Frequently
Asked Questions - Number Plates
Why do we need number plates
and registration marks?
What is a 'Q' registration
number?
How do I buy a registration
number?
How do I transfer my registration number?
How do I retain my registration
number as I have not got another vehicle to transfer the number
to?
New Number Plate and Registration Mark Format
How was this new format chosen?
Why did my region get the letter that has been assigned to it?
Why have you started the numbers from 51?
Will I be able to transfer a new style mark onto my old vehicle?
I live in the Isle of Wight, will there still be a distinct mark
for the Isle?
I live in the Scilly Isles, will there still be a distinct mark
for the Islands?
Is the system going to change in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man as well?
Why is it necessary
to have a common font for all number plates?
Why did the
rule on fonts change?
Will motorists
have to change their existing number plates to the new font?
Will motorists
with "cherished" registration marks be affected by the
new mandatory font?
My vehicle was
manufactured before 1 January 1973 but not registered until later.
What type of number plate should I display?
Is it legal
to display the Euro-symbol?
Are there plans
to make the Euro-plate compulsory?
What is the
effect of the Euro-plate on UK registered vehicles?
Can other symbols
(e.g. national flag, football team crest) be used on number plates?
Do I have to
change my number plate if it is cracked or broken?
If I need to replace one of my number plates, do I need to change
both?
Are 3D characters allowed?
Is a honeycombed or other background pattern permitted?
Are stick-on number plates allowed?
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Number
Plates
Why
do we need number plates and registration marks?
Registration marks are needed so that a vehicle can be easily identified.
Number plates must be easy to read for many reasons but it is most
important for the police. The police often rely on witnesses to
remember the number plate if they are to solve a crime. This ranges
from motoring offences to some very serious crimes where a vehicle
has been involved. Solving these crimes can depend on someone remembering
a registering mark or even part of it.
What
is a 'Q' registration number?
These are a very useful consumer protection aid.
A 'Q' number
is a clear indicator to a prospective purchaser that the age or
identity of a vehicle is unknown. The vehicle may be rebuilt from
parts, some or all of which may not be new. This also applies to
vehicles imported without supporting evidence to identify the vehicles
age.
How do I buy
a registration number?
We offer prefix and new style personalised registrations for sale
through our online ordering and telesales facility, which gives
a huge choice from just £199 . Just telephone us on 08745
055 0545 between 8.30am and 6.00 pm Monday to Sunday.
Click
here for details
How
do I transfer my registration number?
To transfer a registration number from one vehicle to another you
will need to complete form V317 that is available from a DVLA * Local
Office. This form will explain what you need to do before the number
can be transferred. If you require further information, please contact
your nearest DVLA * Local Office
How
do I retain my registration number as I have not got another vehicle
to transfer the number to?
To place a vehicle registration number on hold you will need to
complete form V778/1 that is available from a DVLA Local Office.
The form will explain what you need to do before the number can
be retained. If you require further information please contact your
nearest DVLA * Local Office
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New Number Plate and Registration Mark Format
How was this new format chosen?
A consultation
exercise in 1997 invited the public and interested organisations
to give their views. The system that has been developed meets the
needs of the vast majority of respondents in providing local memory
tags and age identifiers. These will be easy to remember and require
no significant changes in materials or overall number plate size.
Why
did my region get the letter that has been assigned to it?
An extensive
public consultation exercise took place in 1999 before the allocation
of the local memory tags. They have been allocated so that, where
possible, there is some regional significance. Where this is not
possible a neutral letter has been allocated.
Why
have the numbers started from 51?
The age identifier
changes twice a year, in March and September. To distinguish between
these two six monthly changes they have been allocated different
number sequences. The following table shows how this will be achieved:
Year March September
2001 - 51
2002 02 /52
2003 03/ 53
2004 04/54
2005 05/55 etc
The use of the
figure 5 to precede the year, for September registrations, will
maximise the registration mark combinations and offer a long-lasting
system. The 5 will change to 6 in 2010 and to 7 in 2020 and so on
until 2050 when the format may be reversed to extend the format
another 50 years.
Will I be able to transfer a new style mark onto my old
vehicle?
No, registration marks cannot be transferred onto any vehicle if
it may appear to make the vehicle look younger. No vehicle first
registered before 1 September 2001 will be able to have a new style
mark.
I live
in the Isle of Wight, will there still be a distinct mark for the
Isle?
Yes. The letters
'HW' will be used for vehicles registered by Isle or Wight residents
I live
in the Scilly Isles, will there still be a distinct mark for the
Islands?
No, there is
no longer a unique mark for the Scilly Isles.
Is the
system going to change in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man as well?
No, the systems
will continue as at present in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man may choose to adopt the system
later and a series of marks has been reserved.
Why
is it necessary to have a common font for all number plates?
Number plates
must be easy to read - by people who may witness accidents or serious
crime involving motor vehicles and by roadside cameras. The police
rely on clear recall of registration numbers in order to trace vehicle
keepers.
Why
did the rule on fonts change?
An increasing
number of motorists use number plates that are difficult to read.
The introduction of cameras for enforcement purposes means that
it is more important than ever for number plates to be legible.
The new regulations will ensure that there is clarity of numbers
and letters through the use of a standardised mandatory font.
Will
motorists have to change their existing number plates to the new
font?
The vast majority
of motorists will not be directly affected by the regulations. However
those motorists who have number plates that are not substantially
the same as the new mandatory font should change them for plates
that comply with new regulations. Once the new font becomes compulsory
existing number plates using any typeface that is not substantially
the same as that specified in the regulations will be illegal.
Are
motorists with “cherished” registration marks be affected
by the new mandatory font?
Providing their
number plates currently meet the legal requirements the mandatory
font will not affect them.
My vehicle
was manufactured before 1 January 1973 but not registered until
later. What type of number plate should I display?
You now have
the option of either displaying the standard plates or an old style
number plate explained under the heading vehicles registered before
1 January 1973.
Is it
legal to display the Euro-symbol?
Yes - Regulations
permit the optional display of the European Symbol of Stars with
GB on the extreme left of the number plate.
Are
there plans to make the Euro-plate compulsory?
No, it is optional.
The provision has been introduced because the European Council issued
a regulation in November 1998 requiring Member States to recognise
the Euro-symbol on number plates in place of the traditional oval
shaped national identifier sticker for travel within the European
Union. It is for individual motorists to decide if they wish to
use the new Euro-plate.
What
is the effect of the Euro-plate on UK registered vehicles?
UK vehicles
travelling in the European Union may still display the traditional
oval “GB” sticker. Alternatively number plates incorporating
the Euro-symbol may be used instead of the oval sticker. The oval
national identifier sticker would still be required for vehicles
on journeys outside the European Union.
Can
other symbols (e.g. national flag, football team crest) be used
on number plates?
The Government
announced on 28 December 2001 the intention to permit the display
of national flags and symbols on vehicle number plates.When the
regulations are amended they will provide for the voluntary display
of the Union flag, Scottish Saltire, Cross of St George and Red
Dragon. Football team crests etc are not allowed.
Do I
have to change my number plate if it is cracked or broken?
If the number
plate is damaged in such a way that it makes the registration mark
difficult to read it does need to be replaced.
If I need to replace one of my plates, do I need to change
both?
No, you only
need to replace the damaged number plate.
Are 3D characters allowed?
3D characters
are not allowed to be displayed on number plates if the number plate
is fitted to a vehicle on or after 1 September 2001. If the number
plate was fitted to a vehicle before the 1 September 2001, 3D characters
may be permitted, providing the number plates meet all other requirements
Is a honeycombed or other background pattern permitted?
No, overprinting
including honeycomb or other background designs are not allowed.
Are stick-on number plates legal?
No, number plates
must meet the British Standard requirements and we are not aware
of any self-adhesive number plates that are able to meet these requirements.
Sales
Hotline... 0845
055 0545 (local
rate call)
