REGISTRATION PLATE INFORMATION

SINGLE LETTER Registrations, by area.( First issued 1903, but some were reused as offices ran out of numbers in the late 1950's & early 60's.)

A...London J...Durham S...Edinburgh B...Lancashire K...Liverpool T...Devonshire C...Yorks,W.Riding L...Glamorganshire U...Leeds D...Kent M...Cheshire V...Lanarkshire E...Staffordshire N...Manchester W...Sheffield F...Essex O...Birmingham X...Northumberland G...Glasgow P...Surrey Y...Somerset H...Middlesex Q... not used Z...Dublin I...not used R...Derbyshire

DOUBLE LETTER Registration by area. Note that some letters were re-allocated in both 1974 and 1981, as busy Registration Offices ran out of the original letters. Issue in the old area then ceased, the new Office using them, and in some cases letters have been in three differing areas countrywide. Lack of space shows as '74 or '81. Most were issued to their areas originally in 1903, under the "Motor Car Act 1903".

AA...Hampshire,Salisbury,Bournemouth, AN...West Ham,GLC; & Reading from'74,

AB...Worcestershire AO...Cumberland,Carlisle,

AC...Warwickshire AP...East Sussex, Brighton,

AD...Gloucster AR...Herts CC;& Chelmsford from '74

AE...Bristol AS...Nairn; & Inverness from'74

AF...Cornwall AT...Kingston on Hull

AG...Ayrshire;&Hull from '74 AU...Nottingham,

AH...Norfolk AV...Aberdeen;& Peterborough from'74

AJ...York N.Riding;&Middlesborough '74 AW...Shropshire,

AK...Bradford ;& Sheffield from'74 AX...Monmouth,Cardiff,

AL...Nottingham AY...Leicester

AM...Wiltshire,Swindon.

BA...Salford,Manchester BN...Bolton,Manchester,

BB...Newcastle on Tyne BO...Cardiff

BC...Leicester BP...West Sussex, & Portsmouth from'74

BD...Northampton BR...Sunderland,Durham;& Newcastle'74

BE...Lincolnshire,Grimsby BS...Orkney,Kirkwall'74,Inverness'81,

BF...Stoke on Trent BT...York; & Leeds from '81,

BG...Birkenhead,Liverpool BU...Oldham,Manchester,

BH...Bucks CC;& Luton from '74 BV...Blackburn,Preston,

BJ...East Suffolk,Ipswich, BW...Oxford

BK...Portsmouth BX...Carmarthenshire

BL...Berkshire,Reading BY...Croydon,GLC '65, London from '74

BM...Bedfordshire;& Luton from '74.

CA...Denbigh; & Cheshire from '74 CN...Gateshead,Newcastle O.T.,

CB...Blackburn, Bolton '74,Manchester '81, CO...Plymouth; & Exeter from '81,

CC...Caernarvon; & Bangor from '74, CP...Halifax; & Huddersfield from '74,

CD...Brighton CR...Southampton; & Portsmouth '74,

CE...Cambridge; & Peterboro' from '81, CS...Ayrshire; & Glasgow from '81,

CF...West Suffolk; & Reading from '74, CT...Boston, Lincoln,

CG...Hants CC;Salisbury '74;& Bournemouth'81, CU...Southshields;& Newcastle'74,

CH...Derby; & Nottingham from '74, CV...Cornwall, Truro,

CJ...Hereford, & Gloucester from '74, CW...Burnley; & Preston '74,

CK...Preston, CX...Huddersfield,

CL...Norwich CY...Swansea,

CM...Birkenhead;& Liverpool from '74.

DA...Wolverhampton; & Birmingham '74 DN...York; & Leeds from '81,

DB...Stockport; & Manchester from '74, DO...Holland;& Boston'74;&Lincoln'81,

DC...Middlesborough;Teesside'74; Middl''81, DP...Reading,

DD...Gloucester DR...Plymouth; & Exeter from '81,

DE...Pembroke; & Haverfordwest from '74, DS...Peebles; & Glasgow from '74,

DF...Gloucester DT...Doncaster;&Sheffield from '74,

DG...Gloucester DU...Coventry,

DH...Walsall; & Dudley from '74, DV...Devon C.C.; & Exeter from '74,

DJ...St.Helens;Warrington '74;Liverpool '81, DW...Newport Mon,and Cardiff from'74

DK...Rochdale;Bolton '74;Manchester '81, DX...Ipswich,

DL...IoW;Newport IoW'74;Portsmouth'81, DY...Hastings; & Brighton from '81,

DM...Flint C.C.; & Chester from '74.

