SINGLE LETTER Registrations, by area.( First issued 1903,
but some were reused as offices ran out of numbers in the late
1950's & early 60's.)
A...London J...Durham
S...Edinburgh
B...Lancashire K...Liverpool T...Devonshire C...Yorks,W.Riding L...Glamorganshire U...Leeds D...Kent M...Cheshire V...Lanarkshire E...Staffordshire N...Manchester W...Sheffield F...Essex O...Birmingham X...Northumberland G...Glasgow P...Surrey Y...Somerset H...Middlesex Q... not used Z...Dublin
I...not used R...Derbyshire |
DOUBLE LETTER Registration by area. Note that some letters
were re-allocated in both 1974 and 1981, as busy Registration
Offices ran out of the original letters. Issue in the old area
then ceased, the new Office using them, and in some cases letters
have been in three differing areas countrywide. Lack of space
shows as '74 or '81. Most were issued to their areas originally
in 1903, under the "Motor Car Act 1903".
AA...Hampshire,Salisbury,Bournemouth, AN...West Ham,GLC; & Reading from'74,
AB...Worcestershire AO...Cumberland,Carlisle,
AC...Warwickshire AP...East Sussex, Brighton,
AD...Gloucster AR...Herts CC;& Chelmsford from '74
AE...Bristol AS...Nairn; & Inverness from'74
AF...Cornwall AT...Kingston on Hull
AG...Ayrshire;&Hull from '74 AU...Nottingham,
AH...Norfolk AV...Aberdeen;& Peterborough from'74
AJ...York N.Riding;&Middlesborough '74 AW...Shropshire,
AK...Bradford ;& Sheffield from'74 AX...Monmouth,Cardiff,
AL...Nottingham AY...Leicester
AM...Wiltshire,Swindon.
BA...Salford,Manchester BN...Bolton,Manchester,
BB...Newcastle on Tyne BO...Cardiff
BC...Leicester BP...West Sussex, & Portsmouth from'74
BD...Northampton BR...Sunderland,Durham;& Newcastle'74
BE...Lincolnshire,Grimsby BS...Orkney,Kirkwall'74,Inverness'81,
BF...Stoke on Trent BT...York; & Leeds from '81,
BG...Birkenhead,Liverpool BU...Oldham,Manchester,
BH...Bucks CC;& Luton from '74 BV...Blackburn,Preston,
BJ...East Suffolk,Ipswich, BW...Oxford
BK...Portsmouth BX...Carmarthenshire
BL...Berkshire,Reading BY...Croydon,GLC '65, London from '74
BM...Bedfordshire;& Luton from '74.
CA...Denbigh; & Cheshire from '74 CN...Gateshead,Newcastle O.T.,
CB...Blackburn, Bolton '74,Manchester '81, CO...Plymouth; & Exeter from '81,
CC...Caernarvon; & Bangor from '74, CP...Halifax; & Huddersfield from '74,
CD...Brighton CR...Southampton; & Portsmouth '74,
CE...Cambridge; & Peterboro' from '81, CS...Ayrshire; & Glasgow from '81,
CF...West Suffolk; & Reading from '74, CT...Boston, Lincoln,
CG...Hants CC;Salisbury '74;& Bournemouth'81, CU...Southshields;& Newcastle'74,
CH...Derby; & Nottingham from '74, CV...Cornwall, Truro,
CJ...Hereford, & Gloucester from '74, CW...Burnley; & Preston '74,
CK...Preston, CX...Huddersfield,
CL...Norwich CY...Swansea,
CM...Birkenhead;& Liverpool from '74.
DA...Wolverhampton; & Birmingham '74 DN...York; & Leeds from '81,
DB...Stockport; & Manchester from '74, DO...Holland;& Boston'74;&Lincoln'81,
DC...Middlesborough;Teesside'74; Middl''81, DP...Reading,
DD...Gloucester DR...Plymouth; & Exeter from '81,
DE...Pembroke; & Haverfordwest from '74, DS...Peebles; & Glasgow from '74,
DF...Gloucester DT...Doncaster;&Sheffield from '74,
DG...Gloucester DU...Coventry,
DH...Walsall; & Dudley from '74, DV...Devon C.C.; & Exeter from '74,
DJ...St.Helens;Warrington '74;Liverpool '81, DW...Newport Mon,and Cardiff from'74
DK...Rochdale;Bolton '74;Manchester '81, DX...Ipswich,
DL...IoW;Newport IoW'74;Portsmouth'81, DY...Hastings; & Brighton from '81,
DM...Flint C.C.; & Chester from '74.
