Skip to content
Number Plate Guide

What year is a 25 plate?

AB25 CDE
A 25 plate means the car was first registered between 1 March 2025 and 31 August 2025, so it is 1 year old today.

Why “25”?

March plates use the last two digits of the year, so 2025 plates are 25.

What can a 25 plate go on?

As a private plate, it can go on any vehicle first registered on or after 1 March 2025. 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

PlateIssued
24 plate1 March 2024 – 31 August 2024
74 plate1 September 2024 – 28 February 2025
25 plate1 March 2025 – 31 August 2025
75 plate1 September 2025 – 28 February 2026
26 plate1 March 2026 – 31 August 2026

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 25 plate 2025?

Yes. 25 plates were issued from 1 March 2025 to 31 August 2025.

How old is a 25 plate car?

In November 2026, a 25 plate car is 1 year old, counted from its first registration. If the plate is a private one the car could be newer.

Can I put a 25 plate on an older car?

No. A plate can’t make a vehicle look newer than it is, so a 25 plate can only go on a vehicle first registered on or after 1 March 2025.

What plate came after 25?

75, issued from 1 September 2025.

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.