Here, we’ll explain everything there is to know car registration areas and the DVLA codes used on number plates in different parts of the UK. Alternatively, you can browse the DVLA records of area codes.
Understanding car registration area codes
To make it easy for the authorities to identify vehicles, every registration mark is actually a code that gives a clue to where that car was registered.
If you look back to the first number plates issued to cars, there was little hope of understanding where that registration was issued unless you had access to DVLA records. More recently though, DVLA number plate codes have become fairly easy to understand.
There are slightly different rules depending on which kind of number plate you’re looking at. Let’s start with current vehicle registrations – the ‘AB01 ABC’ format that was launched in 2001.
Current number plate area codes
Take a glance at a current number plate and it might just look like a series of random letters and numbers – but it’s actually only the final three letters that are randomly generated.
The numbers give you an indication of that year (and the part of the year) the car was registered – and the first two letters actually tell you where in the UK the vehicle first hit the road.
For example – the ‘AB01 ABC’ example we’ve just used would be a car that was registered in 2001 in the Anglia region. What’s more, the area code also tells you which DVLA Office first registered the car too.
These two letters are referred to as a ‘memory tag’ by the DVLA.
Number plate memory tags
Until 2013, the memory tag showed which DVLA office registered the vehicle – however, these regional offices are now all closed and the system is centralised.
Despite this, the DLVA still tend to issue these regional specific number plates to dealers in those areas. As such, if you buy a new car in Yorkshire, it will almost certainly have a registration mark beginning with Y. The same applies to E plates in Essex, O plates in Oxford – and so on.
A full list of car registration areas
Take a look at the codes for all of the UK’s regions and DVLA offices that issued them before 2013:
|
Regional Identifiers |
Region |
DVLA Office |
|
AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AJ, AK, AL, AM, AN |
Anglia |
Peterborough |
|
AO, AP, AR, AS, AT, AU |
Anglia |
Norwich |
|
AV, AW, AX, AY |
Anglia |
Ipswich |
|
BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK, BL, BM, BN, BO, BP, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BY |
Birmingham |
Birmingham |
|
CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, CO |
Cymru |
Cardiff |
|
CP, CR, CS, CT, CU, CV |
Cymru |
Swansea |
|
CW, CX, CY |
Cymru |
Bangor |
|
DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DG, DH, DJ, DK |
Deeside to Shrewsbury |
Chester |
|
DL, DM, DN, DO, DP, DR, DS, DT, DU, DV, DW, DX, DY |
Deeside to Shrewsbury |
Shrewsbury |
|
EA, EB, EC, ED, EE, EF, EG, EH, EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EO, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EV, EW, EX, EY |
Essex |
Chelmsford |
|
FA, FB, FC, FD, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FL, FM, FN, FP |
Forest and Fens |
Nottingham |
|
FR, FS, FT, FV, FW, FX, FY |
Forest and Fens |
Lincoln |
|
GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, GF, GG, GH, GJ, GK, GL, GM, GN, GO |
Garden of England |