EA...West Bromwich, & Dudley from '74, EN...Bury, Bolton '74, Manchester '81,
EB...IoEly,Cambridge '65, Peterborough '81, EO...Barrow in Furness, & Preston '74,
EC...Westmorland, Kendal '74, Preston '81, EP...Montgomeryshire, & Swansea '74,
ED...Warrington, & Liverpool from '81, ER...Cambridge, & Peterborough '81,
EE...Grimsby, Lincoln, ES...Perthshire, & Dundee from '74,
EF...West Hartlepool,& Middleboro''74, ET...Rotherham,Sheffield,
EG...Peterborough EU...Breconshire, & Bristol from '74,
EH...Stoke on Trent EV...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,
EJ...Cardigan,Aberyswyth'74,Bangor'81,Haverfordwest'83,
EK...Wigan,Warrington'74,Liverpool'81, EW...Huntingdon, & Peterborough '74,
EL...Bournemouth, EX...Great Yarmouth, & Norwich '74,
EM...Bootle, & Liverpool from '74, EY...Anglesey,
& Bangor from '74.
FA...Burton on Trent,& Stoke on Trent'74 FN...Canterbury, & Maidstone from '74,
FB...Bath, & Bristol from '74, FO...Radnor, Hereford'74, Gloucester'81,
FC...Oxford FP...Rutland, & Leicester from '74,
FD...Dudley FR...Blackpool, & Preston from '74,
FE...Lincoln FS...Edinburgh,
FF...Merioneth,Aberyswyth'74,Bangor'81, FT...Tynemouth, & Newcastle '74,
FG...Fife C.C., & Brighton from '74, FU...Grimsby, Lincoln,
FH...Gloucester FV...Blackpool, & Preston from '74,
FJ...Exeter FW...Lindsey, Lincoln,
FK...Worcester, & Dudley from '74, FX...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,
FL...Peterborough FY...Southport, & Liverpool '74,
FM...Chester.
GA...Glasgow GN...London
GB...Glasgow GO...London
GC...London GP...London
GD...Glasgow GR...Sunderland,Durham'74,Newcastle'81,
GE...Glasgow GS...Perthshire, & Luton from '74,
GF...London GT...London
GG...Glasgow GU...London
GH...London GV...West Suffolk, & Ipswich'74,
GJ...London GW...London
GK...London GX...London
GL...Bath, & Truro from '74, GY...London.
GM...Motherwell & Wishaw, & Reading from '74.
HA...Smethwick,Warley '74, Dudley '81, HN...Darlington, & Middlesboro' '81,
HB...Merthyr Tydfil, & Cardiff from '74, HO...Hants,Salisbury'74,Bournemouth'81
HC...Eastbourne,Hastings'74,Brighton'81, HP...Coventry
HD...Dewsbury, & Huddersfield from '74, HR...Wiltshire, Swindon,
HE...Barnsley, & Sheffield from '74, HS...Renfrewshire, & Glasgow from '74,
HF...Wallasey, & Liverpool from '74, HT...Bristol
HG...Burnley, & Preston '74, HU...Bristol
HH...Carlisle HV...East Ham,GLC '65, & London'74,
HJ...Southend, & Chelmsford from '74, HW...Bristol,
HK...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74, HX...Middlesex,GLC'74, & London'81,
HL...Wakefield, & Sheffield from '74, HY...Bristol,
HM...East ham,GLC'65, & London '74.
I ( and Z ) issued originally in Northern Ireland.
