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Can anybody explain the logic behind the new system of registration numbers? Last year the new system started with XX51XXX. From 1st March they became XX01XXX, and on 1st September they will go up one digit to XX02XXX. I believe at some stage they will become XX61XXX. As starting at 01 and increasing by 1 every six months will give enough combinations to last forty five and a half years, why the hell didn't they do just that, or have I missed some important point?
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I cynically believe it was because using a 5 allows the maxium creative use for 'Prat Plates'! The dvla then make money which would otherwise be collected under other government inspired funding schemes. At least this way it is a discretionary contribution to government funds.
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Thought the idea was from 1st March they became 02, then 52 in September, 03 next March and so on, ie they match the year. 51 stands alone 'cos of when the old letters ran out. Don't know the gameplan after 2010, perhaps thats whn the 6 kicks in.
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In 2049, the plates will be 49 @ 1/3/2049 and 99 @ 1/9/2049. At that point, the sequence runs out and something new will be req'd. 60 is the code for 1/9/2010.
02 = 1/3/2002
52 = 1/9/2002
03= 1/3/2003
53 - 1/9/2003 etc. etc.
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You're not alone in your confusion...
www.sniffpetrol.com/issue003.html
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After 2049, they will apparently be reversed in the format *** 51** allowing another 50 years use.
Paul C
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As there are so few cars left with the original no.s eg. XYZ123A why couldn't they have reused those? If I was asked to remember a new number an hour or so after an incident I would find it very hard.
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As a "Johnny Foreigner" for the past few years, the UK licensing system seems ridiculous to me.
Firstly, too much emphasis is placed on the "Y-reg" aspect - and the motor trade goes silly for a few weeks when the new plates come out ...
Secondly, unless you are a real spotter, you have no clue where the car in front of you comes from...
Here, a CA plate (mine is CA 774 624) means the car is a cape town car. CY is bellville, CK in Atlantis etc.
People from outside the province have different plates - mostly in the format ABC 123- and then the suffix (GP for Gauteng, NW for northwest, KZ for Kwazulu Natal, EC for eastern cape etc)
At least when you see a 'foreigner', you know to be careful near him - he's likely to be lost, and prone to do silly things!!!
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Ian,
this is the same as we have just adopted, the first two letters of the reg tell you where the car was first registered, although obviously cherished numbers do not necessarily take the prefix for where they were first registered.
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Maybe my age is the reason, but its not really that different is it?
Can you honnestly say that you could remember, say, Y169GWL a week after, yet you could not remember YT02GWL?
I quess you lot grew up with the 'old' style plate and you try to read new pates as such, but I think a very good system.
If you see a 51 plate, you will eventually [I do already] realise it was registered Sept 01, how old is a M reg car now, without thinking about it? Huh?
Put down your prejudice for change and accept that it is better.
Kev
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M is Aug 94 to july 95.
You're wrong about 51 being Sept 01, it's anytime between Sept 01 and March 02.
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