UK Number Plate Area Codes [Updated 2025]

Uk Number plate

Ever spotted a cool car on the street and wondered where it’s from? UK license plate numbers are pretty unique compared to those of other countries. If you know how to read the plate, it will be easier to guess which area they are coming from.

Most drivers see the license plate as just ordinary letters and numbers. But these characters reveal where the car was registered, when it hit the road for the first time, and can even reveal its past.

If you’re buying a used car, understanding the UK number plate area codes and decoding the plate could help you spot red flags. Or maybe you’re eyeing a personalised plate and want it to reflect your roots. 

Let’s explore what UK car registration area codes are all about and how they can help you make smarter car choices.

Understanding Car Registration Area Codes

In the UK, each number plate starts with two letters that point to where the car was first registered. These are called area codes or local memory tags. Think of them as postcodes, showing the region’s code issued by the DVLA. 

For example, if you see “LA” at the start of the plate, it means that the car was manufactured in London.

These codes make it easier for authorities to track and manage vehicle registrations. But they’re also useful for you, especially when buying second-hand cars. With the right car history check, you can cross-reference the area code with the vehicle’s recorded location.

Current Number Plates Area

Modern UK plates follow a format introduced in 2001: AA11 AAA. The first two letters refer to the area codes, showing where the vehicle was registered.

Here’s how reading number plates works: 

  • The first letter refers to a broad region.
  • The second letter narrows it to a specific DVLA office within that region.

So, a plate starting with MA was registered in Manchester, while the “RA” codes originated from Reading. It’s a smart system to keep things organized while helping car buyers quickly understand the vehicle’s origin. 

Want to check if your car’s emissions match the region’s environmental rules? Use our handy ULEZ compliance tool.

Number Plate Memory Tags

The numbers that follow the area code aren’t random either. They’re called memory tags and tell you when the car was registered.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

  • Registrations from March to August use the last two digits of the year. For example, a car registered in March 2023 will have 23.
  • September to February registrations add 50 to the year digits. So September 2023 becomes 73.

This helps track a car’s age at a glance. Memory tags are vital when checking a car’s value or determining whether it meets certain rules, such as CO2 emissions compliance.

A Full List of Car Registration Areas

Here’s a quick overview of UK number plate area codes, by region:

Regional IdentifiersRegionDVLA Office
AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AJ, AK, AL, AM, ANAngliaPeterborough
AO, AP, AR, AS, AT, AUAngliaNorwich
AV, AW, AX, AYAngliaIpswich
BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK, BL, BM, BN, BO, BP, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BYBirminghamBirmingham
CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, COCymruCardiff
CP, CR, CS, CT, CU, CVCymruSwansea
CW, CX, CYCymruBangor
DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DG, DH, DJ, DKDeeside to ShrewsburyChester
DL, DM, DN, DO, DP, DR, DS, DT, DU, DV, DW, DX, DYDeeside to ShrewsburyShrewsbury
EA, EB, EC, ED, EE, EF, EG, EH, EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EO, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EV, EW, EX, EYEssexChelmsford
FA, FB, FC, FD, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FL, FM, FN, FPForest and FensNottingham
FR, FS, FT, FV, FW, FX, FYForest and FensLincoln
GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, GF, GG, GH, GJ, GK, GL, GM, GN, GOGarden of EnglandMaidstone
GP, GR, GS, GT, GU, GV, GX, GYGarden of EnglandBrighton
HA, HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HH, HJHampshire and DorsetBournemouth
HK, HL, HM, HN, HO, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HYHampshire and DorsetPortsmouth
HWHampshire and DorsetPortsmouth (Used exclusively for the Isle of Wight)
KA, KB, KC, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ, KK, KLLuton
KM, KN, KO, KP, KR, KS, KT, KU, KV, KW, KX, KYNorthampton
LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LJLondonWimbledon
LK, LL, LM, LN, LO, LP, LR, LS, LTLondonStanmore
LU, LV, LW, LX, LYLondonSidcup
MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, MX, MYManchester and MerseysideManchester
NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NL, NM, NN, NONorthNewcastle
NP, NR, NS, NT, NU, NV, NW, NX, NYNorthStockton
OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OJ, OK, OL, OM, ON, OO, OP, OR, OS, OT, OU, OV, OW, OX, OYOxfordOxford
PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PM, PN, PO, PP, PR, PS, PTPrestonPreston
PU, PV, PW, PX, PYPrestonCarlisle
RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RH, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RN, RO, RP, RR, RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RYReadingReading
SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJScotlandGlasgow
SK, SL, SM, SN, SOScotlandEdinburgh
SP, SR, SS, STScotlandDundee
SU, SV, SWScotlandAberdeen
SX, SYScotlandInverness
VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VG, VH, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN, VO, VP, VR, VS, VT, VU, VV, VW, VX, VYSevern ValleyWorcester
WA, WB, WC, WD, WE, WF, WG, WH, WJWest of EnglandExeter
WK, WLWest of EnglandTruro
WM, WN, WO, WP, WR, WS, WT, WU, WV, WW, WX, WYWest of EnglandBristol
YA, YB, YC, YD, YE, YF, YG, YH, YJ, YKYorkshireLeeds
YL, YM, YN, YO, YP, YR, YS, YT, YUYorkshireSheffield
YV, YW, YX, YYYorkshireBeverley

