Number plate history – the history of number plates

There are some key dates in the history of number plates and personalised registrations in the UK.

Here is a brief timeline of key events which have helped the number plate market and industry evolve to what it has become today.

 

1896- Locomotive and highways Act

• enabled faster and lighter vehicles to be used on the roads

 

1903- The Motor Car act

• All vehicles need to be registered and display their registration number in a prominent position.
• County Councils and County Borough Councils were made Registration and Licensing Authorities
• A1 – the first number plate is issued to Earl Russell.

 

1920- The roads act

• Car buyers must notify local council when they buy a car

 

1930- Road Traffic act

• Abolished speed limits for vehicles with less than 7 passengers
• Varying speed limits for different sizes / classes of vehicle

 

1963- Suffix number plates released

• View Suffix number plate release dates

 

1971- CNDA is established

1973- First Number plate rally held

• Reflective number plates a legal requirement

 

1974- DVLC is formed

• Old style log books (VE60) are computerised

 

1977- RNC Registration Numbers Club is founded

1984- Prefix number plates released

1991- Non transferable number plates

• The DVLA removed any incentive for making “bogus” claims for transferring registration numbers

 

1993- K1NGS fetches £233,000 at DVLA auction

1999- Two number plate changes in the year (March and September) instead of once a year.

2001- “Current style number plates released”

2008- F prefix number plates released

 

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