Even though the style of vehicle number plates has changed over the years, it is still pretty easy to figure out your car's age. Just enter your registration number below to find out promptly what year your car was made or registered.
As an example, if you want to sell your car, you must include the registration year as part of its history for anyone interested. Also, when you buy new parts for your car, make sure they are fully suitable by double-checking the model and year with a car spec check.
If you need to verify other aspects, such as your car tax check or to check previous owners, these are also important details that go hand in hand with knowing your vehicle's age. And for bike owners, you can also use our Bike Check tool to know the history of your motorcycle.
Want To Know Car Registration Years?
There are a few different ways to figure out the age of your car, but one of the easiest and most useful is to look at the number plate and figure out what year the car was registered.
The registration style used when your car was registered can give you a good idea of when it was made or when it was first registered. Familiarising yourself with these forms can be very helpful for many reasons, such as:
- Vehicle verification
- Insurance processing
- Buying or selling a used car
- When you find car owner by registration number
Knowing the car's registration year is one of the most important things you can do to know how old it is, how good its condition is, and how much it is worth on the market as a whole. It gives you useful information that can help you make a better, more confident buying choice.
New-Style Car Registration Plate System (2001 Onwards)
Vehicles registered after September 1 2001, use the new-style number plate format unless they have a dateless private plate.
In this format:
- The first two letters are the regional identity, which tells you where the car was first registered.
- Based on the date of registration, the next two numbers show the age of the car.
- The last three letters are made up at random and do not help us figure out anything about the car.
For quick access to a car's age and the place where it was first registered, this method can be useful for history checks, insurance, and market evaluations.
How Prefix-Style Car Registration Plates Work (1983-2001)
Vehicles registered between August 1, 1983, and August 31, 2001, usually have a number plate with a prefix, unless they have a private plate that does not have a date on it.
In the prefix registration format:
- The first character tells you the age of the car by showing you the year it was registered.
- The next three characters are numbers that are used to tell one registration from another.
- The last three letters show where the car was first registered with the government.
So, whether you are doing a car tax check, a car spec check, or trying to find car owner by registration number, this style makes it easy to find the car's age and origin.
How Suffix Car Registration Plates Work (1963-1983)
In a suffix-style number plate, the format looks like this:
- The first three letters show where the car was first registered.
- After these are three randomly chosen numbers that serve as a unique identifier.
- The last letter tells you the age of the car by showing you the year it was registered.
This style was popular for cars registered between 1963 and 1983, and it can still be used to figure out where a car came from and how old it is from that time.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)– Year code chart
The 10th letter of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can help you know the year your car was made. Based on the widely recognised VIN code chart, this character stands for a certain year.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
| A | 1980 | X | 1999 | J | 2018 |
| B | 1981 | Y | 2000 | K | 2019 |
| C | 1982 | 1 | 2001 | L | 2020 |
| D | 1983 | 2 | 2002 | M | 2021 |
| E | 1984 | 3 | 2003 | N | 2022 |
| F | 1985 | 4 | 2004 | P | 2023 |
| G | 1986 | 5 | 2005 | R | 2024 |
| H | 1987 | 6 | 2006 | S | 2025 |
| J | 1988 | 7 | 2007 | T | 2026 |
| K | 1989 | 8 | 2008 | V | 2027 |
| L | 1990 | 9 | 2009 | W | 2028 |
| M | 1991 | A | 2010 | X | 2029 |
| N | 1992 | B | 2011 | Y | 2030 |
| P | 1993 | C | 2012 | 1 | 2031 |
| R | 1994 | D | 2013 | 2 | 2032 |
| S | 1995 | E | 2014 | 3 | 2033 |
| T | 1996 | F | 2015 | 4 | 2034 |
| V | 1997 | G | 2016 | 5 | 2035 |
| W | 1998 | H | 2017 | 6 | 2036 |
Why You Should Know The Year Of Manufacture Car?
Knowing your vehicle's registration year is useful for various reasons. As part of your car's history, you must provide its registration year if you sell it. Know the registration year before buying spare parts to guarantee compatibility with your vehicle model.
