Registration plates change every 6 months on the 1st March and 1st September and come with all new cars between those periods. Each time there is a plate change there are literally thousands of different car combinations to choose from, in fact some 1,200,000 variations.
If your lease contract is nearly up, then you might be thinking about which new car to get. You could stay safe with a straight replacement with manufacturer and model or…go for something entirely different. The “70” series registration plate will be used to register all cars from the 1st September 2020 to the end of February 2021.
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 change to represent the year. Every September, you should add 50 to the previous plate.
For example:
March 2020 | 20 |
| +50 |
September 2020 | 70 |
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. This system was introduced in 2001.
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 do not refer to anything
How old is my car?
The below table will help you work out when your car was registered:
Numbers on the Plate | Month / Year |
14 | 1st March 2014
|
64 | 1st September 2014 |
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 |
And so on...
This system that the DVLA has devised, means that they can keep registering cars in this format until March 2050 (50).
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.
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.
If your lease contract is nearly up, then you might be thinking about which new car to get. You could stay safe with a straight replacement with manufacturer and model or…go for something entirely different. The “70” series registration plate will be used to register all cars from the 1st September 2020 to the 31st March 2021.
Need some help with your choosing the latest car model to lease? Why not browse some of our hot car offers below or if you prefer give us a call on 01746 766144 / 01483 891010.