Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom
Vehicle registration plates (commonly referred to as "number plates" in British English) are the mandatory alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904. It is compulsory for motor vehicles used on public roads to display vehicle registration plates, with the exception of vehicles of the reigning monarch used on official business.[1]
The Motor Car Act 1903, which came into force on 1 January 1904, required all motor vehicles to be entered on an official vehicle register, and to carry alphanumeric plates. The Act was passed in order that vehicles could be easily traced in the event of an accident, contravention of the law or any other incident. Vehicle registration alphanumeric plates in the UK are rectangular or square in shape, with the exact permitted dimensions of the plate and its lettering set down in law. Front plates are white, whereas rear plates are yellow.
Within the UK itself, there are two systems: one for Great Britain, which dates from 2001, and another for Northern Ireland, which is similar to the original 1904 system. Both systems are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea. Until July 2014, Northern Ireland's system was administered by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Coleraine, which had the same status as the DVLA. Other schemes relating to the UK are also listed below. The international vehicle registration code for the United Kingdom is GB (Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
Standard requirements
Number plates must be displayed in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.
Number plates must be made of reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear, with black characters. This was first required on all vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1973, having been optional before then. Subsequently, the requirement was modified by the Finance Act 2014, to allow any vehicles registered within the ‘historic vehicles’ tax class to use the older style pre-1973 black number plates. This rule applies on a 40-year exemption basis, and rolls forward automatically each year on 1 April to include vehicles manufactured before 1 January 40 years ago.[2] This type of reflecting plate was permitted as an option from 1968: many vehicles first registered before 1973 may therefore carry the white/yellow reflective plates and, where they were first registered during or after 1968, they may have carried such plates since new. Many buses delivered to London Transport between 1973 and the mid-1980s continued to bear white-on-black plates.[3]
In addition, characters on number plates purchased from 1 September 2001 must use a mandatory typeface and conform to set specifications as to width, height, stroke, spacing and margins. The physical characteristics of the number plates are set out in British Standard BS AU 145d, which specifies visibility, strength, and reflectivity.[4]
Number plates with smaller characters meeting standards for motorcycles are only permitted on imported vehicles, and then only if they do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval and their construction/design cannot accommodate standard size number plates, for example vehicles made for the US or Japanese market may only have a 305mm x 152mm (12" x 6") area to affix a number plate in which a standard one line plate is too long (460mm) to fit whilst a two line plates is too tall (199mm).[4]
The industry standard size front number plate is 520 mm × 111 mm (20½" × 4⅜"). Rear plates are either the same size, or 285 mm × 203 mm (approx 11"x8") or 533 mm × 152 mm (approx 21"x6"). There is no specified legal size other than an absolute minimum margin of 11mm producing a minimum height of 101mm (one line) and 199mm (2 line) on cars, and 86mm for one line import vehicles and 164mm for a two line motorcycle or import vehicles, with the overall length being based on the registration number itself, with the smallest number plate possible being 1 having a minimum size of 36mm × 101mm on a car, or 32mm × 86mm on a motorcycle or import vehicle; whereas a 7 character registration number without a 1 or I having a minimum size of 460mm × 101mm (one line), or 255mm × 199mm (two line) on a car, or 231mm × 164mm on an import or motorbike.
The material of UK number plates must either comply with British Standard BS AU 145d,[5] which states BSI number plates must be marked on the plate with the BSI logo and the name and postcode of the manufacturer and the supplier of the plates or
"(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification, and which, in either case, is marked with the number (or such other information as is necessary to permit identification) of that standard or specification."[6]
Older British plates had white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972 and, until 2012, legal to be carried only on vehicles first registered before 1 January 1973. A vehicle which was first registered on or after 1 January 1973 shall be treated as if it was first registered before that date if it was constructed before 1 January 1973.[7] However, the Finance Bill 2014 and subsequent Finance Acts extended the Historic Vehicle class cut-off year from 1973 to 1974 and subsequently, a rolling forty years. This had the effect of linking eligibility to display old-style plates with 'Tax Exempt' vehicle status. It follows that the older style plates are now available for any vehicle constructed 40 or more years ago, provided that an application has been made to the DVLA to have the vehicle included in the historic vehicle class; it is so registered and is nil-rated for Vehicle Excise Duty.[8]
Motorcycles
Until 1975, motorcycles had to display a front plate, colloquially known as the "pedestrian slicer".[9], which was usually but not always a double-sided plate on top of the front mudguard, curved to follow the contour of the wheel and visible from the sides. Motorcycles registered after 1 September 2001 may only display a rear number plate, while motorcycles registered before that date can display a number plate at the front if desired.[10]
The standard size for a motorcycle number in the UK is 9" x 7"(228mm x 178mm), though this size can be changed as long as the characters that are displayed on the number plates are not altered. A full registration that means a custom shaped plate over the minimum legal size of 9" x 7 may be possible.[11]
Great Britain
Current system
Characters
The current system for Great Britain was introduced on 1 September 2001. Each registration index consists of seven characters with a defined format.[12]
From left to right, the characters consist of:
- A local memory tag, or area code, consisting of up to two letters which together indicate the local registration office. By December 2013, all local offices had been closed,[13] but the letters still represent a region. The letters I, Q and Z are not used as local office identifiers, though O is still needed for Oxford; Z can be used only as a random letter.
- The first of these two letters is a mnemonic standing for the name of the broad area where the registration office is located. This is intended to make the registration more memorable than an arbitrary code.[14][15] For example, A is used as the first character in all registrations issued by the three offices located in the vicinity of East Anglia;
- A two-digit age identifier, which changes twice a year, in March and September. The code is either the last two digits of the year itself if issued between March and August (e.g. "10" for registrations issued between 1 March and 31 August 2010), or else has 50 added to that value if issued between September and February the following year (e.g. "60" for registrations issued between 1 September 2010 and 28 February 2011);
- A three-letter sequence which uniquely distinguishes each of the vehicles displaying the same initial four-character area and age sequence. The letters I and Q are excluded from the three-letter sequence, as are combinations that may appear offensive (including those in foreign languages). Due to batch allocation of new registration marks to dealers, it is common for cars with "neighbouring" letter sequences to be of the same manufacturer.
This scheme has three particular advantages:
- A buyer of a second-hand vehicle can in theory determine the year of first registration of the vehicle without having to look it up. However, a vehicle is permitted to display a number plate where the age identifier is older (but not newer) than the vehicle. The wide awareness of how the "age identifier" works has led to it being used in advertising by used-car showrooms instead of simply stating a year.
- In the case of a police investigation of an accident or vehicle-related crime, witnesses usually remember the initial area code letters – it is then quite simple to narrow down suspect vehicles to a much smaller number by checking the authority's database without having to know the full number.[16]
- The scheme should have sufficient numbers to run until 31 August 2050, assuming there are enough 3 letter random sequences for every combination of area code and age identifier.