EA...West Bromwich, & Dudley from '74, EN...Bury, Bolton '74, Manchester '81,

EB...IoEly,Cambridge '65, Peterborough '81, EO...Barrow in Furness, & Preston '74,

EC...Westmorland, Kendal '74, Preston '81, EP...Montgomeryshire, & Swansea '74,

ED...Warrington, & Liverpool from '81, ER...Cambridge, & Peterborough '81,

EE...Grimsby, Lincoln, ES...Perthshire, & Dundee from '74,

EF...West Hartlepool,& Middleboro''74, ET...Rotherham,Sheffield,

EG...Peterborough EU...Breconshire, & Bristol from '74,

EH...Stoke on Trent EV...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,

EJ...Cardigan,Aberyswyth'74,Bangor'81,Haverfordwest'83,

EK...Wigan,Warrington'74,Liverpool'81, EW...Huntingdon, & Peterborough '74,

EL...Bournemouth, EX...Great Yarmouth, & Norwich '74,

EM...Bootle, & Liverpool from '74, EY...Anglesey, & Bangor from '74.

FA...Burton on Trent,& Stoke on Trent'74 FN...Canterbury, & Maidstone from '74,

FB...Bath, & Bristol from '74, FO...Radnor, Hereford'74, Gloucester'81,

FC...Oxford FP...Rutland, & Leicester from '74,

FD...Dudley FR...Blackpool, & Preston from '74,

FE...Lincoln FS...Edinburgh,

FF...Merioneth,Aberyswyth'74,Bangor'81, FT...Tynemouth, & Newcastle '74,

FG...Fife C.C., & Brighton from '74, FU...Grimsby, Lincoln,

FH...Gloucester FV...Blackpool, & Preston from '74,

FJ...Exeter FW...Lindsey, Lincoln,

FK...Worcester, & Dudley from '74, FX...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,

FL...Peterborough FY...Southport, & Liverpool '74,

FM...Chester.

GA...Glasgow GN...London

GB...Glasgow GO...London

GC...London GP...London

GD...Glasgow GR...Sunderland,Durham'74,Newcastle'81,

GE...Glasgow GS...Perthshire, & Luton from '74,

GF...London GT...London

GG...Glasgow GU...London

GH...London GV...West Suffolk, & Ipswich'74,

GJ...London GW...London

GK...London GX...London

GL...Bath, & Truro from '74, GY...London.

GM...Motherwell & Wishaw, & Reading from '74.

HA...Smethwick,Warley '74, Dudley '81, HN...Darlington, & Middlesboro' '81,

HB...Merthyr Tydfil, & Cardiff from '74, HO...Hants,Salisbury'74,Bournemouth'81

HC...Eastbourne,Hastings'74,Brighton'81, HP...Coventry

HD...Dewsbury, & Huddersfield from '74, HR...Wiltshire, Swindon,

HE...Barnsley, & Sheffield from '74, HS...Renfrewshire, & Glasgow from '74,

HF...Wallasey, & Liverpool from '74, HT...Bristol

HG...Burnley, & Preston '74, HU...Bristol

HH...Carlisle HV...East Ham,GLC '65, & London'74,

HJ...Southend, & Chelmsford from '74, HW...Bristol,

HK...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74, HX...Middlesex,GLC'74, & London'81,

HL...Wakefield, & Sheffield from '74, HY...Bristol,

HM...East ham,GLC'65, & London '74.

I ( and Z ) issued originally in Northern Ireland.

