Types of number plates
Dateless, prefix or suffix? A simple guide to different number plate types and styles.
Different types of number plates
As the number of vehicles registered on the UK roads increased the DVLC (driver and vehicle licensing centre- the old name for the DVLA) had to devise a sequential numbering system to allow them to keep track of each and every vehicle.
Here we look briefly at the different styles of number plates all of which are to be found on the roads today.
Dateless number plates
Dateless number plates began in 1903 as a result of the Motor Car act and began, logically, at A1- famously issued to Earl Russell. Beginning as one letter and one number- dateless number plates ultimately swelled to 3 numbers and 3 letters in a bid to increase the number of available registrations.
The sequences were then reversed- doubling the number of combinations- a trick the DVLA still uses to this day.
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Suffix Number plates
Suffix number plates soon followed as the number of combinations was exhausted. 1963 saw the first ever Suffix number plate- 3 random letters, up to 3 random numbers and a letter- which identified the year of registration- and beginning, logically, at A.
Suffix number plates were structured to allow for far more combinations and to bring a degree of logic and sequence to the art of issuing number plates.
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Prefix number plates
As the suffix number plates ran thin the DVLA reversed the format (as they had originally with dateless plates) this began with “A” in 1984 and as before had up to 3 numbers and three random letters.
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New Style number plates
The end of the prefix system meant the DVLA had to devise a new number plate structure- one which could cope with the millions of new vehicle registrations which were annually taking place.
In 2001 they introduced the “new style” system- consisting of two letters which identify the tax office of issue (local identifiers)- two numbers which identify the date of issue (age identifiers) and three random letters.
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Irish number plates
Consisting of up to 3 letters indicate the county in which the number plate was issued and followed by up to 4 numbers- irish number plates were (until the introduction of new style plates) the only number plates to use the characters “I” and “Z”
Irish number plates have evolved to be the cheapest form of number plates and are often used to “cover” the age of the vehicles they are transferred to.
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Future styles
When the “new style” number plate system ends it’s operation in 2049 the format will be reversed as before. After that? Who knows? The DVLA will no doubt already be investigating their options in good time- perhaps the barcode number plates of science fiction may become reality?
Related articles
New to number plates
Related links
Wikipedia – Number plate styles
Dateless number plates
Suffix number plates
Prefix number plates
New style number plates
Irish number plates
sell number plates
