What year is a 16 plate?
Why “16”?
March plates use the last two digits of the year, so 2016 plates are 16.
What can a 16 plate go on?
As a private plate, it can go on any vehicle first registered on or after 1 March 2016. DVLA won’t let a plate make a vehicle look newer than it is, so it can’t go on anything older.
Looking for a plate for an older car? Choose an earlier identifier, or a dateless plate, which can go on a vehicle of any age.
Plates either side
| Plate | Issued |
|---|---|
| 15 plate | 1 March 2015 – 31 August 2015 |
| 65 plate | 1 September 2015 – 29 February 2016 |
| 16 plate | 1 March 2016 – 31 August 2016 |
| 66 plate | 1 September 2016 – 28 February 2017 |
| 17 plate | 1 March 2017 – 31 August 2017 |
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.
Common questions
Is a 16 plate 2016?
Yes. 16 plates were issued from 1 March 2016 to 31 August 2016.
How old is a 16 plate car?
In November 2026, a 16 plate car is 10 years old, counted from its first registration. If the plate is a private one the car could be newer.
Can I put a 16 plate on an older car?
No. A plate can’t make a vehicle look newer than it is, so a 16 plate can only go on a vehicle first registered on or after 1 March 2016.
What plate came after 16?
66, issued from 1 September 2016.
Got a full reg? Check it in the year checker or see the full year chart.
Source: GOV.UK: Vehicle registration numbers and number plates (INF104). Ages are worked out from first registration as of 3 November 2026.