How old is my car? Working out age from the reg

For most UK cars, the reg tells you to within six months when the car was first registered. Here’s how to read it, and the cases where it can’t be trusted.

Last checked 3 November 2026

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Reading the age from the plate

AB67 CDE (since September 2001): the two numbers. March plates are the year (18 = March to August 2018). September plates add 50 (68 = September 2018 to February 2019).
S123 ABC (August 1983 to August 2001): the first letter. See the prefix letters.
ABC 123V (1963 to July 1983): the last letter. See the suffix letters.

So a 67 plate car was first registered between September 2017 and February 2018. In November 2026 that makes it 8–9 years old.

When the plate gets the age wrong

Private plates

A private plate can go on any vehicle at least as new as the plate, so a 2024 car might wear a 51 plate. The car is never older than its plate suggests, but it can be newer. How the private plate rule works.

Dateless and Northern Irish plates

Pre-1963 style plates and Northern Ireland registrations carry no year at all. They’re popular private plates because they hide a car’s age. More on dateless plates.

Imported cars

A car first registered abroad and brought to the UK later is normally given a plate that reflects its age, not its import date. If DVLA can’t confirm the age it may get a Q plate. The V5C shows what DVLA has on record.

Pre-registered and stock cars

The plate shows when the car was first registered. A car built in one year and registered in the next will have the later identifier.

Checking the exact date

The V5C log book shows the date of first registration.
DVLA’s free vehicle enquiry service shows the date of first registration and year of manufacture for any reg.
The free MOT history service shows past MOT results and recorded mileage. We also run UK MOT Checker for MOT history checks.

Buying or selling the car?

The plate tells you when a car was first registered, not its history. Check its MOT record before you buy.

Check MOT history free on GOV.UK

Common questions

Can I find out how old a car is from the number plate?

Usually, yes. The age identifier on the plate shows when the car was first registered in the UK. Private plates, used imports and Northern Irish or dateless plates are the exceptions, so check the V5C log book or the DVLA vehicle enquiry service if it matters.

Is the registration date the same as the year the car was built?

Not always. Most new cars are registered soon after they’re built, but a car can sit in stock for months first. DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service shows both the date of first registration and the year of manufacture.

Why does my car look older than its plate?

The plate may be a private one. A private plate can make a car look older than it is, but never newer.