Key facts- ✓ 75 plates are issued from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026
- ✓ The number 75 = 2025 + 50 (DVLA's formula for September releases)
- ✓ 23 active DVLA area codes cover England, Scotland, and Wales
- ✓ You can transfer a personalised plate from a 74-plate car to a 75-plate car using form V317
- ✓ Fully electric 75-plate vehicles can display an optional green flash identifier
- ✓ New Reg has been helping customers with private plates since 1991
Understanding the 75 Registration Format
From 1st September 2025, all newly registered vehicles will display '75' as their age identifier. This follows the established pattern where September registrations add 50 to the year — so 2025 becomes 75. The format remains consistent with the current system introduced in September 2001.
A typical 75 plate follows this structure: AB75 CDE
- AB — Area code (showing where the vehicle was first registered)
- 75 — Age identifier (September 2025 to February 2026)
- CDE — Random letters (assigned by DVLA computers)
This system ensures every registration is unique whilst providing clear information about when and where a vehicle was first registered with the DVLA.
When Do 75 Plates Begin and End?
The 75 registration period runs from 1st September 2025 until 28th February 2026. After this date, the system switches back to standard year numbering with 26 plates for March 2026. The predictable cycle continues:
- March 2025: 25 plates
- September 2025: 75 plates
- March 2026: 26 plates
- September 2026: 76 plates
New registration periods traditionally affect both new and used car markets. Dealers often offer incentives on vehicles with the previous registration to clear stock before the changeover date, which can represent good buying opportunities if you're flexible on age.
All 23 Active DVLA Area Codes
The first two letters on any current-format plate reveal which DVLA office originally registered the vehicle. There are 23 active memory tag regions covering England, Scotland, and Wales (Northern Ireland uses a separate system). The table below shows every active region and the area codes it covers.
| Region |
Area codes |
Main DVLA office(s) |
| Anglia | AA–AY | Peterborough, Norwich, Ipswich |
| Birmingham | BA–BY | Birmingham |
| Cymru (Wales) | CA–CY | Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor |
| Deeside to Shrewsbury | DA–DY | Chester, Shrewsbury |
| Essex | EA–EY | Chelmsford |
| Forest and Fens | FA–FY | Nottingham, Lincoln |
| Garden of England | GA–GY | Maidstone, Brighton |
| Hampshire and Dorset | HA–HY | Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight |
| Heart of England | KA–KY | Coventry, Northampton |
| London | LA–LY | Wimbledon, Sidcup, Stanmore, Sidcup, Northampton |
| Manchester and Merseyside | MA–MY | Manchester, Liverpool |
| North | NA–NY | Newcastle, Sunderland |
| Oxford | OA–OY | Oxford |
| Preston | PA–PY | Preston, Carlisle |
| Reading | RA–RY | Reading |
| Scotland (Edinburgh) | SA–SJ | Edinburgh |
| Scotland (Glasgow) | SK–SY | Glasgow |
| Severn Valley | VA–VY | Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester |
| West of England | WA–WY | Bristol, Exeter, Truro, Bath |
| Yorkshire | YA–YK | Leeds, Sheffield, Beverley |
| Cumbria | NC–ND | Carlisle |
| Durham | NK | Stockton-on-Tees |
| New Forest | HW | Isle of Wight |
These regional indicators remain constant regardless of where the vehicle is subsequently sold or relocated, providing a permanent record of original registration location. The area code carries no bearing on insurance or road tax — it is purely informational.
Best Personalised Plates to Buy for a 75-Plate Car
If you're collecting a new car on a 75-plate and want something more distinctive than a randomly allocated registration, a personalised number plate is the natural solution. Here's what works well aesthetically and practically on a 75-plate vehicle:
- Dateless plates — Formats such as A 1 or JON 75 (if available) look striking on any car regardless of age and never date the vehicle. Browse our dateless number plates collection.
- Name plates — Plates spelling a name (e.g., J4 MES) are perennially popular and have no age tie-in, so they sit well on newer cars without looking out of place.
- Prefix-format plates — Older prefix-style plates (e.g., R75 JON) can legally be placed on a 75-plate car since they are older than the vehicle — and the 75 in the middle can look intentional.
- Current-format plates containing your initials — A plate like AB75 XYZ where the letters mean something to you gives you the latest year feel with a personal touch.
The golden rule: you cannot put a newer-dated plate on an older car, but you can always put an older or dateless plate on a newer car. A 75-plate vehicle is eligible for virtually any private registration currently available.
75 Plate vs Buying a 25-Plate Car at End of Season
A question many buyers face in August and September: should I wait for the 75 plate, or grab a nearly-new 25-plate deal while dealers are trying to clear forecourt space?
The case for waiting for the 75 plate:
- You get the newest registration, which scores better psychologically when you eventually sell
- New model year specification may be available from September
- Finance deals are often refreshed for the new plate season
The case for buying a 25-plate car in late August:
- Dealers are motivated to move stock before the changeover — discounts of several hundred to several thousand pounds are common
- The car is effectively new (registered in 2025) but carries a plate that is only six months old
- If you're planning to put a private plate on the car anyway, the standard registration is irrelevant
If you plan to run a personalised number plate on the vehicle, the end-of-season deal on a 25-plate car is often the smarter financial move. The standard plate disappears the moment your private registration goes on.
Investment Angle: Will 75 Plates Hold Value?
Standard current-format plates (AB75 CDE style) do not typically appreciate in value — they are issued in large volumes and carry no rarity premium. However, specific types of 75-plate registration can be worth watching:
- Low-number plates — A plate ending in a single digit or a repeating number (e.g., AB75 AAA) may attract collector interest over time.
- Word plates — Any 75-period plate where the random letters happen to spell something meaningful is desirable, though you cannot choose these at point of registration.
- Private plates featuring 75 — If you're buying a private plate as an investment and want a year-reference feel, a dateless or prefix plate is a safer long-term bet. See our guide to number plates as an investment for more detail.
For serious investment in the plate market, dateless registrations consistently outperform current-format plates over the long term, because their supply is permanently fixed and demand from collectors is durable.
Getting Your 75 Number Plate
If you're purchasing a new vehicle and want the latest 75 registration, your car must be registered with DVLA on or after 1st September 2025. Many motorists instead prefer the distinction of a personalised number plate over a standard registration, giving unique identity and potential long-term value.
Whether you're moving a cherished registration to a new 75-plate vehicle or acquiring a private plate for the first time, the transfer process is straightforward through DVLA's established procedures. Our team has been handling transfers since 1991 and can guide you through every step.
For those considering the used market, understanding number plate rules and the DVLA retention process is essential before you commit to a purchase.