Local memory tags
| First letter | Official local mnemonic[12][15] | DVLA Office | Second letter (DVLA Office identifier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Anglia | Peterborough | A B C D E F G J K M N |
| reserved for select issue | H L | ||
| Norwich | O P R S T U | ||
| Ipswich | V W X Y | ||
| B | Birmingham | Birmingham | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W X |
| reserved for select issue | Y | ||
| C | Cymru (Wales) | Cardiff | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O |
| Swansea | P R S T U V | ||
| Bangor | W X Y | ||
| D | Deeside | Chester | A B C D E F G H J K |
| Shrewsbury | L M N O P S T U V W X Y | ||
| reserved for select issue | R | ||
| E | Essex | Chelmsford | A B C E F G J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y |
| reserved for select issue | D H | ||
| F | Forest and Fens | Nottingham | A B C D E F G H J K L M N P |
| banned and not issued | O U | ||
| Lincoln | R S T V W X Y | ||
| G | Garden of England | Maidstone | A B C D E F G H J K L M N |
| reserved for select issue | O | ||
| Brighton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| H | Hampshire and Dorset | Bournemouth | A B C D E F G H J |
| Portsmouth | K L M N P R S T U V X Y | ||
| reserved for select issue | O | ||
| reserved for the Isle of Wight (issued in Portsmouth) | W | ||
| K | No official mnemonic[b] | Borehamwood (formerly Luton)[c] | A B C D E F G H J K L |
| Northampton | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| L | London | Wimbledon | A B C D E F G H J |
| Borehamwood (formerly Stanmore) | K L M N O P R S T | ||
| Sidcup | U V W X Y | ||
| M | Manchester and Merseyside | Manchester | A B C D E F G H J K L M P T U V W X |
| reserved for the Isle of Man (not issued) | N | ||
| reserved for select issue | O R S Y | ||
| N | North | Newcastle | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O |
| Stockton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| O | Oxford | Oxford | A B C D E F G H J L M O P T U V W X Y |
| reserved for select issue | K N R S | ||
| P | Preston | Preston | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T |
| Carlisle | U V W X Y | ||
| R | Reading | Reading | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y |
| reserved for select issue | U | ||
| S | Scotland[a] | Glasgow | A B C D E F G H J |
| Edinburgh | K L M N O | ||
| Dundee | P R S T | ||
| reserved for select issue | U | ||
| Aberdeen | V W | ||
| Inverness | X Y | ||
| V | Severn Valley | Worcester | A B C E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V X Y |
| reserved for select issue | D W | ||
| W | West of England | Exeter | A B D E F G H J |
| reserved for select issue | C | ||
| Truro | K L | ||
| Bristol | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| X | Personal export[19] |
|
A (March/September issue) B (April/October issue) C (May/November issue) D (June/December issue) E (July/January issue) F (August/February issue) |
| reserved for select issue | G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| Y | Yorkshire | Leeds[d][e] | A B C D E F G H J K L |
| Sheffield[d][e][f] | M N O P R S T U V | ||
| Beverley[e] | W X Y |
Notes
aThe first letter T was additionally used for some registrations in Scotland in 2007. (TN07 was used instead of SN07 as the latter too closely resembled SNOT.)[20]
bThere is no official name ascribed to the letter K by the DVLA, although reference may be made to the 'K' in Milton Keynes – the new town that is located between the two 'K' DVLA offices.
cLuton DVLA office, until 8 February 2010 when it closed and had all operations moved to Borehamwood
d1 d2YA and YO were originally reserved for select issue, however are now issued as standard due to increasing demand.[18]
e1 e2YL was allocated to Sheffield for the 51 registration period, but now appears to be allocated to Leeds; may vary depending on demand.[18]
f1 f2YV was allocated to Beverley for the 51 registration period, but now appears to be allocated to Sheffield; may vary depending on demand.[18]
In addition to the above local memory tags, personalised registrations are also offered with arbitrary "local memory tags" prefixes, except for the letters I, Q and Z but including the letters J, T and U, which are unused as area codes.[21]
Age identifiers
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cLast year identifier from previous system dFirst year identifier from next system (currently unknown)
International vehicle registration code on the number plates
European Union symbol
Some UK number plates have conformed to the 1998 European standard design,[22] with black lettering on a white or yellow background. The standard design have also incorporated a blue strip on the left side of the plate with the European Union symbol and the international vehicle registration code of the member state, although this aspect of the design is not compulsory. EU member states that require foreign vehicles to display a distinguishing sign of the country of origin (e.g. 'GB' for the United Kingdom) are obliged by Article 3 of EU Regulation No. 2411/98 to accept this standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state, making a separate sign unnecessary for vehicles registered in the EU. After the UK ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 2018, "Europlates" should also be valid in other countries party to that convention.
After Brexit, and the UK is no longer a member state of the European Union, other EU countries are no longer required to accept UK "Europlates", as the regulation only requires member states to accept the standard design as a distinguishing sign when displayed on a vehicle registered in another member state. However, the UK is currently in a so-called transition period until at least 31 December 2020 during which it is treated as an EU country. After this, Euro-plates must be replaced by a number plate that features the GB sign without the EU flag in order to be valid as a national identifier.[23]
Countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic are not bound to accept the EU design after the UK withdrew from the EU, because the "Europlates" will no longer show "the emblem of the regional economic integration organisation the country belongs" as described in the Convention after this.
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National emblems
Owners of vehicles registered in Great Britain which are not already displaying the EU format "GB" plate may choose to display plates with one of the national emblems below plus lettering. Either the full wording or the abbreviation is used.[24]
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.svg.png){kind=small} |
|---|---|---|---|
Great Britain UK – UNITED KINGDOM United Kingdom |
WALES – Wales | ||
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Currently no other flags are allowed to be displayed on the plate. These regulations do not extend to Northern Ireland as there is no consensus on a national symbol.
Although these plates are permitted throughout the entire UK,[24] the UK government state that they are not recognised in other countries, and therefore a motorist who drives a vehicle abroad displaying these plates must also affix a "GB" sticker. However, after the UK ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 2018, number plates with the distinguishing code "GB" featuring the Union Jack (flag of the UK) should be valid in other countries party to named convention, as such number plate displays a distinguishing code for the country of registration incorporated into the vehicle registration plate, and is supplemented with a flag or emblem of the national state, and hence satisfies the requirements set out in the convention.[25]
The European Commission has confirmed that after Brexit, British cars with number plates with the distinguishing sign incorporated do not need a separate sign when driving in EU countries party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. If the number plate does not include the distinguishing sign, or if the vehicle is driven in an EU country not party to the Vienna Convention, a separate sign has to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle. All EU countries except Ireland, Cyprus, Malta and Spain are party to the convention.[26]
Examples of British registration plates with national emblems displayed on an optional blue nationality stripe, (emblems may also be displayed without a blue stripe).
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Typography
The standard (79 mm height) typeface is set out in the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.[27] An alternative (64 mm) font is provided for motorcycles (schedule 4 part 2, p. 24).
The standard font, unofficially known as Charles Wright 2001, is a subtly redrawn version of Charles Wright's original 1935 font. The width of the previous font was condensed from 57 mm to 50 mm to allow space for the extra letter and the optional blue EU strip. The letter O and the digit 0 are intentionally identical, as are the letter I and digit 1. But the typeface accentuates the differences between characters such as 8 and B, or D and 0, with slab serifs to improve the legibility of a plate from a distance. This is especially useful for the automatic number plate recognition software of speed cameras and CCTV. This accentuation also discourages the tampering that is sometimes practised with the use of black insulating tape or paint to change letter forms (such as P to R, or 9 to 8), or with the inclusion of carefully positioned black "fixing screw" dots that alter the appearance of letters on some vanity plates.
The design has similarities with the FE-Schrift number-plate font which was introduced in Germany in 1994 and which has been mandatory there since 2000. However, the UK design remains more conventional in its character shapes.
Special plates
Registrations having a combination of characters that are particularly appealing (resembling a name, for example) are auctioned each year. The first of these auctions was in 1989.[28][29]
For the 07 registration period a higher than usual number of Scottish 07 codes were retained as Select registrations for sale and an additional allocation of Tx letter pairs were released for use by the local offices in Scotland with the same allocation as the Sx letter pairs (for example Edinburgh with SK to SN allocated had TK to TN added)[a].[30]
Older plates
Vehicles registered under previous numbering systems continue to retain their original number plates but the area identifier in the previous number system is not the same area as the post 2001 area identifier, e.g. AA pre 2001 is Bournemouth whereas AA post 2001 is Peterborough. Subject to certain conditions, number plates can be transferred between vehicles by the vehicle owner; some of these transfers involve tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds changing hands, because of the desirability of a specific letter/number combination.
History
Before 1932
The first series of number plates was issued in 1903 and ran until 1932, consisting of a one- or two-letter code followed by a sequence number from 1 to 9999.[31] The code indicated the local authority in whose area the vehicle was registered. In England and Wales, these were initially allocated in order of population size (by the 1901 census) – thus A indicated London, B indicated Lancashire, C indicated the West Riding of Yorkshire and so on to Y indicating Somerset, then AA indicated Hampshire, AB indicated Worcestershire and so on to FP indicating Rutland.