Northern Ireland uses a completely different format. The plates there don’t follow the mainland system. You can use these area tags to see where a car came from—just match the letters with the region.

If driving in London, check whether your car meets ULEZ requirements.

What About the Old Plate Number Area?

Before 2001, the UK used a different registration format, a single letter for the year, followed by area codes. For example, a plate like A123 XYZ was registered in 1983.

Older areas usually use various variations that indicate a specific county or city. This system worked fine, but it had limits. Tracking and issuing unique plates became harder as the number of vehicles grew.

The update in 2001 introduced the current format, simplifying date and area identification. If you’re checking the history of an older vehicle, you can still trace it using the old area code and a detailed car check. 

Are you curious about the old plate number area styles? We’ve compiled the data across the UK below.

Sections A, B, and C

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation
ALondonBLancashireCWest Yorkshire
AABournemouthBAManchesterCAChester
ABWorcesterBBNewcastle-upon-TyneCBManchester
ACCoventryBCLeicesterCCBangor
ADGloucesterBDNorthamptonCDBrighton
AEBristolBELincolnCEPeterborough
AFTruroBFStoke-on-TrentCFReading
AGHullBGLiverpoolCGBournemouth
AHNorwichBHLutonCHNottingham
AJMiddlesbroughBJIpswichCJGloucester
AKSheffieldBKPortsmouthCKPreston
ALNottinghamBLReadingCLNorwich
AMSwindonBMLutonCMLiverpool
ANReadingBNManchester or BoltonCNNewcastle-upon-Tyne
AOCarlisleBOCardiffCOExeter
APBrightonBPPortsmouthCPHuddersfield
ARChelmsfordBRNewcastle-upon-TyneCRSouthampton
ASInvernessBSAberdeenCSGlasgow
ATHullBTLeedsCTLincoln
AUNottinghamBUManchesterCUNewcastle-upon-Tyne
AVPeterboroughBVPrestonCVTruro
AWShrewsburyBWOxfordCWPreston
AXCardiffBXHaverfordwestCXHuddersfield
AYLeicesterBYLondon (North-West)CYSwansea
AZBelfastBZCounty DownCZBelfast

Section D, E, F

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation
DKentEStaffordshireFEssex
DABirminghamEADudleyFAStoke-on-Trent
DBManchesterEBPeterboroughFBBristol
DCMiddlesbroughECPrestonFCOxford
DDGloucesterEDLiverpoolFDDudley
DEHaverfordwestEELincolnFELincoln
DFGloucesterEFMiddlesbroughFFBangor
DGGloucesterEGPeterboroughFGBrighton
DHDudleyEHStoke-on-TrentFHGloucester
DJLiverpoolEJHaverfordwestFJExeter
DKRochdale, later ManchesterEKLiverpoolFKDudley
DLPortsmouthELBournemouthFLPeterborough
DMChesterEMLiverpoolFMChester
DNLeedsENBury, later ManchesterFNMaidstone
DOLincolnEOPrestonFOGloucester
DPReadingEPSwanseaFPLeicester
DRExeterERPeterboroughFRPreston
DSGlasgowESDundeeFSEdinburgh
DTSheffieldETSheffieldFTNewcastle-upon-Tyne
DUCoventryEUBristolFULincoln
DVExeterEVChelmsfordFVPreston
DWCardiffEWPeterboroughFWLincoln
DXIpswichEXNorwichFXBournemouth
DYBrightonEYBangorFYLiverpool
DZCounty AntrimEZBelfastFZBelfast

