Suffix Number Plates
Following the issue of the last of the dateless number plates, suffix registrations introduced a new feature to registration plates - the year identifier.
The suffix registration plate system ran from 1963 to 1982. Prior to 1963, registration marks were dateless - not carrying any kind of easily recognisable year identifier. Suffix number plates made the age of the vehicle known by attaching a year identifying letter to the end of the number plate. This began with 'A' in 1963, and a new letter was issued every subsequent year until 'Y' was reached in 1982. After 1982, when the suffix letters had been exhausted, the system changed and prefix number plate registrations were introduced.
Were all the Letters of the Alphabet used for Suffix Registrations?
Some letters were not used in the suffix number plate system; for example I, O, Q, U and Z were never issued. 'I' and 'Z' were reserved for Northern Ireland, 'O' was thought to too closely resemble zero, 'Q' was used but only on vehicles where their date of manufacture was in doubt, and 'U' appeared too much like 'V' for use on suffix car reg plates.
What do Suffix Registrations Look Like?
Suffix number plates consist of three letters followed by a one, two, or three digit number with a year-letter identifier at the end.
The three letters identify what would have been the original area of issue for the car registration. 'ABH', for example, originated in Buckinghamshire, 'CHN' would suggest Darlington. Paired with the age identifying letter (the suffix), it would originally have been possible to identify the age and area the vehicle displaying the number plate originated from - combinations like CGO ***B, CGO ***H, CGO ***S and CGO ***X were issued in 1964, 1969, 1978 and 1981 respectively in London.