Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 10:44 am
The arrangement of numbers and letters on car registration plates, a familiar sight to many, holds a more profound significance than one might assume. This assembly is not a mere haphazard mix; there is a method to the apparent madness.
While it’s widely understood that the numbers on the plate denote the year of the vehicle’s registration, along with its placement within the year, a lesser-known fact pertains to the two letters preceding the digits.
Jon Kirkbright, a seasoned authority in the field with over a decade of experience as the Sales Director at Private Number Plates, has unveiled the covert purpose of these letters. These unassuming characters are, in fact, regional identifiers.
“To the casual observer, number plates may seem like a random amalgamation of letters and numbers. While most people recognise that the numbers signify the car’s manufacturing and registration year, the underlying significance of the preceding letters often remains concealed,” Jon explained.
Termed “regional identifiers,” these letters delineate the DVLA office where the vehicle underwent registration. This intricate detail might explain why number plates from the same dealership bear the same initial letters—a phenomenon surpassing mere coincidence.
When a motorist opts for a private registration plate, the aforementioned rule no longer applies. Such individuals have the liberty to select their desired combination of letters and numbers.
However, Jon highlighted that private number plates cannot be utilised to feign a vehicle’s youthfulness. He clarified, “Misrepresenting the registration in any manner is an offence. While making your car appear older is permissible, the reverse—making it appear newer—is strictly prohibited. For instance, you cannot affix an ’11’ number plate to a vehicle registered in ’07’.”
For those keen to obscure their car’s age, an alternative solution could involve investing in a dateless private registration plate. Jon elaborated, “Contrary to popular belief, dateless personalised registrations are available at affordable prices. These options are ideal for acquiring a distinct plate or one that conceals your car’s age, though they tend to be in high demand.”
With this concealed letter meaning in mind, owners of original plates can uncover their car’s regional point of origin by referring to the following data:
Regional Identifiers | Location | Postal area
AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM AN | Anglia | Peterborough
AO AP AR AS AT AU | Anglia | Norwich
AV AW AX AY | Anglia | Ipswich
BA – BY | Birmingham | Birmingham
CA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CJ CK CL CM CN CO | Cymru | Cardiff
CP CR CS CT CU CV | Cymru | Swansea
CW CX CY | Cymru | Bangor
DA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DJ DK | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Chester
DL DM DN DO DP DR DS DT DU DV DW DX DY | Deeside to Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury
EA – EY | Essex | Chelmsford
FA FB FC FD FE FF FG FH FJ FK FL FM FN FP | Forest & Fens | Nottingham
FR FS FT FV FW FX FY | Forest & Fens | Lincoln
GA GB GC GD GE GF GG GH GJ GK GL GM GN GO | Garden of England | Maidstone
GP GR GS GT GU GV GW GX GY | Garden of England | Brighton
HA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HJ | Hampshire & Dorset | Bournemouth
HK HL HM HN HO HP HR HS HT HU HV HW HX HY (HW will be used exclusively for Isle of Wight residents) | Hampshire & Dorset | Portsmouth
KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KJ KK KL | | Borehamwood
KM KN KO KP KR KS KT KU KV KW KX KY | | Northampton
LA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LJ | London | Wimbledon
LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LS LT | London | Borehamwood
LU LV LW LX LY | London | Sidcup
MA – MY (MN + MAN Reserved for the Isle of Man) | Manchester & Merseyside | Manchester
NA NB NC ND NE NG NH NJ NK NL NM NN NO | North | Newcastle
NP NR NS NT NU NV NW NX NY | North | Stockton
OA – OY | Oxford | Oxford
PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM PN PO PP PR PS PT | Preston | Preston
PU PV PW PX PY | Preston | Carlisle
RA – RY | Reading | Theale
SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJ | Scotland | Glasgow
SK SL SM SN SO | Scotland | Edinburgh
SP SR SS ST | Scotland | Dundee
SU SV SW | Scotland | Aberdeen
SX SY | Scotland | Inverness
VA – VY | Severn Valley | Worcester
WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WJ | West of England | Exeter
WK WL | West of England | Truro
WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WV WW WX WY | West of England | Bristol
YA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YJ YK | Yorkshire | Leeds
YL YM YN YO YP YR YS YT YU | Yorkshire | Sheffield
YV YW YX YY | Yorkshire | Beverley
This insightful revelation provides car owners with an intriguing window into their vehicle’s origins. For further assistance in purchasing or selling private number plate, interested individuals can visit Private Number Plates or reach out via Facebook.
