When Do New Number Plates Come Out? UK Plate Age Guide
Car Owl
Published in English •
Summary
- New UK number plates come out twice a year. One release lands on 1 March. The other lands on 1 September.
- The March plate uses the year number. So 2025 gives you a "25" plate. The September plate adds 50. So September 2025 gives you a "75" plate.
- The "22" plate came out on 1 March 2022. The "72" plate came out on 1 September 2022. The "23" plate came out on 1 March 2023.
- A newer plate does not always mean a newer car. Always run a check before you buy.
The two letters and two numbers on a UK plate are not random. They tell you where the car was registered. They also tell you how old it is. This guide explains the whole system in plain English. By the end, you will read any plate at a glance.
How The Current Plate System Works
The current system started in September 2001. The DVLA designed it to be simple. Every standard plate has the same shape. Once you know the pattern, you can date a car in seconds.
A plate has three parts. Take AB23 CDE as an example:
- AB: the local memory tag. This shows the area where the car was first registered.
- 23: the age identifier. This is the part that tells you the car's age.
- CDE: three random letters. These just make each plate unique.
So the middle two numbers are the key. Learn how they work and you can date any car fast.
The Two Releases Each Year
New age identifiers come out twice a year. The dates never change.
- 1 March. This plate uses the year number. March 2024 gives a "24" plate. March 2025 gives a "25" plate.
- 1 September. This plate adds 50 to the year. September 2024 gives a "74" plate. September 2025 gives a "75" plate.
The rule is easy to remember. The March plate matches the year. The September plate is the year plus 50.
Why two releases? It spreads out new car sales. Without it, everyone would buy in one rush. The split also gives buyers two clear "new plate" moments each year. These are the busiest times at dealers.
March 2026 will bring the "26" plate. September 2026 will bring the "76" plate.
Number Plate Age Chart
Use this chart to read any recent plate. It covers 2020 to 2027.
| Plate code | Release date | Period covered |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1 March 2020 | March 2020 – August 2020 |
| 70 | 1 September 2020 | September 2020 – February 2021 |
| 21 | 1 March 2021 | March 2021 – August 2021 |
| 71 | 1 September 2021 | September 2021 – February 2022 |
| 22 | 1 March 2022 | March 2022 – August 2022 |
| 72 | 1 September 2022 | September 2022 – February 2023 |
| 23 | 1 March 2023 | March 2023 – August 2023 |
| 73 | 1 September 2023 | September 2023 – February 2024 |
| 24 | 1 March 2024 | March 2024 – August 2024 |
| 74 | 1 September 2024 | September 2024 – February 2025 |
| 25 | 1 March 2025 | March 2025 – August 2025 |
| 75 | 1 September 2025 | September 2025 – February 2026 |
| 26 | 1 March 2026 | March 2026 – August 2026 |
| 76 | 1 September 2026 | September 2026 – February 2027 |
| 27 | 1 March 2027 | March 2027 – August 2027 |
You can check the meaning of any plate yourself. Run a quick free car reg check to confirm the year and details.
Why The System Changed In 2001
The old systems were running out of room. The DVLA needed a fresh format. The 2001 change gave millions of new combinations.
It also made plates easier to read. People could now spot a car's age in seconds. Two older systems came before it:
- Suffix plates (1963–1983). The age letter came at the end. For example, ABC 123A.
- Prefix plates (1983–2001). The age letter came at the start. For example, A123 BCD.
Each system changed one letter per year. That was slow and limiting. The 2001 format brought two changes per year instead. It also added far more letter combinations. This means the system can last for decades.
You still see these older plates on classic cars today. They are valid and legal to use.
Why The Plate Date Matters When Buying
The plate gives a fast clue to a car's age. But it does not tell the full story. A newer plate does not always mean a newer car.
Here is why. A car can carry a private plate. An owner may fit an older plate to hide the car's true age. They cannot make a car look newer than it is. The DVLA bans that. But they can make it look older.
The plate date also affects value. Two cars of the same model can sit months apart in age. A "25" plate (March 2025) is actually newer than a "74" plate (September 2024), so it usually holds more value. The September "plus 50" codes can catch buyers out here. The number 74 looks bigger than 25, yet the 25 car is the younger one.
This matters most for sellers. A car registered in early March holds value better than one from late February. Timing your sale around plate dates can pay off. If you are buying or selling a private plate, the age rules still apply.
How To Check What A Plate Means
Reading the plate is a good first step. But you should always verify. Some cars hide their real age behind a private plate.
Follow these steps to be sure:
- Read the two middle numbers. Match them to the chart above.
- Run a free car history check to see the real registration date.
- Compare the plate age with the car's actual age. Flag any gap.
- Check the V5C logbook. It shows the date of first registration in plain text.
A history check does more than confirm the date. It can reveal write-offs, outstanding finance, and stolen records. You can also confirm the details with the DVLA at https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla.
Quick Answers For Each Plate
Here are the dates people ask about most:
- When did the 22 plate come out? 1 March 2022.
- When did the 72 plate come out? 1 September 2022.
- When did the 23 plate come out? 1 March 2023.
- When did the 71 plate come out? 1 September 2021.
All four dates follow the same rule. March uses the year. September adds 50.
The UK plate system looks complex at first. But the logic is simple once you learn it. March plates match the year. September plates add 50. New plates always land on the same two dates.
Never trust a plate alone when you buy a car. The numbers can be moved or masked. Always confirm the real age and history first. Run a free car history check today and buy with full confidence.