Number Plate Terminology Explained

1 by 1

1x1 number plates have a single digit and a single letter, and are classed as dateless number plates. These are generally the most expensive number plates on the market, such as the iconic A 1 registration.

2 by 2

2x2 number plates have two digits and two letters. An example of a 2x2 number plate is NN 11. These dateless number plates can be less expensive than 1 by 1 registrations, and they're typically issued with numbers first.

2 by 3

2x3 number plates are dateless registrations and feature 2 letters and 3 digits or 2 digits and 3 letters. Examples include NNN 11 and 111 NN.

2 by 4

2x4 number plates start with two letters followed by a space and four digits. An example of this kind of dateless number plate would be HN 1234.

3 by 3

3x3 number plates are dateless and feature three digits, a space, and three letters.

Acrylic

Acrylic number plates are the physical plastic plates you can attach to your vehicle. They are offered as an extra by National Numbers, and you can buy acrylic number plates in the checkout process of buying a registration with us.

Assign

Moving a registration number from a certificate to a suitable vehicle is known as assigning. You can't assign a registration mark to make a vehicle appear newer.

Auction

National Numbers attends all DVLA Auctions, where we are one of the biggest investors. We have an excellent track record of getting registrations for our clients through auctions of number plates.

Cheap

Cheap doesn't necessarily mean worse, and cheap number plates can still carry meaning for the owner.

Cherished

Cherished numbers are also known as dateless registrations. The name comes from the owners who classed them as a cherished family keepsake. Unlike other number plate formats, dateless private registrations don't include an age identifier, so they can go on any car regardless of the age of the vehicle. This makes them extremely sought after and generally seen as the perfect plate option for expensive, rare, or older cars.

Cherished Transfer Scheme

The Cherished Transfer Scheme allows cherished number plates to be transferred between vehicles. If the vehicle receiving the number plate in a cherished transfer is already registered, its existing number will become void unless an application to transfer or retain that number is made at the same time.

Current Style

Also known as Millennium and New-Style registrations. This is the current system for number plates in the UK, issued from September 2001. The system allows for two issues per year, March being indicated by "01", "02", "03", etc, while September is shown as"51", "52", etc. The first two letters identify the area of issue, while the last three letters are random. For example, NV53 ZPB informs you that the vehicle in question was registered in September 2003 in the North, i.e. Stockton or Newcastle.

Dateless registrations, often called Cherished registrations, are the oldest type of registration available. Prices range from £100 to £100,000. As well as hiding the age of a vehicle, Dateless Registrations are a status symbol for many car owners.

Documentation (Docs)

This is the collective term for the documentation required to complete a number transfer. It can include everything from retention documents to the certificate of entitlement, and more. National Numbers requires the original documentation in order to complete a number plate transfer, and we can offer assistance every step of the way if required.

Donor

Donor is the term given in vehicle to vehicle transfers to the car donating its registration. The £80 transfer fee covers the cost of processing the transfer/retention

DVLA

DVLA stands for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. DVLA governs registrations of vehicles, registration marks, and drivers in the UK.

Entitlement Certificate (V750)

This is the pink form that "holds" registrations that have never been on a vehicle before. The certificate is valid for 10 years and can be renewed upon expiry. The mark can be assigned to a suitable vehicle registered in either the purchaser's or the nominee's name. See Certificates of Entitlement for more information.

Entitlement Period

The entitlement period is currently ten years and can be extended.

Fast Track

National Numbers offer a fast track service whereby we assign a registration to your vehicle the same day. Call 01642 363738 for details.

First Registration (V55/4)

Application for a first licence for a new motor vehicle and declaration for registration - for use by individuals importing a new vehicle, kit cars.

First Registration (V55/5)

Application for a first licence for a motor vehicle and declaration for registration - for use by individuals to register used vehicles, e.g. rebuilt.

Font

There is one font that can be used legally on UK number plates. This is the Charles Wright font.

Grantee

This is the name that appears at the top of a retention certificate . At present, the DVLA will not change the grantee but will allow a change of address.

