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With the new '70 Plate' having launched this month, we thought what better time to share some of the history of registration plates and what all the number and letters actually mean!
Why do we have Registration Plates?
Way back in the 1900s, it was issued by the Motor Car Act that all vehicles on British roads had to be registered to their owners and have registration plates attached to the car enabling them to be easily identified.
How to read a Registration Plate?
Whilst making vehicles easily identifiable, this also helps understand when the car was built or registered. New registrations are changed twice a year in the UK. This system was introduced to spread car sales figures more evenly throughout the year and it has been partially successful.
They will either be registered between the 1st March and 31st August and the number in the registration plate will correspond with the last two digits of the year itself. The last three letters are selected at random by the DVLA.
There is then a second registration later in the year between 1st September and 28th February and the number in the registration plate will correspond with the year of the car (as of September) plus 50 followed by the last digit of the year. Again, the last three letters are selected at random by the DVLA.
For example, a 2019 vehicle would either hold a ‘19’ or ‘69’ registration plate. The ‘19’ registration plate was registered between 1st March 2019 and 31st August 2019, and the ‘69’ registration plate between 1st September 2019 and 29th February 2020.
What do the letters mean on a Registered Plate?
The first two letters are known as the local memory tag and they show where the vehicle was registered. The first letter represents the region and the second letter represents a DVLA local office. For example, a vehicle registered in Manchester will have a number plate starting with MA through to MY. 'Z' is only used as a random letter, never in an area code.
View a full breakdown of local memory tags and where cars were initially registered HERE
--------------- SOME OF OUR HAPPY NEW 70 PLATE CUSTOMERS – CAN YOU GUESS WHICH CITIES THESE CARS WERE COLLECTED FROM?? -------------
When does the new Registration come out in 2020?
The first New Car Registration Dates 2020 appeared on the 1st March 2020. The New Registration Plates from 1st March 2020 – 31 August were the ‘20’ plate.
The second New Car Registration Date followed from the 1st September 2020 – 28th February 2021 with the ‘70 Plate’ now available to order. View the new car offers available at Williams HERE.
BUY YOUR NEW '70 PLATE' CAR WITH WILLIAMS
At Williams you can buy your reserve your car online or visit us in one of our showrooms. Our showrooms have been regulated in line with the latest Government guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Between 14 – 20 September you during our 70 Plate 7-Day Sales Event you will be able to take advantage of our latest offers on new 70 Reg cars, across our BMW, MINI, Jaguar and Land Rover brands - including a part exchange enhancement offer where if you trade in any car with Williams you will be eligible to receive a maximum of £1000 towards your new car.
Take a look at range of new vehicles available across our brands and view the latest Williams offers:
