Old - UK Vehicle Registration Letters

In 1963 it was decided by the Transport Minister to introduce a new system of registration which would identify the year of manufacture. The format was three letters, three digits and a single letter for the registration year (ie. DCH 352 C). 

The last two letters used to denote the registration area. 
(This information used to be printed in the old AA or RAC handbook and is reproduced below in a table form)

 

Reg Letter	ABC 123 A	A 123 ABC
A	February 1963 - December 1963	August 1983- July 1984
B	January1964 - December 1964	August 1984- July 1985
C	January1965 - December 1965	August 1985- July 1986
D	January1966 - December 1966	August 1986- July 1987
E	January1967 - July 1967	August 1987- July 1988
F	August 1967 - July 1968	August 1988- July 1989
G	August 1968 - July 1969	August 1989- July 1990
H	August 1969 - July 1970	August 1990- July 1991
J	August 1970 - July 1971	August 1991- July 1992
K	August 1971 - July 1972	August 1992- July 1993
L	August 1972 - July 1973	August 1993- July 1994
M	August 1973 - July 1974	August 1994- July 1995
N	August 1974 - July 1975	August 1995- July 1996
P	August 1975 - July 1976	August 1996- July 1997
R	August 1976 - July 1977	August 1997- July 1998
S	August 1977 - July 1978	August 1998- February 1999
T	August 1978 - July 1979	March 1999 - August 1999
V	August 1979 - July 1980	September 1999 -  February 2000
W	August 1980 - July 1981	March2000 -  August 2000
X	August 1981 - July 1982	September 2000 -  February 2001
Y	August 1982 - July 1983	March2001 -  August 2001

1967 saw a change as the sale of vehicles always peaked after the new registration came in and trailed off at the end of the registration period and this is shown in the table above. The pattern continues, missing out letters I,O,Q,U,Z to avoid confusion with other characters 0, 1, 2, & V. 

Q plates have been reserved for registration of non-standard vehicles. A vehicle built from other vehicles (ie. Kit Cars or a none-standard motorcycle such as a Triumph Frame with a Honda Engine) and also vehicles that had been written off by insurance companies after a crash, which have been rebuilt or where the vehicles original year of manufacture is unknown. Q-plates are of the format: Q 123 ABC

 At the end of the alphabet the process was repeated from August 1983 only with the registration format in reverse. (ie. P 391 GRB) In 1998 two letters per year were used to boost sales, one in March and one in September. This also led the way for the government to introduce the new scheme in September 2001.

Using the last two letters (ie. MRD gives RD = Reading) 
(ABC123A), (A123ABC) 

 

A - London AA - Hampshire (Southampton) AB - Worcestershire AC - Warwickshire AD - Gloucestershire AE - Bristol, and Inverness from 1974 AF - Cornwall AG - Ayrshire, and Hull from 1974 AH - Norfolk AI - Meath AJ - Yorkshire (North Riding), and Middlesborough from 1974 AK - Bradford, and Sheffield from 1974 AL - Nottinghamshire AM - Wiltshire AN - Westham, and Reading from 1974 AO - Cumberland AP - Sussex (East) AR - Hertfordshire, and Chelmsford from 1974 AS - Nairn AT - Kingston-upon-Hull AU - Nottingham AV - Aberdeenshire, and Peterborough from 1974 AW - Salop AX - Monmouthshire AY - Leicestershire AZ - Belfast

B - Lancashire BA - Salford BB - Newcastle-upon-Tyne BC - Leicester BD - Northamptonshire BE - Lincolnshire (Lindsey) BG - Birkenhead BH - Buckinghamshire, Luton from 1974 BI - Monaghan BJ - Suffolk (East) BK - Portsmouth BL - Berkshire BM - Bedfordshire, Luton from 1974 BN - Bolton BO - Cardiff BP - Sussex (West), Portsmouth from 1974 BR - Sunderland, Newcastle from 1974 BS - Orkney, Kirkwall from 1974, Inverness from 1981 BT - Yorkshire (East Riding), Leeds from 1981 BU - Oldham BV - Blackburn BW - Oxfordshire BX - Carmarthenshire BY - Croydon, Greater London Council from 1965, London from 1974 BZ – Down