JA...Stockport, & Manchester from '74, JN...Southend, & Chelmsford from '74,

JB...Berkshire C.C., & Reading from '74, JO...Oxford

JC...Caernarvon, & Bangor from '74, JP...Wigan,Warrington '74,Liverpool '81,

JD...West Ham,GLC '65,London '74, JR...Northumberland, Newcastle '74,

JE...IoEly,Cambridgeshire '65,Peterboro''74, JS...Ross, Stornoway'74, Inverness'81,

JF...Leicester JT...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,

JG...Canterbury, Maidstone from '81, JU...Leicester

JH...Hertfordshire, & Reading from '74, JV..Grimsby, & Lincoln '74,

JJ...London, Canterbury '74,Maidstone '81, JW...Wolverhampton, Birmingham '74,

JK...Eastbourne,Hastings '74,Brighton '81, JX...Halifax, & Huddersfield '74,

JL...Holland, Boston '74, Lincoln '81, JY...Plymouth, & Exeter from '81,

JM...Westmorland, & Reading from '74.

KA...Liverpool KN...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,

KB...Liverpool KO...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,

KC...Liverpool KP...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,

KD...Liverpool KR...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,

KE...Kent, & Maidstone from '74, KS...Roxborough,Selkirk'74,Edinburgh'81

KF...Liverpool KT...Kent,Canterbury'74,Maidstone'81,

KG...Cardiff KU...Bradford, & Sheffield from '74,

KH...Kingston-on-Hull KV...Coventry

KJ...Kent, & Maidstone from '74, KW...Bradford, & Sheffield from '74,

KK...Kent,& Maidstone from '74 KX...Buckinghamshire, Luton from '74,

KL...Kent, Maidstone from '74, KY...Bradford, Sheffield from '74,

KM...Kent, Maidstone from '74.

LA...London LN...London

LB...London LO...London

LC...London LP...London

LD...London LR...London

LE...London LS...Selkirk,& Stirling '74,Edinburgh '81,

LF...London LT...London

LG...Cheshire,Chester, LU...London

LH...London LV...Liverpool

LJ...Bournemouth LW...London

LK...London LX...London

LL...London LY...London

LM...London, (All London on 'L' is N.W.)

MA...Cheshire,Chester MN...IoMan only,

MB...Cheshire,Chester MO..Berks, & Reading from '74,

MC...Middlesex C.C., London from '74, MP...Middlesex, London from '74,

MD...Middlesex, London from '74 MR..Wiltshire, Swindon from '74,

ME...Middlesex,London from '74, MS...Stirling, & Edinburgh from '81,

MF...Middlesex,London from '74, MT...Middlesex,London from '74,

MG...Middlesex, London from '74 MU...Middlesex,London from '74,

MH...Middlesex, London from '74, MV...Middelsex, London from '74,

MJ...Bedfordshire, Luton from '74 MW...Wiltshire, & Swindon from '74,

MK...Middlesex,London from '74, MX...Middlesex, London from '74,

ML...Middlesex,London from '74, MY...Middlesex, London from '74,

MM...Middlesex, London from '74.

NA...Manchester NN...Nottinghamshire,

NB...Manchester NO...Essex C.C., Chelmsford from '74,

NC...Manchester NP...Worcester

ND...Manchester NR...Leicester,

NE...Manchester NS...Sutherland, & Glasgow from '74,

NF...Manchester NT...Shropshire, Shrewsbury from '74,

NG...Norfolk, Norwich from '74, NU...Derbyshire, Nottingham from '74

NH...Northampton NV...Northampton

NJ...East Sussex, Brighton from '74, NW...Leeds,

NK...Hertfordshire, Luton from '74, NX...Warwickshire C.C.,Dudley '74,

NL...Northumberland, Newcastle from '74, NY...Glamorganshire,Cardiff '74,

NM...Bedfordshire, & Luton from '74.

OA...Birmingham ON...Birmingham,

OB...Birmingham OO...Essex C.C., Chelmsford from '74,

OC...Birmingham OP...Birmingham

OD...Birmingham OR...Hampshire, Portsmouth from '74,

OE...Birmingham OS...Wigton, Stranraer '74,Glasgow'81

OF...Birmingham OT...Hampshire, Portsmouth from '74,

OG...Birmingham OU...Hampshire, & Bristol from '74,

OH...Birmingham OV...Birmingham

OJ...Birmingham OW...Southampton,Portsmouth '74,

OK...Birmingham OX...Birmingham

OL...Birmingham OY...Croydon, & London '74,

OM...Birmingham.

