UK License Plates

[Ferroequine]

OK, I have to ask. What's all this "54" and "55" plate stuff that you UK bunch keep talking about? I suspect it's your license plate, but what is the significance of having one over another?

[Adrian_T]

September 2001 51 Plate
March 2002 02 Plate
September 2005 52 Plate
March 2003 03 Plate

Format of Plates as follows

2 Letters - Area of Registration (need to be a bit of a train spotter to knows these)

2 Numbers - Date of Registration

ANY 3 Letters - Except i and q (and Z in some instances)

therefore 54 plate is registered between Sept 04 and End Feb 05

55 Plate is registered Sept 05 - End Feb 06

Hope this makes sense!

In reply to the question, 55 plate is better because you have a car that is 1 year newer!!!!!!

[XRV848]

A major difference in the way plates are allocated in the UK is that the plate belongs to the vehicle and it is therefore valid to specify the year of first registration as part of the plate numbering scheme. If the car is sold then the plate goes with it. Here in Canada, the plate belongs to the registered owner, and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by that person. When a car is sold, the plate is removed and kept by the owner.

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by XRV848

..... Here in Canada, the plate belongs to the registered owner, and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by that person. When a car is sold, the plate is removed and kept by the owner.

That can also apply here in the UK if we prefer to keep our Plate, usually with Personal / Vanity Plates, that cost something extra in the 1st place

[minicore]

Yeah, as Adrian_T has said, the first number dictates whether the car was registered in the first half of the year, or the second (so to speak, as the halves are February to September and September to February). Currently, "0" represents the first half, and "5" represents the second. The second number dictates the year... "2" for 2002, "3" for 2003, "4" for 2004...

So "02" is the first half of 2002, "52" is the second half of 2002, "03" is the first half of 2003 and "53" the second half of 2003.

At the end of the decade, "0" and "5" (for first half and second half) will be replaced with "1" and "6". Therefore, "11" will be the first half of 2011, "62" will be the second half of 2012... and "69" will be the second half of 2019.

Simple, huh?

[Ferroequine]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicore

Simple, huh?

Is all this just a ploy to employ more beauracracy?

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicore

..."62" will be the second half of 2012... and "69" will be the second half of 2019.

Is it just Me who`s worried about whats going to happen after 2049

[jimmyt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle

Is it just Me who`s worried about whats going to happen after 2049

I guess they could move the numbers to the start or the end of the plate.
Or they could swap the two sets of letters around so the area is at the end of the plate
Or they could make the numbers digits long (YY 541 XXX) changing the front two like they do now, and the third every 50 years