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UK number plates explained: new ’24’ plates arrive from 1st March

February 09, 2024 by

Spring is officially here, and with it comes a new number plate age identifier, in this case ’24’, which is found after the first two characters on the plates of all new cars registered from 1 March 2024.

The 24 age identifier will adorn all new cars until the ’74’ plate arrives on 1 September this year.  As such, March’s 24 number plates replace the 73 plates which arrived in September 2023.

Even if you’re not fussed about having the latest plate, it’s worth being familiar with the ins and outs of the UK’s number plate system. That’s mainly because it’s important to stick to the rules regarding number-plate fonts, layouts, colours, and placements, with big fines potentially lurking around the corner for those who unwittingly break the rules; plus there’s always the chance the answer to a future pub-quiz question might be contained within this article…

How do UK number plates work

The 73 number plates were released in September 2023, and remain as the date signifier for all cars registered between 1 September 2023 and the last day of February 2024. From 1 March until the end of August 2024, the numbers on UK plates change to 24.

Those numbers are the third and fourth characters on a plate, and are one of three elements that make up a standard number plate. These comprise:

  • Two letters that represent the region the car was registered in
  • Two numbers that represent when the car was registered
  • A set of three randomly generated letters

Number plates issued from March to September contain two numbers representing the year, while the plates issued from September plates are the year plus 50.

You can see how this will pan out until 2029 in the table below:

Year of car registration Plate from March-onwards Plate from September-onwards
2020 20 70
2021 21 71
2022 22 72
2023 23 73
2024 24 74
2025 25 75
2026 26 76
2027 27 77
2028 28 78
2029 29 79

What will new car reg plates look like in 2030? Under the current system, you will see 30-plate cars from 1st March and then 80-plate cars from 1st September.

Rules for number plates

For vehicles made after 1 January 1973, the front number plate must have a white background while the rear number plate at the rear must have a yellow background.

There are strict rules concerning the specification of the letters and numbers in the reg plate.

These include:

  • Characters must be 79mm and 50mm wide (except the number 1 or letter I)
  • The thickness of the character stroke must be 14mm
  • The space between characters must be 11mm
  • The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm
  • The margins at the top, bottom and side must be 11mm
  • The vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 19mm
  • The font used in the number plate has been in use since 2001 and is called the Charles Wright font.

What is a green number plate?

As of 8th of December 2020, if you buy a new fully electric car (or one powered by a hydrogen fuel cell) you can choose to have your car fitted with a so-called ‘green number plate’. These have a green flash on the left-hand side of the reg plate to indicate the car’s zero tailpipe emission credentials.

You can opt-out of having the green flash on your plate if it’s not to your taste, but dealers are likely to fit them as standard on newly-sold electric cars. At the moment, they’re only a cosmetic item rather than allowing any certain EV privileges.

There have been a few instances of people buying green number plates and putting them on petrol and diesel cars, but this practice a) won’t bring any tangible advantages, and b) is illegal.  Number plates are supposed to be bought only from approved, registered vendors, but a loophole allows people to buy ‘show plates’ from other vendors, with these being marketed as non-road-legal plates to put on cars at automotive shows – though they can look very close to the real thing, albeit they can be ordered with non-standard spacing, banned number and letter combinations, and green flashes for ineligible cars.

What is a private number plate?

Private number plates, also known as personalised, cherished or vanity plates, are number plates that are bought based on the specific characters they contain. Personalised plates can be bought directly from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or, if they’re already in circulation, can be purchased from auctions, traders or private individuals.

Personalised number plates can represent anything from a driver’s or company’s name, to a meaningful date, or any other word or words, as long as they are not deemed offensive (see the banned number plates section below). Some private plates are simply chosen because their owners like the combination of letters and numbers they contain, or they may have become attached to a specific plate over their driving lives, and wish to transfer it onto their next car.

Be warned, though: it is illegal to alter the spacing of personalised number plates – even those with fewer than seven characters must adhere to the strict spacing and font rules, while adding coloured screws to alter the appearance of letters or numbers is also illegal. You risk a £1,000 fine if you break the rules, and your cherished plate could be rescinded by the DVLA.

It is also worth knowing that while a personalised plate can make a car look older than it is (EG a 52 plate on a 2020 car), you cannot have a personalised plate on a car that implies it is newer than it is.

Are there any banned number plates?

Yes. Each time a new age identifier is released every March and September, the DVLA has a meeting where they try to work out whether any permutation allowed by the new digits could comprise an offensive word, or something that resembles one. carwow has been informed this meeting is one of the more popular ones the DVLA holds, as staff deliberately try to envisage rude and offensive plates before they fall into the hands of unsuspecting (or suspecting) motorists.

Anything to do with violence, sex or discrimination is automatically banned, while number plates that slip through the net can be rescinded at a later date.

BA22 ARD was banned when the ‘22’ plate came out in March 2022, for example, as was a registrations referring to Covid-19, such as CO22 ONA.

Number plate formats for cars registered before 2001

Several different number plate systems existed prior to the current one. Number plates only changed once a year between 1983 to 2001, with the age identifier being a single letter at the start of the plate.

This saw a car with a plate beginning ‘A’ was registered between August 1983 and July 1984, while an ‘M’ plate was registered from August 1994 to July 1995 2001. From 1963 to 1982 the age identifier was the last character on the plate.

UK number plates FAQs

Why does my car have a number plate?

Quite simply, to give it a unique identification so it can be linked to a registered keeper, and so it is obvious that it is a road legal vehicle.

What information can you get from a UK number plate?

UK number plates allow you to determine how old a car is, and where it was first registered.

When do UK number plates change?

A new age identifier comes out twice a year on the first of March and September.

Do you need a front number plate in the UK?

Yes, it is a legal requirement for all cars to wear a front number plate.

How much is my number plate worth?

As little as nothing, or as much as several hundred thousand pounds. It is unlikely anyone would pay for a ‘standard’ number plate, unless it means something to them – in which case it may mean something to someone else, too, and may therefore be considered a personalised number plate.

The most expensive number plates typically have very few characters and/or represent rare and exotic cars. The plate ‘X1’ was sold for around £500,000 not too long ago, while plates that contain the numbers ‘911’ tend to be in demand with Porsche 911 owners, for example. The cheapest plates can be nought from the DVLA for as little as £250.

Where can I get number plates made?

You can only get number plates made up by registered suppliers, and you can find a list of these on the government’s official website. A number of plate vendors are also available online, but check they are officially registered before you buy, as this will ensure the plates meet legislation.

What should I do with old number plates?

This depends on the circumstances. Our handy guide has all the details.