The new 71 plate
The release date of the 71 plate is much anticipated by drivers, arguably because of the abundance of words that can be made with the combination of “71”. Though for those that aren’t interested in a private number plate, don’t forget you cannot tamper with the numbers or letters automatically generated. If it is hard to read, you could face a fine.
The 21 plate introduced in March 2021 gave the iconic green plate its second registration number, with September’s 71 plate coming round before the green registration’s first birthday this December.
That means if you register any fully-electric car or van, it will wear the green stripe proudly as an incentive to other drivers to own them. It also guides local authorities on how to implement beneficial polices for those that own them in the area.
Note: the green plate does not apply for plug-in and hybrid vehicles. Check out our handy article here for more on what electric vehicles and their sustainability means for drivers.How do I know how old a car is?
To check the age of a car, note down the third and fourth digit of the registration plate. Every March, the two numbers represent the year. Every September, you should add 50 to the previous plate.
As an example:
March 2021
20
+50
September 2021
70
When did 21 plates come out?
Blink and you may have missed it, but the 21 plate release date was back in March 2021 and it replaced the 70 plate that was introduced in September 2020.
As of 2001, registration numbers change twice a year, so if you registered a vehicle on or after March 1st this year, the current 70 plate will be replaced by a 21 plate.
However, as September soon comes around, so does the second plate update.
As of September 2021, vehicles registered on or after the 1st will be assigned to the 71 plate, so here’s what you need to know about the change.
What year is the 71 plate?
The 71 plate represents vehicles registered between September 2021 and February 2022. The two-digit code helps identify the year a car was registered, with plates changing every March and September in the UK. To determine the year, simply check the numbers on the plate.
The basics:
The decade of 2020 produces registrations with the numbers 2 and 7
Number plates are automatically generated
You cannot alter either numbers by swapping or tampering with your plate
Green plates were introduced in Dec 2020 to indicate EV and low emission vehicles
The decade of 2030 will produce registrations with 3's and 8's in
What is the structure of a registration plate?
Two letters, followed by two numbers, followed by three letters.
1st two letters - This refers to the regional taxation office where the vehicle was registered
Two numbers - The year the vehicle was registered
Final three letters - These letters are completely randomised and don't refer to anything
Why do the plates change?
In the UK, registration plates change every 6 months or twice a year in affect - 1st March and 1st September. The system previously had one change on the 1st August and this meant the motor industry conducted the bulk of their business on one day.
To overcome the massive work load on the motor industry, the system was changed to allow a spread of business throughout the year.
Are number plates assigned to cars or people?
All number plate registrations are assigned to a vehicle rather than an individual. However, it is possible to have a number plate assigned to a different vehicle using a document called a retention certificate.
What year is my car?
The below table will help you work our when you car was registered.
Numbers on the Plate
Month / Year
15
1st March 2015
65
1st September 2015
16
1st March 2016
66
1st September 2016
17
1st March 2017
67
1st September 2017
18
1st March 2018
68
1st September 2018
19
1st March 2019
69
1st September 2019
20
1st March 2020
70
1st September 2020
21
1st March 2021
71
1st September 2021
22
1st March 2022
72
1st September 2022
23
1stMarch 2023
73
1stSeptember 2023
And so on...
This system that the DVLA has devised, means that they can keep registering cars in this format until March 2050 (50).
Can I have a private plate on a lease car?
When you lease a car, it is possible to have a personal registration plate on your lease vehicle. You won't lose the personal plate at the end of the lease because you can then transfer to personal plate using a retention certificate.
However, you must ensure the process of removing a personal plate is started three months before the lease ends. This is because you could run the risk of losing the plate when the car is collected and sold at auction.
Visit our easy guide for more information on how leasing works here, covering the leasing process, the benefits and more useful FAQ’s.