Hey guys …
As I am not from the UK I have a question. What is this with the different plates all about?
I mean, I often read “51-plate” or “R-plate” or others.
Please educate me …
Registrations used to change once a year, in September if I recall. From 1960 sommat to 1982ish they were in the format ABC 123 D, where D changed each year. From 1982ish to 2000 they were in the format E 456 FGH, again E “increased” to the next letter of the alphabet each year.
So an “R” reg would have been regstered between Sept 97-Aug 98, next letter “S” reg Sept 98-Aug 99 and so on. Some letters get left out of the sequence because they look like numbers: I, O, Q, U, Z.
From 2001, the above sequence was exhausted so they decided to adopt a new format (LM 51 NOP), AND to change the prefix twice a year to smooth out peaks and troughs in new motor sales, so:
Sept 01-Feb 02 = 51
Mar 02-Aug 02 = 02
Sept 02-Feb 03 = 52
Mar 03-Aug 03 = 03
Sept 03-Feb 04 = 53
and so on. When we get to 09 and 59, the next series after those will be 10 and 60, 11 and 61, etc.
Also the first two letters of the new format are supposed to give an indication of where the vehicle was registered. There will be geeky list of all of them somewhere on tinternet but for example LG is London, EU is Essex.
Confused? Well, you did ask!
Bloody hell … I used to be confused. But believe it or not - I got it :w00t:
I thought it is something to restrict the engine or the speed or any other stupid things.