Upcoming UK registration number release dates
DVLA dates for car registrations - 2016, 2017, and 2018
Twice each year, the DVLA issues new registration numbers.
Below we've listed the release dates for car registrations for this year and into the next couple of years.
2016
16-registration
e.g. AB16 CDE
New cars registered from 1st March 2016
Registration numbers available to buy from December 2015.
66-registration
e.g. AB66 CDE
New cars registered from 1st September 2016
Registration numbers available to buy from June 2016.
2017
17-registration
e.g. AB17 CDE
New cars registered from 1st March 2017
Registration numbers available to buy from November 2016.
67-registration
e.g. AB67 CDE
New cars registered from 1st September 2017
Registration numbers available to buy from June 2017.
2018
18-registration
e.g. AB18 CDE
New cars registered from 1st March 2018
Registration numbers available to buy from November 2017.
68-registration
e.g. AB68 CDE
New cars registered from 1st September 2018
Registration numbers available to buy from June 2018.
You can't make your car appear to be newer than it is.
What does that mean?
Let's say your vehicle was first registered in May 2015. The standard registration number given to it would have a 15 year identifier, such as AB15 CDE. This type of registration is called a current style number plate. The age of your vehicle may limit which registration numbers you can use when you personalise it.
You cannot put any number plate on your car
What you cannot do:
Transfer a personalised number plate that was issued after your vehicle was registered. For example one containing the digits 16, 17, etc.
What you can do:
Transfer a personalised registration that was issued in the same year (so has a 15 in the middle) or any registration number that was released before your vehicle was registered. So (in our example) any registration number that was released before 2015 can be used. That includes all prefix or suffix style number plates.
You can also make use of any mainland dateless number plates or Northern Ireland number plates as these can be transferred to any vehicle regardless of its age.
To help you, we've explained in more detail about the different styles of number plates in the UK.
Don't have a suitable vehicle right now?
Not a problem.
You really want a registration number but it may be that the vehicle you have at the moment is too old. Or you may not have a vehicle at all. In most cases this does not have to stop you buying the registration number you really want. You can buy it and keep it on a Certificate. Then use it later when you are ready. Just don't lose the Certificate(!). Find out more about number plate Certificates.
The only other thing you will need is patience, whilst you wait to own the right vehicle.
Looking for older registration release dates?
Here we've just talked about the upcoming registration numbers. If you want to check the past registrations issued, we've put that together in a quick handy guide.
You can find all the release dates for car registrations in the UK here.