PA...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PN...East Sussex, & Brighton from'74

PB...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PO...West Sussex, & Portsmouth '74,

PC...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PP...Buckinghamshire,Luton from '74

PD...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PR...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,

PE...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PS...Zetland,Lerwick'74,Aberdeen'81

PF...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PT...Durham, & Newcastle from '81,

PG...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PU...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,

PH...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PV...Ipswich,

PJ...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PW...Norfolk, Norwich from '74,

PK...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PX...West Sussex, Portsmouth '74,

PL...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PY...Yorkshire, & Middlesboro' '74,

PM...East Sussex, & Guildford from '74.

Q not used by any county/office.

RA...Derbyshire,& Nottingham from '74, RN...Preston,

RB...Derbyshire, & Nottingham from '74, RO...Hertfordshire, & Luton from '74,

RC...Derby, & Nottingham from '74, RP...Northampton,

RD...Reading, RR...Nottingham,

RE...Staffordshire, & Stoke on Trent '74, RS...Aberdeen,

RF...Staffordshire, & Stoke on Trent '74, RT...East Suffolk, & Ipswich from '74,

RG...Aberdeen, & Newcastle from '74, RU...Bournemouth,

RH...Kingston on Hull, Hull from '74. RV...Portsmouth,

RJ...Salford, & Manchester from '74, RW...Coventry,

RK...Croydon, London from '74, RX...Berkshire, & Reading from '74,

RL...Cornwall, & Truro from '74, RY...Leicester,

RM...Cumberland, & Carlisle from '74.

SA...Aberdeen SN...Dunbarton C.C., & Dundee from '74,

SB...Argyll, Oban from '74, Glasgow '81, SO...Morayshire, & Aberdeen from '74,

SC...Edinburgh SP...Fife, & Dundee from '74,

SD...Ayreshire, & Glasgow from '81, SR...Angus, & Dundee from '74,

SE...Banff, Keith from '74, Aberdeen '81, SS...East Lothian, Aberdeen from '74,

SF....Edinburgh ST...Inverness

SG...Edinburgh SU...Kincardine, Glasgow from '74,***

SH...Berwick,Selkirk from '74,Edinburgh '81, SV...Kinross, not used after '74 ***

SJ...Bute C.C.,Ayr '74, & Glasgow from '81, SW..Kirkudbright,Dumfries'74Carlisle'81

SK...Caithness,Wick'74,Inverness'81,*** SX...West Lothian, Edinburgh from '81.

SL...Clackmanan, Dundee from '74, SY...Midlothian CC,

SM...Dumfries, & Carlisle from '74. *** now on age related plates only***

TA...Devon, & Exeter from '74, TN...Newcastle on Tyne,

TB...Lancashire, Warrington '74,Liverpool'81, TO...Nottingham,

TC...Lancashire to '74, then Bristol, TP...Portsmouth,

TD...Lancashire, & Bolton'74,Manchester'81,TR...Southampton, & Portsmouth'74,

TE...Lancashire, & Bolton'74,Manchester'81, TS...Dundee,

TF...Lancashire to '74, then Reading, TT...Devonshire, then Exeter from '74,

TG...Glamorgan, & Cardiff from '74, TU...Cheshire, Chester from '74,

TH...Carmathen, & Swansea from '74, TV...Nottingham,

TJ...Lancashire, & Liverpool from '74. TW...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,

TK...Dorset, Plymouth from '74,Exeter '81, TX...Glamorgan, Cardiff from '74,

TL...Kesteven,Lincs, then Lincoln '74, TY...Northumberland, & Newcastle '74,

TM...Bedfordshire, & Luton from '74.

