Forward Dateless Format - 1903
When the Motor Act of 1903 came into force on the 1st of January 1904, all motor vehicles were required to display a unique, alphanumeric number plate.
Back then, number plates were grey/silver/white characters embedded onto a black metal plate.
The first number plate issued was DY 1, not A 1 as many believe, and is still in existence today!
Number plates from this time were in the format of 1 or 2 letters, a space, then followed by up to 4 numbers and were released sequentially. The letter(s) denoted an area code of the authority responsible for registering that vehicle.
In 1932, combinations began to run out so an extra letter was added at the start. The new format consisted of 3 letters, the last 2 still denoting the area code, a space, then followed by up to 3 numbers.
Reversed Dateless Format - 1953
By 1953 combinations began to run out again so some authorities reversed the format; they put the up to 3 numbers first, space, then followed by the 3 letters. The last 2 letters still denote the area code.
Up until this point, all of these number plates are known as 'dateless plates' since each plate does not feature a year identifier. They can be put on a car of any age.
Suffix Format - 1963
By 1963, some authorities began running out of combinations again, so the new 'suffix' format was introduced.
It consisted of 3 letters, space, then up to 3 numbers, then 1 letter.
The last 2 of the first 3 letters were still an area code and the last letter is a year identifier. The idea was that each year the final letter (the year identifier) could be changed. They started with A and year identifiers I, O, U and Q and Z were skipped. Not all councils had ran out of reversed dateless combinations so continued to use this format, but by C in 1965 it became mandatory to use the suffix format.
Plates from this point and now on will no longer be dateless due to the year identifier - they cannot be assigned to a car of any age, only one the same age as, or older, than the plate. Simply put, the plate cannot make the car look newer than it actually is.
All vehicles manufactured after the 1st of January 1973 were required to have the current black characters on a white, plastic, reflective background for the front, and on a yellow, plastic, reflective background for the rear like today. However, a change on the 1st of January 2021 allowed all vehicles manufactured before the 1st of January 1980 to use the old style black metal plates additionally
All Suffix Letter Original Issue Dates
| Suffix Letter | Period Issued | Suffix Letter | Period Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | February 1963 - 31 December 1963 | L | 1 August 1972 - 31 July 1973 |
| B | 11 January 1964 - 31 December 1964 | M | 1 August 1973 - 31 July 1974 |
| C | 1 January 1965 - 31 December 1965 | N | 1 August 1974 - 31 July 1975 |
| D | 1 January 1966 - 31 December 1966 | P | 1 August 1975 - 31 July 1976 |
| E | 1 January 1967 - 31 July 1967 | R | 1 August 1976 - 31 July 1977 |
| F | 1 August 1967 - 31 July 1968 | S | 1 August 1977 - 31 July 1978 |
| G | 1 August 1968 - 31 July 1969 | T | 1 August 1978 - 31 July 1979 |
| H | 1 August 1969 - 31 July 1970 | V | 1 August 1979 - 31 July 1980 |
| J | 1 August 1970 - 31 July 1971 | W | 1 August 1980 - 31 July 1981 |
| K | 1 August 1971 - 31 July 1972 | X | 1 August 1981 - 31 July 1982 |
| Y | 1 August 1982 - 31 July 1983 |
Prefix Format - 1983
In 1983 the 'prefix' format was introduced as year identifiers ran out, this is basically the suffix but reversed.
It consisted of a letter (the year identifier), then up to 3 numbers, space, then 3 letters. As with the suffix, year identifiers I, O, Q, U and Z were skipped.
All Prefix Letter Original Issue Dates
| Prefix Letter | Period Issued | Prefix Letter | Period Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 August 1983 - 31 July 1984 | L | 1 August 1993 - 31 July 1994 |
| B | 1 August 1984 - 31 July 1985 | M | 1 August 1994 - 31 July 1995 |
| C | 1 August 1985 - 31 July 1986 | N | 1 August 1995 - 31 July 1996 |
| D | 1 August 1986 - 31 July 1987 | P | 1 August 1996 - 31 July 1997 |
| E | 1 August 1987 - 31 July 1988 | R | 1 August 1997 - 31 July 1998 |
| F | 1 August 1988 - 31 July 1989 | S | 1 August 1998 - 28 February 1999 |
| G | 1 August 1989 - 31 July 1990 | T | 1 March 1999 - 31 August 1999 |
| H | 1 August 1990 - 31 July 1991 | V | 1 September 1999 - 29 February 2000 |
| J | 1 August 1991 - 31 July 1992 | W | 1 March 2000 - 31 August 2000 |
| K | 1 August 1992 - 31 July 1993 | X | 1 September 2000 - 28 February 2001 |
| Y | 1 March 2001 - 31 August 2001 |
Current Format - 2001
Since 2001 the 'current' format has been used.
It consists of 2 letters (an area code), 2 numbers (the age identifier), a space, then 3 random letters.
The age identifier changes every 6 months - on the 1st of March and September - from March the age identifier is always the last 2 digits of the year until September when 50 is added to the year.
For example 03 would be early 2003 whilst 53 would be late 2003, 19 would be early 2019 whilst 69 would be late 2019, and 30 will be early 2030 and 80 will be late 2030.
