Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 21:27:50 +0100 From: Leroy Curtis <leroynopsamam.demon.co.uk> Subject: Re: Question about "Reg" our UK friends
In article <UtGx3.8$kf5.579nopsamread.news.verio.net>, thomashi <thomashinopsamenetworks.com> writes >I was reading a magazine about automobile reliability ratings from UK and I >was curious about something. > >What does it mean, what are the differences between N-reg, P-reg, and so-on. > OK, it goes something like this. Until 1963, the suffix/prefix systems of numbering didn't exist, but by beginning of the 1960s, many County Councils (who were then responsible for the registration of vehicles) were running out of combinations based on the original numbering system, which called for up to 3 letters and up to 3 numbers, or 2 letters and 4 numbers. Either the letters or the numbers could come first. Each Council had its own unique series of letters, so you could always tell which County a car had originally been registered in. From 1st January 1963, many (but not all) Councils started using the suffix system; 3 letters, up to 3 numbers, and a suffix letter which would change annually on 1st January each year. Logically enough, they began with A. Some Councils with smaller car populations didn't adopt the suffix system until 1965, when the suffix letter was C. So: 1963=A (but not everywhere) 1964=B (more councils, but still not everywhere) 1965=C 1966=D In response to the motor industry's requirement for a stimulant to perk up slow sales during the summer months, the government decided that the annual plate change should occur on 1st August of each year. So; 1 Jan 1967-31 Jul 1967=E 1 Aug 1967-31 Jul 1968=F and so on, from 1 Aug in one year until 31 July in the following year 1968-69=G 1969-70=H 1970-71=J 1971-72=K 1972-73=L 1973-74=M 1974-75=N 1975-76=P 1976-77=R 1977-78=S 1978-79=T 1979-80=V 1980-81=W 1981-82=X 1982-83=Y The letters I, O, Q, U and Z were not used, I and O because of the risk of confusion with numbers, Q because it simply isn't used (or wasn't; more about Q later), U because it would look too much like V which would have succeeded it, and Z because it is exclusive to Northern Ireland. In around 1968 or 69, responsibility for the registration of vehicles passed from the County Councils to a new central authority, the DVLC (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre). Since then, the registration number is not always an accurate guide to the area in which a vehicle was first registered. Because the suffix system was now exhausted, the prefix system began in 1983, i.e. prefix letter, followed by up to 3 numbers, followed by 3 letters. It used the same 1 Aug-31 July changeover as the suffix system had used, and the same letters were omitted (except Q, but see below): 1983-84=A 1984-85=B 1985-86=C 1986-87=D 1987-88=E 1988-89=F 1989-90=G 1990-91=H 1991-92=J 1992-93=K 1993-94=L 1994-95=M 1995-96=N 1996-97=P 1997-98=R BUT, the motor industry had now decided that it didn't like the annual plate change after all, because it forced too many new car sales into one month, so the government decreed a new system from 1999; 1 Aug 1998-28 Feb 1999=S 1 Mar 1999-31 Aug 1999=T 1 Sep 1999-28 Feb 2000=V 1 Mar 2000-31 Aug 2001=W 1 Sep 2001-28 Feb 2002=X 1 Mar 2002-31 Aug 2002=Y A new system will be introduced after Aug 2002, with some sort of dating element; I think the configuration will be 3 letters, followed by 2 numbers, followed by another 2 (dating) letters, but I can't remember exactly how it will work. A word about Q. Any car which is imported from abroad and whose age cannot be determined, or which is assembled from parts the majority of which are not new at the time of assembly, will be registered with a number bearing a Q prefix. Thus some kit-cars, and interestingly some London taxis which have been assembled from bits of other scrapped London taxis have Q-plates. I think that's about it. -- Regards Leroy Curtis Please replace "nospam" with "baram" in my address if you wish to reply by Email
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