Maidstone |
|
GP, GR, GS, GT, GU, GV, GX, GY |
Garden of England |
Brighton |
|
HA, HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HH, HJ |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Bournemouth |
|
HK, HL, HM, HN, HO, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HY |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth |
|
HW |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth (Used exclusively for the Isle of Wight) |
|
KA, KB, KC, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ, KK, KL |
- |
Luton |
|
KM, KN, KO, KP, KR, KS, KT, KU, KV, KW, KX, KY |
- |
Northampton |
|
LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LJ |
London |
Wimbledon |
|
LK, LL, LM, LN, LO, LP, LR, LS, LT |
London |
Stanmore |
|
LU, LV, LW, LX, LY |
London |
Sidcup |
|
MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, MX, MY |
Manchester and Merseyside |
Manchester |
|
NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NL, NM, NN, NO |
North |
Newcastle |
|
NP, NR, NS, NT, NU, NV, NW, NX, NY |
North |
Stockton |
|
OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OJ, OK, OL, OM, ON, OO, OP, OR, OS, OT, OU, OV, OW, OX, OY |
Oxford |
Oxford |
|
PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PM, PN, PO, PP, PR, PS, PT |
Preston |
Preston |
|
PU, PV, PW, PX, PY |
Preston |
Carlisle |
|
RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RH, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RN, RO, RP, RR, RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RY |
Reading |
Reading |
|
SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJ |
Scotland |
Glasgow |
|
SK, SL, SM, SN, SO |
Scotland |
Edinburgh |
|
SP, SR, SS, ST |
Scotland |
Dundee |
|
SU, SV, SW |
Scotland |
Aberdeen |
|
SX, SY |
Scotland |
Inverness |
|
VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VG, VH, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN, VO, VP, VR, VS, VT, VU, VV, VW, VX, VY |
Severn Valley |
Worcester |
|
WA, WB, WC, WD, WE, WF, WG, WH, WJ |
West of England |
Exeter |
|
WK, WL |
West of England |
Truro |
|
WM, WN, WO, WP, WR, WS, WT, WU, WV, WW, WX, WY |
West of England |
Bristol |
|
YA, YB, YC, YD, YE, YF, YG, YH, YJ, YK |
Yorkshire |
Leeds |
|
YL, YM, YN, YO, YP, YR, YS, YT, YU |
Yorkshire |
Sheffield |
|
YV, YW, YX, YY |
Yorkshire |
Beverley |
What about old number plate area codes?
Since our new number plate system has only been around since 2001, it’s not uncommon to see older cars with ‘prefix’ number plates.
These types of plate are a one letter, one-to-three number, then three letter format – like ‘A123 ABC’, for example. In this type of plate, the first letter indicated the car’s registration year – and the final two letters acted as the area code; in this case, BC.
Before these prefix plates came ‘suffix’ plates – which used the same format but backwards. An example of a suffix plate would be ‘ABC 123A’. Here, the final letter indicates the registration year of the car, and the second and third letter indicate the registration region; again, in this case, BC.
The same area codes were used for prefix and suffix plates – so the following chart will help you identify the original location a registration mark comes from. There are a lot of them – so we’ve sorted them into alphabetical order so you can quickly sort through them:
|
A |
|
|
A |
London |
|
