In the current market, there are 5 Styles of private number plate which must conform to the following restrictions:

This style is the current 7 digit registration; the first two letters are the local identifier – they represent the DVLA TAX OFFICE where the registration was issued and conform to a limited range. London vehicles for example have LR LS LT prefixes. FULL LIST OF LOCAL IDENTIFIERS
The two numbers represent the year of issue, starting with 51, 02, 52, 03, and so on.  FULL LISTING OF AGE IDENTIFIERS

The final three letters are random and can be any letter from the alphabet excluding "I+Q" I,Q and Z EXPLAINED
- New Style Number plates

Prefix number plates have a starting letter which indicates the year of issue- A is 1984 for example. FULL LISTING OF PREFIX REGISTRATION DATES
There are then 3 random numbers and three random letters. I Q and Z are not available as letters for this style of number plate. I,Q and Z EXPLAINED

Literally the reverse of Prefix style, suffix style starts with three random letters excluding I Q and Z. I,Q and Z EXPLAINED
3 random numbers and then the alphabetical letter indicating year of issue.FULL LISTING OF SUFFIX REGISTRATION DATES
As before this plate can range from 5-7 digits, an example being:
ABC1A / ABC12A / ABC123A

These plates have no year identifier- they are simply random letters and numbers and are the oldest style of number plate.
Once more, I Q and Z are not available as letters. I,Q and Z EXPLAINED
These registrations can range from 2 digits to 6 digits and can be offered in reverse also- examples being.
A1 / A12 / A123 / AA1 / AA12 / AA123 / AAA1 / AAA12 / AAA123

Irish number plates range from 4- 7 digits. They use I and Z but not the letter Q, I,Q and Z EXPLAINED
Irish registrations are available in the following formats:

When buying or selling numberplates it is crucial that the numbers and letters are communicated correctly- especially if you are purchasing direct from the DVLA www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk

With this in mind the phonetic Alphabet is widely used by numberplate owners and dealers alike.

A ALPHA
B BRAVO
C CHARLIE
D DELTA
E ECHO
F FOXTROT
G GOLF
H HOTEL
I INDIGO
J JULIET
K KILO
L LIMA
M MIKE
N NOVEMBER
O OSCAR
P PAPA
Q QUEBEC
R ROMEO
S SIERRA
T TANGO
U UNIFORM
V VICTOR
W WHISKEY
X X-RAY
Y YANKEE
Z ZULU

Phonetic numberplates are a great alternative – As combinations of numberplates are limited it can be difficult to get a Smashing Plate if your exact combination is not offered for sale.
Phonetics can offer more choice and value from your Smashing Plate.
Some examples

Tasty	Michael	Bye Bye	Singh

You can use PHONETIC NUMBERPLATES in order to get your desired combination but you first need to have an understanding of which numbers and letters are interchangeable.

Listed here are all the letters of the alphabet and numbers that make up the numberplate alphabet.

A = 4 /17 /19
B = 8
D = 0
E = 3
G = 9 / 6
I = 1
L = 1
O = 0
S = 5
T = 7
Z = 2
1 = I
2 = Z
3 = E
4 = A
5 = S
6 = G
7 = T
8 = B
9 = G

I,Q and Z are not used as they look similar to 1, 0 and 2 respectively.
Exceptions-

• CURRENT STYLE AB51ABC numberplates use Z
  
• IRISH PLATES use I and Z
• Q Plates with Q as the prefix i.e. Q123FDD are reserved for kit cars and vehicles with undetermined age- these vehicles cannot participate in the transfer scheme at the time of writing.

• You may not make a vehicle appear younger than it is.

  This means you cannot transfer a numberplate that is newer than the vehicle it is to be transferred to.

• Mis-spacing or Mis-representing a registration is a criminal offence and liable to a £1000 fine and possible confiscation of the registration number.
• You must have legal entitlement to the registration number you display on your vehicle.
• When a vehicle is destroyed its numberplate “dies” with it and will never be reissued.

• London County Council issued the first plate, A1, in 1903.
• A three letter/three number series was introduced in the mid-1930s.
• By the mid-1950s all marks had been allocated, so marks were reversed with letters following numbers.
• The addition of a year suffix began between 1963 and 1965.
• The registration year ran from 1 January to 31 December until 1967 when it was moved to 1 August.
• The registering and licensing of new cars was centralised in 1974 with the establishment of the DVLC, now DVLA in Swansea.
• Q plates were introduced in 1983 and are issued to kit cars and some imports where the date of first registration can't be established.

