Your Guide to UK Number Plates for New WAVs
Have you ever wondered what the letters and numbers on a UK registration plate actually mean? They may look like a random sequence, but they tell a clear story about the vehicle's history, especially when and where it was first registered.
At Jubilee Automotive Group, we believe in providing our customers with all the information they need to make a confident decision. Here's a simple breakdown of how the current UK number plate format works.
The Three Key Parts of a Number Plate
A standard UK registration plate (introduced in 2001) is made up of three distinct sections:
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The Local Memory Tag (Two Letters) The first two letters on the plate identify the region where the vehicle was first registered. The first letter represents the broad area, while the second narrows it down to a specific DVLA office. For example:
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L and M are used for London and Manchester/Merseyside.
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Y is used for Yorkshire.
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B is for the Birmingham area.
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The Age Identifier (Two Numbers) This is the part that changes twice a year and tells you the vehicle's age.
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March Plates: For cars registered between March 1st and August 31st, the two numbers are simply the last two digits of the year. For example, a car registered in March 2025 will have a 25 plate.
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September Plates: For cars registered between September 1st and the end of February of the following year, the number is the last two digits of the year plus 50. This is why a car registered in September 2025 will carry the 75 plate.
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The Random Identifier (Three Letters) The final three letters are a unique, randomly generated sequence to distinguish your vehicle from all others with the same Local Memory Tag and Age Identifier. The letters I and Q are not used here to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.
Knowing this simple system helps you quickly identify a vehicle's age at a glance. It's also why there's a surge of interest in new vehicles every March and September.
Ready to get your new plate WAV? Our friendly team is on hand to help you find the perfect vehicle for your needs and guide you through a seamless, hassle-free process. Contact us today to learn more about our new stock and arrange a home demonstration.