AA |
Bournemouth |
|
AB |
Worcester |
|
AC |
Coventry |
|
AD |
Gloucester |
|
AE |
Bristol |
|
AF |
Truro |
|
AG |
Hull |
|
AH |
Norwich |
|
AJ |
Middlesbrough |
|
AK |
Sheffield |
|
AL |
Nottingham |
|
AM |
Swindon |
|
AN |
Reading |
|
AO |
Carlisle |
|
AP |
Brighton |
|
AR |
Chelmsford |
|
AS |
Inverness |
|
AT |
Hull |
|
AU |
Nottingham |
|
AV |
Peterborough |
|
AW |
Shrewsbury |
|
AX |
Cardiff |
|
AY |
Leicester |
|
AZ |
Belfast |
|
B |
|
|
B |
Lancashire |
|
BA |
Manchester |
|
BB |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
BC |
Leicester |
|
BD |
Northampton |
|
BE |
Lincoln |
|
BF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
BG |
Liverpool |
|
BH |
Luton |
|
BJ |
Ipswich |
|
BK |
Portsmouth |
|
BL |
Reading |
|
BM |
Luton |
|
BN |
Manchester or Bolton |
|
BO |
Cardiff |
|
BP |
Portsmouth |
|
BR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
BS |
Aberdeen |
|
BT |
Leeds |
|
BU |
Manchester |
|
BV |
Preston |
|
BW |
Oxford |
|
BX |
Haverfordwest |
|
BY |
London (North-West) |
|
BZ |
County Down |
|
C |
|
|
C |
West Yorkshire |
|
CA |
Chester |
|
CB |
Manchester |
|
CC |
Bangor |
|
CD |
Brighton |
|
CE |
Peterborough |
|
CF |
Reading |
|
CG |
Bournemouth |
|
CH |
Nottingham |
|
CJ |
Gloucester |
|
CK |
Preston |
|
CL |
Norwich |
|
CM |
Liverpool |
|
CN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
CO |
Exeter |
|
CP |
Huddersfield |
|
CR |
Southampton |
|
CS |
Glasgow |
|
CT |
Lincoln |
|
CU |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
CV |
Truro |
|
CW |
Preston |
|
CX |
Huddersfield |
|
CY |
Swansea |
|
CZ |
Belfast |
|
D |
|
|
D |
Kent |
|
DA |
Birmingham |
|
DB |
Manchester |
|
DC |
Middlesbrough |
|
DD |
Gloucester |
|
DE |
Haverfordwest |
|
DF |
Gloucester |
|
DG |
Gloucester |
|
DH |
Dudley |
|
DJ |
Liverpool |
|
DK |
Rochdale, later Manchester |
|
DL |
Portsmouth |
|
DM |
Chester |
|
DN |
Leeds |
|
DO |
Lincoln |
|
DP |
Reading |
|
DR |
Exeter |
|
DS |
Glasgow |
|
DT |
Sheffield |
|
DU |
Coventry |
|
DV |
Exeter |
|
DW |
Cardiff |
|
DX |
Ipswich |
|
DY |
Brighton |
|
DZ |
County Antrim |
|
E |
|
|
E |
Staffordshire |
|
EA |
Dudley |
|
EB |
Peterborough |
|
EC |
Preston |
|
ED |
Liverpool |
|
EE |
Lincoln |
|
EF |
Middlesbrough |
|
EG |
Peterborough |
|
EH |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
EJ |
Haverfordwest |
|
EK |
Liverpool |
|
EL |
Bournemouth |
|
EM |
Liverpool |
|
EN |
Bury, later Manchester |
|
EO |
Preston |
|
EP |
Swansea |
|
ER |
Peterborough |
|
ES |
Dundee |
|
ET |
Sheffield |
|
EU |
Bristol |
|
EV |
Chelmsford |
|
EW |
Peterborough |
|
EX |
Norwich |
|
EY |
Bangor |
|
EZ |
Belfast |
|
F |
|
|
F |
Essex |
|
FA |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
FB |
Bristol |
|
FC |
Oxford |
|
FD |
Dudley |
|
FE |
Lincoln |
|
FF |
Bangor |
|
FG |
Brighton |
|
FH |
Gloucester |
|
FJ |
Exeter |
|
FK |
Dudley |
|
FL |
Peterborough |
|
FM |
Chester |
|
FN |
Maidstone |
|
FO |
Gloucester |
|
FP |
Leicester |
|
FR |
Preston |
|
FS |
Edinburgh |
|
FT |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
FU |
Lincoln |
|
FV |
Preston |
|
FW |
Lincoln |
|
FX |
Bournemouth |
|
FY |
Liverpool |
|
FZ |
Belfast |
|
G |
|
|
G |
Glasgow |
|
GA |
Glasgow |
|
GB |
Glasgow |
|
GC |
London (South-West) |
|
GD |
Glasgow |
|
GE |
Glasgow |
|
GF |
London (South-West) |
|
GG |
Glasgow |
|
GH |
London (South-West) |
|
GJ |
London (South-West) |