Section G, H, J

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation
GGlasgowHLondonJDurham
GAGlasgowHADudleyJAManchester
GBGlasgowHBCardiffJBReading
GCLondon (South-West)HCBrightonJCBangor
GDGlasgowHDHuddersfieldJDLondon (Central)
GEGlasgowHESheffieldJEPeterborough
GFLondon (South-West)HFLiverpoolJFLeicester
GGGlasgowHGPrestonJGMaidstone
GHLondon (South-West)HHCarlisleJHReading
GJLondon (South-West)HJChelmsfordJJMaidstone
GKLondon (South-West)HKChelmsfordJKBrighton
GLTruroHLSheffieldJLLincoln
GMReadingHMLondon (Central)JMReading
GNLondon (South-West)HNMiddlesbroughJNChelmsford
GOLondon (South-West)HOBournemouthJOOxford
GPLondon (South-West)HPCoventryJPLiverpool
GRNewcastle-upon-TyneHRSwindonJRNewcastle-upon-Tyne
GSLutonHSGlasgowJSInverness
GTLondon (South-West)HTBristolJTBournemouth
GULondon (South-East)HUBristolJULeicester
GVIpswichHVLondon (Central)JVLincoln
GWLondon (South-East)HWBristolJWBirmingham
GXLondon (South-East)HXLondon (Central)JXHuddersfield
GYLondon (South-East)HYBristolJYExeter
GZBelfastJZCounty Down

Section K, L, M

PrefixLocationPrefixLocation (Note: L prefixes for London County Council before 1965)PrefixLocation
KLiverpoolLGlamorganshireMCheshire
KALiverpoolLALondon (North-West)MAChester
KBLiverpoolLBLondon (North-West)MBChester
KCLiverpoolLCLondon (North-West)MCLondon (North-East)
KDLiverpoolLDLondon (North-West)MDLondon (North-East)
KEMaidstoneLELondon (North-West)MELondon (North-East)
KFLiverpoolLFLondon (North-West)MFLondon (North-East)
KGCardiffLGChesterMGLondon (North-East)
KHHullLHLondon (North-West)MHLondon (North-East)
KJMaidstoneKJBournemouthMJLuton
KKMaidstoneLKLondon (North-West)MKLondon (North-East)
KLMaidstoneLLLondon (North-West)MLLondon (North-East)
KMMaidstoneLMLondon (North-West)MMLondon (North-East)
KNMaidstoneLNLondon (North-West)MNused in the Isle of Man
KOMaidstoneLOLondon (North-West)MOReading
KPMaidstoneLPLondon (North-West)MPLondon (North-East)
KRMaidstoneLRLondon (North-West)MRSwindon
KSEdinburghLSEdinburghMSEdinburgh
KTMaidstoneLTLondon (North-West)MTLondon (North-East)
KUSheffieldLULondon (North-West)MULondon (North-East)
KVCoventryLVLiverpoolMVLondon (North-East)
KWSheffieldLWLondon (North-West)MWSwindon
KXLutonLXLondon (North-West)MXLondon (North-East)
KYSheffieldLYLondon (North-West)MYLondon (North-East)
KZCounty AntrimLZCounty ArmaghMZBelfast

Section N, O, P

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation (Note: PO formerly used for General Post Office vehicles)
NManchesterOBirminghamPSurrey
NAManchesterOABirminghamPAGuildford
NBManchesterOBBirminghamPBGuildford
NCManchesterOCBirminghamPCGuildford
NDManchesterODExeterPDGuildford
NEManchesterOEBirminghamPEGuildford
NFManchesterOFBirminghamPFGuildford
NGNorwichOGBirminghamPGGuildford
NHNorthamptonOHBirminghamPHGuildford
NJBrightonOIBelfastPJGuildford
NKLutonOJBirminghamPKGuildford
NLNewcastle-upon-TyneOKBirminghamPLGuildford
NMLutonOLBirminghamPMGuildford
NNNottinghamOMBirminghamPNBrighton
NOChelmsfordONBirminghamPOPortsmouth
NPWorcesterOOChelmsfordPPLuton
NRLeicesterOPBirminghamPRBournemouth
NSGlasgowORPortsmouthPSAberdeen
NTShrewsburyOSGlasgowPTNewcastle-upon-Tyne
NUNottinghamOTPortsmouthPUChelmsford
NVNorthamptonOUBristolPVIpswich
NWLeedsOVBirminghamPWNorwich
NXDudleyOWSouthamptonPXPortsmouth
NYCardiffOXBirminghamPYMiddlesbrough
NZCounty Londonderry/DerryOYLondon (North-West)PZBelfast
OZBelfast

