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Registration Date · Vehicle Age

Vehicle Registration Date & Number Plate Year Guide

Find out when a car was first registered, what its UK number plate says about its age, and why the registration date may differ from the manufacture date. This guide explains current number plate year identifiers and how to check the exact DVLA registration date.

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Abstract stylised UK number plate format diagram showing white front and yellow rear plates as glowing outlines with no readable registration
Quick answer

How Registration Dates Work

A vehicle's registration date is the date it was first registered with a licensing authority. In the UK, the exact date appears on the V5C logbook and can also be checked using official DVLA vehicle data. Number plates issued since September 2001 contain a two-digit age identifier: March plates use the year, while September plates use the year plus 50. For example, a 22 plate was issued from March to August 2022, while a 72 plate was issued from September 2022 to February 2023.

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Plate format

How UK Number Plates Encode Age

The current UK number plate format (introduced in September 2001) uses a two-digit age identifier in positions 3 and 4. Use the third and fourth characters of a current-format UK registration to estimate when the vehicle was first registered.

Age identifierRegistration periodExample plate
20March–August 2020AB20 XYZ
70September 2020–February 2021AB70 XYZ
21March–August 2021AB21 XYZ
71September 2021–February 2022AB71 XYZ
22March–August 2022AB22 XYZ
72September 2022–February 2023AB72 XYZ
23March–August 2023AB23 XYZ
73September 2023–February 2024AB73 XYZ
24March–August 2024AB24 XYZ
74September 2024–February 2025AB74 XYZ
25March–August 2025AB25 XYZ
75September 2025–February 2026AB75 XYZ
26March–August 2026AB26 XYZ
76September 2026–February 2027AB76 XYZ

The pattern: March plates = last two digits of the year. September plates = last two digits + 50.

The number plate identifies the registration period, not the exact day. Use the V5C or an official vehicle-data check for the exact date of first registration.

72 plate

What Does a 72 Plate Mean?

A 72 plate was first issued between 1 September 2022 and the end of February 2023. The '72' identifier is calculated by adding 50 to the year number 22. It shows the registration period, not the exact date the car was registered.

22 plate

March–August 2022

72 plate

September 2022–February 2023

23 plate

March–August 2023

73 plate

September 2023–February 2024

Finding the date

How to Find a Car's Exact Registration Date

The number plate usually reveals the six-month registration period, but it does not reveal the exact registration day. To find the exact date of first registration, check:

01

The V5C logbook — see the 'Date of first registration' field

02

An official DVLA vehicle-information lookup

03

The vehicle's MotR report, which displays available DVLA registration data

For imported vehicles, check both the first registration date and the date of first registration in the UK, because these may be different.

Check a Vehicle's Registration Date
Manufacture vs registration

Registration Date vs Manufacture Date

A car can be manufactured months or even years before its first UK registration, particularly when it is imported, pre-registered, stored by a dealer or registered as a historic vehicle. The manufacture date is when the vehicle was physically built at the factory. The registration date is when it was first registered with a licensing authority — the DVLA in the UK, or the equivalent body abroad for imported vehicles. For most new UK-sold cars, these dates are within weeks of each other. But for used imports, pre-registered dealer cars, and classic vehicles, the gap can be significant.

New cars from UK dealers: registration and manufacture dates are typically within weeks of each other
Ex-demo or pre-registered cars: dealer registers the car before sale, so it is technically 'older' than a privately purchased new car
Grey imports: manufactured abroad, registered in the UK later — potentially months or years gap
Classic imports: re-registered in UK with a UK plate, but may be decades older than the plate implies
Always check the V5C for 'date of first registration' to get the actual registration date vs manufacture year
Compliance

How the Registration Date Affects MOT and Road Tax

The date of first registration directly determines two important compliance deadlines:

MOT due date

A vehicle's first MOT is due on the third anniversary of its date of first registration. After that, the MOT is due annually on the same date. A car registered on 15 March 2022 needs its first MOT by 15 March 2025. Check your exact MOT due date or use the free MOT checker.

Road tax (VED) system

Cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017 normally pay a first-year rate based on CO₂ emissions, followed by the standard annual rate. The standard rate for 2026–27 is £200, although an additional Expensive Car Supplement may apply depending on the original list price and registration date. Cars registered before April 2017 remain under the earlier CO₂ or engine-size systems. Check your vehicle tax.

