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How to understand UK license plates?
Most license plates in mainland China consist of the abbreviation of the province followed by letters or numbers. For example, in the image below, "粤99999" represents Guangdong Province, with "粤" being the abbreviation for Guangdong.
How to understand UK license plates?
In the UK, license plates are formatted differently compared to mainland China. They consist of a combination of letters and numbers with specific meanings. For example, the format is usually XX00 XXX, where X represents a letter and 0 represents a number. The first two letters indicate the region or city where the vehicle is registered. The numbers in the middle and the last three letters are random and unique combinations assigned to each vehicle.
Each region or city in the UK has its own designated letters. Here are a few examples:
London: starts with "L" or "LD"
Birmingham: starts with "B"
Manchester: starts with "M"
Edinburgh: starts with "E"
By deciphering the letters on a UK license plate, you can determine the region or city associated with the vehicle. Please note that the specific format and letter assignments may vary, and there might be additional variations and special plates for specific purposes or organizations.
The license plates in Hong Kong, China are similar to those in the UK. If you hold a Hong Kong driver's license, you can drive in the UK for up to 12 months after your initial entry. If you wish to continue driving beyond that period, you must exchange your Hong Kong license for a UK driver's license. Hong Kong driver's licenses are considered from a "designated country or territory" by the UK, allowing individuals to apply for a UK driver's license within the first 5 years of becoming a UK resident. To become a UK resident, you must reside in the UK for at least 185 days in each calendar year (from January 1st to December 31st). Once you exchange your Hong Kong driver's license for a UK license, the Hong Kong license becomes invalid. This means that your Hong Kong license will no longer be valid in Hong Kong. Additionally, even if you have a driving experience of 5 years or more in Hong Kong, you will start with zero experience when obtaining a UK driver's license.
Note: As of now, there is no requirement for individuals with a Hong Kong driver's license to retake any exams or undergo testing by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) when exchanging for a UK driver's license. It is a direct exchange without the need for examination. However, there is a fee of £43 for the license exchange (as of August 11th, 2021). Please note that the DVSA and DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) are two different entities in the UK, and I will provide an explanation of their differences in a separate article.
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UK license plates are divided into two categories: new plates issued after September 1, 2001, and old plates issued before September 1, 2001. This article primarily focuses on the license plates issued after September 1, 2001, but will also touch upon the older plates.
First, let's take a look at the format of UK license plates, as shown in the image below. They are composed of a combination of letters and numbers.
Currently, the vehicle registration number format in the UK, introduced on September 1, 2001, applies to all new vehicles. The format consists of two letters, two numbers, a space, and another three letters. The first two letters are DVLA memory tags, and the two numbers (age identifier) indicate the vehicle's age. The last three letters are random.
For the license plate shown in the image, "BD51 SMR," the following information can be derived:
"BD" refers to the DVLA memory tag or area code, indicating Birmingham.
The two numbers "51" represent the vehicle's age identifier, indicating September 2001. The age identifier changes every six months in March and September.
The three letters "SMR" are randomly assigned.
"GB" is a symbol representing the country of Great Britain. It is optional and may or may not be displayed on the license plate (Country identifier, optional). It can be chosen to have the "GB" prefix or omit it. However, this is only applicable for driving within the UK. If you plan to travel abroad, such as to European countries, you would need to add the "GB" symbol as a prefix on the license plate.
Note: If there is a national flag symbol on the license plate, it is typically placed on the far left side of the plate, for example, the letters "GB."
The national flag symbol can be chosen from the following options:
the Union Jack
St George’s cross
The Scottish saltire
The Red Dragon of Wales
The available options for letters are:
：
Great Britain or GB
United Kingdom or UK
ENGLAND, England, ENG or Eng
SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco
CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym
WALES or Wales
Although displaying license plates with national flags and letters is legal when traveling outside of the UK, they cannot be used for identification purposes. To comply with international requirements, it is necessary to display the oval-shaped GB sticker when traveling outside of the UK (except when traveling within Europe, where the European flag is not required). Additionally, it is important to note that no other flags or symbols are permitted to be displayed on the license plate. The mentioned requirements apply only to vehicles registered in England, Scotland, and Wales. Vehicles registered in Northern Ireland are allowed to display only the European flag.
Note: Starting from September 28, 2021, the "UK" code will replace the previous "GB" code. Additionally, from December 8, 2020, zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to display a green color on the left side of the license plate, which is typically where the national identifier is located. This is an optional feature and can be left blank or combined with existing national flag options, as shown in the image below
：
The list of UK DVLA memory tags or area codes is as follows:：
Note:
(1) The letters 'I', 'Q', or 'Z' are not used as local memory tags identifiers on UK license plates.
(2) However, existing "Q" marks can still be issued.
(3) The letter 'Z' will be used solely as a random letter on UK license plates.
UK Vehicle Age Identifiers:
Note:
(1) The pattern shown in the above image will continue until all possible variations have been used.
