Number Plate Area Codes explained
Most of us know that by just looking at a number plate you can identify the year of the vehicle it is on, but that is not the only thing it tells you.
Here, we’ll explain how you can use a number plate to also find out where a car was registered in the UK according to the DVLA using something called “number plate area codes”.
What is a Number Plate Area Code?
An area code, or local memory tag, is a two-letter section of a number plate that is used to indicate the area in which the plate was registered. Area codes on number plates are primarily used by the authorities to make tracking vehicles easier.
Before the current formatting, introduced in 2001, if you wanted more information on a specific plate, you would have to contact the DVLA office directly. Now, thanks to the introduction of area codes on number plates, the process of finding where a car was registered is now much easier.
While this isn't true for every car as it depends on the year it was registered. The standard formatting is “AB51 ABC” according to the 2001 introduction.
Number Plate Memory Tags
Until 2013, the first two letters of the plate were used to show which DVLA office a car was registered at. Since these offices have now closed, memory tags are now used as a general area code to show where in the country the car’s dealership is located.
Here is a full list of area codes for all of the UK’s regions and the DVLA offices that issued them before 2013:
|
Regional Identifiers |
Region |
DVLA Office |
|
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, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK, BL, BM, BN, BO, BP, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, 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, EB, EC, ED, EE, EF, EG, EH, EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EO, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EV, EW, EX, EY |
Essex |
Chelmsford |
|
FA, FB, FC, FD, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FL, FM, FN, FP |
Forest and Fens |
Nottingham |
|
FR, FS, FT, FV, FW, FX, FY |
Forest and 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, GX, GY |
Garden of England |
Brighton |
|
HA, HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HH, HJ |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Bournemouth |
|
HK, HL, HM, HN, HO, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HY |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth |
|
HW |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth (Used exclusively for the Isle of Wight) |
|
KA, KB, KC, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ, KK, KL |
- |
Luton |
|
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 |
Stanmore |
|
LU, LV, LW, LX, LY |
London |
Sidcup |
|
MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, MX, MY |
Manchester and Merseyside |
Manchester |
|
NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NL, NM, NN, NO |
North |
Newcastle |
|
NP, NR, NS, NT, NU, NV, NW, NX, NY |
North |
Stockton |
|
OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OJ, OK, OL, OM, ON, OO, OP, OR, OS, OT, OU, OV, OW, OX, 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, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RH, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RN, RO, RP, RR, RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RY |
Reading |
Reading |
|
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, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VG, VH, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN, VO, VP, VR, VS, VT, VU, VV, VW, VX, 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 |
Understanding Older Number Plates Area Codes
Since the current number plate system was only introduced in 2001, it is still fairly common to see older “prefix” style number plates.
These plates are formatted as “A123 ABC”. The first letter represents the year of the car's registration and the final two letters (BC) represent the area code.
Area Codes for Prefix and Suffix Number Plates
Prefix and suffix plates use the same area codes, the following alphabetically sorted list will help you quickly sort through them:
|
Area Code |
Registration Region |
|
A |
London |
|
AA |
Bournemouth |
|
AB |
Worcester |
|
AC |
Coventry |
|
AD |
Gloucester |
|
AE |
Bristol |
|
AF |
Truro |
|
AG |
Hull |
|
AH |
Norwich |
|
AJ |
Middlesbrough |
|
AK |
Sheffield |
|
AL |
Nottingham |
|
AM |
Swindon |
|
AN |
Reading |
|
AO |
Carlisle |
|
AP |
Brighton |
|
AR |
Chelmsford |
|
AS |
Inverness |
|
AT |
Hull |
|
AU |
Nottingham |
|
AV |
Peterborough |
|
AW |
Shrewsbury |
|
AX |
Cardiff |
|
AY |
Leicester |
|
AZ |
Belfast |
|
B |
Lancashire |
|
BA |
Manchester |
|
BB |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
BC |
Leicester |
|
BD |
Northampton |
|
BE |
Lincoln |
|
BF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
BG |
Liverpool |
|
BH |
Luton |
|
BJ |
Ipswich |
|
BK |
Portsmouth |
|
BL |
Reading |
|
BM |
Luton |
|
BN |
Manchester or Bolton |
|
BO |
Cardiff |
|
BP |
Portsmouth |
|
BR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
BS |
Aberdeen |
|
BT |
Leeds |
|
BU |
Manchester |
|
BV |
Preston |
|
BW |
Oxford |
|
BX |
Haverfordwest |
|
BY |
London (North-West) |
|
BZ |
County Down |
|
C |
West Yorkshire |
|
CA |
Chester |
|
CB |
Manchester |
|
CC |
Bangor |
|
CD |
Brighton |
|
CE |
Peterborough |
|
CF |
Reading |
|
CG |
Bournemouth |
|
CH |
Nottingham |
|
CJ |
Gloucester |
|
CK |
Preston |
|
CL |
Norwich |
|
CM |
Liverpool |
|
CN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
CO |
Exeter |
|
CP |
Huddersfield |
|
CR |
Southampton |
|
CS |
Glasgow |
|
CT |
Lincoln |
|
CU |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
CV |
Truro |
|
CW |
Preston |
|
CX |
Huddersfield |
|
CY |
Swansea |
|
CZ |
Belfast |
|
D |
Kent |
|
DA |
Birmingham |
|
DB |
Manchester |
|
DC |
Middlesbrough |
|
DD |
Gloucester |
|
DE |
Haverfordwest |
|
DF |
Gloucester |
|
DG |
Gloucester |
|
DH |
Dudley |
|
DJ |
Liverpool |
|
DK |
Rochdale, later Manchester |
|
DL |
Portsmouth |
|
DM |
Chester |
|
DN |
Leeds |
|
DO |
Lincoln |
|
DP |
Reading |
|
DR |
Exeter |
|
DS |
Glasgow |
|
DT |
Sheffield |
|
DU |
Coventry |
|
DV |
Exeter |
|
DW |
Cardiff |
|
DX |
Ipswich |
|
DY |
Brighton |
|
DZ |
County Antrim |
|
E |
Staffordshire |
|
EA |
Dudley |
|
EB |
Peterborough |
|
EC |
Preston |
|
ED |
Liverpool |
|
EE |
Lincoln |
|
EF |
Middlesbrough |
|
EG |
Peterborough |
|
EH |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
EJ |
Haverfordwest |
|
EK |
Liverpool |
|
EL |
Bournemouth |
|
EM |
Liverpool |
|
EN |
Bury, later Manchester |
|
EO |
Preston |
|
EP |
Swansea |
|
ER |
Peterborough |
|
ES |
Dundee |
|
ET |
Sheffield |
|
EU |
Bristol |
|
EV |
Chelmsford |
|
EW |
Peterborough |
|
EX |
Norwich |
|
EY |
Bangor |
|
EZ |
Belfast |
|
F |
Essex |
|
FA |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
FB |
Bristol |
|
FC |
Oxford |
|
FD |
Dudley |
|
FE |
Lincoln |
|
FF |
Bangor |
|
FG |
Brighton |
|
FH |
Gloucester |
|
FJ |
Exeter |
|
FK |
Dudley |
|
FL |
Peterborough |
|
FM |
Chester |
|
FN |
Maidstone |
|
FO |
Gloucester |
|
FP |
Leicester |
|
FR |
Preston |
|
FS |
Edinburgh |
|
FT |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
FU |
Lincoln |
|
FV |
Preston |
|
FW |
Lincoln |
|
FX |
Bournemouth |
|
FY |
Liverpool |
|
FZ |
Belfast |
|
G |
Glasgow |
|
GA |
Glasgow |
|
GB |
Glasgow |
|
GC |
London (South-West) |
|
GD |
Glasgow |
|
GE |
Glasgow |
|
GF |
London (South-West) |
|
GG |
Glasgow |
|
GH |
London (South-West) |
|
GJ |
London (South-West) |
|
GK |
London (South-West) |
|
GL |
Truro |
|
GM |