|
GK |
London (South-West) |
|
GL |
Truro |
|
GM |
Reading |
|
GN |
London (South-West) |
|
GO |
London (South-West) |
|
GP |
London (South-West) |
|
GR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
GS |
Luton |
|
GT |
London (South-West) |
|
GU |
London (South-East) |
|
GV |
Ipswich |
|
GW |
London (South-East) |
|
GX |
London (South-East) |
|
GY |
London (South-East) |
|
GZ |
Belfast |
|
H |
|
|
H |
London |
|
HA |
Dudley |
|
HB |
Cardiff |
|
HC |
Brighton |
|
HD |
Huddersfield |
|
HE |
Sheffield |
|
HF |
Liverpool |
|
HG |
Preston |
|
HH |
Carlisle |
|
HJ |
Chelmsford |
|
HK |
Chelmsford |
|
HL |
Sheffield |
|
HM |
London (Central) |
|
HN |
Middlesbrough |
|
HO |
Bournemouth |
|
HP |
Coventry |
|
HR |
Swindon |
|
HS |
Glasgow |
|
HT |
Bristol |
|
HU |
Bristol |
|
HV |
London (Central) |
|
HW |
Bristol |
|
HX |
London (Central) |
|
HY |
Bristol |
|
J |
|
|
J |
Durham |
|
JA |
Manchester |
|
JB |
Reading |
|
JC |
Bangor |
|
JD |
London (Central) |
|
JE |
Peterborough |
|
JF |
Leicester |
|
JG |
Maidstone |
|
JH |
Reading |
|
JJ |
Maidstone |
|
JK |
Brighton |
|
JL |
Lincoln |
|
JM |
Reading |
|
JN |
Chelmsford |
|
JO |
Oxford |
|
JP |
Liverpool |
|
JR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
JS |
Inverness |
|
JT |
Bournemouth |
|
JU |
Leicester |
|
JV |
Lincoln |
|
JW |
Birmingham |
|
JX |
Huddersfield |
|
JY |
Exeter |
|
JZ |
County Down |
|
K |
|
|
K |
Liverpool |
|
KA |
Liverpool |
|
KB |
Liverpool |
|
KC |
Liverpool |
|
KD |
Liverpool |
|
KE |
Maidstone |
|
KF |
Liverpool |
|
KG |
Cardiff |
|
KH |
Hull |
|
KJ |
Maidstone |
|
KK |
Maidstone |
|
KL |
Maidstone |
|
KM |
Maidstone |
|
KN |
Maidstone |
|
KO |
Maidstone |
|
KP |
Maidstone |
|
KR |
Maidstone |
|
KS |
Edinburgh |
|
KT |
Maidstone |
|
KU |
Sheffield |
|
KV |
Coventry |
|
KW |
Sheffield |
|
KX |
Luton |
|
KY |
Sheffield |
|
KZ |
County Antrim |
|
L |
|
|
L |
Glamorganshire |
|
LA |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LB |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LC |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LD |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LE |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LF |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LG |
Chester |
|
LH |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
KJ |
Bournemouth |
|
LK |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LL |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LM |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LN |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LO |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LP |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LR |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LS |
Edinburgh |
|
LT |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LU |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LV |
Liverpool |
|
LW |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LX |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LY |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
|
LZ |
County Armagh |
|
M |
|
|
M |
Cheshire |
|
MA |
Chester |
|
MB |
Chester |
|
MC |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MD |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