UA...Leeds, UN...Denbigh,Barnstaple '74,Exeter '81,

UB...Leeds, UO...Devon, Barnstaple '74,Exeter '81,

UC...London, UP...Durham, Newcastle '81,

UD...Oxford, UR...Herts, & Luton from '74,

UE...Warwickshire, Dudley from '74, US...Govan, Glasgow from '33,

UF...Brighton, UT...Leicester,

UG...Leeds, UU...London,

UH...Cardiff, UV...London,

UJ...Shropshire, Shrewsbury '74, UW...London,

UK...Wolverhampton, Birmingham from '74, UX..Shropshire, Shrewsbury '74,

UL...London, UY...Worcester,

UM...Leeds.

VA...Lanark,Cambridge '74,Peterboro''81, VN...Yorks.N.R., Middlesboro''74,

VB...Croydon,London'65,Canterbury'74,Maidstone'81, VO...Nottingham,

VC...Coventry, VP...Birmingham,

VD...Lanark, Luton'74, VR...Manchester,

VE...Cambridgeshire, Peterborough from '81, VS...Greenock; & Luton from '74,***

VF...Norfolk, Norwich from '74, VT...Stoke on Trent,

VG...Norwich, VU...Manchester,

VH...Huddersfield, VV...Northampton,

VJ...Hereford, Gloucester from '81, VW...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,

VK...Newcastle on Tyne, VX...Essex, Chelmsford from '74,

VL...Lincoln, VY...York, Leeds from '74,

VM...Manchester, *** Used as Age related plates only now***

WA...Sheffield, WN...Swansea,

WB...Sheffield, WO...Monmouth, & Cardiff '74,

WC...Essex, Chelmsford from '74, WP...Worcester,

WD...Warwickshire, & Dudley '74, WR...Yorks W.R., Leeds from '74,

WE...Sheffield, WS...Leith,Edinburgh'74, Bristol '81,

WF...Yorks.E.R., Sheffield '74, WT...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,

WG...Stirlingshire, & Sheffield from '74, WU...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,

WH...Bolton, Manchester from '81, WV...Wiltshire, & Brighton '74,

WJ...Sheffield, WW...Wiltshire, & Brighton '74,

WK...Coventry, WX...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,

WL...Oxford, WY...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,

WM...Southport, Liverpool from '74.

X series, all London, except...

XG...Middlesbrough,Teesside '74. XS...Paisley.

None now in use.

YA...Somerset, Taunton '74, YN...London,

YB...Somerset, Taunton '74, YO...London,

YC...Somerset, Taunton '74, YP...London,

YD...Somerset, Taunton '74, YR...London,

YE...London, YS...London,

YF...London, YT...London,

YG...Yorks W.R., Leeds from '74, YU...London,

YH...London, YV...London,

YJ...Dundee, & Brighton from '74, YW...London,

YK...London, YX...London,

YL...London, YY...London,

YM...London.

Z ( and I ) originally used in Northern Ireland.

Suffix marks introduced in 1963, but not all authorities used them until late in 1964. Starting dates.....

SUFFIX A 01.02.63 PREFIX A 01.08.83

B 01.01.64 B 01.08.84

C 01.01.65 C 01.08.85

D 01.01.66 D 01.08.86

E 01.01.67 E 01.08.87

F 01.08.67 F 01.08.88

G 01.08.68 G 01.08.89

H 01.08.69 H 01.08.90

J 01.08.70 J 01.08.91

K 01.08.71 K 01.08.92

L 01.08.72 L 01.08.93

M 01.08.73 M 01.08.94

N 01.08.74 N 01.08.95

P 01.08.75 P 01.08.96

'Q' plates arrived 01.08.83 R 01.08.97

R 01.08.76 S 01.08.98

S 01.08.77

T 01.08.78

V 01.08.79 ( No 'U')

W 01.08.80

X 01.08.81

Y 01.08.82

NOTE.......An excellent book, now out of print, but often available from a library, is by Phillip Riden, Trace the History of Your Car, 1991. ISBN 1 873361 05 X. This goes into which authorities have kept records, ( many of which have not,) with addresses you can write to to obtain a copy of your cars initial registration.

'Q' plate simply means a vehicle of undetermined origin.

Today, with the selling of registration plates by Swansea, tracing is not so easy any more.

Made in England