Car Age Checker

Three cars, three ages

Here's what the plate tells you on three example cars, and what the record shows when you put the reg in.

The first car is simple. The second looks 35 years old but isn't, which is why reading the plate alone can catch you out. The third is an import, so it's worth asking for the import paperwork and checking whether any old readings were logged in kilometres.

The dates come from the DVSA's MOT records, which use the registration details the DVLA holds. If a brand new car doesn't show up, look at the V5C logbook instead.

How old is my car? Read the number plate

Most UK plates carry a code that shows when the car was first registered. Since September 2001, plates follow the same pattern, such as AB19 CDE:

• The first two letters show where the car was first registered. The DVLA calls this the memory tag.
• The two numbers are the age identifier.
• The last three letters are random.

The numbers change twice a year, on 1 March and 1 September. In March, they match the year, so a 25 plate came out in March 2025. In September, you add 50, so a 75 plate came out in September 2025.

Older plates

Before September 2001, a single letter showed the age. From August 1983, it sat at the start of the plate, so P123 ABC is a P reg from between August 1996 and July 1997. People call these prefix plates. From 1963 to July 1983, the letter went at the end instead, as in ABC 123L. Those are suffix plates.

The DVLA never used I, O, Q, U or Z as age letters. Plates from before 1963 have no age code at all, and nor do Northern Ireland plates, which look like ABZ 1234.

Why the plate doesn't always tell you the age

A number plate year checker reads the letters and numbers on the plate. That works for most cars, but these four can throw it off:

• Private plates. A personal number shows nothing about the car's age. Lots of drivers buy a Northern Ireland number for exactly that reason.
• Imported cars. The DVLA dates an import's plate from when it was made or first used abroad, not when it arrived here. If nobody can prove its age, it gets a Q plate.
• Pre-registered cars. Dealers sometimes register new cars in their own name to hit sales targets, then sell them as nearly new. The car can be months older than the plate suggests.
• Plate change days. A car registered on 31 August gets a 19 plate, and one registered the next day gets a 69. They're one day apart in age, but one looks six months older.

Our tool reads the date from the car's record, so a private or Northern Ireland plate doesn't hide anything.

When was my car first registered?

The quickest place to look is the V5C logbook. It shows the date of first registration, and most also show the year of manufacture. These two dates can be months apart, as cars often sit in stock for a while.

If you don't have the logbook to hand, this page works as a car registration date checker too. You'll also find the date on old MOT certificates, the service book and the original sales invoice. A lost or damaged V5C costs £25 to replace from the DVLA.

Why a car age check matters when you buy

Sellers sometimes round the year up. A car advertised as a "2020" could be a 69 plate first registered in September 2019. Checking the date before you go means you know exactly what you're paying for.

The age affects more than the price:

• Warranty. A manufacturer's warranty runs from the date of first registration, not the date you buy the car.
• MOT. A car needs its first MOT three years after it was first registered, then one every year. Look through its past MOT tests to see how it has held up.
• Mileage. UK cars do around 7,000 miles a year. Multiply that by the age and compare it with the mileage at each MOT.
• Servicing. Some jobs depend on age as well as miles. Many cambelts need changing after a set number of years, even on a car that hardly gets driven.
• ULEZ. As a rough rule, petrol cars from 2006 and diesel cars from September 2015 meet the London standard.

What happens when a car turns 40

Old cars get two breaks once they pass 40, and both move forward every year.

No more MOT. A car built or first registered more than 40 years ago doesn't need an MOT, as long as nobody has made big changes to it, such as fitting a different engine. You still have to keep it roadworthy, and the police can fine you up to £2,500 if it isn't.

No more road tax. Cars built before 1 January 1986 can go into the historic tax class from 1 April 2026. Next April, the cut off moves to cars built before 1 January 1987. It doesn't happen by itself, though. You have to apply, and GOV.UK explains the steps for historic vehicles.

Our results show the month the car turns 40, so you can see how long you have to wait.

Frequently asked questions