Section R, S, T

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation
RDerbyshireSEdinburghTDevon
RANottinghamSAAberdeenTAExeter
RBNottinghamSBGlasgowTBLiverpool
RCNottinghamSCEdinburghTCBristol
RDReadingSDGlasgowTDManchester
REStoke-on-TrentSEAberdeenTEManchester
RFStoke-on-TrentSFEdinburghTFReading
RGNewcastle-upon-TyneSGEdinburghTGCardiff
RHHullSHEdinburghTHSwansea
RJManchesterSJGlasgowTJLiverpool
RKLondon (North-West)SKInvernessTKExeter
RLTruroSLDundeeTLLincoln
RMCarlisleSMCarlisleTMLuton
RNPrestonSNDundeeTNNewcastle-upon-Tyne
ROLutonSOAberdeenTONottingham
RPNorthamptonSPDundeeTPPortsmouth
RRNottinghamSRDundeeTRSouthampton
RSAberdeenSSAberdeenTSDundee
RTIpswichSTInvernessTTExeter
RUBournemouthSUGlasgowTUChester
RVPortsmouthSWCarlisleTVNottingham
RWCoventrySXEdinburghTWChelmsford
RXReadingTXCardiff
RYLeicesterTYNewcastle-upon-Tyne
RZCounty AntrimTZBelfast

Section U

PrefixLocationPrefixLocationPrefixLocation
ULeedsVLanarkshireWSheffield
UALeedsVAPeterboroughWASheffield
UBLeedsVBMaidstoneWBSheffield
UCLondon (Central)VCCoventryWCChelmsford
UDOxfordVDLanarkshire/LutonWDDudley
UEDudleyVEPeterboroughWESheffield
UFBrightonVFNorwichWFSheffield
UGLeedsVGNorwichWGSheffield
UHCardiffVHHuddersfieldWHManchester or Bolton
UICounty Londonderry/DerryVJGloucesterWJSheffield
UJShrewsburyVKNewcastle-upon-TyneWKCoventry
UKBirminghamVLLincolnWLOxford
ULLondon (Central)VMManchesterWMLiverpool
UMLeedsVNMiddlesbroughWNSwansea
UNExeterVONottinghamWOCardiff
UOExeterVPBirminghamWPWorcester
UPNewcastle-upon-TyneVRManchesterWRLeeds
URLutonVSLutonWSBristol
USGlasgowVTStoke-on-TrentWTLeeds
UTLeicesterVUManchesterWULeeds
UULondon (Central)VVNorthamptonWVBrighton
UVLondon (Central)VWChelmsfordWWLeeds
UWLondon (Central)VXChelmsfordWXLeeds
UXShrewsburyVYLeedsWYLeeds
UYWorcesterVZCounty TyroneWZBelfast
UZBelfast

Section X

PrefixLocationPrefixLocation
XNorthumberlandYSomerset
XIBelfastYATaunton
XZCounty ArmaghYBTaunton

How Do These Codes Apply to a Personalized Plate Number?

Personalized license plates are popular in the UK. However, they must follow the DVLA rules, including using area codes. 

You can use a customized license plate that starts with your area code. For example, if you are living in Manchester, you should start your license plate with MA. It is a nice touch of personality, breaking the rules. 

However, you can’t use a plate that makes a car look newer than it is. For instance, you can’t put a “24” plate on a 2020 vehicle. That’s why checking the age tag and area code when picking a custom plate is important. 

Conclusion

Plate numbers on a vehicle are more than just an identification number; they are like the vehicle identification number. They tell you where the car was born, how old it is, and whether it might meet certain legal standards. Understanding UK car registration area codes helps you buy smarter, personalize better, and stay compliant. If you’re ever in doubt, Smart Car Check has the tools to help—from ULEZ checks to full tax band lookups. Your number plate has a story. Now you know how to read it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many digits are in the UK license plate number?

Great Britain’s vehicle registration system, implemented on September 1, 2001, uses seven-character plates with a specific format. The first two letters represent a local area code indicating the registration office.

What plate number is banned in the UK?

Vehicle registration plates ending in ‘ARS’ or ‘DAM’ are prohibited. Unacceptable plates include JE55 US, 15 LAM, OS55 AMA, BO18 CKS, and BU18 SHT. Explicit references to SEX, ASS, and BNP are also banned, along with others such as DO67 GER, AS62 OLE, DR12 UGS, and TE12 ROR.

What is the 3-digit number on the license plate?

The DVLA issues 3-digit number plates as a subset of their dateless registration options. These dateless plates commonly feature a combination of 1-4 letters and 1-4 numbers, which explains why 3-digit plates are sometimes called “3 by 1”.

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