Inspection

An inspection takes place when the DVLA needs to validate that a donor car is using a registration legally. They do this by comparing the car chassis number with its logbook. This is primarily done for the safety of the person buying the plates.

Whilst these checks do not happen very often, they will slow down the transfer process by at least a week. If it turns out that the car is stolen, then the DVLA can take the registration back, even after the transfer has been completed.

Log Book (V5)

This is a vehicle log book - the official DVLA document code for a log book is V5C Vehicle Registration Certificate.

Make Your Own Plate

National Numbers offers two ways for you to design your own registration. You can design your own prefix registration or new-style registration, for example.

Millennium

Millennium registrations is another term for the current style of registration numbers used on vehicles in the UK, issued from September 2001.

MOT

MOT stands for Ministry Of Transport and is the UK's official roadworthiness certificate. The test is required by law for all vehicles over three years of age. The form can be validated online.

Motorbike

Registrations can be transferred between cars and motorbikes.

New-Style

New-style registrations is another term for the current style of registration numbers used on vehicles in the UK.

Nominee

The grantee is able to nominate someone to receive the registration mark "stored" on a retention certificate. The mark can be assigned to a vehicle either in the name of the grantee or the nominee.

Northern Irish

Northern Irish number plates can be a cost-effective way to disguise the age of a vehicle. These are from Northern Ireland and are still issued by the DVLA and allowed on UK roads.

Number Plate

The term number plate is used to describe both the registration, i.e. the rights to use a number, and the acrylic plates onto which the number is printed. Number plates come in many styles and formats. For an idea of what's available, see our article Number Plate Formats Explained.

Number Plate System

Dateless (1903 - 1962): The original system.

Suffix (1963 - 1982): suffix series system.

Prefix (1983 - 2001): prefix series system.

2001 - 2049: current, new-style series.

Personalised

All vehicles are issued with a registration mark. Some drivers prefer to personalise their vehicle by actually choosing a mark to match their initials,name, etc.

Prefix

Prefix registrations came into force in 1983. They are named prefix because a year identifying letter precedes any digits or letter sequences.

Private

Private registrations is another term for personalised number plates. People buy private number plates as an individual purchase, whereas those provided as Government stock come with the vehicle

Purchaser

The name appearing on the top of the V750. The purchaser has the same legal rights as the "grantee" on a retention certificate.

Q Plate

Q registrations identify a vehicle whose origin is unknown. For this reason, you can't put a cherished number onto a Q registered vehicle. Unfortunately you cannot buy Q prefix or suffix registrations.

Quote/Valuation

National Numbers offers free and instant online quotes for owners of personalised registrations. We also offer a telephone service at a premium rate. Call 0905 757 0011. Calls cost £1 per minute.

Recipient

In vehicle-to-vehicle transfers, the vehicle receiving the new registration mark is called the Recipient.

Registered Keeper

In transfers, the Registered Keeper is the person named on the V5c (log book). The registered keeper is not necessarily the same as the vehicle owner.

Registration

A term used to refer to the number used on a personalised number plate. The registration corresponds to the Vehicle Identification Number on a vehicle and is printed on the vehicle registration document.

Registration Document (V5C)

Some people refer to this as the log book - the official DVLA document code for a log book is V5C (vehicle registration certificate).

Retain

To retain a registration means to move a registration number from a vehicle to a certificate. This allows the owner to retain the right to use the registration.

Retention Certificate (V778 or V778/1)

Application to place a mark on a retention certificate. The certificate allows a registration to be taken off a vehicle and stored on a certificate for later transferral or sale.

Retention Scheme

Pertains to a Retention Certificate - this is the scheme under which these certificates are issued. The scheme allows a mark to be taken off a vehicle and stored on a certificate. The same regulations apply as for vehicle to vehicle transfers.

Reverse Dateless

Reverse dateless number plates came about when councils discovered the sequence of dateless plates released would not provide a plentiful amount of registrations. The reversed sequence was issued much later than the original registrations with letters first. For example FDT followed by numbers were issued in 1948 and reversed (numbers then FDT) in 1961.