A         Aug '83 to July '84
B         Aug '84 to July '85
C         Aug '85 to July '86
D         Aug '86 to July '87
E         Aug '87 to July '88
F          Aug '88 to July '89
G         Aug '89 to July '90
H         Aug '90 to July '91
J          Aug '91 to July '92
K         Aug '92 to July '93
L          Aug '93 to July '94
M         Aug '94 to July '95
N         Aug '95 to July '96
P         Aug '96 to July '97
R         Aug '97 to July '98
S         Aug '98 to Feb '99
T          March '99 to Aug '99
V         Sept '99 to Feb 2000
W        March 2000 to Aug 2000
X         Sept 2000 to Feb 2001
Y          March 2001 to Aug 2001

Jan '63 to Dec '63                 A
Jan '64 to Dec '64                 B
Jan '65 to Dec '65                 C
Jan '66 to Dec '66                 D
Jan '67 to July '67                  E
Aug '67 to July '68                 F
Aug '68 to July '69                 G
Aug '69 to July '70                 H
Aug '70 to July '71                 J
Aug '71 to July '72                 K
Aug '72 to July '73                 L
Aug '73 to July '74                 M
Aug '74 to July '75                 N
Aug '75 to July '76                 P
Aug '76 to July '77                 R
Aug '77 to July '78                 S
Aug '78 to July '79                 T
Aug '79 to July '80                 V
Aug '80 to July '81                 W
Aug '81 to July '82                 X
Aug '82 to July '83                 Y

01        Reserved
51        01-09-2001
02        01-03-2002
52        01-09-2002
03        01-03-2003
53        01-09-2003
04        01-03-2004
54        01-09-2004
05        01-03-2005
55        01-09-2005
06        01-03-2006
56        01-09-2006
07        01-03-2007
57        01-09-2007
08        01-03-2008
58        01-09-2008
09        01-03-2009
59        01-09-2009
10        01-03-2010
60        01-09-2010
11        01-03-2011
61        01-09-2011
12        01-03-2012
62        01-09-2012
13        01-03-2013
63        01-09-2013
14        01-03-2014
64        01-09-2014
15        01-03-2015
65        01-09-2015
16        01-03-2016
66        01-09-2016
17        01-03-2017
67        01-09-2017
18        01-03-2018
68        01-09-2018
19        01-03-2019
69        01-09-2019
20        01-03-2020
70        01-09-2020
21        01-03-2021
71        01-09-2021
22        01-03-2022
72        01-09-2022
23        01-03-2023
73        01-09-2023
24        01-03-2024
74        01-09-2024
25        01-03-2025
75        01-09-2025
26        01-03-2026
76        01-09-2026
27        01-03-2027
77        01-09-2027
28        01-03-2028
78        01-09-2028
29        01-03-2029
79        01-09-2029
30        01-03-2030
80        01-09-2030
31        01-03-2031
81        01-09-2031
32        01-03-2032
82        01-09-2032
33        01-03-2033
83        01-09-2033
34        01-03-2034
84        01-09-2034
35        01-03-2035
85        01-09-2035
36        01-03-2036
86        01-09-2036
37        01-03-2037
87        01-09-2037
38        01-03-2038
88        01-09-2038
39        01-03-2039
89        01-09-2039
40        01-03-2040
90        01-09-2040
41        01-03-2041
91        01-09-2041
42        01-03-2042
92        01-09-2042
43        01-03-2043
93        01-09-2043
44        01-03-2044
94        01-09-2044
45        01-03-2045
95        01-09-2045
46        01-03-2046
96        01-09-2046
47        01-03-2047
97        01-09-2047
48        01-03-2048
98        01-09-2048
49        01-03-2049
99        01-09-2049
50        Format is reversed

Letter District Local office Codes

Unissued registrations
You may purchase previously unissued registrations subject to availability directly from the DVLA. www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk

Future Registrations

When a vehicle’s “life” comes to an end, the numberplate it bears “dies” with it. It is important that if your vehicle is to be scrapped that you transfer the plate to retention or another vehicle prior to disposing of the vehicle.
Once a numberplate has been disposed of it is never reissued.

Stuck for ideas? Why not get a dictionary / thesaurus or crossword dictionary for some inspiration?
Phonetic numberplates are a great alternative- please refer to our <Phonetic Numberplates section>
Large numbers of people buy registrations to display the following:

• Name
• Initials
• Nickname
• Business Name
• Hobby
• Funny / rude words
• Vehicle make / model

If you can´t find the plate you´re after then you can place a wanted advert with us for as little as £10 and reach thousands of sellers in a click!
PLACE A WANTED ADVERT

• You can Email us any queries or questions you have and we will be happy to assist info@smashing-plates.com
• You can refer to the FAQ at the DVLA website http://www.dvla-som.co.uk/home/en/FAQ/
• You can Email the DVLA vehicles.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk  
• You can call the DVLA directly 08702400010
• You can write to the DVLA:

Vehicle Customer Services (VCS) DVLA,Swansea, SA99 1AR

• You can visit the direct government website: