The 25 plate was the age identifier on current-style UK number plates for vehicles first registered between 1 March 2025 and the end of August 2025. The DVLA changes the two-digit identifier twice a year, so the 25 plate has now run its course, but the same pattern answers the question of when do new number plates come out for every future year.
Part of Personalised Number Plates. Start with the main guide: Cherished Plates: What They Are and How They Work
Updated October 2026 · Independent information, not legal advice
A plate's two digits are the quickest way to place a vehicle in time. The 25 plate is the worked example here, followed by how to calculate the next identifiers, read older prefix and suffix plates, and work out how old is my car by reg with a few seconds of arithmetic.
When Did The 25 Plate Come Out?
The 25 plate release date was 1 March 2025. The 25 plate was released from 1 March 2025 and ran until the end of August 2025, after which the 75 plate took over from 1 September 2025.
What was the 25 plate window?
- Start: 1 March 2025, when dealers could first register cars with a 25 identifier.
- End: 31 August 2025, the last day a new vehicle could receive a 25 plate.
- Replacement: the 75 identifier from 1 September 2025 to the end of February 2026.
Why does a 25 plate still matter?
A vehicle on a 25 plate is, in most cases, a car or bike first registered in that six-month window. Used-car adverts, finance paperwork and insurance forms often quote the plate, so reading it correctly saves guesswork.
What Does The 25 Mean On A Number Plate?
The 25 is the age identifier, the two digits in the middle of a current style registration such as AB25 CDE. It records when the DVLA first registered the vehicle; it is not a model year chosen by the manufacturer.
How is a current-style plate laid out?
The format has been used since September 2001: two letters (the memory tag), two digits (the age identifier), then three random letters. For the full anatomy, see how to read a UK number plate.
Does the 25 mean the car was built in 2025?
Not necessarily. A car can be built months before it is registered, and a 25 plate says only when the DVLA registered it. Build year and first registration year can differ, particularly for stock cars that sat on a forecourt.
When Do New Number Plates Come Out Each Year?
New identifiers arrive on two fixed dates, so the answer to when does the new number plate come out never changes: 1 March and 1 September. Those two new number plate dates repeat every year.
| Registration period | Identifier rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March to 31 August | Last two digits of the year | 25 for 2025 |
| 1 September to end of February | Year plus 50 | 75 for Sept 2025 to Feb 2026 |
| Next March | Last two digits of the new year | 26 from March 2026 |
| Next September | New year plus 50 | 76 from September 2026 |
Why is it year plus 50?
The September identifier adds 50 so that the March and September plates in the same year never clash, and a glance at the number tells you which half of the year applies. The twice-yearly system began in September 2001, when 51 appeared.
Why do dealers talk about new plate day?
Many buyers prefer the freshest identifier, so registrations cluster around 1 March and 1 September. Showrooms are busy and delivery slots go quickly. The 25 number plate change shows how that March rush works.
How Do You Work Out The Next Plates?
Use a simple routine and you can date any current-style plate, past or future.
- Read the two digits after the memory tag.
- If the number is 50 or under, it is a March-to-August plate for the year 2000 plus that number.
- If it is above 50, subtract 50 for the year; it is a September-to-February plate that runs into the following year.
- Add the period: March to August, or September to February.
Worked example: the 25 to 26 sequence
After 25 (March to August 2025) came 75 (September 2025 to February 2026), then 26 from 1 March 2026 to the end of August 2026. For the September step, see when 75 plates come out.
What are the next few identifiers?
- 76: September 2026 to the end of February 2027.
- 27: March 2027 to the end of August 2027.
- 77: September 2027 to the end of February 2028.
- 28: March 2028 onwards, following the same pattern.
What Year Is A 74 Plate Car?
A 74 plate car was first registered from September 2024 to the end of February 2025. The 74 reg plate is a September-type plate, because 74 minus 50 gives 24. So what year is a 74 plate car is answered by September 2024 onwards, and the 74 plate year runs to the end of February 2025.
What are the 73 plate and 72 plate years?
The 73 plate UK year runs from September 2023 to February 2024. A 72 reg plate covers September 2022 to February 2023. Each September plate spans two calendar years.
What is the 60 number plate year?
The 60 number plate year is September 2010 to the end of February 2011, because 60 minus 50 is 10. The same subtraction works for every September identifier.
How Old Is My Car By Reg?
To answer how old is my car from registration, read the identifier on a current-style plate, or enter the reg in the free number plate check to see the year of manufacture and first registration recorded by the DVLA.
Which is more reliable, the plate or the record?
The official record. A plate can be a transferred private registration, so its two digits may not match the vehicle at all. The DVLA record shows the real first registration date.
What year was my car registered?
If you are asking what year was my car registered and the plate looks doubtful, compare it with the V5C. The V5C issue date is not the registration date, but the document also lists the date of first registration.
What does car age look like on a first MOT?
A first MOT is due on the third anniversary of first registration in Great Britain, so a gap between car age and the plate often shows in the MOT history: the first test date points to the true age. A quick car reg age sanity check is to see whether the first test falls three years after the plate suggests.
What About Older Plates: Prefix, Suffix And Dateless?
Before September 2001 the DVLA used letters to show age, so the digits trick does not apply.
Prefix plates (1983 to 2001)
A prefix plate puts a year letter first, as in R123 ABC. What year is an R registered vehicle? An R plate typically covers August 1997 to July 1998, because year letters changed each August until 1999.
Suffix plates (1963 to 1983)
A suffix plate puts the year letter last, as in ABC 123R. These were issued from 1963 until the prefix system began.
Dateless plates
A dateless plate carries no age marker, so it cannot tell you the vehicle age. Short number-and-letter combinations are the best-known examples. See dateless number plates for how they work.
| Style | Typical example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Current style | AB25 CDE | Registration half-year from the digits |
| Prefix | R123 ABC | Registration year from the first letter |
| Suffix | ABC 123R | Registration year from the last letter |
| Dateless | 1 ABC | Nothing about age |
Can A Plate Make A Car Look Newer Or Older?
A private plate can lawfully show a number that looks older than the vehicle, but the DVLA does not allow a number that suggests the vehicle is newer than it is.
Why do private plates break the age rule of thumb?
A personalised number plate or cherished number plate belongs to the number, not the car. When it moves between cars, the age shown can drift from the vehicle. How to put a private number plate on a car covers the rules.
How does retention keep a number safe?
Keepers who want to hold a number between vehicles use a V778 retention document; see how to retain a number plate.
How Should You Buy Around A Plate Change?
Timing matters if you want the latest identifier.
- Order early: the plate is fixed at registration, not at order, so ask the dealer which plate your car will receive.
- Expect a busy first week: many buyers want the newest identifier, so slots fill.
- Check delivery date against registration date: a car registered in February but collected in March is still a February-registered car.
- Read the paperwork: the V5C shows the registration date.
What about cars registered just before a change?
Late-February and late-August registrations are common among dealer stock and pre-registered cars. They can be nearly new yet carry the older identifier.
Do Motorcycles, Vans And EVs Follow The Same Dates?
The identifier works the same for every vehicle that gets a current-style registration.
- Motorbikes: same age identifier, but usually only a rear plate.
- Vans: same sequence; commercial buyers may register around the same dates.
- Electric cars: same sequence; a green flash is allowed on the plate of a zero-emission vehicle, so check GOV.UK.
- Imports: the plate depends on how the DVLA registers the vehicle; confirm on GOV.UK.
Do trailers show a plate year?
A trailer shows the registration of the towing vehicle, and some trailers carry their own plate, so the age on a trailer plate may belong to the tow car. See number plates for trailers and caravans.
Does Northern Ireland Use The Same Plates?
The age identifier system applies to Great Britain. Northern Ireland uses a different format with letters followed by numbers, and the plate does not show the half-year the same way. Registration and tax stay with the DVLA, while testing is with the DVA; see the Driver and Vehicle Agency.
Does the Republic of Ireland use the same dates?
No. An Irish plate uses a year code, a county code and a serial number, and Irish records are not held by the DVLA or DVSA. See Irish number plates.
What Makes Any Plate Legal?
Whatever the identifier, plates must be made by a registered number plate supplier, meet BS AU 145e, be reflective, and use the legal font (a version of Charles Wright). A show plate is for display only. See legal number plates in the UK.
Which plates are not legal?
- Flip plates and anything that hides or changes the registration, covered in number plate flipper rules.
- Altered characters: stickers, tape or paint used to change a letter or digit.
- Show plates on the road: display-only plates are for events and photos.
When Does 25 Plate Come Out In The Wider Cycle?
Searches for when does 25 plate come out usually come from buyers planning a purchase around a March change. The 25 plate opened the 2025 pair (25 then 75), and every later pair works the same way.
How did the 24 and 74 plates lead into it?
The 74 plate ran until the end of February 2025 and the 25 plate began the next morning. Cars registered on 28 February 2025 therefore carried a 74, while cars registered on 1 March carried a 25.
How did the cycle start?
Twice-yearly changes began in September 1999 with prefix letters, and the digit-based identifier took over in September 2001. Before 1999 the year letter changed once a year, each August.
What Is The Memory Tag Before The Digits?
The two letters at the front of a current-style plate are the memory tag. The first letter points to a DVLA region and the second to a local office within it, so the tag hints at where the vehicle was first registered.
- First letter: the broad DVLA region.
- Second letter: a local office within that region.
- Not the owner's location: a vehicle can move anywhere after registration.
Does the tag tell you where the owner lives?
No. It records the registration office at the start of the vehicle's life, and the number plate area codes explain the letters in more detail.
How Are The Three Random Letters Chosen?
The three letters at the end are issued by the DVLA and have no meaning. Some letters, such as I and Q, are not used in the random letters, and the exact allocation is the DVLA's.
- They do not carry age. Only the two digits do.
- They are not sequential in any way a buyer can use. Two cars registered on the same day can have very different letters.
Can You Choose Your Plate On A New Car?
Yes, in most cases. A buyer can assign a private plate they already hold, or buy a new number, before the DVLA registers the vehicle. The number then replaces the one the dealer would otherwise receive. A registered supplier makes the physical plates once the registration is confirmed, after checking identity and entitlement.
How does a certificate of entitlement help?
When a number is bought from the DVLA, a V750 certificate of entitlement records the right to use it. A number taken off another vehicle comes with the V778 retention document. The personalised number plates hub explains these routes, and the V317 application form is one paper route for assigning or retaining a number (GOV.UK shows the current options).
Does the vehicle need to be a certain age?
The vehicle that receives a number must not look newer than the number implies. Check the current conditions on GOV.UK before you commit.
What if the dealer has already registered the car?
Once the car carries its registration, changing it means a separate transfer, which is a different process; see how to put a private number plate on a car.
When Is The First MOT Due On A 25 Plate Car?
A vehicle registered on a 25 plate is normally due its first MOT on the third anniversary of its first registration, so for a 25 plate car that falls in 2028. The MOT check shows the expiry date once a test has been recorded, and when does my MOT run out explains the timings.
- First MOT: three years after registration, not three years after purchase.
- Later MOTs: normally every 12 months.
- Northern Ireland: the DVA runs tests there, and the first test usually comes later.
Does The Plate Year Affect Vehicle Tax?
Vehicle excise duty for a car depends partly on its first registration date, so the age shown by the plate can matter at tax time. The rate itself changes, so check the current position on GOV.UK. For the broader rules, see vehicle excise duty.
Why does the registration date matter for tax?
The DVLA applies different rules to vehicles registered in different periods. Treat the plate as a clue, and confirm with the vehicle record.
Does The Plate Year Affect Value?
A newer identifier can make a nearly new car easier to sell, but value depends on the vehicle, condition and market rather than the two digits alone. A private registration is valued separately; see car registration valuation.
How Do You Verify A Seller's Claimed Age?
Do not rely on the advert alone. A short routine confirms the age.
- Compare the plate with the record: enter the reg in the free checker and read the year of manufacture.
- Check the MOT history: the first test date should sit about three years after registration.
- Check recorded mileage: the mileage check explains how odometer readings are recorded at each MOT.
- Ask for the V5C: it records the date of first registration.
- Run a full history check: insurance, finance and write-off data are not in free records; see free vs paid vehicle checks.
What if the plate and the record disagree?
A private plate is the most common innocent explanation. If the vehicle details also differ (make, colour, model), treat it as a warning, walk away, and see how to check if a vehicle is stolen.
How Do Fleets And Company Cars Handle Plate Changes?
Fleet managers often schedule deliveries around 1 March and 1 September, because a batch of identical identifiers looks tidy and suits replacement cycles.
- Registration timing: ask the supplier which half-year plate the vehicles will receive.
- Company car tax: HMRC assesses a benefit-in-kind charge from list price, CO2 and fuel type, not from the plate year; see company car tax calculator.
Do commercial vehicles follow the same rules?
Yes. Vans and lorries get the same identifier, and commercial vehicle tax has its own rules.
Why does a fleet plate batch matter?
It can help spot age at a glance, but it is not a substitute for checking each vehicle record.
How Do Classic And Historic Vehicles Fit In?
Classic cars often wear prefix, suffix or dateless plates, so the digit rule does not apply. Many historic vehicles may be exempt from some rules, so check GOV.UK.
Where do old registrations come from?
See antique number plates for earlier styles, and classic car tax for tax treatment.
Can a classic carry a plate that is newer than the vehicle?
The DVLA does not allow a plate that makes a vehicle look newer, so a restored classic normally keeps its original number or an older-looking one.
What If The DVLA Record Looks Wrong?
Errors are uncommon, but a wrong registration date or colour is worth correcting. Use the DVLA contact options on GOV.UK and have the V5C to hand. Do not change the plate yourself to match a record.
Why Are Plates Not Changed On 1 January?
The DVLA chose March and September so that registrations are spread across the year, instead of crowding into January. The September plate also helps buyers who prefer a new identifier before the winter months. The reason is practical, not legal.
What Happens On The Changeover Day?
On 1 March and 1 September, dealers register stock with the new identifier, and the registered number plate supplier network is busy. There is no change to plates already on the road, and nobody needs to replace a plate because a new identifier has appeared.
Will The Numbering Ever Run Out?
September identifiers are the year plus 50, so the sequence will eventually need a decision about how to continue. The DVLA publishes any change to the format, so rely on GOV.UK rather than rumours.
Where are changes announced?
Official announcements appear on GOV.UK and DVLA channels. Social media posts about "new plate rules" are often guesses, so confirm before acting.
What Myths Surround Plate Changes?
- "Older plates must be changed": no, a valid plate stays valid.
- "A new identifier means a new model": no, it records registration only.
- "All cars are registered on 1 March": no, registrations happen throughout the period.
- "Plates reveal the owner": no, plates do not show owner details.
What Mistakes Do People Make With Plate Years?
- Counting 74 as a 1974 car: 74 is a modern identifier.
- Ignoring the September rule: subtract 50 first.
- Assuming the plate is original: private plates can be moved.
- Treating the build year as the plate year: the plate follows registration.
What Is A Quick Checklist For Dating A Vehicle?
- Identify the plate style: current, prefix, suffix or dateless.
- Apply the digit or letter rule.
- Confirm with the vehicle record or V5C.
- Use the number plate year chart for older letters.
When should you ask for help?
If the plate, V5C and vehicle record all disagree, contact the DVLA before buying or taxing the vehicle.
Where Can You Check The Official Position?
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues registration numbers and records the registration date. GOV.UK has the current rules on plates and registration. A free lookup shows year of manufacture and first registration, not the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 25 plate come out?
It already has. The 25 plate was released from 1 March 2025 and ran until the end of August 2025, after which the 75 plate began on 1 September 2025. The same March and September pattern repeats every year, so the next identifiers follow the same calculation.
When do new number plates come out?
New age identifiers start on 1 March and 1 September each year. In March the identifier is the last two digits of the year; in September it is the year plus 50. Dealers often see their busiest registration days on those two dates.
What year is a 74 plate car?
A 74 plate car was first registered from September 2024 to the end of February 2025. Because 74 is above 50, subtract 50 to get 24, then add the September-to-February window. The record on the DVLA's service confirms the actual date.
What year is a 73 plate?
A 73 plate covers September 2023 to the end of February 2024. Subtract 50 from 73 to get 23, which is the year the September window begins. Other September identifiers follow the same logic.
What is the 60 number plate year?
The 60 plate covers September 2010 to February 2011. Subtract 50 from 60 to get 10, meaning 2010, and remember the window continues into the following year until the end of February.
What year is an R registered vehicle?
An R registration is a prefix-style plate, typically covering August 1997 to July 1998. Prefix year letters changed each August until 1999, so check the first letter against a year chart or the vehicle record if you need certainty.
When does the 26 plate start?
The 26 identifier starts on 1 March 2026 and runs to the end of August 2026. The 76 plate then follows from 1 September 2026. To confirm a specific vehicle, the registration date is recorded by the DVLA.
How old is my car by reg?
For a current-style plate, read the two digits. Up to 50 means a March-to-August registration of that year; above 50 means September to February after subtracting 50. For certainty, enter the reg in a free lookup that shows year of manufacture and first registration.
Can a private plate show the wrong age?
Yes. A transferred personalised plate can show an identifier that does not match the vehicle. The DVLA does not allow a plate that makes a vehicle look newer than it is, but a plate that looks older is permitted. Check the V5C and vehicle record for the true age.
Do motorbikes follow the same plate dates?
Yes. Motorcycles registered under the current system get the same March and September age identifiers as cars. They usually display only a rear plate, so check GOV.UK for rules that apply to your vehicle type.
Does a dateless plate show age?
No. A dateless plate has no year letter or age digits, so it reveals nothing about the vehicle. To find the vehicle age, use the DVLA record of first registration rather than the plate characters.
Is the year on the plate the same as the model year?
Not always. The plate shows when the DVLA registered the vehicle, not when it was built or which model year the maker used. A car built late in one year may be registered in the next, and imports can differ again.
Is the same system used in Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland uses a different format, usually letters followed by numbers, which does not carry the same twice-a-year age identifier. Registration and tax are with the DVLA, while testing is run by the DVA.
Where do I check the current rules?
GOV.UK is the official source for registration numbers, plates and the age identifier rules. The DVLA publishes guidance on number plates, and the MOT history service shows test dates that can help confirm the age of a vehicle.
Official Sources
Rules, fees and deadlines change. Confirm anything that affects your money or legal position with the official service.