UK number plates have used area codes since 1903. On modern registrations (issued since September 2001), the first two letters identify the issuing DVLA office — so AB means Peterborough, SA means Swansea, and SJ was originally issued by Bute County Council before transferring to Glasgow. On older dateless plates, the letter combination itself is the area code, making these plates especially collectible since they carry no age identifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a number plate area code? expand_more
A UK number plate area code is the two-letter prefix on modern registrations (issued since 2001) that identifies the DVLA office where the plate was issued. For example, AB indicates Peterborough, SA indicates Swansea, and GA indicates Glasgow.
How do I find out where a number plate is from? expand_more
Look at the first two letters of the registration. These are the area code — use the table on this page to match the code to its DVLA office and UK region. For older dateless plates (pre-1963), the entire letter combination is the area code.
What is the difference between current and dateless area codes? expand_more
Current-style plates (2001–present) use a two-letter area code followed by a two-digit age identifier and three random letters. Dateless plates (pre-1963) use only letters as area codes with no age identifier, making them highly desirable as personalised registrations.
Which area codes are used for Scotland? expand_more
Scottish registrations use codes beginning with S. Current plates from Edinburgh use SA–SJ, Glasgow uses SK–SO, and Aberdeen uses SP–ST. Older dateless Scottish codes include GA–GY (Glasgow), EA–EY (Edinburgh), and many others.
Can I buy a number plate with a specific area code? expand_more
Yes. You can search for plates with any area code using the NewReg search. Both current-style plates and older dateless registrations containing your preferred letters are available to buy.