(2) If you come across license plates in the UK that do not follow this pattern, they may be special plates, private plates, or plates issued before September 1, 2001. Private plates refer to personalized combinations that wealthy individuals can purchase. They can feature various types of letters, similar to how some wealthy individuals in Hong Kong purchase plates expressing their affection. The same applies in the UK, where with enough money, one can buy a completely private plate. Even if you sell the vehicle, the plate remains yours. The prices for private plates typically range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds, and there are even million-pound plates available.
In addition, the design specifications for license plates in the UK require that vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1973 must display plates that:
Are made of reflective material.
Have a white background at the front of the vehicle and a yellow background at the rear.
Feature black letters and numbers.
Starting from September 1, 2001, the introduction of standard font (typeface) for license plates in the UK has made them easier to read. This change put an end to the use of italic and other hard-to-read font styles.
The specifications for the standard font are as follows:
Characters must be 79mm in height.
Character width (excluding the number 1 or letter I) must be 50mm.
Stroke width (thickness of black letters) must be 14mm.
Spacing between characters must be 11mm.
Distance between the age identifier and random letters must be 33mm.
Margins at the top, bottom, and sides of the plate must be 11mm.
Vertical distance between the vehicle age identifier and random numbers must be 19mm.
The standard font is depicted in the image below
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Regarding the old license plates in the UK:
Old license plates issued before September 1, 2001, are not as common nowadays, although they can still be found. For example, some vintage cars may have old license plates. The old plates consist of one letter, three numbers, a space, and three more numbers, such as B222 333. However, the letters I, O, U, and Z cannot be used as letters on the license plate.
The image below shows the selection of prefix letters for UK license plates from 1963 to 1983.
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The image below shows the selection of prefix letter series for UK license plates from 1983 to 2001
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The license plate codes before 2001:
Typically, the last two letters indicate the original registration location of the vehicle. The letters 'I' and 'Z' are reserved for use in Ireland. If you want to easily find the official codes or the council codes before 1974, look for the bold letters next to the examples (e.g., ABC 123D; A123 BCD). Please note that the first two letters of license plates after 2001 are not the same as the last two letters indicating the original registration area before 2001. For example, 'AB' before 2001 referred to Worcester, while 'AB' after 2001 refers to Peterborough.
The image below shows the alphabetical area codes (area code) before 2001.
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License plates for Armed Forces vehicles in the UK:
During World War II, the license plate number for British Army vehicles was A12104, while the license plate number for the Royal Air Force was RAF 208343. Since 1949, the registration numbers for UK military vehicles have mostly followed the format of two digits, two letters, and two digits (e.g., 07 CE 08) or, starting from 1995, two letters, two digits, and two letters (e.g., JW 57 AB).
Up until the mid-1980s, the two middle letters indicated the armed service or the branch/category of the vehicle. For example, vehicles supported by the Admiralty Fleet Office had license plates like 00 RN 04 from 1983 to 1985, while the car of the First Sea Lord had the license plate 00 RN 01 and the car of the Second Sea Lord had 00 RN 02. In 1970, HMS Albion's Land Rovers had the license plate RN 25 97, and the small buses of HMS Bulwark had the license plate 04 RN 84.
For Royal Air Force vehicles, the license plate numbers were similar, such as 55 AA 89, where the first letter of the two letters is usually 'A.' The new license plates for Royal Air Force vehicles also start with the letter 'A,' like the ones on fire trucks, such as RZ 00 AA and RU 86 AA.
Military license plates still commonly use the black and white color scheme that was used for civilian plates before 1973. They can be displayed in a single row, two rows, or three rows of characters.
Trade plates:
Trade plates are generally issued to car dealerships and vehicle testers, allowing them to use untaxed vehicles on public roads with certain restrictions. Since 1970, all trade plates have followed a red and white alternating format. The format of trade plate numbers consists of three digits (with leading zeros if necessary), followed by one, two, or three letters indicating the place of issue using the format codes before 2001.
Please refer to the image below for reference
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Diplomatic vehicle registration plates
Since 1979, vehicles operated by foreign embassies, high commissions, consulates, and international organizations have been issued special diplomatic registration numbers. Qualified officials need to be certified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the registration is coordinated by the FCO in conjunction with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
The distinguishable format consists of three digits, a space, the letter 'D' or 'X', another space, and three more digits. The letter 'D' is primarily used for vehicles operating in the capital city of London or its surroundings, while the letter 'X' is used for vehicles outside of London and international organizations unless bilateral treaties or arrangements specify otherwise.
The first group consists of three digits that identify the country or international organization.