C - Yorkshire CA - Denbighshire, Cheshire from 1974 CB - Blackburn, Bolton from 1974, Manchester from 1981 CC - Caernarvonshire, Bangor from 1974 CD - Brighton CE - Cambridgeshire, Peterborough from 1981 CF - Suffolk (West), Reading from 1974 CG - Hampshire (Southampton), Salisbury from 1974, Bournemouth from 1981 CH - Derby CI - Laois CJ - Herefordshire, Gloucester from 1974 CK - Preston CL - Norwich CM - Birkenhead, Liverpool from 1974 CN - Gateshead CO - Plymouth, Exeter from 1981 CP - Halifax, Huddersfield from 1974 CR - Southampton, Portsmouth from 1974 CS - Ayrshire, Glasgow from 1981 CT - Lincolnshire (Kesteven) CU - South Shields, Newcastle from 1974 CV - Cornwall CW - Burnley, Preston from 1974 CX - Huddersfield CY - Swansea CZ - Belfast

D - Kent DA - Wolverhampton, Birmingham from 1974 DB - Stockport, Manchester from 1974 DC - Middlesborough, Teeside from 1974, Middlesborough from 1981 DD - Gloucestershire DE - Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest from 1974 DF - Gloucestershire DG - Gloucestershire DH - Walsall, Dudley from 1974 DI - Roscommon DJ - St. Helens, Warrington from 1974, Liverpool from 1981 DK - Rochdale, Bolton from 1974, Manchester from 1981 DL - Isle of Wight (W.R.), Newport IoW from 1974, Portsmouth from 1981 DM - Flintshire, Chester from 1974 DN - York, Leeds from 1981 DO - Lincolnshire (Holland), Boston from 1974, Lincoln from 1981 DP - Reading DR - Plymouth, Exeter from 1981 DS - Peebles, Glasgow from 1974 DT - Doncaster, Sheffield from 1974 DU - Coventry DV - Devonshire, Exeter from 1974 DW - Newport (Mon.), Cardiff from 1974 DX - Ipswich DY - Hastings, Brighton from 1981 DZ - Antrim

E - Staffordshire EA - West Bromwich, Dudley from 1974 EB - Isle of Ely, Cambridge from 1965, Peterborough from 1981 EC - Westmorland, Kendal from 1974, Preston from 1981 ED - Warrington, Liverpool from 1981 EE - Grimsby EF - West Hartlepool, Middlesborough from 1974 EG - Peterborough EH - Stoke-on-Trent EI - Sligo EJ - Cardiganshire, Aberyswyth from 1974, Bangor from 1981, Haverfordwest from 1983 EK - Wigan, Warrington from 1974, Liverpool from1981 EL - Bournemouth EM - Bootle, Liverpool from 1974 EN - Bury, Bolton from 1974, Manchester from 1981 EO - Barrow-in-Furness, Preston from 1974 EP - Montgomeryshire, Swansea from 1974 ER - Cambridgeshire, Peterborough from 1981 ES - Perthshire, Dundee from 1974 ET - Rotherham EU - Brecon, Bristol from 1974 EV - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 EW - Huntingdonshire, Peterborough from 1974 EX - Great Yarmouth, Norwich from 1974 EY - Anglesey, Bangor from 1974 EZ - Belfast

F - Essex FA - Burton-on-Trent, Stoke on Trent from 1974 FB - Bath, Bristol from 1974 FC - Oxford FD - Dudley FE - Lincoln FF - Merionethshire, Aberyswyth from 1974, Bangor, from 1981 FG - Fife, Brighton from 1974 FH - Gloucester FI - Tipperary FJ - Exeter FK - Worcester, Dudley from 1974 FL - Peterborough FM - Chester FN - Canterbury, Maidstone from 1974 FO - Radnor, Hereford from 1974, Gloucester from 1981 FP - Rutland, Leicester from 1974 FR - Blackpool, Preston from 1974 FS - Edinburgh FT - Tynemouth, Newcastle from 1974 FU - Lincolnshire (Lindsey) FV - Blackpool, Preston from 1974 FW - Lincolnshire (Lindsey) FX - Dorsetshire, Bournemouth from 1974 FY - Southport, Liverpool from 1974 FZ - Belfast

G - Glasgow GA - Glasgow GB - Glasgow GC - London GD - Glasgow GE - Glasgow GF - London GG - Glasgow GH - London GJ - London GK - London GL - Bath, Truro from 1974 GM - Motherwell and Wishaw, Reading from 1974 GN - London GO - London GP - London GR - Sunderland, Durham from 1974, Newcastle from 1981 GS - Perth, Luton from 1974 GT - London GU - London GV - Suffolk (West), Ipswich from 1974 GW - London GX - London GY - London GZ - Belfast