JA...Stockport, & Manchester from '74, JN...Southend, & Chelmsford from '74,
JB...Berkshire C.C., & Reading from '74, JO...Oxford
JC...Caernarvon, & Bangor from '74, JP...Wigan,Warrington '74,Liverpool '81,
JD...West Ham,GLC '65,London '74, JR...Northumberland, Newcastle '74,
JE...IoEly,Cambridgeshire '65,Peterboro''74, JS...Ross, Stornoway'74, Inverness'81,
JF...Leicester JT...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,
JG...Canterbury, Maidstone from '81, JU...Leicester
JH...Hertfordshire, & Reading from '74, JV..Grimsby, & Lincoln '74,
JJ...London, Canterbury '74,Maidstone '81, JW...Wolverhampton, Birmingham '74,
JK...Eastbourne,Hastings '74,Brighton '81, JX...Halifax, & Huddersfield '74,
JL...Holland, Boston '74, Lincoln '81, JY...Plymouth, & Exeter from '81,
JM...Westmorland, & Reading from '74.
KA...Liverpool KN...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,
KB...Liverpool KO...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,
KC...Liverpool KP...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,
KD...Liverpool KR...Kent, & Maidstone from '74,
KE...Kent, & Maidstone from '74, KS...Roxborough,Selkirk'74,Edinburgh'81
KF...Liverpool KT...Kent,Canterbury'74,Maidstone'81,
KG...Cardiff KU...Bradford, & Sheffield from '74,
KH...Kingston-on-Hull KV...Coventry
KJ...Kent, & Maidstone from '74, KW...Bradford, & Sheffield from '74,
KK...Kent,& Maidstone from '74 KX...Buckinghamshire, Luton from '74,
KL...Kent, Maidstone from '74, KY...Bradford, Sheffield from '74,
KM...Kent, Maidstone from '74.
LA...London LN...London
LB...London LO...London
LC...London LP...London
LD...London LR...London
LE...London LS...Selkirk,& Stirling '74,Edinburgh '81,
LF...London LT...London
LG...Cheshire,Chester, LU...London
LH...London LV...Liverpool
LJ...Bournemouth LW...London
LK...London LX...London
LL...London LY...London
LM...London, (All London on
'L' is N.W.)
MA...Cheshire,Chester MN...IoMan only,
MB...Cheshire,Chester MO..Berks, & Reading from '74,
MC...Middlesex C.C., London from '74, MP...Middlesex, London from '74,
MD...Middlesex, London from '74 MR..Wiltshire, Swindon from '74,
ME...Middlesex,London from '74, MS...Stirling, & Edinburgh from '81,
MF...Middlesex,London from '74, MT...Middlesex,London from '74,
MG...Middlesex, London from '74 MU...Middlesex,London from '74,
MH...Middlesex, London from '74, MV...Middelsex, London from '74,
MJ...Bedfordshire, Luton from '74 MW...Wiltshire, & Swindon from '74,
MK...Middlesex,London from '74, MX...Middlesex, London from '74,
ML...Middlesex,London from '74, MY...Middlesex, London from '74,
MM...Middlesex, London from '74.
NA...Manchester NN...Nottinghamshire,
NB...Manchester NO...Essex C.C., Chelmsford from '74,
NC...Manchester NP...Worcester
ND...Manchester NR...Leicester,
NE...Manchester NS...Sutherland, & Glasgow from '74,
NF...Manchester NT...Shropshire, Shrewsbury from '74,
NG...Norfolk, Norwich from '74, NU...Derbyshire, Nottingham from '74
NH...Northampton NV...Northampton
NJ...East Sussex, Brighton from '74, NW...Leeds,
NK...Hertfordshire, Luton from '74, NX...Warwickshire C.C.,Dudley '74,
NL...Northumberland, Newcastle from '74, NY...Glamorganshire,Cardiff '74,
NM...Bedfordshire, & Luton from '74.
OA...Birmingham ON...Birmingham,
OB...Birmingham OO...Essex C.C., Chelmsford from '74,
OC...Birmingham OP...Birmingham
OD...Birmingham OR...Hampshire, Portsmouth from '74,
OE...Birmingham OS...Wigton, Stranraer '74,Glasgow'81
OF...Birmingham OT...Hampshire, Portsmouth from '74,
OG...Birmingham OU...Hampshire, & Bristol from '74,
OH...Birmingham OV...Birmingham
OJ...Birmingham OW...Southampton,Portsmouth '74,
OK...Birmingham OX...Birmingham
OL...Birmingham OY...Croydon, & London '74,
OM...Birmingham.
