Prefix number plates (prefix system) were the previous system to our now current number plate system. The Prefix System was first introduced on the 1st August 1983, and ran until 31st August 2001.
Number Plate Identification And Format
The first letter is the year identifier
Starting with an ‘A’ prefix in August 1983 and ending in a ‘Y’ prefix in August 2001. Note there are no I, O, U or Z letters used. Also the letter ‘Q’ was used for vehicles that could not have an accurate age identified for it, or for some kit cars with many undated parts. To note is the change in 1999 to the now familiar March and September issue dates. For a complete list of prefix and dates See below.
The following 1-3 numbers are purely random
This could be any number from 1-999. Although for some years certain numbers were withheld.
The next 3 letters were not random, as some suggest
The last 2 letters in the 3 were regional identifiers, or they were initially. Note: that some dealers registered large batches of fleet cars at some of the manufacturers headquarters. Again some letters were also withheld. For a complete list of regional identifiers See below.
Note: Due to Prefix Number Plates being age related, they can only be placed on cars of the appropriate age or newer. You cannot place a newer number plate on an older car for obvious reasons.
Number Plate Characters For Prefix Number Plates – 1st August 1983 to 31st August 2001
All prefix number plates must display characters that meet the dimensions shown in one of the two groups below:
| Group 1 | Group 2 | |
| Height | 89mm | 79mm |
| Width (except for number ‘1′) | 64mm | 57mm |
| Stroke | 16mm | 14mm |
| Space Between characters | 13mm | 11mm |
| Space Between groups | 38mm | 33mm |
| Side margins ( minimum ) | 13mm | 11mm |
| Space between vertical lines | 19mm | 19mm |
Dates For Prefix Number Plates
|
Prefix letter |
Issue dates |
|
A |
Aug 1983 – July 1984 |
|
B |
Aug 1984 – July 1985 |
|
C |
Aug 1985 – July 1986 |
|
D |
Aug 1986 – July 1987 |
|
E |
Aug 1987 – July 1988 |
|
F |
Aug 1988 – July 1989 |
|
G |
Aug 1989 – July 1990 |
|
H |
Aug 1990 – July 1991 |
|
J |
Aug 1991 – July 1992 |
|
K |
Aug 1992 – July 1993 |
|
L |
Aug 1993 – July 1994 |
|
M |
Aug 1994 – July 1995 |
|
N |
Aug 1995 – July 1996 |
|
P |
Aug 1996 – July 1997 |
|
R |
Aug 1997 – July 1998 |
|
S |
Aug 1998 – Feb 1999 |
|
T |
Mar 1999 – Aug 1999 |
|
V |
Sept 1999 – Feb 2000 |
|
W |
Mar 2000 – Aug 2000 |
|
X |
Sept 2000 – Feb 2001 |
|
Y |
Mar 2001 – Aug 2001 |
Registration Offices For Prefix Number Plates
|
Last 2 letters |
Registration Office |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
BO |
Cardiff |
|
BP |
Portsmouth |
|
BR |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
BS |
Aberdeen |
|
BT |
Leeds |
|
BU |
Manchester |
|
BV |
Preston |
|
BW |
Oxford |
|
BX |
Haverford-west |
|
BY |
London NW |
|
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 |
Portsmouth |
|
CS |
Glasgow |
|
CT |
Lincoln |
|
CU |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
CV |
Truro |
|
CW |
Preston |
|
CX |
Huddersfield |
|
CY |
Swansea |
|
DA |
Birmingham |
|
DB |
Manchester |
|
DC |
Middlesbrough |
|
DD |
Gloucester |
|
DE |
Haverford-west |
|
DF |
Gloucester |
|
DG |
Gloucester |
|
DH |
Dudley |
|
DJ |
Liverpool |
|
DK |
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 |
|
EA |
Dudley |
|
EB |
Peterborough |
|
EC |
Preston |
|
ED |
Liverpool |
|
EE |
Lincoln |
|
EF |
Middlesbrough |
|
EG |
Peterborough |
|
EH |
Stoke on Trent |
|
EJ |
Haverford-west |
|
EK |
Liverpool |
|
EL |
Bournemouth |
|
EM |
Liverpool |
|
EN |
Manchester |
|
EO |
Preston |
|
EP |
Swansea |
|
ER |
Peterborough |
|
ES |
Dundee |
|
ET |
Sheffield |
|
EU |
Bristol |
|
EV |
Chelmsford |
|
EW |
Peterborough |
|
EX |
Norwich |
|
EY |
Bangor |
|
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 |
|
GA |
Glasgow |
|
GB |
Glasgow |
|
GC |
London SW |
|
GD |
Glasgow |
|
GE |
Glasgow |
|
GF |
London SW |
|
GG |
Glasgow |
|
GH |
London SW |
|
GJ |
London SW |
|
GK |
London SW |
|
GL |
Truro |
|
GM |
Reading |
|
GN |
London SW |
|
GO |
London SW |
|
GP |
London SW |
|
