How do I find out what year a number plate is?

Enter the registration in the box above and our tool will instantly decode the age identifier and tell you the exact registration period (month and year). It works for all UK plate formats including the current format (2001–present), prefix plates (1983–2001), and suffix plates (1963–1983).

What do the two numbers in the middle of a UK number plate mean?

In the current UK number plate format, the two digits in the middle are the age identifier. Numbers 01–50 indicate a March registration in that year (e.g. 24 = March 2024). Numbers 51–99 indicate a September registration (e.g. 73 = September 2023). New age codes are issued every March and September.

When did the current UK number plate format start?

The current UK number plate format — two area letters, two-digit age code, three random letters — was introduced in September 2001. It replaced the prefix plate system that had been in use since 1983.

What year is a 73 plate?

A 73 plate was registered in September 2023. In the current UK format, age codes 51–99 represent September registrations, and 73 minus 50 equals 23, meaning the year 2023.

100% Free — Instant Result

UK Number Plate Year Checker What Year Is My Car?

Enter any UK number plate to instantly decode the age identifier and find out exactly when the vehicle was registered. Works for all modern and classic UK formats.

Year Registered

Registration Period

Format

Age identifier

DVLA area code

Could not decode this plate format. It may be a personalised/cherished plate or an older format not supported by automatic decoding.

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UK Number Plate Formats Explained

AB12 CDE

Current Format (2001–present)

Two area letters + two-digit age code + three random letters. The age code changes in March (51–99 = Sep registrations) and September (01–50 = March registrations) each year.

51 = Sep 2001, 02 = Mar 2002

75 = Sep 2025, 26 = Mar 2026

A123 BCD

Prefix Format (1983–2001)

A letter prefix indicates the year. A = 1983, B = 1984, and so on up to Y = 2001. The letter changed each August until 1999, then in March and September.

ABC 123D

Suffix Format (1963–1983)

Three letters + up to three numbers + a year suffix letter. A = 1963, B = 1964 and so on up to Y = 1982.

Current Format Age Codes (2001–2026)

Code	Period	Code	Period	Code	Period
51	Sep 2001	02	Mar 2002	52	Sep 2002
03	Mar 2003	53	Sep 2003	04	Mar 2004
54	Sep 2004	05	Mar 2005	55	Sep 2005
06	Mar 2006	56	Sep 2006	07	Mar 2007
57	Sep 2007	08	Mar 2008	58	Sep 2008
09	Mar 2009	59	Sep 2009	10	Mar 2010
60	Sep 2010	11	Mar 2011	61	Sep 2011
12	Mar 2012	62	Sep 2012	13	Mar 2013
63	Sep 2013	14	Mar 2014	64	Sep 2014
15	Mar 2015	65	Sep 2015	16	Mar 2016
66	Sep 2016	17	Mar 2017	67	Sep 2017
18	Mar 2018	68	Sep 2018	19	Mar 2019
69	Sep 2019	20	Mar 2020	70	Sep 2020
21	Mar 2021	71	Sep 2021	22	Mar 2022
72	Sep 2022	23	Mar 2023	73	Sep 2023
24	Mar 2024	74	Sep 2024	25	Mar 2025
75	Sep 2025	26	Mar 2026	76	Sep 2026

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