H - Middlesex HA - Smethwick, Warley from 1974, Dudley from 1981 HB - Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff from 1974 HC - Eastbourne, Hastings from 1974, Brighton from 1981 HD - Dewsbury, Huddersfield from 1974 HE - Barnsley, Sheffield from 1974 HF - Wallasey, Liverpool from 1974 HG - Burnley, Preston 1974 HH - Carlisle HI - Tipperary (S.R.) HJ - Southend, Chelmsford from 1974 HK - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 HL - Wakefield, Sheffield from 1974 HM - East Ham, Greater London Council from 1965, London from 1974 HN - Darlington, Middlesborough from 1981 HO - Hampshire (Southampton), Salisbury from 1974, Bournemouth from 1981 HP - Coventry HR - Wiltshire HS - Renfrewshire, Glasgow from 1974 HT - Bristol HU - Bristol HV - East Ham, Greater London Council from 1965, London from 1974 HW - Bristol HX - Middlesex, Greater London Council from 1974, London from 1981 HY - Bristol HZ - Tyrone

IA - Antrim IJ - Down IR - Offaly IB - Armagh IN - City and County of Dublin IT - Leitrim IC - Carlow IL - Permanagh IU - Limerick ID - Cavan IM - Galway IW - Londonderry IE - Clare IN - Kerry IX - Longford IF - Cork (County) IO - Kildare IY - Louth IH - Donegal IP - Kilkenny IZ - Mayo

J - Durham (County) JA - Stockport, Manchester from 1974 JB - Berkshire, Reading from 1974 JC - Caernarvonshire, Bangor from 1974 JD - West Ham, Greater London Council from 1965, London from 1974 JE - Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire from 1965, Peterborough from 1974 JF - Leicester JG - Canterbury, Maidstone from 1981 JH - Hertfordshire, Reading from 1974 JI - Tyrone JJ - London, Canterbury from 1974, Maidstone from 1981 JK - Eastbourne, Hastings from 1974, Brighton from 1981 JL - Lincolnshire (Holland), Boston from 1974, Lincoln from 1981 JM - Westmorland, Reading from 1974 JN - Southend, Chelmsford from 1974 JO - Oxford JP - Wigan, Warrington from 1974, Liverpool from 1981 JR - Northumberland, Newcastle from 1974 JS - Ross & Cromarty, Stornoway from 1974, Inverness from 1981 JT - Dorsetshire, Bournemouth from 1974 JU - Leicestershire JV - Grimsby, Lincoln from 1974 JW - Wolverhampton, Birmingham from 1974 JX - Halifax, Huddersfield from 1974 JY - Plymouth, Exeter from 1981 JZ - Down

K - Liverpool KA - Liverpool KB - Liverpool KC - Liverpool KD - Liverpool KE - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KF - Liverpool KG - Cardiff KH - Kingston-upon-Hull KI - Waterford KJ - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KK - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KL - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KM - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KN - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KO - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KP - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KR - Kent, Maidstone from 1974 KS - Roxburghshire, Selkirk from 1974, Edinburgh from 1981 KT - Kent, Canterbury from 1974, Maidstone from 1981 KU - Bradford, Sheffield from 1974 KV - Coventry KW - Bradford, Sheffield from 1974 KX - Buckinghamshire, Luton from 1974 KY - Bradford, Sheffield from 1974 KZ – Antrim

L - Glamorganshire LA - London LB - London LC - London LD - London LE - London LF - London LG - Cheshire LH - London LI - Westmeath LJ - Bournemouth LK - London LL - London LM - London LO - London LP - London LR - London LS - Selkirkshire, Selkirk and Stirling from 1974, Edinburgh from 1981 LT - London LU - London LV - Liverpool LX - London LY - London LZ - Armagh

M - Cheshire MA - Cheshire MB - Cheshire MC - Middlesex, London from 1974 MD - Middlesex, London from 1974 ME - Middlesex, London from 1974 MF - Middlesex, London from 1974 MG - Middlesex, London from 1974 MH - Middlesex, London from 1974 MI - Wexford MJ - Bedfordshire, Luton from 1974 MK - Middlesex, London from 1974 ML - Middlesex, London from 1974 MM - Middlesex, London from 1974 MN - Isle of Man MO - Berkshire, Reading from 1974 MP - Middlesex, London from 1974 MR - Wiltshire, Swindon from 1974 MS - Stirling, Edinburgh from 1981 MT - Middlesex, London from 1974 MU - Middlesex, London from 1974 MV - Middlesex, London from 1974 MW - Wiltshire, Swindon from 1974 MX - Middlesex, London from 1974 MY - Middlesex, London from 1974 MZ - Belfast

N - Manchester NA - Manchester NB - Manchester NC - Manchester ND - Manchester NE - Manchester NF - Manchester NG - Norfolk, Norwich from 1974 NH - Northampton NI - Wicklow NJ - Sussex (East), Brighton from 1974 NK - Hertfordshire, Luton from 1974 NL - Northumberland, Newcastle from 1974 NM - Bedfordshire, Luton from 1974 NN - Nottinghamshire NO - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 NP - Worcestershire NR - Leicestershire NS - Sutherland, Glasgow from 1974 NT - Salop, Shrewsbury from 1974 NU - Derbyshire, Nottingham from 1974 NV - Northamptonshire NW - Leeds NX - Warwickshire, Dudley from 1974 NY - Glamorgan, Cardiff from 1974 NZ - Londonderry

O - Birmingham OA - Birmingham OB - Birmingham OC - Birmingham OD - Devonshire OE - Birmingham OF - Birmingham OG - Birmingham OH - Birmingham OI - Belfast OJ - Birmingham OK - Birmingham OL - Birmingham OM - Birmingham ON - Birmingham OO - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 OP - Birmingham OR - Hampshire (Southampton), Portsmouth from 1974 OS - Wigtownshire, Stranraer from 1974, Glasgow from 1981 OT - Hampshire (Southampton), Portsmouth from 1974 OU - Hampshire (Southampton) OV - Birmingham OW - Southampton, Portsmouth from 1974 OX - Birmingham OY - Croydon, London 1974 OZ - Belfast

P - Surrey PA - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PB - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PC - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PD - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PE - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PF - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PG - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PH - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PI - Cork PJ - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PK - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PL - Surrey, Guildford from 1974 PM - Ipswich PM - Sussex (East), Guildford from 1974 PN - Sussex (East), Brighton from 1974 PO - Sussex (West), Portsmouth from 1974 PP - Buckinghamshire, Luton from 1974 PR - Dorset, Bournemouth 1974 PS - Shetland, Lerwick from 1974, Aberdeen from 1981 PT - Durham (County), Newcastle from 1981 PU - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 PW - Norfolk, Norwich from 1974 PX - Sussex (West), Portsmouth 1974 PY - Yorkshire (North Riding), Middlesborough from 1974 PZ - Belfast

QA - London QB - London QC - London QD - London QE - London QF - London QQ - London QS - London

R - Derbyshire RA - Derbyshire, Nottingham from 1974 RB - Derbyshire, Nottingham from 1974 RC - Derby, Nottingham from 1974 RD - Reading RE - Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent from 1974 RF - Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent from 1974 RG - Aberdeen, Newcastle from 1974 RH - Kingston-upon-hull, Hull from 1974 RI - City and County of Dublin RJ - Salford, then Manchester from 1974 RK - Croydon, London from 1974 RL - Cornwall, Truro from 1974 RM - Cumberland, Carlisle from 1974 RN - Preston RO - Hertfordshire, Luton from 1974 RP - Northamptonshire RR - Nottinghamshire RS - Aberdeen RT - Suffolk (East), Ipswich from 1974 RU - Bournemouth RV - Portsmouth RW - Coventry RX - Berkshire, Reading from 1974 RY - Leicester RZ - Antrim

S - Edinburgh SA - Aberdeenshire SB - Argyll, Oban from 1974, Glasgow from 1981 SC - Edinburgh SD - Ayrshire, Glasgow from 1981 SE - Banff, Keith from 1974, Aberdeen from 1981 SF - Edinburgh SG - Edinburgh SH - Berwick, Selkirk from 1974, Edinburgh from 1981 SJ - Bute, Ayr from 1974, Glasgow from 1981 SK - Caithness, Wick from 1974, Inverness from 1981 SL - Clackmannanshire, Dundee from 1974 SM - Dumfries, Carlisle from 1974 SN - Dunbarton, Dundee from 1974 SO - Moray, Aberdeen from 1974 SP - Fife, Dundee from 1974 SR - Angus, Dundee from 1974 SS - East Lothian, Aberdeen from 1974 ST - Inverness SU - Kincardine, Glasgow from 1974 SV - Kinross, not used after 1974 SW - Kirkcudbright, Dumfries from 1974, Carlisle from 1981 SX - West Lothian, Edinburgh from 1981 SY - Midlothian SZ - Down

T - Devonshire TA - Devonshire, Exeter from 1974 TB - Lancashire, Warrington from 1974, Liverpool from 1981 TC - Lancashire to 1974, then Bristol TD - Lancashire, Bolton from 1974, Manchester from 1981 TE - Lancashire, Bolton from 1974, Manchester from 1981 TF - Lancashire to 1974, then Reading TG - Glamorganshire, Cardiff from 1974 TH - Carmarthenshire, Swansea from 1974 TI - Limerick TJ - Lancashire, Liverpool from 1974 TK - Dorsetshire, Plymouth from 1974, Exeter from 1981 TL - Lincolnshire (Kesteven), then Lincoln from 1974 TM - Bedfordshire, Luton from 1974 TN - Newcastle-upon-Tyne TO - Nottingham TP - Portsmouth TR - Southampton, Portsmouth from 1974 TS - Dundee TT - Devon then Exeter from 1974 TU - Cheshire, Chester from 1974 TV - Nottingham TW - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 TX - Glamorgan, Cardiff from 1974 TY - Northumberland, Newcastle from 1974 TZ - Belfast

U - Leeds UA - Leeds UB - Leeds UC - London UD - Oxfordshire UE - Warwickshire, Dudley from 1974 UF - Brighton UG - Leeds UH - Cardiff UI - Londonderry UJ - Salop, Shrewsbury from 1974 UK - Wolverhampton, Birmingham from 1974 UL - London UM - Leeds UN - Denbighshire, Barnstable from 1974, Exeter from 1981 UO - Devon, Barnstable from 1974, Exeter from 1981 UP - Durham (County), Newcastle from 1981 UR - Hertfordshire, Luton from 1974 US - Glasgow UT - Leicestershire UU - London UV – London UW - London UX - Salop, Shrewsbury from 1974 UY - Worcestershire UZ - Belfast

V - Lanarkshire VA - Lanarkshire, Cambridge from 1974, Peterborough from 1981 VB - Croydon, London from 1965, Canterbury from 1974, Maidstone from 1981 VC - Coventry VD - Lanarkshire, Luton from 1974 VE - Cambridgeshire, Peterborough from 1981 VF - Norfolk, Norwich from 1974 VG - Norwich VH - Huddersfield VJ - Herefordshire, Gloucester from 1981 VK - Newcastle-upon-Tyne VL - Lincoln VM - Manchester VN - Yorkshire (North Riding), Middlesborough from 1974 VO - Nottinghamshire VP - Birmingham VR - Manchester VS - Greenock, Luton from 1974 VT - Stoke-on-Trent VU - Manchester VV - Northampton VW - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 VX - Essex, Chelmsford from 1974 VY - York, Leeds from 1974

W - Sheffield WA - Sheffield WB - Sheffield WC - Chelmsford, not used before 1974 WD - Warwickshire, Dudley from 1974 WE - Sheffield WF - Yorkshire (East Riding), Sheffield from 1974 WG - Stirling, Sheffield from 1974 WH - Bolton, Manchester from 1981 WI - Waterford WJ - Sheffield WK - Coventry WL - Oxford WM - Southport, Liverpool from 1974 WN - Swansea WO - Monmouthshire, Cardiff from 1974 WP - Worcestershire WR - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974 WS - Edinburgh from 1974, Bristol from 1981 WT - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974 WU - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974 WV - Wiltshire and Brighton from 1974 WW - Yorkshire (West Riding) and Brighton from 1974 WX - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974 WY - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974

X - Northumberland XA - London XB - London XC - London XD - London XE - London XF - London XG - Middlesborough, Teeside from 1974 XH - London XI - Belfast XJ - Manchester XK - London XL - London XM - London XN - London XO - London XP - London XR - London XS - Paisley XT - London XU - London XV - London XW - London XX - London XY - London

Y - Somerset YA - Somerset, Taunton from 1974 YB - Somerset, Taunton from 1974 YC - Somerset, Taunton from 1974 YD - Somerset, Taunton from 1974 YE - London YF - London YG - Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds from 1974 YH - London YI - City and County of Dublin YJ - Dundee, Brighton from 1974 YK - London YL - London YM - London YN - London YO - London YP - London YR - London YS - Glasgow YT - London YU - London YV - London YW - London YX - London YY - London

Z - City and County of Dublin ZA - City and County of Dublin ZB - Cork (County) ZC - City and County of Dublin ZD - City and County of Dublin ZE - City and County of Dublin ZF - Cork ZH - City and County of Dublin ZI - City and County of Dublin ZJ - City and County of Dublin ZL - City and County of Dublin ZM - Galway ZN - Cork (County) ZN - Meath ZO - City and County of Dublin ZP - Donegal ZR - Wexford ZT - Cork (County) ZU - City and County of Dublin ZW - Kildare ZX - Kerry ZZ - Irish International Circulation Mark

Confused?

New Registration Format

In 2001 a new system was introduced with 2 letters denoting the registration area, 2 digits for the year and three random letters (ie. FX 51 FTS) The first digit denotes the registration period, 0 = March to August & 5 = September to February, and the second digit the year (ie 1 = 2001)