The letters G, S and V were initially restricted to Scotland, and the letters I and Z to the whole of Ireland. In both cases, allocations of codes were made in alphabetical order of counties, followed by county boroughs[32] – thus in Scotland, Aberdeenshire was allocated SA, Argyll received SB and so on, while in Ireland Antrim was allocated IA, Armagh received IB, and so on.
When a licensing authority reached 9999, it was allocated another two-letter code, but there was no pattern to these subsequent allocations as they were allocated on a first come first served basis. London and Middlesex quickly took most codes with L and M as the first letter respectively, while Surrey, initially allocated P, took many codes beginning with that letter.
The first mark to be issued in London was the simple, bold, A 1 and this was registered to Earl Russell. He wanted the mark so badly he camped out all night to secure it, making him not only the first registrant but also the inventor of the idea of having a distinctive, personalised or cherished plate on a vehicle.[33]
A zero has been issued by several issuing authorities for the official car of the council head, in cases where plate number "1" had already been issued by the time the councils decided to give priority to its first citizen.[34] Example include the Lord Mayor of London (LM 0[34][35]) and the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh (S 0), of Glasgow (G 0) and of Aberdeen (RG 0).[34]
1932 to 1963
By 1932, the available codes were running out, and an extended scheme was introduced. This scheme placed a serial letter before the code, and had the sequence number run only to 999, thus restricting the number of characters in a registration to six. The first area to issue such marks was Staffordshire in July 1932 with ARF 1 etc.,[36] and all other areas in England and Wales, plus most areas in Scotland, followed suit once they had issued all their two-letter registrations.
I, Q, and Z were not used as serial letters, as the use of I and Z continued to be restricted to Ireland and Q was reserved for temporary imports, while the single-letter codes were left out of this scheme as a serial letter would have created a duplicate of an existing two-letter code. (The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland later adopted this scheme in their own ways, and the latter still uses it.)
In some areas, the available marks within this scheme started to run out in the 1950s, and in those areas, what became known as "reversed" registrations – the letters coming after the numbers – were introduced. Staffordshire was again the first area to issue such registrations, starting with 1000 E in 1953. In most cases, the three-letter combinations (e.g. 1 AHX for Middlesex) would be issued first, while in later years some areas started with the one- and two-letter combinations and others issued all three at the same time. The ever-increasing popularity of the car meant that by the beginning of the 1960s, these registrations were also running out.
Some three-letter combinations were not authorised for licensing use as they were deemed offensive. These included ARS, BUM, GOD, JEW, SEX, and SOD.[37][38] DUW was issued in London for several months in 1934 before it was realised it was the Welsh for God, and withdrawn.[30]
Even then, there were some registrations which would now be called cherished plates. One was RAD10 (BBC) and another was IND1A (Indian high commission).
1963 to 1982
In August 1962, an attempt was made to create a national scheme to alleviate the problem of registrations running out. This used the scheme introduced in 1932, of a three-letter combination followed by a sequence number from 1 to 999, but also added a letter suffix, which initially changed on 1 January each year. An "A" suffix was thus used for 1963, "B" for 1964, etc. Middlesex was the first authority to adopt this scheme when it issued AHX 1A in February 1963.[39] Most other areas followed suit during 1964, but some chose to stick to their own schemes up until 1 January 1965, when the letter suffix was made compulsory.
As well as yielding many more available numbers, it was a handy way for vehicle buyers to know the age of the vehicle immediately. However, the year letter changing on 1 January each year meant that car retailers soon started to notice that buyers would tend to wait until the New Year for the new letter to be issued, so that they could get a "newer" car. This led to major peaks and troughs in sales over the year, and to help flatten this out somewhat the industry lobbied to get the scheme changed, so that the change of year letter occurred on 1 August rather than 1 January. This was done in 1967, when "E" suffixes ran only from 1 January to 31 July, before "F" suffixes commenced on 1 August.
At the beginning, plates were black with white or silver characters. Reflective plates were introduced in 1969 and were white on the front and yellow on the rear with black characters.
In October 1974, responsibility for issuing registrations was transferred from local and regional authorities to specialist Local Vehicle Licensing Offices (LVLOs) or Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs) run by the DVLA. Most of the two-letter area codes allocated during the first scheme continued in their respective areas, albeit now indicating the nearest LVLO/VRO rather than the local or regional authority. However, the decision to streamline the allocations of these codes meant that some were transferred to new areas. For instance, the former Suffolk code CF was transferred to Reading, while the former Edinburgh code WS was re-allocated to Bristol.[36]
1983 to 2001
By 1982, the year suffixes had reached Y and so from 1983 onwards the sequence was reversed again, so that the year letter – starting again at "A" — preceded the numbers then the letters of the registration. The available range was then A21 AAA to Y999 YYY, the numbers 1–20 being held back for the government's proposed, and later implemented, DVLA select registration sales scheme.
Towards the mid-1990s there was some discussion about introducing a unified scheme for Europe, which would also incorporate the country code of origin of the vehicle, but after much debate such a scheme was not adopted because of lack of countries willing to participate.
The changes in 1983 also brought the letter Q into use – although on a very small and limited scale. It was used on vehicles of indeterminate age, such as those assembled from kits, substantial rebuilds, or imported vehicles where the documentation is insufficient to determine the age. There was a marked increase in the use of Q registrations in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fuelled by car crime. Many stolen vehicles had false identities given to them, and when this was discovered and the original identity could not be determined, a Q registration would be issued to such vehicle. It was seen as an aid to consumer protection. Due to indeterminate age, origin and specification of Q registration vehicles, most motor insurers are reluctant to offer cover for these 'Q-plate' vehicles.
By the late 1990s, the range of available numbers was once again starting to run out, exacerbated by a move to biannual changes in registration letters (March and September) in 1999 to smooth out the bulge in registrations every August, so a new scheme needed to be adopted. It was decided to research a system that would be easier for crash or vehicle related crime witnesses to remember and clearer to read, yet still fit within a normal standard plate size.
Year identifiers
In order to avoid any confusion, the letters I, O, Q, U and Z have never been issued as year identifiers: I because of its similarity to the numeral 1; O and Q because of similarity to a zero; U because of similarity to the letter V; and Z because of similarity to the numeral 2.
| Suffix letter series 1963–83 | Prefix letter series 1983–2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pre-2001 codes
Normally the last two letters would indicate where the car was initially registered. The letters I and Z are reserved for Ireland.[41][42] If you want to look for the office code (or council code until 1974) easier, look at the bold letters next to the examples (ABC 123D; A123 BCD). Note that pre-2001 number plates where the last two letters indicate the original district of registration is not the same as the first two letters of the post-2001 system so, for example, pre 2001 AB is Worcester, whereas post 2001 AB is Peterborough.
For the list of Northern Ireland codes, see the Northern Ireland section of this article. For a full list of Irish codes, see Vehicle registration plates of the Republic of Ireland.