Scrapped

A vehicle which has been scrapped must be declared scrapped with the DVLA. You cannot transfer a registration off a vehicle which has been scrapped.

Show Plate

Show Plates is a term given to acrylic number plates that are used for show or off-road purposes. They often include non-standard spacing, badges, and fonts. In November 2008, stricter regulations came into place making it illegal to manufacture such plates.

Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)

SORN is an abbreviation for Statutory Off Road Notification. If you do not renew your vehicle licence then you must declare the vehicle off the road with the DVLA. This is now a legal requirement.

Stock

National Numbers owns about 1,000 stock personalised registrations. These are purchased from auctions or from members of the public. Our stock number plates are held, very conveniently, on retention or entitlement certificates in the office. This means that the transfer time is greatly reduced.

Suffix

Suffix registrations consist of 3 letters followed by up to 3 digits, and a final letter which identifies the year the number was issued. The first suffix registration to be issued was A in 1963. An example of a suffix registration is NNN 123A.

Tax

Also known as a vehicle licence, your car must be taxed before you can transfer a registration on to it. If your vehicle is acting as a donor, then you can transfer the mark up to 12 months after the tax has expired (not refunded). Different tax bands are now introduced based on emissions, etc.

Transfer

To move to a registration from one vehicle to another.

Transfer Fee

£80 fee to transfer a mark from donor to recipient vehicle or onto a retention certificate.

Unissued

Unissued refers registrations that have not been issued and are know as \'Unissued Government Stock\'. Sometimes these are entire ranges of plates (for instance Q plates, which are reserved for kit cars, etc) or combinations that may be deemed offensive, like KKK, ARS, etc.

V317

Transfer form issued by DVLA.

V750

Certificate of entitlement (pink) "holds" marks which have never been on a vehicle before. Valid for 10 years and can be renewed on expiry. Can only be assigned to a vehicle registered on DVLA computer.

V778

Actual retention certificate (green) Issued by DVLA to "hold" a reg mark. Valid for 10 years and can be renewed upon expiry.

V778/1

Application to place a mark on a retention certificate.

VAT

All registrations are subject to VAT. However, some transactions attract free VAT while some are subject to part VAT. This is because we sell number plates on behalf of individuals, who are not VAT registered, and companies who are VAT registered.

Vehicle Excise and Registration Act

Amendments to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act allowed the sale of previously unallocated registrations. A new government division, Sale of Marks (SOM), was created to fulfil activities related to the sale of these marks. At this time, the DVLC (as was) became the DVLA. The revenue accrued as a result of these sales contributes directly to the Treasury.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

A number, often stamped on the chassis of a vehicle, which identifies it.

Vehicle to Vehicle Transfer Form (V317)

This form allows a vehicle to vehicle transfer of a registration. Both keepers must sign the relevant forms.

Write Off

A vehicle which has been written off is no longer seen as viable in the eyes of a vehicle insurance company. You cannot transfer a registration onto a written-off vehicle, but you can transfer one off using a V317, or onto a certificate using a V778.

Buy private registration plates from a recognised reseller of DVLA registrations

We have a massive range of private number plates available, and we’re a registered number plate supplier with the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency.

With DVLA personalised registrations to suit every budget and plenty of finance options, too, we're a leading UK number plate supplier and provide all formats when it comes to car registrations. We also take all kinds of secure payments, such as debit cards and credit cards, and ensure a smooth checkout process every time.

Our team of experts are known for providing an excellent service to our customers, and all of our private number plates are road legal, adhere to British standards, and we’re registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for all car number plates we have for sale.

Browse our DVLA number plates at this link, and for answers to common questions about personalised plates, visit our reg plates FAQs page here.

Other articles in this section:

• How to buy or sell a personalised number plate

• DVLA Auctions

• Retention certificate info, retain a registration

• Number plate certificate of entitlement information

• How to Transfer a Private Number Plate | DVLA Guide

• Acrylic Number Plates | Everything You Need To Know

• Car Registration Years

• Foreign Vehicle Registration Check

Back to DVLA Registrations