903–74) Stirling (1974–81) Edinburgh (for Stirling) (from 1981) | |
LT | London (1918–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LU | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LV | Liverpool (from 1932) | |
LW | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LX | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
LY | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
M | M | Cheshire (1903–63) | MA | Cheshire (1920–74) Chester (from 1974) |
MB | Cheshire (1922–74) Chester (from 1974) |
MC | Middlesex (1917–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MD | Middlesex (1920–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
ME | Middlesex (1921–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) | |
MF | Middlesex (1923–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MG | Middlesex (1930–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MH | Middlesex (1924–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) | |
MJ | Bedfordshire (1932–74) Luton (from 1974) |
MK | Middlesex (1925–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
ML | Middlesex (1926–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) | |
MM | Middlesex (1926–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MN | Isle of Man | MO | Berkshire (1922–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
MP | Middlesex (1927–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MR | Wiltshire (1924–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) |
MS | Stirlingshire (1903–74) Stirling (1974–81) Edinburgh (for Stirling) (from 1981) | |
MT | Middlesex (1928–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MU | Middlesex (1929–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-East (1974–97) |
MV | Middlesex (1931–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London South-East (from 1974) | |
MW | Wiltshire (1927–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) |
MX | Middlesex (1912–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London South-East (from 1974) |
MY | Middlesex (1929–65) London (1965–74) London South-East (from 1974) | |
N | N | Manchester (1903–64) | NA | Manchester (from 1913) | NB | Manchester (from 1919) |
NC | Manchester (from 1920) | ND | Manchester (from 1923) | NE | Manchester (from 1925) | |
NF | Manchester (from 1926) | NG | Norfolk (1930–74) Norwich (from 1974) |
NH | Northampton (from 1905) | |
NJ | East Sussex (1932–74) Brighton (from 1974) |
NK | Hertfordshire (1921–74) Luton (from 1974) |
NL | Northumberland (1921–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | |
NM | Bedfordshire (1920–74) Luton (from 1974) |
NN | Nottinghamshire (1921–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
NO | Essex (1921–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
NP | Worcestershire (1921–74) Worcester (from 1974) |
NR | Leicestershire (1921–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
NS | Sutherland (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
NT | Shropshire (1921–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) |
NU | Derbyshire (1923–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
NV | Northamptonshire (1931–74) Northampton (from 1974) | |
NW | Leeds (from 1921) | NX | Warwickshire (1921–74) Dudley (1974–96) |
NY | Glamorgan (1921–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | |
O | O | Birmingham (1903–64) | OA | Birmingham (from 1913) | OB | Birmingham (from 1915) |
OC | Birmingham (from 1933) | OD | Devon (1931–74) Exeter (from 1974) |
OE | Birmingham (from 1919) | |
OF | Birmingham (from 1929) | OG | Birmingham (from 1930) | OH | Birmingham (from 1920) | |
OJ | Birmingham (from 1932) | OK | Birmingham (from 1922) | OL | Birmingham (from 1923) | |
OM | Birmingham (from 1924) | ON | Birmingham (from 1925) | OO | Essex (1961–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
OP | Birmingham (from 1926) | OR | Hampshire (1922–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
OS | Wigtownshire (1903–74) Stranraer (1974–81) Glasgow (for Stranraer) (from 1981) | |
OT | Hampshire (1926–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
OU | Hampshire (1928–74) Bristol (from 1974) |
OV | Birmingham (from 1931) | |
OW | Southampton (1931–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
OX | Birmingham (from 1927) | OY | Croydon (1930–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-West (from 1974) | |
P | P | Surrey (1903–63) | PA | Surrey (1913–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PB | Surrey (1919–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PC | Surrey (1921–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PD | Surrey (1923–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PE | Surrey (1924–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
PF | Surrey (1926–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PG | Surrey (1929–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PH | Surrey (1927–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
PJ | Surrey (1931–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PK | Surrey (1928–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PL | Surrey (1930–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
PM | East Sussex (1922–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
PN | East Sussex (1927–74) Brighton (from 1974) |
PO | West Sussex (1929–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) (GPO formerly reserved for General Post Office vehicles) | |
PP | Buckinghamshire (1923–74) Luton (from 1974) |
PR | Dorset (1923–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) |
PS | Shetland (1903–74) Lerwick (1974–80) Aberdeen (for Lerwick) (from 1980) | |
PT | Durham (1922–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) |
PU | Essex (1923–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
PV | Ipswich (from 1932) | |
PW | Norfolk (1923–74) Norwich (from 1974) |
PX | West Sussex (1923–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
PY | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1923–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | |
R | R | Derbyshire (1903–64) | RA | Derbyshire (1926–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
RB | Derbyshire (1929–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
RC | Derby (1931–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
RD | Reading (from 1928) | RE | Staffordshire (1921–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | |
RF | Staffordshire (1924–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) |
RG | Aberdeen (1928–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) |
RH | Hull (from 1930) | |
RJ | Salford (1931–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
RK | Croydon (1922–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] London North-West (from 1974) |
RL | Cornwall (1924–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
RM | Cumberland (1924–74) Carlisle (from 1974) |
RN | Preston (from 1928) | RO | Hertfordshire (1925–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
RP | Northamptonshire (1924–74) Northampton (from 1974) |
RR | Nottinghamshire (1925–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
RS | Aberdeen | |
RT | East Suffolk (1925–74) Ipswich (from 1974) |
RU | Bournemouth (from 1924) | RV | Portsmouth (from 1931) | |
RW | Coventry (from 1924) | RX | Berkshire (1927–74) Reading (from 1974) |
RY | Leicester (1925–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | |
S | S | Edinburgh (1903–64) | SA | Aberdeenshire (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) |
SB | Argyll (1903–74) Oban (1974–80) Glasgow (for Oban) (from 1981) |
SC | Edinburgh (from 1927) | SD | Ayrshire (1903–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) |
SE | Banffshire (1903–74) Keith (1974–81) Aberdeen (for Keith) (from 1981) | |
SF | Edinburgh (from 1924) | SG | Edinburgh (from 1920) | SH | Berwickshire (1903–74) Selkirk (1974–80) Edinburgh (for Selkirk) (from 1980) | |
SJ | Bute (1903–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) |
SK | Caithness (1903–74) Wick (1974–81) Inverness (for Wick) (from 1981) |
SL | Clackmannanshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | |
SM | Dumfriesshire (1903–74) Dumfries (1974–81) Carlisle (for Dumfries) (from 1981) |
SN | Dunbartonshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) |
SO | Moray (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) | |
SP | Fife (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) |
SR | Angus (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) |
SS | East Lothian (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) | |
ST | Inverness-shire (1903–74) Inverness (from 1974) |
SU | Kincardineshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) |
SV | Kinross-shire (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
SW | Kirkcudbrightshire (1903–74) Dumfries (1974–81) Carlisle (for Dumfries) (from 1981) |
SX | West Lothian (1903–74) Edinburgh (from 1974) |
SY | Midlothian (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
T | T | Devon (1903–64) | TA | Devon (1920–74) Exeter (from 1974) |
TB | Lancashire (1919–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) |
TC | Lancashire (1922–74) Bristol (from 1974) |
TD | Lancashire (1924–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
TE | Lancashire (1927–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | |
TF | Lancashire (1929–74) Reading (from 1974) |
TG | Glamorgan (1930–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
TH | Carmarthenshire (1929–74) Swansea (from 1974) | |
TJ | Lancashire (1932–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
TK | Dorset (1927–74) Plymouth (1974–80) unused after 1980 |
TL | Lincolnshire (Kesteven) (1928–74) Lincoln (from 1974) | |
TM | Bedfordshire (1927–74) Luton (from 1974) |
TN | Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1925) | TO | Nottingham (from 1924) | |
TP | Portsmouth (from 1924) | TR | Southampton (1925–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) |
TS | Dundee | |
TT | Devon (1924–74) Exeter (from 1974) |
TU | Cheshire (1926–74) Chester (from 1974) |
TV | Nottingham (from 1929) | |
TW | Essex (1925–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
TX | Glamorgan (1926–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
TY | Northumberland (1925–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | |
U | U | Leeds (1903–64) | UA | Leeds (from 1927) | UB | Leeds (from 1929) |
UC | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) |
UD | Oxfordshire (1926–74) Oxford (from 1974) |
UE | Warwickshire (1925–74) Dudley (1974–96) | |
UF | Brighton (from 1925) | UG | Leeds (from 1932) | UH | Cardiff (from 1925) | |
UJ | Shropshire (1932–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) |
UK | Wolverhampton (1925–74) Birmingham (from 1974) |
UL | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
UM | Leeds (from 1925) | UN | Denbighshire (1927–74) Barnstaple (1974–81) Exeter (for Barnstaple) (1981) |
UO | Devon (1926–74) Barnstaple (1974–81) Exeter (for Barnstaple) (1981) | |
UP | Durham (1927–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) |
UR | Hertfordshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) |
US | Govan (1903–12) Glasgow (from 1933) | |
UT | Leicestershire (1927–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) |
UU | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) |
UV | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
UW | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) |
UX | Shropshire (1927–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) |