Reading |
|
GN |
London (South-West) |
|
GO |
London (South-West) |
|
GP |
London (South-West) |
|
GR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
GS |
Luton |
|
GT |
London (South-West) |
|
GU |
London (South-East) |
|
GV |
Ipswich |
|
GW |
London (South-East) |
|
GX |
London (South-East) |
|
GY |
London (South-East) |
|
GZ |
Belfast |
|
H |
London |
|
HA |
Dudley |
|
HB |
Cardiff |
|
HC |
Brighton |
|
HD |
Huddersfield |
|
HE |
Sheffield |
|
HF |
Liverpool |
|
HG |
Preston |
|
HH |
Carlisle |
|
HJ |
Chelmsford |
|
HK |
Chelmsford |
|
HL |
Sheffield |
|
HM |
London (Central) |
|
HN |
Middlesbrough |
|
HO |
Bournemouth |
|
HP |
Coventry |
|
HR |
Swindon |
|
HS |
Glasgow |
|
HT |
Bristol |
|
HU |
Bristol |
|
HV |
London (Central) |
|
HW |
Bristol |
|
HX |
London (Central) |
|
HY |
Bristol |
|
J |
Durham |
|
JA |
Manchester |
|
JB |
Reading |
|
JC |
Bangor |
|
JD |
London (Central) |
|
JE |
Peterborough |
|
JF |
Leicester |
|
JG |
Maidstone |
|
JH |
Reading |
|
JJ |
Maidstone |
|
JK |
Brighton |
|
JL |
Lincoln |
|
JM |
Reading |
|
JN |
Chelmsford |
|
JO |
Oxford |
|
JP |
Liverpool |
|
JR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
JS |
Inverness |
|
JT |
Bournemouth |
|
JU |
Leicester |
|
JV |
Lincoln |
|
JW |
Birmingham |
|
JX |
Huddersfield |
|
JY |
Exeter |
|
JZ |
County Down |
|
K |
Liverpool |
|
KA |
Liverpool |
|
KB |
Liverpool |
|
KC |
Liverpool |
|
KD |
Liverpool |
|
KE |
Maidstone |
|
KF |
Liverpool |
|
KG |
Cardiff |
|
KH |
Hull |
|
KJ |
Maidstone |
|
KK |
Maidstone |
|
KL |
Maidstone |
|
KM |
Maidstone |
|
KN |
Maidstone |
|
KO |
Maidstone |
|
KP |
Maidstone |
|
KR |
Maidstone |
|
KS |
Edinburgh |
|
KT |
Maidstone |
|
KU |
Sheffield |
|
KV |
Coventry |
|
KW |
Sheffield |
|
KX |
Luton |
|
KY |
Sheffield |
|
KZ |
County Antrim |
|
L |
Glamorganshire |
|
LA |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LB |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LC |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LD |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LE |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LF |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LG |
Chester |
|
LH |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
KJ |
Bournemouth |
|
LK |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LL |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LM |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LN |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LO |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LP |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LR |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LS |
Edinburgh |
|
LT |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LU |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LV |
Liverpool |
|
LW |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LX |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LY |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LZ |
County Armagh |
|
M |
Cheshire |
|
MA |
Chester |
|
MB |
Chester |
|
MC |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MD |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
ME |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MF |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MG |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MH |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MJ |
Luton |
|
MK |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
ML |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MM |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MN |
used in the Isle of Man |
|
MO |
Reading |
|
MP |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MR |
Swindon |
|
MS |
Edinburgh |
|
MT |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MU |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MV |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MW |