GR |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
GS |
Luton |
|
GT |
London SE |
|
GU |
London SE |
|
GV |
Ipswich |
|
GW |
London SE |
|
GX |
London SE |
|
GY |
London SE |
|
HA |
Dudley |
|
HB |
Cardiff |
|
HC |
Brighton |
|
HD |
Huddersfield |
|
HE |
Sheffield |
|
HF |
Liverpool |
|
HG |
Preston |
|
HH |
Carlisle |
|
HJ |
Chelmsford |
|
HK |
Chelmsford |
|
HL |
Sheffield |
|
HM |
London C |
|
HN |
Middlesbrough |
|
HO |
Bournemouth |
|
HP |
Coventry |
|
HR |
Swindon |
|
HS |
Glasgow |
|
HT |
Bristol |
|
HU |
Bristol |
|
HV |
London C |
|
HW |
Bristol |
|
HX |
London C |
|
HY |
Bristol |
|
JA |
Manchester |
|
JB |
Reading |
|
JC |
Bangor |
|
JD |
London C |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
LA |
London NW |
|
LB |
London NW |
|
LC |
London NW |
|
LD |
London NW |
|
LE |
London NW |
|
LF |
London NW |
|
LG |
Chester |
|
LH |
London NW |
|
LJ |
Bournemouth |
|
LK |
London NW |
|
LL |
London NW |
|
LM |
London NW |
|
LN |
London NW |
|
LO |
London NW |
|
LP |
London NW |
|
LR |
London NW |
|
LS |
Edinburgh |
|
LT |
London NW |
|
LU |
London NW |
|
LV |
Liverpool |
|
LW |
London NW |
|
LX |
London NW |
|
LY |
London NW |
|
MA |
Chester |
|
MB |
Chester |
|
MC |
London NE |
|
MD |
London NE |
|
ME |
London NE |
|
MF |
London NE |
|
MG |
London NE |
|
MH |
London NE |
|
MJ |
Luton |
|
MK |
London NE |
|
ML |
London NE |
|
MM |
London NE |
|
MN |
Not used |
|
MO |
Reading |
|
MP |
London NE |
|
MR |
Swindon |
|
MS |
Edinburgh |
|
MT |
London NE |
|
MU |
London NE |
|
MV |
London NE |
|
MW |
Swindon |
|
MX |
London NE |
|
MY |
London NE |
|
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 |
Worchester |
|
NR |
Leicester |
|
NS |
Glasgow |
|
NT |
Shrewsbury |
|
NU |
Nottingham |
|
NV |
Northampton |
|
NW |
Leeds |
|
NX |
Dudley |
|
NY |
Cardiff |
|
OA |
Birmingham |
|
OB |
Birmingham |
|
OC |
Birmingham |
|
OD |
Exeter |
|
OE |
Birmingham |
|
OF |
Birmingham |
|
OG |
Birmingham |
|
OH |
Birmingham |
|
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 |
Portsmouth |
|
OX |
Birmingham |
|
OY |
London NW |
|
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 |
|
PP |
Luton |
|
PR |
Bournemouth |
|
PS |
Aberdeen |
|
PT |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
PU |
Chelmsford |
|
PV |
Ipswich |
|
PW |
Norwich |
|
PX |
Portsmouth |
|
PY |
Middlesbrough |
|
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 SW |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
SV |
Not used |
|
SW |
Carlisle |
|
SX |
Edinburgh |
|
SY |
Not used |
|
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 |
Portsmouth |
|
TS |
Dundee |
|
TT |
Exeter |
|
TU |
Chester |
|
TV |
Nottingham |
|
TW |
Chelmsford |
|
TX |
Cardiff |
|
TY |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
UA |
Leeds |
|
UB |
Leeds |
|
UC |
London C |
|
UD |
Oxford |
|
UE |
Dudley |
|
UF |
Brighton |
|
UG |
Leeds |
|
UH |
Cardiff |
|
UJ |
Shrewsbury |
|
UK |
Birmingham |
|
UL |
London C |
|
UM |
Leeds |
|
UN |
Exeter |
|
UO |
Exeter |
|
UP |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
|
UR |
Luton |
|
US |
Glasgow |
|
UT |
Leicester |
|
UU |
London C |
|
UV |
London C |
|
UW |
London C |
|
UX |
Shrewsbury |
|
UY |
Worcester |
|
VA |
Peterborough |
|
VB |
Maidstone |
|
VC |
Coventry |
|
VD |
Withdrawn |
|
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 |
|
WA |
Sheffield |
|
WB |
Sheffield |
|
WC |
Chelmsford |
|
WD |
Dudley |
|
WE |
Sheffield |
|
WF |
Sheffield |
|
WG |
Sheffield |
|
WH |
Manchester |
|
WJ |
Sheffield |
|
WK |
Coventry |
|
WL |
Oxford |
|
WM |
Liverpool |
|
WN |
Swansea |
|
WO |
Cardiff |
|
WP |
Worchester |
|
WR |
Leeds |
|
WS |
Bristol |
|
WT |
Leeds |
|
WU |
Leeds |
|
WV |
Brighton |
|
WW |
Leeds |
|
WX |
Leeds |
|
WY |
Leeds |
|
YA |
Taunton |
|
YB |
Taunton |
|
YC |
Taunton |
|
YD |
Taunton |
|
YE |
London C |
|
YF |
London C |
|
YG |
Leeds |
|
YH |
London C |
|
YJ |
Brighton |
|
YK |
London C |
|
YL |
London C |
|
YM |
London C |
|
YN |
London C |
|
YO |
London C |
|
YP |
London C |
|
YR |
London C |
|
YS |
Glasgow |
|
YT |
London C |
|
YU |
London C |
|
YV |
London C |
|
YW |
London C |
|
YX |
London C |
|
YY |
London C |