Boot liners and other custom-fit accessories benefit from this knowledge. Car Details Check makes boot liners to suit your vehicle's make, model and year. Our website lets you pick between brown, orange, pink, and blue colours and ensure a perfect fit by choosing your car's registration year.
Which Country Flags Can You Have on Your Number Plate?
UK number plates can have more than just numbers and letters. They can also have a country identity or national sign. It was legal for number plates to have the following flags and markers before Brexit:
- The EU flag
- The Union Flag (Union Jack)
- The Cross of St George
- The Cross of St Andrew
- The Red Dragon of Wales
If you want to travel in Europe and your number plate does not feature the EU flag with a 'GB' identifier, you must display an oval 'GB' sticker on your car to comply with international traffic standards. A simple Number Plate Check before you travel can help ensure compliance.
Despite Brexit, the EU flag and 'GB' number plates are allowed for driving in Europe. To prevent legal complications while driving overseas, make sure your car has the right identity on the plate or sticker.
What Are Dateless Number Plates and How Do They Work?
Dateless number plates do not identify the vehicle's registration year. Thus, the plate cannot reveal the vehicle's age.
Entering the registration number into our Car Year Checker tool will reveal the vehicle's UK registration year. This program delivers accurate, up-to-date information for verification, resale, and insurance, even for automobiles with dateless plates. It is useful if you wish to find car owner by registration number, do a car spec check, or check previous owners.
Types of Dateless Number Plates Explained
Number plates that do not have a date on them come in a few different styles. Each style serves a different purpose and has a different historical or official meaning. Here is a list of these:
1. Dateless UK Number Plates (Issued Before 1963)
Vehicles registered in the UK had "cherished" or dateless number plates until 1963, when the suffix-style format took their place. In 1903, the first plate without a date was given. In 1904, number plates were mandated so that drivers and vehicles could be identified. Because these plates do not have an age identifier on them, you cannot tell the vehicle's registration year just by looking at the plate.
2. Personalised Number Plates
If the plate is not being used, you can buy a private or customised number plate from the DVLA or an approved dealer. These plates enable personalisation, but they cannot make a car seem newer. For example, it is illegal to give a 2009 car a "63" plate.
3. Northern Irish Number Plates
No matter what age the car is, all Northern Irish number plates are considered dateless. It is important to note that these plates do not follow the modern start, end, or UK registration forms. A serial letter, a county code, and up to four numbers make up the pattern. For example, "ABZ 1234". So, they are a popular choice for people who want to hide the age of their car. A Number Plate Check or car check details lookup is the only way to know the vehicle's background.
4. 'Q' Registration Plates
It is typical for rebuilt, imported, or highly transformed cars to have "Q" registration plates because the DVLA cannot prove the vehicle's age or name. These plates are also called "dateless" because they do not show the year that the car was registered. Before a car can get a "Q" plate, it has to go through a type approval process that makes sure it meets safety and roadworthiness standards.
FAQs
What's the difference between a car registration year and manufacturing year in the UK?
The car was built and registered for road usage in the manufacturing and registration years, respectively. There may be differences between these times, especially if a car was not sold for a while after it was made.
How can I check the exact age of my car?
Use the registration number or the 10th character of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to determine your car's age.
Can I use a new registration plate on an older vehicle?
No, UK law bans giving a car a registration plate that makes it look newer. You may use an older or dateless plate on any vehicle.
Why do UK number plates have age-related identifiers?
Age identifiers easily establish registration year, facilitating car identification, road safety enforcement, and resale value.
When did car number plates start in the UK?
According to the first plate, which came out in 1903, cars had to have number plates by 1904.
How were car number plates structured before 2001 in the UK?
Before 2001, the UK utilised suffix (1963–1983) and prefix (1983–2001) plates to identify the vehicle's age.
How do I decode a Northern Irish car number plate?
Northern Irish plates lack age markers. On automobiles of any age, they may have a letter (serial), county code, and up to four numbers (e.g., "ABZ 1234").
Does my car's number plate impact its resale value?
Yes. Newer or dateless plates may be more appealing, whereas older plates may indicate age and lower resale value.
