While this wasn’t always the case, in the UK today, vehicle number plates are issued in two releases each year. The current format for plates allows those looking at the car on which it’s displayed to work out its age down to six months.
It’s illegal in the UK to make a car appear younger than it is by attaching more recent number plates to it that don’t reflect its age, but when do new number plates come out? Read on for all the information you require:
Bi-annual releases of UK registrations
New registrations plates are issued in the UK twice a year, once in March and again in September. The third and fourth characters on the current format of registrations are numbers that reveal the age of the vehicle.
Plates issued in the first release on March 1st take these numbers from the last two digits of the year date. For example, for 2019, these characters are a one and a nine. To differentiate them from the plates issued in the first release, plates issued on September 1st take the year date numerals and add 50. Therefore, for 2019, plates issued in the second release show a six and nine for their third and fourth characters.
The present system for number plates in the UK can therefore continue until the end of February 2051. The last age identifier used on this run of plates will be “00”. After this point the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will be required to review the number plate system and develop a new format for registrations issued.
What will 2020 number plates be?
Plates issued in January and February are still part of the second batch of registrations released for 2019, so will feature a six and nine as their third and fourth characters. From March 1st 2020, these characters will be two and zero. The second batch of plates issued for 2020, from September 1st, will present a seven and zero.
Can you pre-buy new release number plates?
If you’re looking to buy a personalised plate number at some time in the future, or you’re seeking to replace the one you have now, it might interest you to know which plate numbers will soon be released. Here at New Reg, we can help you in planning ahead to pick up the perfect plate at a future date.
With specialist understanding of all kinds of number plates, including exactly what the numbers and letters they display indicate and when during the year they’re released, our experts can ensure you’ll never miss the opportunity to purchase a soon-to-be-released plate number when it’s available for buying.
At New Reg, we allow you to register an interest in a special future plate you’d like to secure for your use. Near to the time of the plate’s release, our team will get in touch with a range of options developed to make certain you get your shot at buying your dream plate. We’ll not only register you with priority status but provide you with all the important details you need to make your order.
We employ a handy release alert tool capable of matching your interest to future number plate issues set for the UK. The only details you’ll be required to supply us with are some basic contact information along with the registration you’re seeking to buy. When our team discover your ideal plate is coming up for release, they’ll contact you immediately. Our innovative alert system tracking new registrations’ release dates is highly efficient at aiding customers in purchasing the plate they seek.