| First letter | Code | County or city | Code | County or city | Code | County or city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | A | London (1903–64) | AA | Hampshire (1903–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) | AB | Worcestershire (1903–74) Worcester (from 1974) |
| AC | Warwickshire (1903–74) Coventry (1974–96) | AD | Gloucestershire (1903–74) Gloucester (1974–97) | AE | Bristol | |
| AF | Cornwall (1903–74) Truro (from 1974) | AG | Ayrshire (1925–74) Hull (from 1974) | AH | Norfolk (1903–74) Norwich (from 1974) | |
| AJ | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1903–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | AK | Bradford (1903–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | AL | Nottinghamshire (1903–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
| AM | Wiltshire (1903–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) | AN | West Ham (1903–65) London (1965–74) Reading (from 1974) (MAN reserved for Isle of Man) | AO | Cumberland (1903–74) Carlisle (from 1974) | |
| AP | East Sussex (1903–74) Brighton (from 1974) | AR | Hertfordshire (1903–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | AS | Nairnshire (1903–74) Inverness (from 1974) | |
| AT | Hull | AU | Nottingham | AV | Aberdeenshire (1926–74) Peterborough (from 1974) | |
| AW | Shropshire (1903–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) | AX | Monmouthshire (1903–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | AY | Leicestershire (1903–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | |
| B | B | Lancashire (1903–63) | BA | Salford (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) | BB | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| BC | Leicester (1903–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | BD | Northamptonshire (1903–74) Northampton (from 1974) | BE | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1903–74) Grimsby (1974–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
| BF | Dorset (1903–05) Staffordshire (1960–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | BG | Birkenhead (1931–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | BH | Buckinghamshire (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
| BJ | East Suffolk (1903–74) Ipswich (from 1974) | BK | Portsmouth | BL | Berkshire (1903–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
| BM | Bedfordshire (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) | BN | Bolton (1903–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | BO | Cardiff | |
| BP | West Sussex (1903–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | BR | Sunderland (1903–74) Durham (1974–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) | BS | Orkney (1903–74) Kirkwall (1974–80) Inverness (for Kirkwall) (from 1980) | |
| BT | Yorkshire (East Riding) (1903–74) York (1974–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) | BU | Oldham (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) | BV | Blackburn (1930–74) Preston (from 1974) | |
| BW | Oxfordshire (1903–74) Oxford (from 1974) | BX | Carmarthenshire (1903–74) Haverfordwest (1974–96) Swansea (for Haverfordwest) (from 1996) | BY | Croydon (1903–65) London (1965–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| C | C | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1903–64) | CA | Denbighshire (1903–74) Chester (from 1974) | CB | Blackburn (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) |
| CC | Caernarfonshire (1903–74) Bangor (from 1974) | CD | Brighton | CE | Cambridgeshire (1903–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
| CF | West Suffolk (1903–74) Reading (from 1974) | CG | Hampshire (1931–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) | CH | Derby (1903–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
| CJ | Herefordshire (1903–74) Hereford (1974–81) Gloucester (for Hereford) (1981–97) | CK | Preston | CL | Norwich | |
| CM | Birkenhead (1903–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | CN | Gateshead (1903–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | CO | Plymouth (1903–80) unused after 1980 | |
| CP | Halifax (1903–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) | CR | Southampton (1903–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | CS | Ayrshire (1934–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) | |
| CT | Lincolnshire (Kesteven) (1903–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) | CU | South Shields (1903–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | CV | Cornwall (1929–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
| CW | Burnley (1903–74) Preston (from 1974) | CX | Huddersfield | CY | Swansea (SCY used for Isles of Scilly) | |
| D | D | Kent (1903–64) | DA | Wolverhampton (1903–74) Birmingham (from 1974) | DB | Stockport (1903–74) Manchester (from 1974) |
| DC | Middlesbrough | DD | Gloucestershire (1921–74) Gloucester (1974–97) | DE | Pembrokeshire (1903–74) Haverfordwest (1974–96) Swansea (for Haverfordwest) (from 1996) | |
| DF | Northampton (1903–05) Gloucestershire (1926–74) Gloucester (1974–97) | DG | Gloucestershire (1930–74) Gloucester (1974–97) | DH | Walsall (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) | |
| DJ | St Helens (1903–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) | DK | Rochdale (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | DL | Isle of Wight (1903–74) Newport (IoW) (1974–81) Portsmouth (for IoW) (from 1981) | |
| DM | Flintshire (1903–74) Chester (from 1974) | DN | York (1903–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) | DO | Lincolnshire (Holland) (1903–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) | |
| DP | Reading | DR | Devonport (1903–14) Plymouth (1926–80) unused after 1980 | DS | Peeblesshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
| DT | Doncaster (1927–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | DU | Coventry | DV | Devon (1929–74) Exeter (from 1974) | |
| DW | Newport (1903–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | DX | Ipswich | DY | Hastings (1903–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) | |
| E | E | Staffordshire (1903–63) | EA | West Bromwich (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) | EB | Isle of Ely (1903–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) |
| EC | Westmorland (1903–74) Kendal (1974–81) Preston (for Kendal) (from 1981) | ED | Liverpool (Warrington until 1981) | EE | Grimsby (1903–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
| EF | West Hartlepool (1903–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | EG | Soke of Peterborough (1931–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74) Peterborough (from 1974) | EH | Stoke-on-Trent (1903–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | |
| EJ | Haverfordwest (Cardiganshire until 1974 Aberystwyth until 1981) | EK | Wigan (1903–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) | EL | Bournemouth | |
| EM | Bootle (1903–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | EN | Bury (1903–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | EO | Barrow-in-Furness (1903–81) Preston (for Barrow-in-Furness) (from 1981) | |
| EP | Montgomeryshire (1903–74) Swansea (from 1974) | ER | Cambridgeshire (1922–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | ES | Perthshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | |
| ET | Rotherham (1903–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | EU | Breconshire (1903–74) Bristol (from 1974) | EV | Essex (1931–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
| EW | Huntingdonshire (1903–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74) Peterborough (from 1974) | EX | Great Yarmouth (1903–74) Norwich (from 1974) | EY | Anglesey (1903–74) Bangor (from 1974) | |
| F | F | Essex (1903–63) | FA | Burton upon Trent (1903–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | FB | Bath (1903–74) Bristol (from 1974) |
| FC | Oxford | FD | Dudley | FE | Lincoln | |
| FF | Bangor (Merionethshire until 1974 Aberystwyth until 1981) | FG | Fife (1925–74) Brighton (from 1974) | FH | Gloucester | |
| FJ | Exeter | FK | Worcester (1903–74) Dudley (1974–96) | FL | Soke of Peterborough (1903–65) Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965–74) Peterborough (from 1974) | |
| FM | Chester | FN | Canterbury (1903–81) unused after 1981 | FO | Gloucester (Radnorshire until 1974 Hereford for Radnorshire until 1981) | |
| FP | Rutland (1903–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | FR | Blackpool (1904–74) Preston (from 1974) | FS | Edinburgh (from 1931) | |
| FT | Tynemouth (1904–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | FU | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1922–74) Grimsby (1974–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | FV | Blackpool (1929–74) Preston (from 1974) | |
| FW | Lincolnshire (Lindsey) (1929–74) Lincoln (from 1974) | FX | Dorset (1905–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) | FY | Southport (1905–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | |
| G | G | Glasgow (1903–63) | GA | Glasgow | GB | Glasgow |
| GC | London (1929–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GD | Glasgow | GE | Glasgow | |
| GF | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GG | Glasgow | GH | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) | |
| GJ | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GK | London (1930–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GL | Bath (1932–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
| GM | Motherwell and Wishaw (1920–74) Reading (from 1974) | GN | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GO | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) | |
| GP | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GR | Sunderland (1933–74) Durham (1974–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) | GS | Perthshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
| GT | London (1931–74) London South-West (from 1974) | GU | London (1929–74) London South-East (from 1974) | GV | West Suffolk (1930–74) Ipswich (from 1974) | |
| GW | London (1931–74) London South-East (from 1974) | GX | London (1932–74) London South-East (from 1974) | GY | London (1932–74) London South-East (from 1974) | |
| H | H | Middlesex (1903–63) | HA | Smethwick (1907–74) Dudley (1974–96) | HB | Merthyr Tydfil (1908–74) Cardiff (from 1974) |
| HC | Eastbourne (1911–74) Hastings (1974–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) | HD | Dewsbury (1913–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) | HE | Barnsley (1913–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
| HF | Wallasey (1913–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | HG | Burnley (1930–74) Preston (from 1974) | HH | Carlisle | |