PA...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PN...East Sussex, & Brighton from'74
PB...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PO...West Sussex, & Portsmouth '74,
PC...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PP...Buckinghamshire,Luton from '74
PD...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PR...Dorest, & Bournemouth '74,
PE...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PS...Zetland,Lerwick'74,Aberdeen'81
PF...Surrey,& Guildford from '74, PT...Durham, & Newcastle from '81,
PG...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PU...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,
PH...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PV...Ipswich,
PJ...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PW...Norfolk, Norwich from '74,
PK...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PX...West Sussex, Portsmouth '74,
PL...Surrey, & Guildford from '74, PY...Yorkshire, & Middlesboro' '74,
PM...East Sussex, & Guildford from '74.
Q not used by any county/office.
RA...Derbyshire,& Nottingham from '74, RN...Preston,
RB...Derbyshire, & Nottingham from '74, RO...Hertfordshire, & Luton from '74,
RC...Derby, & Nottingham from '74, RP...Northampton,
RD...Reading, RR...Nottingham,
RE...Staffordshire, & Stoke on Trent '74, RS...Aberdeen,
RF...Staffordshire, & Stoke on Trent '74, RT...East Suffolk, & Ipswich from '74,
RG...Aberdeen, & Newcastle from '74, RU...Bournemouth,
RH...Kingston on Hull, Hull from '74. RV...Portsmouth,
RJ...Salford, & Manchester from '74, RW...Coventry,
RK...Croydon, London from '74, RX...Berkshire, & Reading from '74,
RL...Cornwall, & Truro from '74, RY...Leicester,
RM...Cumberland, & Carlisle from '74.
SA...Aberdeen SN...Dunbarton C.C., & Dundee from '74,
SB...Argyll, Oban from '74, Glasgow '81, SO...Morayshire, & Aberdeen from '74,
SC...Edinburgh SP...Fife, & Dundee from '74,
SD...Ayreshire, & Glasgow from '81, SR...Angus, & Dundee from '74,
SE...Banff, Keith from '74, Aberdeen '81, SS...East Lothian, Aberdeen from '74,
SF....Edinburgh ST...Inverness
SG...Edinburgh SU...Kincardine, Glasgow from '74,***
SH...Berwick,Selkirk from '74,Edinburgh '81, SV...Kinross, not used after '74 ***
SJ...Bute C.C.,Ayr '74, & Glasgow from '81, SW..Kirkudbright,Dumfries'74Carlisle'81
SK...Caithness,Wick'74,Inverness'81,*** SX...West Lothian, Edinburgh from '81.
SL...Clackmanan, Dundee from '74, SY...Midlothian CC,
SM...Dumfries, & Carlisle from '74. *** now on age related
plates only***
TA...Devon, & Exeter from '74, TN...Newcastle on Tyne,
TB...Lancashire, Warrington '74,Liverpool'81, TO...Nottingham,
TC...Lancashire to '74, then Bristol, TP...Portsmouth,
TD...Lancashire, & Bolton'74,Manchester'81,TR...Southampton, & Portsmouth'74,
TE...Lancashire, & Bolton'74,Manchester'81, TS...Dundee,
TF...Lancashire to '74, then Reading, TT...Devonshire, then Exeter from '74,
TG...Glamorgan, & Cardiff from '74, TU...Cheshire, Chester from '74,
TH...Carmathen, & Swansea from '74, TV...Nottingham,
TJ...Lancashire, & Liverpool from '74. TW...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,
TK...Dorset, Plymouth from '74,Exeter '81, TX...Glamorgan, Cardiff from '74,
TL...Kesteven,Lincs, then Lincoln '74, TY...Northumberland, & Newcastle '74,
TM...Bedfordshire, & Luton from '74.