ME |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MF |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MG |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MH |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MJ |
Luton |
|
MK |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
ML |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MM |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MN |
used in the Isle of Man |
|
MO |
Reading |
|
MP |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MR |
Swindon |
|
MS |
Edinburgh |
|
MT |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MU |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MV |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MW |
Swindon |
|
MX |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MY |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
|
MZ |
Belfast |
|
|
|
|
N |
Manchester |
|
NA |
Manchester |
|
NB |
Manchester |
|
NC |
Manchester |
|
ND |
Manchester |
|
NE |
Manchester |
|
NF |
Manchester |
|
NG |
Norwich |
|
NH |
Northampton |
|
NJ |
Brighton |
|
NK |
Luton |
|
NL |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
NM |
Luton |
|
NN |
Nottingham |
|
NO |
Chelmsford |
|
NP |
Worcester |
|
NR |
Leicester |
|
NS |
Glasgow |
|
NT |
Shrewsbury |
|
NU |
Nottingham |
|
NV |
Northampton |
|
NW |
Leeds |
|
NX |
Dudley |
|
NY |
Cardiff |
|
NZ |
County Londonderry/Derry |
|
O |
|
|
O |
Birmingham |
|
OA |
Birmingham |
|
OB |
Birmingham |
|
OC |
Birmingham |
|
OD |
Exeter |
|
OE |
Birmingham |
|
OF |
Birmingham |
|
OG |
Birmingham |
|
OH |
Birmingham |
|
OI |
Belfast |
|
OJ |
Birmingham |
|
OK |
Birmingham |
|
OL |
Birmingham |
|
OM |
Birmingham |
|
ON |
Birmingham |
|
OO |
Chelmsford |
|
OP |
Birmingham |
|
OR |
Portsmouth |
|
OS |
Glasgow |
|
OT |
Portsmouth |
|
OU |
Bristol |
|
OV |
Birmingham |
|
OW |
Southampton |
|
OX |
Birmingham |
|
OY |
London (North-West) |
|
OZ |
Belfast |
|
P |
|
|
P |
Surrey |
|
PA |
Guildford |
|
PB |
Guildford |
|
PC |
Guildford |
|
PD |
Guildford |
|
PE |
Guildford |
|
PF |
Guildford |
|
PG |
Guildford |
|
PH |
Guildford |
|
PJ |
Guildford |
|
PK |
Guildford |
|
PL |
Guildford |
|
PM |
Guildford |
|
PN |
Brighton |
|
PO |
Portsmouth (GPO formerly used for General Post Office vehicles) |
|
PP |
Luton |
|
PR |
Bournemouth |
|
PS |
Aberdeen |
|
PT |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
PU |
Chelmsford |
|
PV |
Ipswich |
|
PW |
Norwich |
|
PX |
Portsmouth |
|
PY |
Middlesbrough |
|
PZ |
Belfast |
|
R |
|
|
R |
Derbyshire |
|
RA |
Nottingham |
|
RB |
Nottingham |
|
RC |
Nottingham |
|
RD |
Reading |
|
RE |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
RF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
RG |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
RH |
Hull |
|
RJ |
Manchester |
|
RK |
London (North-West) |
|
RL |
Truro |
|
RM |
Carlisle |
|
RN |
Preston |
|
RO |
Luton |
|
RP |
Northampton |
|
RR |
Nottingham |
|
RS |
Aberdeen |
|
RT |
Ipswich |
|
RU |
Bournemouth |
|
RV |
Portsmouth |
|
RW |
Coventry |
|
RX |
Reading |
|
RY |
Leicester |
|
RZ |
County Antrim |
|
S |
|
|
S |
Edinburgh |
|
SA |
Aberdeen |
|
SB |
Glasgow |
|
SC |
Edinburgh |
|
SD |
Glasgow |
|
SE |
Aberdeen |
|
SF |
Edinburgh |
|
SG |
Edinburgh |
|
SH |
Edinburgh |
|
SJ |
Glasgow |
|
SK |
Inverness |
|
SL |
Dundee |
|
SM |
Carlisle |
|
SN |
Dundee |
|
SO |
Aberdeen |
|
SP |
Dundee |
|
SR |
Dundee |
|
SS |
Aberdeen |
|
ST |
Inverness |
|
SU |
Glasgow |
|
SW |