| HJ | Southend-on-Sea (1914–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | HK | Essex (1915–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | HL | Wakefield (1915–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
| HM | East Ham (1916–65) London (1965–74) London Central (1974–97) | HN | Darlington (1921–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | HO | Hampshire (1917–74) Salisbury (1974–80) Bournemouth (for Salisbury) (from 1980) | |
| HP | Coventry (from 1919) | HR | Wiltshire (1919–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) | HS | Renfrewshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
| HT | Bristol (from 1920) | HU | Bristol (from 1924) | HV | East Ham (1930–65) London (1965–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| HW | Bristol (from 1927) | HX | Middlesex (1930–65) London (1965–74) London Central (1974–97) | HY | Bristol (from 1930) | |
| J | J | Durham (1903–64) | JA | Stockport (1929–74) Manchester (from 1974) | JB | Berkshire (1932–74) Reading (from 1974) |
| JC | Caernarfonshire (1931–74) Bangor (from 1974) | JD | West Ham (1929–65) London (1965–74) London Central (1974–97) | JE | Isle of Ely (1933–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
| JF | Leicester (1930–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | JG | Canterbury (1929–81) unused after 1981 | JH | Hertfordshire (1931–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
| JJ | London (1932–74) Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 | JK | Eastbourne (1928–74) Hastings (1974–80) Brighton (for Hastings) (from 1980) | JL | Lincolnshire (Holland) (1932–74) Boston (1974–81) Lincoln (for Boston) (from 1981) | |
| JM | Westmorland (1931–74) Reading (from 1974) | JN | Southend-on-Sea (1930–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | JO | Oxford (from 1930) | |
| JP | Wigan (1934–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) | JR | Northumberland (1932–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | JS | Ross and Cromarty (1903–74) Stornoway (1974–80) Inverness (for Stornoway) (from 1980) | |
| JT | Dorset (1933–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) | JU | Leicestershire (1931–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | JV | Grimsby (1930–81) Lincoln (for Grimsby) (from 1981) | |
| JW | Wolverhampton (1931–74) Birmingham (from 1974) | JX | Halifax (1932–74) Huddersfield (1974–95) | JY | Plymouth (1932–80) unused after 1980 | |
| K | K | Liverpool (1903–64) | KA | Liverpool (from 1925) | KB | Liverpool (from 1914) |
| KC | Liverpool (from 1920) | KD | Liverpool (from 1927) | KE | Kent (1920–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
| KF | Liverpool (from 1930) | KG | Cardiff (from 1931) | KH | Hull (from 1925) | |
| KJ | Kent (1931–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KK | Kent (1922–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KL | Kent (1924–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
| KM | Kent (1925–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KN | Kent (1917–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KO | Kent (1927–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | |
| KP | Kent (1928–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KR | Kent (1929–74) Maidstone (from 1974) | KS | Roxburghshire (1903–74) Selkirk (1974–80) Edinburgh (for Selkirk) (from 1980) | |
| KT | Kent (1913–74) Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 | KU | Bradford (1922–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | KV | Coventry (from 1931) | |
| KW | Bradford (1926–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | KX | Buckinghamshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) | KY | Bradford (1931–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | |
| L | L | Glamorgan (1903–64) | LA | London (1910–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LB | London (1908–74) London North-West (from 1974) |
| LC | London (1905–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LD | London (1909–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LE | London (1911–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| LF | London (1912–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LG | Cheshire (1928–74) Chester (from 1974) | LH | London (1913–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| LJ | Bournemouth (from 1929) | LK | London (1913–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LL | London (1914–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| LM | London (1914–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LN | London (1906–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LO | London (1915–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| LP | London (1915–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LR | London (1916–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LS | Selkirkshire (1903–74) Stirling (1974–81) Edinburgh (for Stirling) (from 1981) | |
| LT | London (1918–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LU | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LV | Liverpool (from 1932) | |
| LW | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LX | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) | LY | London (1919–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| M | M | Cheshire (1903–63) | MA | Cheshire (1920–74) Chester (from 1974) | MB | Cheshire (1922–74) Chester (from 1974) |
| MC | Middlesex (1917–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MD | Middlesex (1920–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | ME | Middlesex (1921–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | |
| MF | Middlesex (1923–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MG | Middlesex (1930–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MH | Middlesex (1924–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | |
| MJ | Bedfordshire (1932–74) Luton (from 1974) | MK | Middlesex (1925–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | ML | Middlesex (1926–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | |
| MM | Middlesex (1926–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MN | Isle of Man | MO | Berkshire (1922–74) Reading (from 1974) | |
| MP | Middlesex (1927–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MR | Wiltshire (1924–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) | MS | Stirlingshire (1903–74) Stirling (1974–81) Edinburgh (for Stirling) (from 1981) | |
| MT | Middlesex (1928–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MU | Middlesex (1929–65) London (1965–74) London North-East (1974–97) | MV | Middlesex (1931–65) London (1965–74) London South-East (from 1974) | |
| MW | Wiltshire (1927–74) Swindon (1974–97) Bristol (for Swindon) (from 1997) | MX | Middlesex (1912–65) London (1965–74) London South-East (from 1974) | MY | Middlesex (1929–65) London (1965–74) London South-East (from 1974) | |
| N | N | Manchester (1903–64) | NA | Manchester (from 1913) | NB | Manchester (from 1919) |
| NC | Manchester (from 1920) | ND | Manchester (from 1923) | NE | Manchester (from 1925) | |
| NF | Manchester (from 1926) | NG | Norfolk (1930–74) Norwich (from 1974) | NH | Northampton (from 1905) | |
| NJ | East Sussex (1932–74) Brighton (from 1974) | NK | Hertfordshire (1921–74) Luton (from 1974) | NL | Northumberland (1921–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | |
| NM | Bedfordshire (1920–74) Luton (from 1974) | NN | Nottinghamshire (1921–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | NO | Essex (1921–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
| NP | Worcestershire (1921–74) Worcester (from 1974) | NR | Leicestershire (1921–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | NS | Sutherland (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | |
| NT | Shropshire (1921–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) | NU | Derbyshire (1923–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | NV | Northamptonshire (1931–74) Northampton (from 1974) | |
| NW | Leeds (from 1921) | NX | Warwickshire (1921–74) Dudley (1974–96) | NY | Glamorgan (1921–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | |
| O | O | Birmingham (1903–64) | OA | Birmingham (from 1913) | OB | Birmingham (from 1915) |
| OC | Birmingham (from 1933) | OD | Devon (1931–74) Exeter (from 1974) | OE | Birmingham (from 1919) | |
| OF | Birmingham (from 1929) | OG | Birmingham (from 1930) | OH | Birmingham (from 1920) | |
| OJ | Birmingham (from 1932) | OK | Birmingham (from 1922) | OL | Birmingham (from 1923) | |
| OM | Birmingham (from 1924) | ON | Birmingham (from 1925) | OO | Essex (1961–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | |
| OP | Birmingham (from 1926) | OR | Hampshire (1922–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | OS | Wigtownshire (1903–74) Stranraer (1974–81) Glasgow (for Stranraer) (from 1981) | |
| OT | Hampshire (1926–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | OU | Hampshire (1928–74) Bristol (from 1974) | OV | Birmingham (from 1931) | |
| OW | Southampton (1931–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | OX | Birmingham (from 1927) | OY | Croydon (1930–65) London (1965–74) London North-West (from 1974) | |
| P | P | Surrey (1903–63) | PA | Surrey (1913–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PB | Surrey (1919–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) |
| PC | Surrey (1921–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PD | Surrey (1923–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PE | Surrey (1924–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
| PF | Surrey (1926–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PG | Surrey (1929–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PH | Surrey (1927–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
| PJ | Surrey (1931–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PK | Surrey (1928–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PL | Surrey (1930–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | |
| PM | East Sussex (1922–74) Guildford (1974–97) Reading (for Guildford) (from 1997) | PN | East Sussex (1927–74) Brighton (from 1974) | PO | West Sussex (1929–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) (GPO formerly reserved for General Post Office vehicles) | |
| PP | Buckinghamshire (1923–74) Luton (from 1974) | PR | Dorset (1923–74) Bournemouth (from 1974) | PS | Shetland (1903–74) Lerwick (1974–80) Aberdeen (for Lerwick) (from 1980) | |
| PT | Durham (1922–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) | PU | Essex (1923–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | PV | Ipswich (from 1932) | |
| PW | Norfolk (1923–74) Norwich (from 1974) | PX | West Sussex (1923–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | PY | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1923–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | |
| R | R | Derbyshire (1903–64) | RA | Derbyshire (1926–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | RB | Derbyshire (1929–74) Nottingham (from 1974) |
| RC | Derby (1931–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | RD | Reading (from 1928) | RE | Staffordshire (1921–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | |
| RF | Staffordshire (1924–74) Stoke-on-Trent (1974–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | RG | Aberdeen (1928–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | RH | Hull (from 1930) | |
| RJ | Salford (1931–74) Manchester (from 1974) | RK | Croydon (1922–65) London (1965–74) London North-West (from 1974) | RL | Cornwall (1924–74) Truro (from 1974) | |
| RM | Cumberland (1924–74) Carlisle (from 1974) | RN | Preston (from 1928) | RO | Hertfordshire (1925–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
| RP | Northamptonshire (1924–74) Northampton (from 1974) | RR | Nottinghamshire (1925–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | RS | Aberdeen | |
| RT | East Suffolk (1925–74) Ipswich (from 1974) | RU | Bournemouth (from 1924) | RV | Portsmouth (from 1931) | |
| RW | Coventry (from 1924) | RX | Berkshire (1927–74) Reading (from 1974) | RY | Leicester (1925–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | |
| S | S | Edinburgh (1903–64) | SA | Aberdeenshire (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) | SB | Argyll (1903–74) Oban (1974–80) Glasgow (for Oban) (from 1981) |
| SC | Edinburgh (from 1927) | SD | Ayrshire (1903–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) | SE | Banffshire (1903–74) Keith (1974–81) Aberdeen (for Keith) (from 1981) | |
| SF | Edinburgh (from 1924) | SG | Edinburgh (from 1920) | SH | Berwickshire (1903–74) Selkirk (1974–80) Edinburgh (for Selkirk) (from 1980) | |
| SJ | Bute (1903–74) Ayr (1974–81) Glasgow (for Ayr) (from 1981) | SK | Caithness (1903–74) Wick (1974–81) Inverness (for Wick) (from 1981) | SL | Clackmannanshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | |
| SM | Dumfriesshire (1903–74) Dumfries (1974–81) Carlisle (for Dumfries) (from 1981) | SN | Dunbartonshire (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | SO | Moray (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) | |
| SP | Fife (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | SR | Angus (1903–74) Dundee (from 1974) | SS | East Lothian (1903–74) Aberdeen (from 1974) | |
| ST | Inverness-shire (1903–74) Inverness (from 1974) | SU | Kincardineshire (1903–74) Glasgow (from 1974) | SV | Kinross-shire (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
| SW | Kirkcudbrightshire (1903–74) Dumfries (1974–81) Carlisle (for Dumfries) (from 1981) | SX | West Lothian (1903–74) Edinburgh (from 1974) | SY | Midlothian (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
| T | T | Devon (1903–64) | TA | Devon (1920–74) Exeter (from 1974) | TB | Lancashire (1919–74) Warrington (1974–81) Liverpool (for Warrington) (1981–96) |
| TC | Lancashire (1922–74) Bristol (from 1974) | TD | Lancashire (1924–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | TE | Lancashire (1927–74) Bolton (1974–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | |
| TF | Lancashire (1929–74) Reading (from 1974) | TG | Glamorgan (1930–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | TH | Carmarthenshire (1929–74) Swansea (from 1974) | |
| TJ | Lancashire (1932–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | TK | Dorset (1927–74) Plymouth (1974–80) unused after 1980 | TL | Lincolnshire (Kesteven) (1928–74) Lincoln (from 1974) | |
| TM | Bedfordshire (1927–74) Luton (from 1974) | TN | Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1925) | TO | Nottingham (from 1924) | |
| TP | Portsmouth (from 1924) | TR | Southampton (1925–74) Portsmouth (from 1974) | TS | Dundee | |
| TT | Devon (1924–74) Exeter (from 1974) | TU | Cheshire (1926–74) Chester (from 1974) | TV | Nottingham (from 1929) | |
| TW | Essex (1925–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | TX | Glamorgan (1926–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | TY | Northumberland (1925–74) Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1974) | |
| U | U | Leeds (1903–64) | UA | Leeds (from 1927) | UB | Leeds (from 1929) |
| UC | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) | UD | Oxfordshire (1926–74) Oxford (from 1974) | UE | Warwickshire (1925–74) Dudley (1974–96) | |
| UF | Brighton (from 1925) | UG | Leeds (from 1932) | UH | Cardiff (from 1925) | |
| UJ | Shropshire (1932–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) | UK | Wolverhampton (1925–74) Birmingham (from 1974) | UL | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| UM | Leeds (from 1925) | UN | Denbighshire (1927–74) Barnstaple (1974–81) Exeter (for Barnstaple) (1981) | UO | Devon (1926–74) Barnstaple (1974–81) Exeter (for Barnstaple) (1981) | |
| UP | Durham (1927–81) Newcastle upon Tyne (for Durham) (from 1981) | UR | Hertfordshire (1928–74) Luton (from 1974) | US | Govan (1903–12) Glasgow (from 1933) | |
| UT | Leicestershire (1927–74) Leicester (1974–96) Nottingham (for Leicester) (from 1996) | UU | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | UV | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| UW | London (1929–74) London Central (1974–97) | UX | Shropshire (1927–74) Shrewsbury (from 1974) | UY | Worcestershire (1927–74) Worcester (from 1974) | |
| V | V | Lanarkshire (1903–64) | VA | Lanarkshire (1922–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | VB | Croydon (1927–65) London (1965–74) Canterbury (1974–81) unused after 1981 |
| VC | Coventry (from 1929) | VD | Lanarkshire (1930–74) Luton (1974–77) unused after 1977 | VE | Cambridgeshire (1928–65) Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965–74) Cambridge (1974–80) Peterborough (for Cambridge) (from 1980) | |
| VF | Norfolk (1927–74) Norwich (from 1974) | VG | Norwich (from 1927) | VH | Huddersfield (1927–95) | |
| VJ | Herefordshire (1927–74) Hereford (1974–81) Gloucester (for Hereford) (1981–97) | VK | Newcastle upon Tyne (from 1929) | VL | Lincoln (from 1928) | |
| VM | Manchester (from 1928) | VN | Yorkshire (North Riding) (1929–74) Middlesbrough (from 1974) | VO | Nottinghamshire (1928–74) Nottingham (from 1974) | |
| VP | Birmingham (from 1928) | VR | Manchester (from 1929) | VS | Greenock (1903–74) Luton (from 1974) | |
| VT | Stoke-on-Trent (1927–97) Nottingham (for Stoke-on-Trent) (from 1997) | VU | Manchester (from 1930) | VV | Northampton (from 1930) | |
| VW | Essex (1927–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | VX | Essex (1929–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | VY | York (1928–81) Leeds (for York) (from 1981) | |
| W | W | Sheffield (1903–64) | WA | Sheffield (from 1919) | WB | Sheffield (from 1924) |
| WC | Essex (1962–74) Chelmsford (from 1974) | WD | Warwickshire (1930–74) Dudley (1974–96) | WE | Sheffield (from 1927) | |
| WF | Yorkshire (East Riding) (1926–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | WG | Stirlingshire (1930–74) Sheffield (from 1974) | WH | Bolton (1927–81) Manchester (for Bolton) (from 1981) | |
| WJ | Sheffield (from 1930) | WK | Coventry (from 1926) | WL | Oxford (from 1925) | |
| WM | Southport (1927–74) Liverpool (1974–96) | WN | Swansea (from 1927) | WO | Monmouthshire (1927–74) Cardiff (from 1974) | |
| WP | Worcestershire (1931–74) Worcester (from 1974) | WR | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1912–74) Leeds (from 1974) | WS | Leith (1903–20) Edinburgh (1934–74) Bristol (from 1974) | |
| WT | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1923–74) Leeds (from 1974) | WU | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1925–74) Leeds (from 1974) | WV | Wiltshire (1931–74) Brighton (from 1974) | |
| WW | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1927–74) Leeds (from 1974) | WX | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1929–74) Leeds (from 1974) | WY | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1921–74) Leeds (from 1974) | |
| X | X | Northumberland (1903–63) | XA | London (1920–64) Kirkcaldy (1963–74) unused after 1974 | XB | London (1920–64) Coatbridge (1964–74) unused after 1974 |
| XC | London (1920–64) Solihull (1964–74) unused after 1974 | XD | London (1920–64) Luton (1964–74) unused after 1974 | XE | London (1920–64) Luton (1964–74) unused after 1974 | |
| XF | London (1921–64) Torbay (1968–74) unused after 1974 | XG | Middlesbrough (1929–74) unused after 1974 | XH | London (1921–64) unused after 1964 | |
| XJ | Manchester (1932–74) unused after 1974 | XK | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 | XL | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 | |
| XM | London (1922–64) unused after 1964 | XN | London (1923–64) unused after 1964 | XO | London (1923–64) unused after 1964 | |
| XP | London (1923–64) later temporary plates for vehicles being exported to Europe | XR | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 | XS | Paisley (1903–74) unused after 1974 | |
| XT | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 | XU | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 | XV | London (1928–64) unused after 1964 | |
| XW | London (1924–64) unused after 1964 | XX | London (1925–64) unused after 1964 | XY | London (1925–64) unused after 1964 | |
| Y | Y | Somerset (1903–64) | YA | Somerset (1921–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) | YB | Somerset (1924–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) |
| YC | Somerset (1927–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) | YD | Somerset (1930–74) Taunton (1974–97) Exeter (for Taunton) (from 1997) | YE | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| YF | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | YG | Yorkshire (West Riding) (1932–74) Leeds (from 1974) | YH | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| YJ | Dundee (1932–74) Brighton (from 1974) | YK | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) | YL | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| YM | London (1925–74) London Central (1974–97) | YN | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) | YO | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| YP | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) | YR | London (1926–74) London Central (1974–97) | YS | Partick (1903–12) Glasgow (from 1935) | |
| YT | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | YU | London (1927–74) London Central (1974–97) | YV | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) | |
| YW | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) | YX | London (1928–74) London Central (1974–97) | YY | London (1932–74) London Central (1974–97) |
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland uses a modified version of the national system initiated for the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1903, with two-letter county and city codes featuring the letters I or Z representing Ireland.
