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Types of personalised number plates.

From cherished dateless classics to modern millennium plates — your complete guide to every UK number plate style.

Types of personalised UK number plates

Our love affair with personalised number plates began over a century ago, but it wasn't until 1903 that the very first number plate — A1 — hit the roads, marking the start of a fascinating journey through the history of private plates. At the end of this journey, you'll be able to tell the style of any plate you see, where it's from, and how old it is.

The four UK number plate styles at a glance.

Style Years Year ID Example Fit on any vehicle? Value
Dateless 1903–1962 None Y 370 Yes Highest
Suffix 1963–1983 At the end YLW 123W No High
Prefix 1983–2001 At the start Y370 WHT No Mid
Current 2001–now Two digits YE70 WHT No Most affordable

  1. 1903 – 1962

    Cherished (or dateless) number plates.

    Y 370

    Dateless plates are the classics of the number plate world, boasting a format that lacks any age identifier. They typically feature a combination of up to three letters followed by up to four numbers, or vice versa. The letters often represent the district code where the plate was originally issued — for instance, "A" for London. This style's beauty lies in its simplicity, offering no clues about the vehicle's age, making them highly sought after for their aesthetic appeal and historical value.

    Learn more about dateless plates →

  2. 1963 – 1982

    Suffix style number plates.

    YLW 123W

    Introduced in 1963, suffix plates added a twist to the traditional format by appending a letter at the end of the plate to indicate the year of registration. These plates start with one to three letters (the area code, revealing where the car was registered), followed by a sequence of up to three numbers, and finally, the year-identifying suffix letter.

    Learn more about suffix plates →

  3. 1983 – 2001

    Prefix style number plates.

    Y370 WHT

    The prefix style plates reverse the suffix format by placing the year-identifying letter at the beginning. Following the age identifier, you'll find up to three numbers and then one to three letters indicating the area code. This era continued the tradition of geographical identification while making it easier to discern a vehicle's age at first glance.

    Learn more about prefix plates →

  4. 2001 – now

    Current style number plates.

    YE70 WHT

    Current style plates bring us to the modern era of UK registrations. The first two letters are the area code, indicating where the vehicle was registered. The following two numbers serve as age identifiers, pinpointing the vehicle's registration half-year period. The plate ends with three random letters, offering a vast pool of personalisation options. This style perfectly balances tradition with the need for a larger combination pool.

    Learn more about current style plates →

How to identify any number plate

You can tell a plate's style, and roughly its age, from where the year identifier sits.

  • Just letters and numbers or numbers and letters: dateless, issued before 1963.
  • A single letter at the end and starts with 3 letters: suffix, 1963 to 1983. The last letter is the year.
  • A letter at the start and ends with 3 letters: prefix, 1983 to 2001. The first letter is the year.
  • Two digits after two letters, ending with 3 letters: current style, 2001 onwards. A number under 50 is a March plate, so 25 means 2025; 50 or above is a September plate, so 75 also means 2025.

To check the exact age of vehicle a plate can go on, use our free vehicle age checker.

Four styles of UK number plates.

Decoding a dateless style UK number plate

Dateless (Cherished)

1903–1962. No age identifier — a combination of up to three letters and up to four numbers. Timeless, prestigious, and assignable to any vehicle.

Decoding a suffix style UK number plate

Suffix Style

1963–1982. Area code letters, a sequence number, then a year-identifying suffix letter at the end. E.g. YLW 123W.

Decoding a prefix style UK number plate

Prefix Style

1983–2001. Year letter first, followed by numbers and area code letters. E.g. Y370 WHT.

Decoding a current style UK number plate

Current Style

2001–now. Two area letters, two age identifier numbers, three random letters. E.g. YE70 WHT. The most common format on UK roads today.

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