Carlisle |
|
SX |
Edinburgh |
|
T |
|
|
T |
Devon |
|
TA |
Exeter |
|
TB |
Liverpool |
|
TC |
Bristol |
|
TD |
Manchester |
|
TE |
Manchester |
|
TF |
Reading |
|
TG |
Cardiff |
|
TH |
Swansea |
|
|
|
|
TJ |
Liverpool |
|
TK |
Exeter |
|
TL |
Lincoln |
|
TM |
Luton |
|
TN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
TO |
Nottingham |
|
TP |
Portsmouth |
|
TR |
Southampton |
|
TS |
Dundee |
|
TT |
Exeter |
|
TU |
Chester |
|
TV |
Nottingham |
|
TW |
Chelmsford |
|
TX |
Cardiff |
|
TY |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
TZ |
Belfast |
|
U |
|
|
U |
Leeds |
|
UA |
Leeds |
|
UB |
Leeds |
|
UC |
London (Central) |
|
UD |
Oxford |
|
UE |
Dudley |
|
UF |
Brighton |
|
UG |
Leeds |
|
UH |
Cardiff |
|
UI |
County Londonderry/Derry |
|
UJ |
Shrewsbury |
|
UK |
Birmingham |
|
UL |
London (Central) |
|
UM |
Leeds |
|
UN |
Exeter |
|
UO |
Exeter |
|
UP |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
UR |
Luton |
|
US |
Glasgow |
|
UT |
Leicester |
|
UU |
London (Central) |
|
UV |
London (Central) |
|
UW |
London (Central) |
|
UX |
Shrewsbury |
|
UY |
Worcester |
|
UZ |
Belfast |
|
V |
|
|
V |
Lanarkshire |
|
VA |
Peterborough |
|
VB |
Maidstone |
|
VC |
Coventry |
|
VD |
Lanarkshire/Luton |
|
VE |
Peterborough |
|
VF |
Norwich |
|
VG |
Norwich |
|
VH |
Huddersfield |
|
VJ |
Gloucester |
|
VK |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|
VL |
Lincoln |
|
VM |
Manchester |
|
VN |
Middlesbrough |
|
VO |
Nottingham |
|
VP |
Birmingham |
|
VR |
Manchester |
|
VS |
Luton |
|
VT |
Stoke-on-Trent |
|
VU |
Manchester |
|
VV |
Northampton |
|
VW |
Chelmsford |
|
VX |
Chelmsford |
|
VY |
Leeds |
|
VZ |
County Tyrone |
|
W |
|
|
W |
Sheffield |
|
WA |
Sheffield |
|
WB |
Sheffield |
|
WC |
Chelmsford |
|
WD |
Dudley |
|
WE |
Sheffield |
|
WF |
Sheffield |
|
WG |
Sheffield |
|
WH |
Manchester or Bolton |
|
WJ |
Sheffield |
|
WK |
Coventry |
|
WL |
Oxford |
|
WM |
Liverpool |
|
WN |
Swansea |
|
WO |
Cardiff |
|
WP |
Worcester |
|
WR |
Leeds |
|
WS |
Bristol |
|
WT |
Leeds |
|
WU |
Leeds |
|
WV |
Brighton |
|
WW |
Leeds |
|
WX |
Leeds |
|
WY |
Leeds |
|
WZ |
Belfast |
|
X |
|
|
X |
Northumberland |
|
XI |
Belfast |
|
XZ |
County Armagh |
|
Y |
|
|
Y |
Somerset |
|
YA |
Taunton |
|
YB |
Taunton |
|
YC |
Taunton |
|
YD |
Taunton |
|
YE |
London (Central) |
|
YF |
London (Central) |
|
YG |
Leeds |
|
YH |
London (Central) |
|
YJ |
Brighton |
|
YK |
London (Central) |
|
YL |
London (Central) |
|
YM |
London (Central) |
|
YN |
London (Central) |
|
YO |
London (Central) |
|
YP |
London (Central) |
|
YR |
London (Central) |
|
YS |
Glasgow |
|
YT |
London (Central) |
|
YU |
London (Central) |
|
YV |
London (Central) |
|
YW |
London (Central) |
|
YX |
London (Central) |
|
YY |
London (Central) |
|
YZ |
County Londonderry |
How do these codes apply to personalised number plates?
Many of the prefix and suffix number plates that are seen on the road today have been put on newer vehicles retrospectively.
For example, the number plate ‘A911 POR’ will almost certainly now be on a Porsche 911, rather than a car that was registered in 1983 in Portsmouth.
The truth is, when number plates are re-sold or put on different vehicles, their original meaning is lost – but even if you own a personalised plate; it’s interesting to consider where it was originally issued and where it started its road-going life!