As in Great Britain, each code originally ran from 1 to 9999, and when one was completed, another was allocated. All possible codes had been allocated by 1957, following which reversed sequences were introduced, the first county to do so being Antrim in January 1958 with 1 IA. These reversed sequences were completed quickly, leading to the introduction of the current "AXX 1234" format in January 1966, where "XX" is the county code and "A" is a serial letter. This format allowed capacity to be increased. Each county adopted it once they had completed their reversed sequences, the last one to do so being County Londonderry in October 1973 with AIW 1. From November 1985, the first 100 numbers of each series were withheld for use as cherished registrations. From April 1989, the numbers 101-999 were also withheld in this way. Even multiples of 1000 and 1111 ("four-of-a-kind") are deemed cherished by the DVLA and thus withheld. Each series ends at 9998 and follows on to the next letter/number combination in the series.
When the administrative counties of Northern Ireland were dissolved in 1972, the responsibility for issuing registrations was transferred to the NI Ministry of Home Affairs,[43] and later the Department of the Environment NI. From 21 July 2014, vehicle registration in Northern Ireland became the responsibility of the DVLA in Swansea. The pre-1972 format of Northern Ireland registration plates continues unchanged.[44]
Most expensive plates
As popularity grows, the prices reached for the most expensive plates have increased with many motorists attracted by the investment potential as well as vanity. In the UK, sales of private plates via the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency exceeded £100 million per annum for the first time in 2016. Since 1989 the DVLA has made a total of £2 billion from selling private plates. While the wealthy may spend more on a private plate than on their personal vehicle, not all car owners are attracted to private plates. This has not affected number plates from appreciating thousands in value each year.
Registration 1 sold for £7.25 million and is the highest price paid for a plate – in the United Arab Emirates. It was purchased by Abu Dhabi businessman Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri in 2008. In 2014, the registration 25 O broke a new record[45] when it was purchased for £518,000 by Ferrari dealer John Collins; the plate now sits on a Ferrari 250 SWB once owned by rock star Eric Clapton. Registration F1 and RAC3R have been considered as the most desirable plates amongst supercar and Formula One fans. The registration RAC3R is a suffix style plate that was issued in 1976, the same year British racing driver James Hunt won the Formula One World Championship.[46] The plate covers all the different forms of racing, making it extremely desirable. Other popular plates include BO55 EGO. It has previously gone on auction in 2016 where the owner rejected the highest asking of £127,000.
The popularity of race-related plates led the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency to make a motor racing game to mark the profits it has made from the sales of private plates. The celebration took place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2010.[47] On 25 January 2008 the registration F1 sold for £440,000 to Bradford Car design entrepreneur Afzal Kahn. The plate was previously owned and sold by Essex County Council and was sold to raise money for training young drivers. Today the F1 plate has a valuation less than the winning bid with the price tag stagnating on that particular plate. Originally the plate was affixed in 1904 to the Panhard et Levassor of the then County Surveyor.[48] A few months before the F1 plate was purchased, the S1 plate sold for £397,500 at an auction in September 2007 to an anonymous buyer, making it the second most expensive number plate to be sold in the UK. The S1 plate was originally owned by Sir John MacDonald, the Lord Kingsburgh and was Edinburgh's first ever number plate.[49] Within the space of two years the S1 plate sold for £65,500 more than the M1 plate that sold at auction in Goodwood on 7 July 2006.[50] Registrations 1D, VIP 1 (Originally a Republic of Ireland plate from Kilkenny (IP)51 NGH, K1 NGS and 1O are also marked as considerably expensive plates that have sold publicly in excess of six figures.[51]
Other formats
Armed forces vehicles
In the Second World War, vehicles of the British Army had number plates such as A12104 and those of the Royal Air Force RAF 208343. Since 1949,[52] British military vehicle registration numbers are mostly either in the form of two digits, two letters, two digits (e.g. 07 CE 08),[53] or from 1995 onwards, two letters, two digits, two letters (for example, JW 57 AB).[54] Until the mid-1980s, the central two letters signified the armed service, or the branch or category of vehicle.[55] For example, Chief of Fleet Support's staff car in 1983–85 was 00 RN 04, and First Sea Lord's car 00 RN 01 and Second Sea Lord's 00 RN 02, normal civilian plates replacing them when security required;[56] and, in 1970, one of HMS Albion's Land Rovers was 25 RN 97 and HMS Bulwark's ship's minibus was 04 RN 84. Royal Air Force vehicles had numbers such as 55 AA 89, typically the first of the two letters being A,[57] and the new-style RAF plates, such as RZ 00 AA and RU 86 AA on fire engines.[58]
Military number plates are still often in the silver/white on black scheme used for civilian plates before 1973, and can be presented in one, two or three rows of characters.
From 1963 until around 1990, in West Germany, private vehicles owned by members of British Forces Germany and their families were issued registration numbers in a unique format (initially two letters followed by three digits plus a "B" suffix, e.g. RH 249 B, then from the early 1980s three letters followed by two numbers plus the "B" suffix, e.g. AQQ 89 B). This was discontinued for security reasons, as it made them vulnerable to Provisional IRA attacks.[59] Private vehicles driven by British military personnel are now issued with either standard UK number plates (if right hand drive) or German ones (if left hand drive), although the vehicle is not actually registered with the DVLA.[60]
| JW 57 AB |
| 00 RN 04 |
| RH 249 B |
| AQQ 89 B |
| RAF 208343 |
Trade plates
Trade licences are issued to motor dealers and vehicle testers,[notes 1] and permit the use of untaxed vehicles on the public highway with certain restrictions.[61] Associated with trade licences are "trade plates" which identify the holder of the trade licence rather than the vehicle they are displayed on, and can be attached temporarily to vehicles in their possession.[62]
Until 1970, two types of trade plate were used. General trade plates had white letters and numbers on a red background and could be used for all purposes, while limited trade plates used red numbers and letters on a white background and were restricted in their use (e.g. a vehicle being driven under limited trade plates was not allowed to carry passengers). Since 1970, all trade plates have used the red-on-white format. According to the traders, the police followed a little rhyme about trade plates:[63]
Red-on-white, stop on sight
White-on-red, go ahead.
