Car Industry News
When do new registration plates come out?
The UK’s DVLA number plate changes explained
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 25/09/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 25/09/2025
As the autumn season sets in and the evenings start to get darker, a significant event occurs in the automotive world: the release of new car registration plates.
Number plates (or licence plates) must correctly show the registration number of your vehicle. You cannot rearrange these letters or numbers, or alter them so that they’re hard to read. You could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.
Vehicle number plates identify when and where all vehicles in the UK were registered. The number plate is not linked to the owner but to the vehicle until it is destroyed or exported. An owner can transfer it to another vehicle if they prefer.
The current registration format was introduced in 2001. The numbers on the plate are known as age identifiers and show what year the vehicle was registered. The batch of plates issued in March will take the last two digits of the registration year. In 2025, this was 25.
For the plates issued in September, it’s the last two digits of the year plus 50. So, in 2025 this will be 75.
Every year in March (spring) and September (autumn), car registration plates are updated. The 75 plate release date is 1 September 2025. This follows last March's 25 plate.
For many buyers, this is the perfect time to purchase a new vehicle.
March and September are important dates in the diary for many motoring enthusiasts because it’s often the case in these months that the latest car models make their showroom debuts. Models could be getting a complete facelift or design overhaul, or perhaps a small update to include an additional feature.
The two prefix letters are known as the local memory tag. The first letter represents the region of the UK and the second letter the local DVLA office where the vehicle was registered.
The three letters at the end are randomly generated and allocated to a dealership when the car is registered. This gives every vehicle a unique identity.
Learn more about the full list number plate age identifiers and local memory tags here.
For legal reasons, the number plate on your vehicle must:
The characters must not be removable or reflective. If your number plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.
Your number plates can also:
According to the DVLA, you could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.
The characters on a number plate also need to be a certain height and size:
You can find out more information by reading leaflet INF104 for vehicles and leaflet INF291 for trailers.
Personalised number plates are permitted and can be purchased from the DVLA or from a private dealer.
If you have the right to a private number that is not currently being used, you can apply to assign it to a vehicle. Whether standard-issue, or personalised, there are strict rules concerning the specification of the letters and numbers in the reg plate.
You cannot use a personalised plate to make a car look newer than it is. A personalised plate must be from the same year the car was manufactured or older.
Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars purchased from 8 December 2020 onwards come fitted with a ‘green number plate’. The plates are identifiable by a green flash on the left-hand side to make it easier for cars to be identified as zero-emission vehicles.
This is to help local authorities design and implement new policies to incentivise people to own and drive them.
As mentioned earlier, many car enthusiasts are keen to get their hands on a new car the moment the new plates are released. If you count yourselves amongst them but don’t want to commit to adjusting your annual policy or searching for a new one, Tempcover’s temporary car insurance may be the most suitable option.
Our temporary car insurance policies cover the vehicle for a fixed term of your choice (between one hour and 28 days). This will give you the chance to research the best annual policy to suit your needs. You can get a quote in under 2 minutes and there’s no risk to any existing no claims discount.
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Temporary Car InsuranceCar Industry NewsUK car registration plates have three parts: the first two letters indicate the registration area (e.g. BA to BY for Birmingham), the middle two digits show the car's age (changing biannually in March and September), and the final three letters are random for unique identification. Special features include green plates for zero-emission vehicles and differently coloured front (white) and rear (yellow) plates.
The 69 plate indicates a UK car's first registration was between September, 2019 and February, 2020, succeeding the 19 plate used from March to August 2019. UK number plates use a two-digit number representing the registration year. In March, it reflects the current year's last two digits, and in September, it increases by 50. Thus, a 69 plate signifies registration from September 2019 to February 2020.
4D number plates are legal in the UK, as long as they meet specific criteria. They must be reflective with solid-black, non-reflective characters in acrylic or gel, following British Standard BS AU 145e for spacing and dimensions. Coloured borders or national flags are permitted, but tinted plates or coloured characters are not. Non-compliance risks a £1,000 fine and plate confiscation.
A 71 plate on a UK car indicates registration was between 1 September, 2021 and 28 February, 2022. The UK number plate system changes biannually: 7 signifies September registration and 1 represents 2021. From March to August, the age identifier equals the year (e.g. 21 for 2021), while from September, it's the year plus 50 (e.g. 21 becomes 71).
UK law, under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, mandates all vehicles, except motorcycles, display a registration plate at the front and rear. Driving without a front registration plate in a car, van, or lorry, is illegal. Ensure your number plates are properly attached at both ends of your vehicle when using UK roads.
The 74 plate identifies UK vehicles that were registered between September, 2024 and February, 2025. 7 signifies the second half of the year and 4 indicates 2024. Vehicles registered from March to August 2024 carry the 24 plate. UK number plates, updated twice yearly, help determine a vehicle's age. Other elements include the registration region (first two letters) and random letters (final three).
UK car number plates update biannually in March and September. The 24 plate, launched in March 2024, is newer than the 74 plate released in September 2024. A vehicle with a 24 plate indicates it's a recent model. The number changes to 74 from 1st September, signifying the year's second batch of new vehicles.
A 78 plate car will be registered in the UK between September 2028 and March 2029, as per the vehicle registration system. The 78 signifies the second half of 2028. Therefore, a 78 plate vehicle will be brand new from September 2028 to March 2029.
A 69 plate car was registered in the UK between September 2019 and February 2020. The 69 is an age identifier, with 6 indicating the registration period and 9 representing 2019. This system adds 50 to the year's last two digits for cars registered from September onwards. The plate's first two letters indicate the car's initial registration location, while the last three letters are unique to each car.