The second group of digits, also in three digits, follows a specific numbering sequence: diplomats are assigned numbers starting from 101, non-diplomatic personnel of international organizations are assigned numbers starting from 400, and consular or other non-diplomatic personnel are assigned numbers starting from 700 and above. For example, 101 D 101 is assigned to the first registration of the Afghan Embassy, and 900 X 400 is assigned to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The list of country codes on UK diplomatic vehicle license plates is provided in the table below
:
Number Country or Organisation
101 Afghanistan
102 Algeria
103 Argentina
104 – 108Australia
109 Austria
110 Bahamas
111 Bahrain
112 Bangladesh
113 Barbados
114 Belgium
115 Benin
116 Bolivia
117 Botswana
118 – 122Brazil
123 Bulgaria
124 Myanmar (formerly Burma)
125 Burundi
126 Cameroon
127 – 131Canada
132 Central African Republic
133 Chad
134 Chile
135 China
136 Colombia
137 Republic of the Congo
138 Costa Rica
139 Cuba
140 Cyprus
141 Czech Republic
142 Denmark
143 Dominican Republic
144 Ecuador
145 – 147Egypt
148 El Salvador
149 Ethiopia
150 Fiji
151 Finland
152 – 156France
157 Gabon
158 Gambia
159 – 163Germany
164 East Germany
165 Ghana
166 – 167Greece
168 Grenada
169 Guinea
170 Guyana
171 Haiti
172 Honduras
173 Hungary
174 Iceland
175 – 179India
180 Indonesia
181 – 182Iran
183 – 184Iraq
185 Ireland
186 – 187Israel
188 – 190Italy
191 Ivory Coast
192 Jamaica
193 Japan
194 – 195Jordan
196 Kenya
197 South Korea
198 Kuwait
199 Laos
200 Lebanon
201 Lesotho
202 Liberia
203 Libya
204 Luxembourg
205 Malawi
206 Malaysia
207 Mali
208 Malta
209 Mauritania
210 Mauritius
211 Mexico
212 Mongolia
213 Morocco
214 Nepal
215 – 217Netherlands
218 – 219New Zealand
220 Nicaragua
221 Niger
222 – 224Nigeria
225 Norway
226 Oman
227 – 228Pakistan
229 Panama
230 Papua New Guinea
231 Paraguay
232 Peru
233 Philippines
234 Poland
235 Portugal
236 Qatar
237 Romania
238 Rwanda
239 – 240Saudi Arabia
241 Senegal
242 Seychelles
243 Sierra Leone
244 Singapore
245 Somalia
246 – 247South Africa
248 – 252Russia (originally Soviet Union)
253 – 255Spain
256 Sri Lanka
257 Sudan
258 Eswatini
259 Sweden
260 Switzerland
261 Syria
262 Tanzania
263 Thailand
264 Togo
265 Tonga
266 Trinidad and Tobago
267 Tunisia
268 Turkey
269 United Arab Emirates
270 – 274United States
275 Uruguay
276 Venezuela
277 Vietnam
278 – 279Yemen
280 Serbia (originally Yugoslavia)
281 Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
282 Zambia
283 Dominica
284 Monaco
285 Nauru
286 Saint Lucia
287 Uganda
288 Burkina Faso
289 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
290 Zimbabwe
291 Vatican City
292 EastCaribbean
293 Belize
294 Brunei
295 Antigua and Barbuda
296 Angola
297 Guatemala
298 Mozambique
299 Namibia
300 Lithuania
301 Armenia
302 Slovenia
303 Latvia
304 Estonia
305 Croatia
306 Ukraine
307 Slovakia
308 Belarus
309 Albania
310 Azerbaijan
311 North Macedonia
312 Bosnia and Herzegovina
313 Uzbekistan
314 Eritrea
315 Kazakhstan
316 Georgia
317 Maldives
318 Turkmenistan
319 Kyrgyzstan
320 Saint Kitts and Nevis
321 Montenegro
324 San Marino
328 South Sudan
330 Kosovo
350 – 399Maybe used by any embassy for security reasons
600 – 649Maybe used by visiting royalty on official vehicles
900 CommonwealthSecretariat
901 Councilof Europe European Commission
902 Councilof Europe Council of Europe
903 EuropeanCentre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
904 North-EastAtlantic Fisheries Commission
905 Councilof Europe European Parliament
906 Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank
907 International Maritime Organization
908 InternationalCocoa Organisation
909 InternationalCoffee Organisation
910 InternationalFinance Corporation
911 InternationalLabour Organization
912 InternationalSugar Organisation
913 EuropeanPolice College
914 InternationalWhaling Commission
915 InternationalWheat Council
916 NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organisation
917 United Nations
918 Western European Union
919 World Health Organization
920 EasternCaribbean Commission
921 JointEuropean Torus
922 InternationalOil Pollution Compensation Fund
923 InternationalMaritime Satellite Organisation
924 CommonwealthFoundation
925 InternationalMaritime Organization (Permanent Representative)
926 CommonwealthTelecommunications Bureau
927 UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees
928 CommonwealthAgricultural Bureaux
929 InternationalLead and Zinc Corporation
930 Osloand Paris Commissions
931 JointEuropean Torus
932 NorthAtlantic Salmon Conservation Organization
933 EuropeanInvestment Bank
934 EuropeanTelecommunications Satellite Organisation
935 EuropeanSchool (Oxford)
936 AfricanDevelopment Bank
937 EuropeanBank for Reconstruction and Development
938 EuropeanBank for Reconstruction and Development
940 EuropeanBioinformatics Institute
941 EuropeanMedicines Agency
944 EuropeanBanking Authority
Vehicle registration numbers and number plates link：