There’s a wealth of important information on car number plates, but in short they make up a combination of letters and numbers to tell you when and where a particular car was registered. Although number plates have long-been used to identify vehicles, the current system that is being used came into place in 2001.

This article explains what you need to do when registering your car, as well as details on the different car registration plates available.

Did you know…

• Numbers on car registration plates are updated twice a year, meaning that once a car reaches six months old, it becomes less valuable in price.

• Number plates must conform to strict regulations, and will need to include the same font. A 3D effect is allowed on the plate however to enhance the font. British and European flags are the only symbols that are allowed on registration plates.

• Spacing and font size will also need to be adhered to, and these styling conventions apply to personalised and regular number plates. For more information about the different types of number plate available to you, visit the official website of the DVLA.

How to register your car

You will need to register a new car by contacting the DVLA, or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. You will be issued with a registration number for your vehicle – although you will need to visit your local DVLA office with the required documents to be granted with this number.

These documents may include your birth certificate or bank statements to confirm your identity. A member of staff may need to inspect your car before a registration number is issued to you. The entire process can take up to around six weeks, so it’s best to have the required documents ready, and apply for a registration number ahead of time.

A fee will also need to be paid before your registration number is given to you. More information about these fees can be found on the DVLA website.

What do car registration plates tell me about my vehicle?

Number plates in the United Kingdom follow a set of conventions which tells you more information about your car, including details on when and where it was registered. A standard number plate will include a combination of seven letters and numbers.

The first letter on the number plate will tell you which area of the country you registered the car, while the second number will tell you the DVLA office where the car was registered. The third and fourth numbers on the number plate will tell you the date when the car was registered, with the first of these two numbers detailing whether the car was registered in the first six months or second six months of the year.

For example, cars that have been registered between March and August will include a ‘0’, while those registered in September to February will include a ‘5’. The last three numbers on the number plate (digits 5, 6 and 7) are randomly generated and will be provided to a car dealership once your car has been registered.