Website Usage and Number Plate Information

Using the Super Search

To begin your search, simply enter some initials, your name, or anything else that you would like to have on your number plate, in the yellow search box above. The results will then give you a small selection of the choices available to you.

Refining Your Super Search

If none of the plates in the selection are exactly what you're looking for, you can click on the 'view more results' button to see more registration numbers. Alternatively, if there's a plate that is close to the plate you're looking for, you can refine your search by clicking on the 'more plates like this' button. From here you can choose what elements of the plate are relevant and re-search using your refinements.

Using the Prefix Search and Current Search

The Prefix Search and Current Search options on the search bar allows you to search for a specific plate if you know what you want or want to return results in a specific format. To use these simply click on the relevant button on the search bar and you will be presented with the plate formatted with each section as an 'any' match. From here click on the sections higlighted 'any' to select the numbers or letters within the plate you want. You can fill in all the fields to find the exact plate you're looking for, or you can leave a few with the 'any' option to allow our search to find all the alternatives.

Search Results

Along with prefix and current style registrations the results may show marks that will be available for sale in future auctions. If you register your interest, we will be in touch as soon as we have any further information. This will include the date of the auction, how to bid and the reserve price.

Don't worry if you haven't heard from us in a while, we will be in touch as soon as we have any further information.

We offer prefix, current style, suffix and dateless registrations through our online sales channel and at auction.

All of the registrations we offer for sale have not been previously issued or used. We do not offer any resale or valuation service for customers.

Current style registrations

Current style registrations consist of two letters, a two-figure age identifier, a space and then finally three letters. For example:

Prefix registrations

Prefix registrations are those which contain the year identifier at the beginning of a registration. They consist of a letter, one to three numbers, a space and then finally three letters.

Suffix registrations

Suffix registrations are those which contain the year identifier at the end of a registration. They consist of three letters, a space, one to three numbers, and then finally one letter.

Dateless registrations

Dateless registrations do not contain a year identifier and can consist of a number combination followed by a letter combination and vice versa. There is a space between the numberand the group of letters.

Prefix registrations are those which contain the year identifier at the beginning of a registration. They consist of a letter, one to three numbers, a space and then finally three letters. For example:

Current style registrations consist of two letters, a two-figure age identifier, a space and then finally three letters. For example:

Auction plates are those which are specially chosen for sale due to their combinations which make them highly distinctive and collectable.

Dateless registrations do not contain a year identifier and can consist of a number combination followed by a letter combination and vice versa. There is a space between the number and the group of letters.

Dateless registrations are sold through our online and live auctions business. To view and purchase these registrations please see the auctions section.

You can search this website for all the registrations and their prices currently available through our online business. This data can also be purchased for a fee of £143 twice a year during May and November only. If you are interested, please write to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea, SA99 1DN. Registrations being offered for sale at each auction and online auction will also be advertised on our website including their reserve prices.

If you're unable to find the registration mark you want or have a specific request please contact us at DVLA and we will endeavour to help you in your search.

If you're still unable to find the registration mark you want you could try one of the cherished number dealers. Please note that the DVLA will not accept responsibility for any issues arising from this referral or the contents of third party web sites.

If you are buying a registration mark from one of DVLA's auctions then the full Terms and Conditions of Sale will be contained within the auction catalogue. When buying a registration direct from our online business the full terms and conditions can be viewed during the purchase process View the terms and conditions of sale

Just remember you can make your vehicle look as old as you wish but you can not make it look newer than it actually is. For example you cannot put a Y registration number on a T registered vehicle but you could choose any prefix range from an A to a T. For more information, please see the following question What are the original issue dates of registration numbers? to see the dates of issue.

Issue dates of number plates are the period in which new vehicles are registered. Below are links to the list of registration dates for each style of registration.

Issue dates for current style registrations
Issue dates for prefix registrations
Issue dates for suffix registrations

Unfortunately we do not resurrect old registrations for sale, even though they may no longer be on vehicles. Should this situation change full details will appear on our website. However you may wish to email us with your contact details and we will advise you if there are any policy changes.

The Agency has decided that it will not be releasing Q registration marks for sale. It has emerged that the costs involved in providing sale and transfer facilities would be greater than any return, given the limited number of vehicles that would be eligible to participate. Additionally, the recent review of registration inspection procedures indicated very strong support for retaining the existing policy on Q marks, for consumer protection reasons.