Historic vehicle exemption

Vehicles first registered over 40 years ago may qualify for MOT exemption and the historic vehicle tax class (£0 VED). The exemption is rolling — in 2026, vehicles registered in 1986 or earlier generally qualify.
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Questions & answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my car's date of first registration?
The exact date of first registration is printed in Section 1 of the V5C logbook, labelled 'Date first registered in the UK'. It also appears on the V5C/2 new-keeper slip. If you don't have the V5C, run a free DVLA-backed vehicle check using just the registration number — the MotR report shows the registration date alongside MOT and tax status.
What year is my number plate?
Current-format UK plates issued since September 2001 use a two-digit age identifier in positions 3 and 4. March plates use the last two digits of the year (22 = March–August 2022), while September plates add 50 (72 = September 2022–February 2023). This identifies the six-month registration period, not the exact day.
What does a 72 plate mean?
A 72 plate was first issued between 1 September 2022 and 28 February 2023. The '72' identifier is the year number 22 plus 50, following the September-plate rule introduced in 2001. It shows the registration period only — not the exact date the car was registered, which is recorded on the V5C.
Can I find the exact registration date from the number plate alone?
No. The plate only reveals the six-month registration period — March–August or September–February. A 72 plate was registered between September 2022 and February 2023, but not on a specific day. For the exact date of first registration, check the V5C logbook or use a DVLA-backed vehicle check.
What is the difference between registration date and manufacture date?
The manufacture date is when the car was physically built. The registration date is when it was first registered with a licensing authority. For new UK-sold cars these are usually within weeks, but for imports, pre-registered dealer cars and historic vehicles the gap can be months or even years.
Where on the V5C is the date of first registration?
The date of first registration appears in Section 1 of the V5C logbook, labelled 'Date first registered in the UK'. It is also on the V5C/2 green new-keeper supplement. Without the V5C, a free DVLA-backed vehicle check using the registration number returns the same date.
What is the vehicle registration date?
The vehicle registration date — also called the date of first registration — is the date the vehicle was first registered with a licensing authority, such as the DVLA in the UK or an equivalent body abroad for imports. It is recorded on the V5C and in DVLA vehicle data, and differs from the manufacture date.
Why might a car be older than its registration suggests?
A car can be manufactured months or even years before it is first registered, especially if it is imported, pre-registered by a dealer, stored before sale, or registered as a historic vehicle. Japanese imports in particular may be built years before their UK first registration date, so the plate understates the true age.
Does the registration date affect when my MOT is due?
Yes. A vehicle's first MOT is due on the third anniversary of its date of first registration, then annually on the same date. A car first registered on 15 March 2022 needs its first MOT by 15 March 2025. Check your exact MOT due date with the free MotR MOT checker.
Does the registration date affect road tax (VED)?
Yes. The DVLA uses the date of first registration to decide which VED system applies. Cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a first-year CO₂-based rate, then the 2026–27 standard rate of £200, with an Expensive Car Supplement possibly applying. Pre-April 2017 cars stay on the earlier CO₂ or engine-size systems.
Does the registration date affect MOT exemption for historic vehicles?
Vehicles first registered more than 40 years ago can qualify for the historic vehicle exemption from MOT and the £0 historic tax class. The exemption is rolling — in 2026, vehicles first registered in 1986 or earlier generally qualify. The vehicle must still be taxed each year and kept roadworthy.
Does the registration date affect insurance cost?
Vehicle age, derived from the registration year, is one factor in insurance pricing, but insurers weigh it alongside driver age, record, vehicle value, repair costs and security features. A newer registration is not automatically cheaper to insure — other rating factors usually matter more.
SR
Ste RobinsonFounder, MotR
··6 min read

Ste Robinson is the founder of MotR, helping UK drivers check MOT history, tax status, vehicle records and ownership information using official DVLA and DVSA data.

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UK number plate age identifiers are set by the DVLA. Registration date is recorded on the V5C and in DVLA vehicle data. MotR is not affiliated with DVLA, DVSA, or GOV.UK. Last reviewed 30 July 2026.

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