It’s that time of year again: new car number plates are changing. Twice a year (in March and September) every new car in the UK gets a new sequence of numbers on its registration plate. But what does it all mean?
We’ll talk you through how the UK number plate system works, answer some of the common questions and talk you through some of the very latest electric cars arriving with the new ‘24’ plates.
What is the latest 2024 number plate?
From 1st March 2024 you’ll start seeing new cars on the roads with ‘24’ in the third and fourth digit of the number plate. All new cars from this date onwards will be registered as such: for example ‘MY24 ABC’.
This will be the case until 31st August 2024, when new car number plates change again. We detail the system below so you can learn what each letter means.
What do the registration plate letters and numbers mean?
The current format for UK number plates arrived in September 2001 for all new vehicles registered. All standard (non-personalised) plates follow the same system. But what does it mean?
Using our plate: ‘MY24 ABC’ as an example, this is the breakdown:
- The first two letters are called the ‘local memory tag’, showing you in which area of the country the vehicle was registered. So, in our example, ‘MY’ means Merseyside. Below this section is a full list of the memory tags and where they relate to.
- The next two numbers on the plate are the ‘age identifier’ – showing you when the car was registered. These change every six months. In March, the age identifier is the same as the year (‘24’ means 2024), and when they next change in September it’s the year plus 50 (so ‘74’ this year). Last year, vehicles registered from 1st March to 31 August would carry a ‘23’ age identifier, while those registered in September to 29 February 2024 would carry a ‘73’ plate. Back in 2019, the March plates would carry ‘19’, and the September plates would be ’69’. Hopefully you get the idea by now.
- The last three letters are meaningless, as they are randomly chosen and allocated to the dealership when registered. They only serve to differentiate every new number plate.
Memory tags: Where was my car registered?
The first two letters of the number plate tell you where the car was first registered. They are:
- AA-AY = Anglia
- BA-BY = Birmingham
- CA-CY = Cymru (Wales)
- DA-DY = Deeside to Shrewsbury
- EA-EY = Essex
- FA-FY = Forest and Fens
- GA-GY = Garden of England
- HA-HY = Hampshire and Dorset
- HW = Isle of Wight
- KA-KY = Borehamwood and Northampton
- LA-LY = London
- MA-MY = Manchester and Merseyside
- NA-NY = North
- OA-OY = Oxford
- PA-PY = Preston
- RA-RY = Reading
- SA-SY = Scotland
- VA-VY = Severn Valley
- WA-WY = West of England
- YA-YB = Yorkshire
What are the next number plates?
The number plate sequences for the next five years and beyond will be as follows:
- 2025: 25 and 75 plates
- 2026: 26 and 76 plates
- 2027: 27 and 77 plates
- 2028: 28 and 78 plates
- 2029: 29 and 79 plates
- 2030: 30 and 80 plates
How do I get the latest number plate on my new car?
You can ensure your new car comes with the latest number plate by arranging with the dealer or leasing company for it to be registered and delivered in the month or March (or September) onwards.
Bear in mind, though, that there are some tempting deals out there for those who are prepared to do without the very latest plate, because manufacturers will be keen to shift stock of cars registered with the older plate type.
What are the newest 24 plate electric cars to buy or lease?
Any new car registered from this day forwards will come with the new ‘24’ age identifier on the number plate. But what if you want one the very latest EVs that have just launched to show off to your neighbours?
Here are some of the latest new electric cars to launch on the market:
- BMW iX2: Like the BMW iX1 but wish it was less boxy? The new iX2 is an electric coupe-SUV that’ll certainly stand out from the crowd. It’s sporty, too, with up to 309 bhp, with a promised range of up to 283 miles and the very latest BMW iDrive infotainment software.
- Fiat 600: Fiat’s gone all grown-up, following up the popular-but-tiny 500e with the much larger, more family-friendly 600e. With a funky design, lots og Italian inspiration and a range of up to 254 miles, it aims to beat the Hyundai Kona at its own game.
- Fisker Ocean: New Californian brand Fisker’s first EV is a striking SUV with serious stats: a starting price undercutting the Tesla Model Y, a range of up to 440 miles and a 0-62mph time under four seconds. Cool features such as California Mode and a SolarSky Roof give it unique selling points.
- Hyundai Kona: Hyundai’s latest Kona replaces the popular original with a more striking design, loads of extra practicality and more range. There’s also some exciting new safety and convenience technology borrowed from the pricier IONIQ 5 to get excited about.
- Kia EV9: Finally, a big electric SUV that can take seven adults in comfort without costing six-figures. The EV9 looks great, has a spacious and high-tech cabin, offers strong performance and a range of over 300 miles. What’s not to like?
- MINI Cooper: The all-new electric MINI is a big step on from its predecessor, promising a far greater range on a charge of up to 250 miles, while also being cheaper to buy or lease than the old car. A simpler design and new technology also move the game on.
- Porsche Macan: Porsche waiting so long to replace its popular Macan sports SUV that it’s gone all-electric. The new model sprinkles some driver appeal from the Taycan, but with more practicality, up to 630bhp and a range of up to 381 miles.
- Renault Scenic E-Tech: The Scenic is no longer a dowdy MPV, morphing into a striking electric SUV. It’s aiming to still deliver on practicality, but more desirability, fancier tech and a range of up to 388 miles.
- Volvo EX30: This is one of 2024’s biggest new EV debuts. The EX30 has been well-received thanks to its blend of affordable price, impressive performance, tech-laden interior and a 295-mile range.
