-- Most people are familiar with the combination of numbers and letters on car registration plates, but what many may not realize is that these combinations hold more than just random significance.
Commonly understood is the fact that the numbers on the plate denote the year of vehicle registration, along with which half of the year it occurred. For instance, this year's vehicles registered before September 1 display a 23 number plate, while those registered afterward will showcase a 73 registration number.
Less known, however, is the meaningful context provided by the two letters preceding the numbers.
Jon Kirkbright, an industry veteran with over 11 years of experience and the sales director at Private Number Plates, sheds light on these letters, revealing that they are actually regional identifiers.
Mr Kirkbright explained: "At first glance, number plates might appear to be a random combination of letters and numbers.
"While many are aware that the numbers signify the vehicle's registration year, the hidden meaning of the letters before them often goes unnoticed. These letters, referred to as 'regional identifiers,' are indicative of the DVLA office where the vehicle was registered."
This may be why your number plates start with the same letters if you buy more than one car from the same dealership, for example. It is not just a coincidence.
In the case of those who opt for a private registration plate, this regional rule no longer applies. With the freedom to choose their preferred letter and number combination, individuals can tailor their plates to their preferences.
However, Mr Kirkbright emphasizes that private number plates cannot be utilized to present a car as newer than it actually is.
He clarified: "Misrepresenting the registration is against the law. While you can make your car appear older than its actual age, using a private plate to make it seem newer, such as putting an 11 number plate on a 07 plate car, is not permissible."
For those aiming to conceal their car's age, the option of purchasing a dateless private registration plate presents itself as a solution.
Mr Kirkbright elaborated: "Contrary to popular belief, dateless personalized registrations are available at highly competitive prices. These plates offer an avenue for those seeking a unique plate or a registration that veils their car's age. However, these options tend to be in high demand and can be swiftly acquired."
With the hidden letter meaning in mind, drivers with original plates should be able to find out which area of the country their car was registered at by using the data below:
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
For more information or help with purchasing a private number plate - or selling one - visit Private Number Plates. Alternatively, you could contact them on Facebook.
Contact Info:
Name: Jon Kirkbright
Email: Send Email
Organization: Private Number Plates
Website: https://www.private-number-plates.co.uk/
Release ID: 89104468
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