UA...Leeds, UN...Denbigh,Barnstaple '74,Exeter '81,
UB...Leeds, UO...Devon, Barnstaple '74,Exeter '81,
UC...London, UP...Durham, Newcastle '81,
UD...Oxford, UR...Herts, & Luton from '74,
UE...Warwickshire, Dudley from '74, US...Govan, Glasgow from '33,
UF...Brighton, UT...Leicester,
UG...Leeds, UU...London,
UH...Cardiff, UV...London,
UJ...Shropshire, Shrewsbury '74, UW...London,
UK...Wolverhampton, Birmingham from '74, UX..Shropshire, Shrewsbury '74,
UL...London, UY...Worcester,
UM...Leeds.
VA...Lanark,Cambridge '74,Peterboro''81, VN...Yorks.N.R., Middlesboro''74,
VB...Croydon,London'65,Canterbury'74,Maidstone'81, VO...Nottingham,
VC...Coventry, VP...Birmingham,
VD...Lanark, Luton'74, VR...Manchester,
VE...Cambridgeshire, Peterborough from '81, VS...Greenock; & Luton from '74,***
VF...Norfolk, Norwich from '74, VT...Stoke on Trent,
VG...Norwich, VU...Manchester,
VH...Huddersfield, VV...Northampton,
VJ...Hereford, Gloucester from '81, VW...Essex, & Chelmsford from '74,
VK...Newcastle on Tyne, VX...Essex, Chelmsford from '74,
VL...Lincoln, VY...York, Leeds from '74,
VM...Manchester, *** Used as Age related plates only
now***
WA...Sheffield, WN...Swansea,
WB...Sheffield, WO...Monmouth, & Cardiff '74,
WC...Essex, Chelmsford from '74, WP...Worcester,
WD...Warwickshire, & Dudley '74, WR...Yorks W.R., Leeds from '74,
WE...Sheffield, WS...Leith,Edinburgh'74, Bristol '81,
WF...Yorks.E.R., Sheffield '74, WT...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,
WG...Stirlingshire, & Sheffield from '74, WU...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,
WH...Bolton, Manchester from '81, WV...Wiltshire, & Brighton '74,
WJ...Sheffield, WW...Wiltshire, & Brighton '74,
WK...Coventry, WX...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,
WL...Oxford, WY...Yorks W.R., Leeds '74,
WM...Southport, Liverpool from '74.
X series, all London, except...
XG...Middlesbrough,Teesside '74. XS...Paisley.
None now in use.
YA...Somerset, Taunton '74, YN...London,
YB...Somerset, Taunton '74, YO...London,
YC...Somerset, Taunton '74, YP...London,
YD...Somerset, Taunton '74, YR...London,
YE...London, YS...London,
YF...London, YT...London,
YG...Yorks W.R., Leeds from '74, YU...London,
YH...London, YV...London,
YJ...Dundee, & Brighton from '74, YW...London,
YK...London, YX...London,
YL...London, YY...London,
YM...London.
Z ( and I ) originally used in Northern Ireland.
Suffix marks introduced in 1963, but not all authorities used
them until late in 1964. Starting dates.....
SUFFIX A 01.02.63 PREFIX A 01.08.83
B 01.01.64 B 01.08.84
C 01.01.65 C 01.08.85
D 01.01.66 D 01.08.86
E 01.01.67 E 01.08.87
F 01.08.67 F 01.08.88
G 01.08.68 G 01.08.89
H 01.08.69 H 01.08.90
J 01.08.70 J 01.08.91
K 01.08.71 K 01.08.92
L 01.08.72 L 01.08.93
M 01.08.73 M 01.08.94
N 01.08.74 N 01.08.95
P 01.08.75 P 01.08.96
'Q' plates arrived 01.08.83 R 01.08.97
R 01.08.76 S 01.08.98
S 01.08.77
T 01.08.78
V 01.08.79 ( No 'U')
W 01.08.80
X 01.08.81
Y 01.08.82
NOTE.......An excellent book, now out of print, but often available
from a library, is by Phillip Riden, Trace the History of Your
Car, 1991. ISBN 1 873361 05 X. This goes into which authorities
have kept records, ( many of which have not,) with addresses
you can write to to obtain a copy of your cars initial
registration.
'Q' plate simply means a vehicle of undetermined origin.
Today, with the selling of registration plates by Swansea, tracing
is not so easy any more.