Swindon |
|
MX |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MY |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MZ |
Belfast |
|
|
|
|
N |
Manchester |
|
NA |
Manchester |
|
NB |
Manchester |
|
NC |
Manchester |
|
ND |
Manchester |
|
NE |
Manchester |
|
NF |
Manchester |
|
NG |
Norwich |
|
NH |
Northampton |
|
NJ |
Brighton |
|
NK |
Luton |
|
NL |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
NM |
Luton |
|
NN |
Nottingham |
|
NO |
Chelmsford |
|
NP |
Worcester |
|
NR |
Leicester |
|
NS |
Glasgow |
|
NT |
Shrewsbury |
|
NU |
Nottingham |
|
NV |
Northampton |
|
NW |
Leeds |
|
NX |
Dudley |
|
NY |
Cardiff |
|
NZ |
County Londonderry/Derry |
|
O |
Birmingham |
|
OA |
Birmingham |
|
OB |
Birmingham |
|
OC |
Birmingham |
|
OD |
Exeter |
|
OE |
Birmingham |
|
OF |
Birmingham |
|
OG |
Birmingham |
|
OH |
Birmingham |
|
OI |
Belfast |
|
OJ |
Birmingham |
|
OK |
Birmingham |
|
OL |
Birmingham |
|
OM |
Birmingham |
|
ON |
Birmingham |
|
OO |
Chelmsford |
|
OP |
Birmingham |
|
OR |
Portsmouth |
|
OS |
Glasgow |
|
OT |
Portsmouth |
|
OU |
Bristol |
|
OV |
Birmingham |
|
OW |
Southampton |
|
OX |
Birmingham |
|
OY |
London (North-West) |
|
OZ |
Belfast |
|
P |
Surrey |
|
PA |
Guildford |
|
PB |
Guildford |
|
PC |
Guildford |
|
PD |
Guildford |
|
PE |
Guildford |
|
PF |
Guildford |
|
PG |
Guildford |
|
PH |
Guildford |
|
PJ |
Guildford |
|
PK |
Guildford |
|
PL |
Guildford |
|
PM |
Guildford |
|
PN |
Brighton |
|
PO |
Portsmouth (GPO formerly used for General Post Office vehicles) |
|
PP |
Luton |
|
PR |
Bournemouth |
|
PS |
Aberdeen |
|
PT |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
PU |
Chelmsford |
|
PV |
Ipswich |
|
PW |
Norwich |
|
PX |
Portsmouth |
|
PY |
Middlesbrough |
|
PZ |
Belfast |
|
R |
Derbyshire |
|
RA |
Nottingham |
|
RB |
Nottingham |
|
RC |
Nottingham |
|
RD |
Reading |
|
RE |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
RF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
RG |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
RH |
Hull |
|
RJ |
Manchester |
|
RK |
London (North-West) |
|
RL |
Truro |
|
RM |
Carlisle |
|
RN |
Preston |
|
RO |
Luton |
|
RP |
Northampton |
|
RR |
Nottingham |
|
RS |
Aberdeen |
|
RT |
Ipswich |
|
RU |
Bournemouth |
|
RV |
Portsmouth |
|
RW |
Coventry |
|
RX |
Reading |
|
RY |
Leicester |
|
RZ |
County Antrim |
|
S |
Edinburgh |
|
SA |
Aberdeen |
|
SB |
Glasgow |
|
SC |
Edinburgh |
|
SD |
Glasgow |
|
SE |
Aberdeen |
|
SF |
Edinburgh |
|
SG |
Edinburgh |
|
SH |
Edinburgh |
|
SJ |
Glasgow |
|
SK |
Inverness |
|
SL |
Dundee |
|
SM |
Carlisle |
|
SN |
Dundee |
|
SO |
Aberdeen |
|
SP |
Dundee |
|
SR |
Dundee |
|
SS |
Aberdeen |
|
ST |
Inverness |
|
SU |
Glasgow |
|
SW |
Carlisle |
|
SX |
Edinburgh |
|
T |
Devon |
|
TA |
Exeter |
|
TB |
Liverpool |
|
TC |
Bristol |
|
TD |
Manchester |
|
TE |
Manchester |
|
TF |
Reading |
|
TG |
Cardiff |
|
TH |
Swansea |
|
|
|
|
TJ |
Liverpool |
|
TK |
Exeter |
|
TL |
Lincoln |
|
TM |
Luton |
|
TN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
TO |
Nottingham |
|
TP |
Portsmouth |
|
TR |
Southampton |
|
TS |
Dundee |
|
TT |
Exeter |
|
TU |
Chester |
|
TV |
Nottingham |
|
TW |
Chelmsford |
|
TX |
Cardiff |
|
TY |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
TZ |
Belfast |
|
U |
Leeds |
|
UA |
Leeds |
|
UB |
Leeds |
|
UC |
London (Central) |
|
UD |
Oxford |
|
UE |
Dudley |
|
UF |
Brighton |
|
UG |
Leeds |
|
UH |
Cardiff |
|
UI |
County Londonderry/Derry |
|
UJ |
Shrewsbury |
|
UK |
Birmingham |
|
UL |
London (Central) |
|
UM |
Leeds |
|
UN |
Exeter |
|
UO |
Exeter |
|
UP |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
UR |
Luton |
|
US |
Glasgow |
|
UT |
Leicester |
|
UU |
London (Central) |
|
UV |
London (Central) |
|
UW |
