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Cherished Number Plates Search

To find a list of private registrations that meet your requirements, just indicate the desired number of digits, letters, or numbers. This search method is particularly useful for potential investors who are seeking affordable cherished dateless plates..

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Prefix Private Registration Plates

Prefix number plates are a popular and eye-catching style of vehicle registration. They were issued between 1983 and 2001, and the prefix indicates the year of registration. The first letter on the plate signifies the year in which the vehicle was registered, followed by a unique combination of numbers and letters. Prefix plates have become highly sought after due to their distinct design and age-related significance. Additionally, they offer personalisation options for drivers looking to add a unique touch to their vehicles.

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Suffix Private Plates

Suffix style registration plates were introduced in 1963 and were in use till 1983. The registration plates comprise three letters, one to three numbers, and a final letter indicating the year of registration, starting with "A" for 1963, "B" for 1964, and so on. If you are interested in purchasing a suffix private plate, you can utilise our easy-to-use suffix plate builder that provides instant results at an unbeatable price. With our platform, you can customise your plate by selecting your preferred letters and numbers to create a unique registration that reflects your personality. Our suffix plates are high-quality and legal for use on UK roads, so you can be sure of getting a great value for your money.

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Current Style Car Registrations

The existing style of number plates is made up of seven characters. It starts with two letters, followed by a two-digit number and ends with three more letters. These registration plates can still be used to spell out words, for example: DE51 RED. This type of new number plate allows for a much larger number of combinations compared to the previous versions that were available before 2001. However, the letters "I" and "Q" are not allowed, but the letter "Z" can appear as part of the last three characters.

Car Registration Years — Complete UK Guide

Not sure what year a number plate is from? Our complete UK car registration years guide covers every plate format issued since 1963 — from dateless and suffix registrations right through to the current 2025 plate. Whether you're buying a used car, researching a personalised number plate, or simply curious about a registration you've spotted, this guide has everything you need.

Current Style Number Plates (2001 — Present)

The current UK number plate format was introduced in September 2001. It consists of two letters (area code), two numbers (year identifier), and three random letters — for example AB51 XYZ. New plates are released twice a year, in March and September.

How Does the Current Number Plate System Work?

The two-digit number in the middle of a current style plate tells you exactly when the car was registered. For March plates, the number matches the year — so a 25 plate was registered in March 2025. For September plates, 50 is added to the year — so a 75 plate (released September 2025) uses 75 because 2025 + 50 = 75. This pattern has been consistent since 2001, making it straightforward to work out the age of any current style vehicle.

Prefix Number Plates (1983 — 2001)

Before the current system, the UK used prefix registrations — a single letter at the start of the plate indicating the year of registration, followed by up to three numbers and three letters. For example, R123 ABC would be a 1997 registration. Prefix plates are popular as personalised number plates because they can spell names and words clearly.

Suffix Number Plates (1963 — 1983)

Suffix registrations work the opposite way to prefix plates — the year letter appears at the end of the plate. For example, ABC 123A was registered in 1963. The suffix system was introduced to cope with growing demand for new registrations. Like prefix plates, suffix and dateless registrations are sought after as personalised plates because they never reveal the age of a vehicle.

Dateless Number Plates (Pre-1963)

Before 1963, UK registrations had no year identifier at all — they simply consisted of one or two letters and up to four numbers, such as AB 1234 or A 1. These are known as dateless number plates and are the most prestigious and valuable personalised registrations available. Because they carry no date, a dateless plate can be transferred onto any vehicle regardless of age — making them uniquely flexible and highly sought after by collectors.

When Are New Number Plates Released?

New UK number plates are released twice a year — on 1st March and 1st September. The March release is always the year number (25 for 2025), and the September release adds 50 to the year (75 for September 2025). This means you can always tell whether a current style car was registered in spring or autumn just by looking at the two-digit number on its plate.

What Is the 25 Plate?

The 25 plate was released on 1st March 2025 and applies to all new cars registered from that date through to 31st August 2025. If you see a plate with 25 in the middle — such as AB25 XYZ — that car was registered in spring 2025. The next plate after the 25 plate is the 75 plate, released in September 2025. Search current style personalised number plates featuring the 25 identifier at New Reg.

Can a Private Plate Hide a Car's Age?

Yes — and this is one of the most popular reasons people buy personalised number plates. A private number plate replaces the age-related registration on your car, meaning no one can tell from the plate when the vehicle was manufactured. Dateless and suffix plates are particularly popular for this reason, as they have no year identifier at all. You can put a dateless plate onto a brand new car, or a current style private plate onto an older vehicle — as long as the plate isn't newer than the car itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year is a 63 plate?

A 63 plate was registered in September 2013. The 63 plate ran from 1st September 2013 to 28th February 2014.

What year is a 66 plate?

A 66 plate was registered in September 2016. The 66 plate ran from 1st September 2016 to 28th February 2017.

What year is a 57 plate?

A 57 plate was registered in September 2007. The 57 plate ran from 1st September 2007 to 29th February 2008.

What year is a 65 plate?

A 65 plate was registered in September 2015. The 65 plate ran from 1st September 2015 to 29th February 2016.

What year is a 72 plate?

A 72 plate was registered in September 2022. The 72 plate ran from 1st September 2022 to 28th February 2023.

What year is an R reg?

An R reg was registered between August 1997 and July 1998. R reg cars are prefix style registrations, which ran from 1983 to 2001.

What year is a G reg?

A G reg was registered between August 1989 and July 1990. G reg is a prefix style registration.

What year is a V reg?

A V reg was registered between August 1998 and July 1999. V reg is a prefix style registration.

How do I find out what year my car is from its number plate?

For current style plates (2001 onwards), look at the two digits in the middle of the plate. If they're 50 or above, subtract 50 to get the year and add September as the month. If they're below 50, the number is the year and the month is March. For prefix plates, look at the first letter and use our prefix table above. For suffix plates, look at the last letter.