The format of trade plate numbers comprises three digits (with leading zeros if necessary) followed by one, two or three letters denoting the location of issue, using pre-2001 format codes.[62]
| 123 ABC |
| 123 ABC |
In 2015, a new system was introduced with a number-only format. This is a five-digit number (leading zeroes used below 10000) in red on white, with a DVLA authentication at the right. This is centrally issued, and there is no regional indicator.[64]
| 12345 |
Diplomatic vehicle registration plates
Since 1979 cars operated by foreign embassies, high commissions, consulates and international organisations are issued unique vehicle registration marks. Eligible officials are required to be accredited by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) who liaise with Specialist Registrations at the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for issuance. Guidance document: INF267 (4/18) has been produced by the DVLA for accredited officials.
The distinguishing format is three numbers, space, letter D or X, space and three numbers. The letter D is predominately used for vehicles operated in or around the capital of London with the letter X allocated to vehicles outside London and for international organisations, unless otherwise stated by bilateral treaty or arrangement. The first group of three numbers identifies the country or international organisation. The second group of three numbers is a serial number sequence starting at 101 for diplomats, 400 for non-diplomatic staff of international organisations, and 700 upwards for consular or other non-diplomatic staff. For example: 101 D 101 identifies the first registration allocated to the Afghanistan embassy and 900 X 400 is a registration allocated to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
| 101 D 101 | 101 D 101 |
| 900 X 400 | 900 X 400 |
Honorary consuls are not entitled under UK law to diplomatic vehicle registrations and/or diplomatic driving permits.
A limited number of "flag" registrations, bearing a similar format to earlier civilian registrations, have been issued to embassies and high commissions for use instead of a "D" or "X" registration on its vehicles. For example: United States' embassy is allowed to use the registration USA 1; Zimbabwe's embassy ZIM 1; Jamaica's high commission JAM 1 and South Korea's embassy ROK 1 – 'Republic of Korea'. The North Korean embassy, however, had to buy a vanity plate: PRK 1D.
Diplomats are exempt from payment of vehicle tax (motor car road fund licence duty).
Cherished marks (personal, vanity or private number plates)
By default, a UK registration plate will accompany a vehicle throughout the vehicle's lifetime. There is no requirement to re-register a vehicle when moving to a new part of the country and no requirement that the number be changed when ownership of the vehicle changes. It is, however, possible for another registration number to be transferred, replacing the one originally issued, where owners wish to have a "vanity plate" (sometimes referred to as a "cherished" registration) displaying, for instance, their initials. Registration numbers may also be replaced simply to disguise the actual age of the vehicle.
According to information on the government DVLA website:
"Just remember you can make your vehicle look as old as you wish but you can not make it look newer than it is. For example you cannot put a Y registration number on a T registered vehicle but you could choose any prefix range from an A to a T. Each registration has an issue date which is what you must check to ensure you don't make your vehicle appear newer than it is."[65] However, you are able to put 1955 registered private number plates on a 1949 registered vehicle as there is no year indicator to determine the age of release.
As many vehicles registered before 1963 have been scrapped, some of their "dateless" pre-1963 registration numbers have been transferred to other vehicles as personal plates. They can be valuable, and can also be used to conceal the age of an older vehicle. Many vintage and classic cars no longer bear their original index marks due to the owners being offered high premiums for the desirable registrations. In addition Northern Irish registrations are also regarded as "dateless" and are often transferred to vehicles outside Northern Ireland.[66] Touring coaches often operate in other parts of the UK with registration numbers originally issued in Northern Ireland.
The DVLA's Personalised Registrations service also allows the purchase and transfer of registration numbers directly from the DVLA.[67] Many private dealers act as agents for DVLA issues (and sell DVLA numbers for more than the DVLA asking price, which many buyers do not realise), and also hold their own private stock of dateless registrations and other cherished marks. The DVLA however can only offer for sale registrations that have never previously been issued and thus have a limited offering and limited scope.
State vehicles used by the reigning monarch
Motor cars used by the reigning monarch on official business, which are (as of 2017) all Rolls-Royces or Bentleys built to special specifications, do not carry number plates.[1] The monarch's private vehicles carry number plates.
Other registration plates
- Tax free export in 1970s had red borders around the plate.
- United Kingdom American Exchange plates had the prefix "UKAX".
- Some Republic of Ireland number plates have been registered in various motor tax offices in the UK. These plates dated from 1903-1986 and the UK practice of non-reregistration was discontinued in 1990. For example, VIP 1 was originally registered to a Jaguar in Co. Kilkenny (IP) Ireland in 1971 but is now registered on a Rolls Royce Corniche owned by Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich. Some UK embassy vehicles have I or Z in their number plates e.g. CZE (Dublin) 1, PHI (Tipperary) 1, which have originated in the Irish system. Vehicles registered in Ireland under the new system (87 onwards) and which are exported to the UK must de-register their new Irish county (or in many cases, their Irish export ZZ 5 digit plate) with the DVLA who will issue them with a new UK number.
Fraudulent use
Criminals sometimes use copies of number plates legitimately used on a vehicle of identical type and colour to the one used, known as "cloning", to avoid being identified.[68] A routine police computer check shows the plate matching the type of vehicle and does not appear suspicious.
The UK Government introduced on 1 August 2008 regulations requiring the production of personal identification and vehicle registration documents when having number plates made by a retailer.[69] The organisation that makes the plate is required to display their name and postcode, usually in small print at bottom centre, to aid in tracing false plates and their purchaser.[4] This requirement was introduced in 2001 when the new character style and two-digit year identifier came into force, and applies to all registration plates made after that date regardless of the year of the vehicle.
Registration plate suppliers
Number plates were initially made by the motor vehicle's original supplier, and replacement plates meeting standards could be made by anybody. Some people had street address numbers made up to motor-vehicle standards for their houses. From 2001 plates sold in England and Wales had to be provided by a supplier on the DVLA's Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS) as specified in British Standard BSAU145d. The supplier needs to confirm that the customer is the registered keeper or other authorised person and verify their identity.[69] The name and postcode of the supplier must be shown at the bottom of the plate.[4] Number plates in the UK are usually flat and made of plastic; embossed aluminium plates are available from some suppliers. These rules are generally described as onerous, particularly to company car drivers who do not hold any of the required paperwork themselves (such items usually being stored by a fleet manager or lease hire company).
Registered number plate suppliers must keep records including the documents produced by their customers; they can be required to be shown to the police, although in reality this has seldom happened. The Department for Transport holds a full list of suppliers.[70]
Some companies, particularly those based online, sell number plates described as "show plates" or "not for road use", which may not satisfy the requirements of BSAU145d. However, if so specified, these products can be identical to number plates sold by approved RNPS registered supplier. Many of these companies do not ask customers to prove ownership of the registration they are purchasing, and try to circumvent the law by placing disclaimers on their websites. Despite these disclaimers, it is still not legal to produce any registration plates without seeing proof of identity of the purchaser (such as a driving licence), and proof of their connection to the registration (such as a V5C or retention certificate).[71]
See also
- Vehicle registration plate
- Vehicle registration plates of the European Union
- Vehicle registration plates of the Isle of Man
- Vehicle registration plates of the Channel Islands
- Vehicle registration plates of British overseas territories
- Vehicle Excise Duty
Notes
- "A motor dealer is defined as a person in the business of selling or supplying vehicles, that is a new or used car dealer.
A motor trader is defined as:
- a manufacturer or repairer of vehicles
- a dealer whose business consists of collecting and delivering vehicles and no other activities except as a vehicle manufacturer or repairer.
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