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Check Car Age

To check the age of car in the UK and when it was first registered, just enter its registration number. This free service gives you correct and up-to-date information that makes it easy to check a car's age and car check details, including registration information, MOT status, and tax due date.


How to Find Out a Vehicle's Age and Registration Year?

The number plate on a car is usually a good way to tell how old it is. On the other hand, this method does not work for cars that have private plates. You can find the correct manufacturing year for these cars by looking at the vehicle registration documents (V5C) or entering the registration number into an online database, or using a VIN number check.


Identifying Where a Vehicle Was First Registered?

Since 2001, all vehicles registered in the UK have used the current plate style. The first two letters of the plate show where the vehicle was registered. For instance, a plate that starts with "EA" means that the car was first registered in Essex.

For cars registered before 2001 (like S123 AAA), the last two characters of the plate show where the car is. You can look up a vehicle's registration number in an online lookup tool or view a full list of number plate registration locations for manual reference.

Can You Use a Private Number Plate on Any Vehicle?

UK number plates must indicate a vehicle's age, and misrepresentation is prohibited. One example is that you cannot give a car a license plate that makes it look younger than it really is. For instance, a private plate with the number "18" for the year cannot be put on a car that was made in 2017, because it would give the wrong impression of a later registration date.

What is a Q plate and Why Are They Issued?

The DVLA issues Q-prefix number plates when there is inadequate documentation of a vehicle's age or identification, usually for rebuilt or imported automobiles. Vehicles with a Q plate cannot get a private or custom registration because it is not possible to prove the vehicle's exact age.

Cost of Changing Your Car's Number Plate

It costs £80 to transfer a number plate to a different car. You must also provide the vehicle registration documents (V5C), which prove ownership and registration information, to finish the transfer. The DVLA needs this document to process and accept the number plate change.

Car Registration Years Explained (2001–Present)

The current UK number plate style for cars registered on or after September 1, 2001, is: [2 letters] [2 numbers] [3 letters].
  • The first two letters are the vehicle's regional identity, which tells you where in the country it was first registered.
  • The two numbers present are the age identifiers, displaying the vehicle's registration year and six-month period.
  • And the last three letters are chosen at random and do not mean anything specific about the vehicle.

The DVLA governs this style, which makes sure that everything is the same and helps track down information about the age and location of a car. You can also use a MOT & tax checker to validate roadworthiness and compliance.


Prefix Car Registration Number Years (1983–2001)

Unless awarded a dateless plate, vehicles registered between August 1 1983 and August 31 2001, have prefix-style registration plates.

In the prefix format:

  • The first character acted as an age identifier by showing the year they registered.
  • After this, three numbers are given out one after the other.
  • Finally, the last three letters show the place where the car was first registered.

For automobiles registered before 2001, this format remains acceptable.


Suffix Car Registration Number Years (1963–1983)

The format of a suffix number plate is specific for UK vehicles entered between 1963 and 1983. In this format:

  • The first three letters show where the car was registered for the first time.
  • Afterwards, there are three random numbers that serve as unique IDs.
  • The last character is a letter that shows the car's age when it was registered.

This system existed before the prefix and current registration formats.


Using the VIN to Determine Car Year of Manufacture

The year a car was made can be found by looking at the 10th character of its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The production year of the car determines whether this character is a letter or a number. It relates to a specific model year according to international VIN standards.


VIN Number Year Codes – Quick Reference Chart

The 10th character of your vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) tells you the year it was made. This character, which stands for a year, could be a letter or a number, based on the car's age.

The chart below will help you match the 10th number of your VIN to the right model year.

CodeYearCodeYearCodeYear
A1980X1999J2018
B1981Y2000K2019
C198212001L2020
D198322002M2021
E198432003N2022
F198542004P2023
G198652005R2024
H198762006S2025
J198872007T2026
K198982008V2027
L199092009W2028
M1991A2010X2029
N1992B2011Y2030
P1993C201212031
R1994D201322032
S1995E201432033
T1996F201542034
V1997G201652035
W1998H201762036

Northern Ireland Number Plates and Year Information

No matter the vehicle's age, Northern Irish number plates remain dateless. This distinguishes them from the UK's current prefix and suffix-style plates, which identify vehicle age. Northern Irish plates have a serial letter, county code, and up to four number digits. The lack of age-identifying characteristics on these plates makes them ideal for car customisation or fabrication.

Dateless Number Plates and Their Yearless Format

Some UK number plates are dateless, hiding the vehicle's registration year. Enter the registration number into our Car Year Checker tool to find the vehicle's registration year, even when the plate does not reflect age.

The UK issued dateless, or 'cherished', number plates until 1963, when the suffix format superseded them. The first dateless plate was created in 1903; registration plates were mandatory from 1904 to identify cars and owners. Today, these plates are popular for customisation and hiding car ages.
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Tony Gastro

A dynamic automotive industry expert with 15+ years of experience in design, engineering, and market strategy. Specialises in cutting-edge innovation, sustainability, and performance, leading transformative growth across global automotive markets.