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Number plate checker

What year is my
number plate?

The two numbers on a UK number plate show when it was issued. From 1 March to 31 August they’re the last two digits of the year (a 26 plate is 2026); from 1 September to the end of February they’re those digits plus 50 (a 76 plate is September 2026 to February 2027).

Next plate change: 1 March 2027 (27 plates)

Check a number plate

Type the whole registration or just the two numbers. The year is worked out here on your phone, and nothing is sent unless you ask us to look up the car.

How the number plate year works

Since September 2001, UK registrations look like AB26 CDE: two letters (the “memory tag”), two numbers (the “age identifier”), which show when it was issued, then three random letters.

  • Issued 1 March to 31 August: the last two digits of the year. A 26 plate is 1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026.
  • Issued 1 September to the end of February: those digits plus 50. A 76 plate is 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027.

The next plate change is 1 March 2027 (27 plates).

Every number plate year since 2001

UK number plate age identifiers, newest first
Year1 March – 31 August1 September – end of February
202727 1 Mar 2027 – 31 Aug 2027from 1 March 202777 1 Sep 2027 – 29 Feb 2028from 1 September 2027
202626 1 Mar 2026 – 31 Aug 202676 1 Sep 2026 – 28 Feb 2027
202525 1 Mar 2025 – 31 Aug 202575 1 Sep 2025 – 28 Feb 2026
202424 1 Mar 2024 – 31 Aug 202474 1 Sep 2024 – 28 Feb 2025
202323 1 Mar 2023 – 31 Aug 202373 1 Sep 2023 – 29 Feb 2024
202222 1 Mar 2022 – 31 Aug 202272 1 Sep 2022 – 28 Feb 2023
202121 1 Mar 2021 – 31 Aug 202171 1 Sep 2021 – 28 Feb 2022
202020 1 Mar 2020 – 31 Aug 202070 1 Sep 2020 – 28 Feb 2021
201919 1 Mar 2019 – 31 Aug 201969 1 Sep 2019 – 29 Feb 2020
201818 1 Mar 2018 – 31 Aug 201868 1 Sep 2018 – 28 Feb 2019
201717 1 Mar 2017 – 31 Aug 201767 1 Sep 2017 – 28 Feb 2018
201616 1 Mar 2016 – 31 Aug 201666 1 Sep 2016 – 28 Feb 2017
201515 1 Mar 2015 – 31 Aug 201565 1 Sep 2015 – 29 Feb 2016
201414 1 Mar 2014 – 31 Aug 201464 1 Sep 2014 – 28 Feb 2015
201313 1 Mar 2013 – 31 Aug 201363 1 Sep 2013 – 28 Feb 2014
201212 1 Mar 2012 – 31 Aug 201262 1 Sep 2012 – 28 Feb 2013
201111 1 Mar 2011 – 31 Aug 201161 1 Sep 2011 – 29 Feb 2012
201010 1 Mar 2010 – 31 Aug 201060 1 Sep 2010 – 28 Feb 2011
200909 1 Mar 2009 – 31 Aug 200959 1 Sep 2009 – 28 Feb 2010
200808 1 Mar 2008 – 31 Aug 200858 1 Sep 2008 – 28 Feb 2009
200707 1 Mar 2007 – 31 Aug 200757 1 Sep 2007 – 29 Feb 2008
200606 1 Mar 2006 – 31 Aug 200656 1 Sep 2006 – 28 Feb 2007
200505 1 Mar 2005 – 31 Aug 200555 1 Sep 2005 – 28 Feb 2006
200404 1 Mar 2004 – 31 Aug 200454 1 Sep 2004 – 28 Feb 2005
200303 1 Mar 2003 – 31 Aug 200353 1 Sep 2003 – 29 Feb 2004
200202 1 Mar 2002 – 31 Aug 200252 1 Sep 2002 – 28 Feb 2003
2001— (current-style plates started in September 2001)51 1 Sep 2001 – 28 Feb 2002

Source: DVLA, INF104 Vehicle registration numbers and number plates (GOV.UK). The pattern continues until all the numbers have been used.

When a plate doesn’t show the age

  • Private (personalised) plates may not match the car’s age. DVLA says you can’t use a registration number to make a vehicle appear younger than it actually is, so a private plate can make a car look older, but not newer.
  • Northern Ireland numbers, such as ABZ 1234, aren’t in the current format, so they have no age identifier to read.
  • Registrations from before September 2001 use a different system. We only show dates we can check against DVLA’s current guide, so for those, look at the V5C.

For the exact date, the V5C logbook shows the date of first registration.

Questions people ask

What year is a 19 plate?

A 19 plate was issued from 1 March 2019 to 31 August 2019.

What year is a 69 plate?

A 69 plate was issued from 1 September 2019 to 29 February 2020.

What year is a 71 plate?

A 71 plate was issued from 1 September 2021 to 28 February 2022.

When do 27 plates come out?

27 plates are issued from 1 March 2027 to 31 August 2027. After that, 77 plates start on 1 September 2027.

How does the number plate year work?

Since September 2001 the two numbers in a plate show when it was issued. From 1 March to 31 August they are the last two digits of the year; from 1 September to the end of February they are those digits plus 50.

Do private number plates show a car’s age?

Not always. A private (personalised) number may not match the car’s age. DVLA says you can’t use a registration number to make a vehicle appear younger than it actually is, so a private plate can make a car look older, but not newer.

Do Northern Ireland number plates show the year?

Northern Ireland numbers, such as ABZ 1234, aren’t in the two letters, two numbers, three letters format, so they have no age identifier to read.

Where can I find my car’s exact registration date?

On the V5C logbook, which shows the date of first registration.

More guides: Free car check by reg · Cambelt or timing chain? · MOT advisories explained · All our car tools · How selling to us works

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