UY | Worcestershire (1927–74) Worcester (from 1974) | |
V | V | Lanarkshire (1903–64) | VA | Lanarkshire (1922–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) |
VB | Croydon (1927–65) Greater London (1965–74)[63] Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 |
VC | Coventry (from 1929) | VD | Lanarkshire (1930–74) Luton (1974–77) unused after 1977 |
VE | Cambridgeshire (1928–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74)[63] Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
VF | Norfolk (1927–74) Norwich (from 1974) |
VG | Norwich (from 1927) | VH | Huddersfield (1927–95) | |
VJ | Herefordshire (1927–74) Hereford (1974–81) Gloucester (for Hereford) (1981–97) |
VK | Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1929) | VL | Lincoln (from 1928) | |
VM | Manchester (from 1928) | VN | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1929–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) |
VO | Nottingham (1928–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
VP | Birmingham (from 1928) | VR | Manchester (from 1929) | VS | Greenock (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
VT | Stoke-on-Trent (1927–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) |
VU | Manchester (from 1930) | VV | Northampton (from 1930) | |
VW | Essex (1927–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
VX | Essex (1929–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
VY | York (1928–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) | |
W | W | Sheffield (1903–64) | WA | Sheffield (from 1919) | WB | Sheffield (from 1924) |
WC | Essex (1962–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) |
WD | Warwickshire (1930–74) Dudley (1974–96) |
WE | Sheffield (from 1927) | |
WF | Yorkshire (East Riding) (1926–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
WG | Stirlingshire (1930–74) Sheffield (from 1974) |
WH | Bolton (1927–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | |
WJ | Sheffield (from 1930) | WK | Coventry (from 1926) | WL | Oxford (from 1925) | |
WM | Southport (1927–74) Liverpool (1974–96) |
WN | Swansea (from 1927) | WO | Monmouthshire (1927–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | |
WP | Worcestershire (1931–74) Worcester (from 1974) |
WR | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1912–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
WS | Leith (1903–20) Edinburgh (1934–74) Bristol (from 1974) | |
WT | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1923–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
WU | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1925–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
WV | Wiltshire (1931–74) Brighton (from 1974) | |
WW | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1927–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
WX | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1929–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
WY | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1921–74) Leeds (from 1974) | |
X | X | Northumberland (1903–63) | XA | London (1920–64) Kirkcaldy (1963–74) unused after 1974 |
XB | London (1920–65) Coatbridge (1965–74)[63] unused after 1974 |
XC | London (1920–64) Solihull (1964–74) unused after 1974 |
XD | London (1920–64) Luton (1964–74) unused after 1974 |
XE | London (1920–64) Luton (1964–74) unused after 1974 | |
XF | London (1921–64) Torbay (1968–74)[64] unused after 1974 |
XG | Middlesbrough (1929–68) Teesside (1968-74)[64] unused after 1974 |
XH | London (1921–64) unused after 1964 | |
XJ | Manchester (1932–74) unused after 1974 |
XK | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 |
XL | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 | |
XM | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 |
XN | London (1923–64) unused after 1964 |
XO | London (1923–64) unused after 1964 | |
XP | London (1923–64) later temporary plates for vehicles being exported to Europe |
XR | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 |
XS | Paisley (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
XT | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 |
XU | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 |
XV | London (1928–64) unused after 1964 | |
XW | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 |
XX | London (1925–64) unused after 1964 |
XY | London (1925–64) unused after 1964 | |
Y | Y | Somerset (1903–64) | YA | Somerset (1921–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) |
YB | Somerset (1924–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) |
YC | Somerset (1927–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) |
YD | Somerset (1930–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) |
YE | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
YF | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YG | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1932–74) Leeds (from 1974) |
YH | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
YJ | Dundee (1932–74) Brighton (from 1974) |
YK | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YL | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
YM | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YN | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YO | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
YP | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YR | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YS | Partick (1903–12) Glasgow (from 1935) | |
YT | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YU | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YV | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
YW | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YX | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) |
YY | London (1932–74) London Central (1974–97) |