London (Central) |
|
UX |
Shrewsbury |
|
UY |
Worcester |
|
UZ |
Belfast |
|
V |
Lanarkshire |
|
VA |
Peterborough |
|
VB |
Maidstone |
|
VC |
Coventry |
|
VD |
Lanarkshire/Luton |
|
VE |
Peterborough |
|
VF |
Norwich |
|
VG |
Norwich |
|
VH |
Huddersfield |
|
VJ |
Gloucester |
|
VK |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
VL |
Lincoln |
|
VM |
Manchester |
|
VN |
Middlesbrough |
|
VO |
Nottingham |
|
VP |
Birmingham |
|
VR |
Manchester |
|
VS |
Luton |
|
VT |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
VU |
Manchester |
|
VV |
Northampton |
|
VW |
Chelmsford |
|
VX |
Chelmsford |
|
VY |
Leeds |
|
VZ |
County Tyrone |
|
W |
Sheffield |
|
WA |
Sheffield |
|
WB |
Sheffield |
|
WC |
Chelmsford |
|
WD |
Dudley |
|
WE |
Sheffield |
|
WF |
Sheffield |
|
WG |
Sheffield |
|
WH |
Manchester or Bolton |
|
WJ |
Sheffield |
|
WK |
Coventry |
|
WL |
Oxford |
|
WM |
Liverpool |
|
WN |
Swansea |
|
WO |
Cardiff |
|
WP |
Worcester |
|
WR |
Leeds |
|
WS |
Bristol |
|
WT |
Leeds |
|
WU |
Leeds |
|
WV |
Brighton |
|
WW |
Leeds |
|
WX |
Leeds |
|
WY |
Leeds |
|
WZ |
Belfast |
|
X |
Northumberland |
|
XI |
Belfast |
|
XZ |
County Armagh |
|
Y |
Somerset |
|
YA |
Taunton |
|
YB |
Taunton |
|
YC |
Taunton |
|
YD |
Taunton |
|
YE |
London (Central) |
|
YF |
London (Central) |
|
YG |
Leeds |
|
YH |
London (Central) |
|
YJ |
Brighton |
|
YK |
London (Central) |
|
YL |
London (Central) |
|
YM |
London (Central) |
|
YN |
London (Central) |
|
YO |
London (Central) |
|
YP |
London (Central) |
|
YR |
London (Central) |
|
YS |
Glasgow |
|
YT |
London (Central) |
|
YU |
London (Central) |
|
YV |
London (Central) |
|
YW |
London (Central) |
|
YX |
London (Central) |
|
YY |
London (Central) |
|
YZ |
County Londonderry |
What Do the First Two Letters on a Number Plate Mean?
Unless your number plate is a private plate, the first two letters of your UK number will always be used to refer to the location of the vehicle’s registration. The first letter is used to show the region, for example “L” for London. The second letter is used to narrow that down further to a local area within that region, for example “LA” for London, Lambeth.
How Do You Read UK Number Plates?
The order in which you read a number plate differs depending on the type of number plate you’re looking at.
Current style plates follow the format of AB12 ABC. With this style, AB shows us where in the country the plate was registered, while the following numbers show us the year of registration, the last 3 letters are random.
Prefix plates, which follow the structure of A123 BCD, are the most popular plate type. Here, A represents the year of registration and CD represent the area code.
Suffix plates, which are styled as ABC 123A, are like prefix plates but are read slightly differently. Here, the single A represents the year of registration, and BC is used as the area code.
When it comes to dateless plates, the only thing you need to look out for is an area code. As their name suggests, these plates do not include an age identifier.
Looking to buy a private number plate?
Take a look on our website at the thousands and thousands of private number plates to suit all budgets with prices starting at just £275, it is a perfect & unique gift for everybody.
Click the link www.moonstoneplates.com/buy or press our logo to go back to the home page to begin your number plate journey!
Or if you would like to speak to someone you can call our team Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm at 01995 213112 or click here to contact us!
Looking to sell a private number plate?
Alternatively, if you have a registration plate and are looking to sell or know someone who might you can click here to go to our sell page or give our team a call on 01995 213112.
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