A 72 registration plate in the UK indicates a vehicle registered between September 2022 and February 2023. UK number plates change biannually: 22 denotes March to August 2022 registration, while 72 signifies September 2022 to February 2023. From March to August, the year is represented by the first two digits. From September to February, the year plus 50 is used. This pattern repeats annually.
UK new car registration plates are released twice annually, on 1st March and 1st September. The March plate mirrors the year's last two digits (25 for 2025), while the September plate adds 50 (75 for 2025's latter half). This system aids in determining a car's age, guiding purchases, and understanding the used car market, as new plates can impact existing car values.
The DVLA released 74 plate cars on 1st September 2024, continuing their annual tradition of unveiling new plates each September. The 74 was calculated by adding 50 to the last two digits of the year.
Car prices typically fluctuate with new registration plate releases in March and September due to increased used vehicle turnover, causing price drops. Selling your car before these releases could secure a better price. Conversely, dealerships may offer discounts on outgoing stock during these times, making it an ideal period for potential buyers.
The 73 number plate, part of the UK's biannual plate change, released in September, 2023.
Planning to buy a 2025 car? The optimal times would have been before the number plate changes in March and September for great deals on current stock. For a broader range of part-exchanged or nearly new vehicles, you should consider buying just after these months in future years.
The first two letters on your car's number plate indicate its registration location: the initial letter for the region and the second for the specific local DVLA office. The subsequent two numbers, changing biannually in March and September, signify the car's registration period.
The letter E on a number plate can have different meanings. In the EU strip, it represents Spain. On a UK plate, an initial E indicates the car was registered in Essex. On older suffix plates (1963-1983), an ending E denotes registration between July 1967 and August 1968. On personalised plates, E could be part of a word, name, or mimic the digit 3.
In the UK, a car with a 73 plate was registered between September 2023 and February 2024. The 73 is an age identifier, indicating registration in the year's second half. UK plates comprise two letters for the registration region, two numbers as the age identifier, and three random letters. 23 signifies registration from March to August 2023, while 73 indicates September 2023 to February 2024 registration.
The B Plate, introduced by Scrap Car Comparison, signifies 'Bad Parking', aiming to boost confidence for anxious parkers. It's not an official Department for Transport label but a private initiative that indicates drivers are uncomfortable with parking maneuvers. Despite similarities to L and P plates, it has faced criticism. Some road safety experts recommend additional parking training instead of using a B Plate.
A 74 plate was featured on a vehicle registered between September 2024 and February 2025. The two middle digits on a number plate indicate the vehicle's age. A 25 plate applies to vehicles registered in the first half of 2025. From March, the plate reflects the year's last two digits. From September, 50 is added, hence a 74 plate for September 2024. The 75 plate will appear from September 2025.
The DVLA's new guidelines mandate solid black lettering on car number plates. Compliance is essential to avoid penalties.
In the UK, the 62 in a car registration plate signifies the vehicle was registered during the second half of 2012, specifically between September 2012 and March 2013. This age identifier system updates biannually, providing a helpful tool for determining a used car's age.
For immediate car insurance, consider Tempcover's temporary policies, ranging from 1 hour to 28 days. To obtain a quote, provide personal details, the car's registration number, and your driving history. Following payment, policy documents are emailed instantly, ensuring you're legally and safely insured to drive your new car home.
Your old insurance doesn't cover your new car; it only applies to the vehicle initially insured. Hence, you must arrange separate cover before driving your new car. Tempcover's temporary car insurance provides flexible, short-term cover, making it a convenient solution for legal coverage when driving your new car home. Always ensure you're insured when driving to avoid significant fines and possible disqualification.
You must pay Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) before driving your new car home. As the new registered keeper, you're responsible for taxing the car immediately, with no grace period. Failure to do so could result in an £80 penalty. To tax your car, obtain the new keeper's slip (V5C/2) from the seller and use the 12-digit reference number. Ensure you also arrange insurance, considering temporary cover for immediate needs.
Yes, you can insure yourself to drive any car with the owner's permission using flexible temporary car insurance. It allows multiple individuals to be insured on a vehicle, making it ideal for borrowing a friend's car or test-driving a potential purchase. Always obtain the car owner's permission before arranging insurance.
In the UK, driving without insurance, even a newly purchased car, is illegal under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This law mandates insurance against liability for injuries and property damage. Non-compliance can lead to fines, licence points, or disqualification from driving. Therefore, arrange temporary car insurance before driving your new car home to avoid penalties. It's quick to set up and provides immediate coverage.
Related tags:
Temporary Car InsuranceCar Industry NewsA parking ticket can be a fixed penalty notice if it’s issued by the police, local council or DVSA. However, many of these are now penalty charge notices (PCN). You have 28 days to formally challenge a PCN. If you do this within 14 days and your challenge is requested, you might only have to pay 50% of the fine.
If you decide to challenge, you must:
Find out more about challenging a parking ticket on gov.uk.
Most FPNs will be expected to be paid in full. If you have financial concerns, you could try contacting the authority who issued the FPN direct to discuss your options. It may also be worth contacting Citizens Advice.
Section 172 is part of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It requires a vehicle’s registered keeper to provide details of the driver at the time of an alleged motoring offence. If you don’t respond to a Section 172 notice (typically sent alongside an FPN notice), you could receive 6 penalty points, a fine and potential disqualification from driving.
The police have 14 days to send a Section 172 notice to the registered keeper and a response is required within 28 days of it being received.
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Temporary Car InsuranceCar Industry News