Number plates act as a unique identification mark; you will not find two number plates that are the same. Every vehicle has a specific registration and all this information is recorded and stored at a central database. Car registration numbers are provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, better known as DVLA.
Car registrations were made essential back in 1903, after the Motor Car Act was introduced. Since then, different formats of number plates have been devised to meet the increasing numbers of cars. However, as the DVLA did not exist at the time, it was the responsibility of the local council to administer car registration numbers.
Problems occurred in this system when owners moved with their cars to a different area, or when the vehicles were sold. This required the transfer of registration details to another council. To solve the problem, the DVLC (Driver and Licensing Centre) was formed in 1965 and it was wholly responsible for administering number plates to all vehicles. The DVLC changed its name in 1985 to DVLA, and it has local offices in Scotland, Wales and England.
Ever since car number plates were introduced there have been millions of different combinations. This makes the chances of getting a suitable private plate quite high.
